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Biomedical subjects

A Tenore

Publications and source records attributed to A Tenore.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

High prevalence of stress hyperglycaemia in children with febrile seizures and traumatic injuries.

UNLABELLED: Although hyperglycaemia is relatively frequent in the course of severe illnesses and may be looked upon as the possible result of an uncoordinated insulin response to the increased glucose that the body may need during periods of stress, it is generally agreed that it does not constitute a prediabetic condition. Numerous studies have aimed to explain the pathophysiology of this occurrence but none has looked at which conditions are more prone to develop stress hyperglycaemia (SH). Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the main clinical conditions that may be associated with SH in children. A total of 1199 children was studied: 833 children (439 M, 394 F, mean age 5.2 +/- 4.5 y) admitted for an acute illness or injury constituted the stress-exposed group, while 366 children (222 M, 144 F, mean age 6.2 +/- 4.6 y) admitted for elective minor surgery represented the stress-unexposed group and were considered as the control group. SH was defined as plasma glucose concentrations > or = 8.3 mmol l(-1) during an acute illness. Stress-exposed patients had significantly higher glycaemic levels than controls (5.6 +/- 1.4 vs 4.7 +/- 0.7 mmol l(-1); p < 0.0001). SH was found in 41 (4.9%) stress-exposed patients and in none of the controls. SH was significantly more prevalent in children affected by febrile seizures (12.9%) or traumatic injuries (11.7%; p < 0.008 and p < 0.02, respectively, vs other diagnoses). A significant correlation was found between glycaemia and systolic pressure (r = 0.1; p < 0.01), white cell count (r = 0.12; p < 0.0003) and body temperature (r = 0.16; p < 0.0001). SH was more frequent in patients with body temperature > 39 degrees C (14%) than in those with a temperature < or = 39 degrees C (4%; p < 0.0008). SH was more prevalent in clinical conditions of fever associated with seizures or pain (12.9% and 12.5%, respectively) than fever alone (4.4%). After a mean period of 3.5 +/- 0.6 y of follow-up none of the hyperglycaemic patients had developed diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: Traumatic injuries, febrile seizures or conditions in which an elevated body temperature may be found are frequently associated with SH in children. In the presence of these conditions specific studies directed towards unmasking a prediabetic state may be unnecessary.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Growth hormone insufficiency in a girl with the autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy.

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is an inherited disease which may comprise many endocrine and non-endocrine components. GH insufficiency has not been recognised as a classical manifestation of this syndrome. We describe the case of a girl with APECED, who presented with four endocrine (hypoparathyroidism, Addison's disease, hypothyroidism, gonadal failure) and three non-endocrine components (candidiasis, ectodermal dystrophy and lichen ruber planus). In addition, growth failure was documented beginning at approximately 8 years; bone age was delayed and stimulated GH peaks after clonidine and arginine were 2.2 and 9.2 microg/l, respectively. A partial empty sella was found on a computed tomography scan of the hypothalamic-pituitary region. At 10.5 years rhGH therapy was started and height gain of 26 cm was observed after 2.7 years of treatment. Puberty started at 11.2 years and menarche occurred at 12.7 years. At 13.25 years rhGH therapy was discontinued owing to frequent hypocalcemic crises; serum IGF-1 levels were persistently low in the following years (between 160 and 180 microg/l, normal range for age 250-600 microg/l). The patient attained a final height of 160.8 cm, which was appropriate for her target height. The presence of lichen ruber planus and GH insufficiency probably secondary to empty sella are two unusual findings in patients with APECED.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Lipophilic thiamine treatment in long-standing insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Thiamine plays an important role in the regulation of glucose metabolism and pancreatic beta-cell functioning. A role for this vitamin in cellular glucose transport has been indicated in the literature. The aim of this study was to determine whether a lipophilic form of thiamine (benzoyloxymethyl-thiamine, BOM) was able to improve metabolic control in patients with long-standing insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 1). A total of 10 children with type 1 diabetes of long duration (age 11.4 +/- 1.2 years, duration of the disease 4.5 +/- 0.7 years, means +/- SEM) were studied before and after treatment with BOM in a randomized double-blind and placebo-controlled study. Five patients were assigned to the BOM-treated group and five to the placebo-group. In all patients basal and glucagon-stimulated C-peptide secretion was undetectable. Thiamine status was assayed by measuring the plasma content of thiamine and its monophosphate form at entry and after 3 months of treatment. The blood HbA(1C) levels and the daily dose of insulin per kg body weight were assessed in both groups before treatment, after 1 month and 3 months of treatment, then 3 months following its suspension. The plasma content of thiamine + thiamine monophosphate in type 1 diabetic patients (35.3 +/- 3.6 pmol/mL) was significantly lower when compared with that measured in six age-matched normal subjects (53.2 +/- 2.3 pmol/mL, P < 0.05).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Intellectual outcome at 12 years of age in congenital hypothyroidism.

BACKGROUND: The intellectual outcome in children with congenital hypothyroidism detected by neonatal screening is generally good; however, subtle neurological dysfunctions, subnormal IQ, or both, have been reported. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the intellectual outcome in 12-year-old patients with congenital hypothyroidism, detected by neonatal screening, in an attempt to identify factors that may affect intellectual development. METHODS: The intelligence quotient (IQ) of 40 children with congenital hypothyroidism was evaluated at 12 years of age, using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children -- Revised, and compared with the IQ of 40 healthy siblings (control group). RESULTS: The mean IQ score (88.4+/-13.1) was not significantly different from that of the control group (93.4+/-10.7). Thirteen patients showed subnormal IQ score (72.4+/-4.9) compared with their siblings (86.7+/-9.6; P<0.0001) and with the other patients (96.1+/-9.6; P<0.0001). The low IQ score was associated with lower serum concentrations of thyroxine at diagnosis, poor treatment compliance during follow-up and lower familial IQ. Interviews with parents of children with congenital hypothyroidism revealed that a refusal to acknowledge the disease was linked to poor attention to the child's emotional life and to poor treatment compliance in some cases (11%). CONCLUSION: Even though the mean IQ score in patients with congenital hypothyroidism falls within normal for the control population, low IQ scores may be present in patients with severe hypothyroidism, inadequate compliance to replacement therapy during follow-up and poor parental pedagogic attitude.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1998

Central precocious puberty: a single blood sample after gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist administration in monitoring treatment.

This study was designed to evaluate whether a single blood sample drawn after the home injection of a long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist (GnRHa) in patients treated for central precocious puberty (CPP) could be a more simple and inexpensive test with respect to the conventional GnRH stimulating test in assessing adequate suppression of the pituitary-gonadal axis. The response to the first therapeutic injection of the GnRHa triptorelin was studied in 14 newly diagnosed untreated females with CPP. The results were compared with the response that the same patients had to the conventional GnRH stimulation test performed at the time of diagnosis. A significant increase in LH, FSH and E2 levels was observed 12 h after the triptorelin intramuscular injection; serum peak values of LH (70.3 +/- 58.5 IU/l), FSH (44.2 +/- 21.7 IU/l) and E2 (489.7 +/- 263.9 pmol/l) were significantly greater than those obtained with the conventional GnRH test (LH 31.4 +/- 21.7, p = 0.002; FSH 19.8 +/- 10. 7, p = 0.001; E2 83.3 +/- 25, p < 0.001). In particular, the E2 response, 12 h after triptorelin injection, was clearly consistent with gonadal activation compared to the modest E2 increase in response to the GnRH test. Thereafter 22 girls who were already being treated with triptorelin for CPP were evaluated to see whether a single blood sample drawn 12 h after the therapeutic home injection of GnRHa could be informative in assessing adequate suppression of the pituitary-gonadal axis. This response was also compared to the conventional GnRH stimulation test performed 2 days before the therapeutic triptorelin injection. In 7 girls with evidence of pubertal progression, the E2 response following the GnRHa injection (136.3 +/- 44.4 pmol/l) was significantly higher with respect to the response after the GnRH stimulation test (73.0 +/- 0.0; p < 0.02) indicating an inadequate suppression of the pituitary-gonadal axis. The present data suggest that a single blood sample drawn 12 h after the therapeutic home administration of triptorelin provides a simple, comfortable and inexpensive means of monitoring pituitary as well as gonadal function in girls treated for CPP.

Child↗
PubMed1998

Long-term follow-up of diabetes in two patients with thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a 15-year follow-up of diabetes and to present data regarding pancreatic beta-cell function in two adolescents affected by the thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia (TRMA) syndrome. CASE REPORTS: The first patient (PMR) is a 17.5-year-old Italian girl who presented megaloblastic anemia at 7.5 months of age. At age 2.5 years, because of the presence of diabetes and sensorineural deafness, she was diagnosed with TRMA syndrome and started treatment with thiamine-HCl, followed very early by benzoyloxymethyl-thiamine (BOM-T). The second patient (PF) is a 16.8-year-old Italian boy born to consanguineous parents. Sensorineural deafness was diagnosed at age 1.5 years, while diabetes with ketoacidosis and megaloblastic anemia were diagnosed at age 3 years. Treatment with thiamine HCl was started immediately after diagnosis and changed to BOM-T 2 months later. Subsequent to the initiation of the vitamin, the two patients did not require insulin for approximately 7 and 10 years, respectively. Puberty was determinant in deteriorating the metabolic control in these patients, leading to treatment with an oral hypoglycemic agent and finally to a reinstitution of insulin therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The hormonal assessment in our patients (normal insulin response to oral glucose in childhood, preserved C-peptide secretion in case 2) and the good response to an oral hypoglycemic agent would indicate that the pancreatic disease may initiate as type 2 diabetes and may progress after several years to an insulin-requiring diabetes, as indicated by the exhaustion of the insulin secretory capacity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Assessment of clinical competence of medical school graduates in Italy with standardized patients. The opinion of the examinees].

An international collaborative project for the evaluation of clinical competence at the end of the Medical School curriculum using the ECFMG-CSA (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates--Clinical Skills Assessment) prototype was started in Italy in April 1996. Faculty representatives from Italian Medical Schools and experts from the ECFMG in Philadelphia participated in the Project. The CSA consists of integrated clinical encounters with 10 standardized patients during which the examinee is asked to obtain a focused history, perform a relevant physical examination and communicate initial diagnoses and management plan to the Standardized Patient (SP). The SP then completes checklists that are scored by Faculty members. The project was concluded in Spring 1998 and a total of 173 new graduates were examined. The data elaborated by the primary site in Chieti University will be available in the Fall 1998 by the ECFMG in Philadelphia. This preliminary communication reports the opinions of the examinees on the ECFMG-CSA, contained in the questionnaires administered after the test. Most of the examinees considered this new methodology as a valid tool for the assessment of clinical competence, especially history-taking and interpersonal skills and stated that the SP simulations were realistic. The 72% of examinees indicated that the Medical School curriculum does not adequately prepare for the CSA examination. Lastly, 68% was in favour of including the SP in the Medical Licensing Examination.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1997

Expression of growth hormone receptor by peripheral blood lymphocytes in children: evaluation in clinical conditions of impaired growth.

OBJECTIVE: It is widely accepted that the haematopoietic system is a target of growth hormone action and that GH may act as a lymphokine. The expression of GH receptors (GHR) on human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) has been reported previously in adult donors by dual fluorochrome flow cytometry. The aim of this study was to apply the cytofluorimetric method to the analysis of GHR expression on PBL in various human conditions characterized by different patterns of growth due to age or physiopathological conditions. SUBJECTS AND DESIGN: PBL from 38 normal (control) subjects (7 newborns, 18 prepubertal children, 13 adults) were studied in order to provide age-related physiological data. Twenty-two short children (18 with idiopathic short stature, 4 with Ullrich-Turner syndrome) were studied to determine the expression of GHR in conditions of impaired longitudinal growth which may or may not require GH treatment. METHODS: Analysis was performed using a fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated antibody specific for the GHR (mAb263) and phycoerythrin (PE)-anti CD2 (T and natural killer cells) or PE-anti CD2 (B cells) in dual fluorochrome flow cytometric assays. Results were expressed as mean fluorescent intensity (MFI). RESULTS: Adult CD2+ coils exhibited a significantly higher GHR expression (MFI 347 +/- 40) than that expressed in children and newborns (MFI 285 +/- 36 and 299 +/- 41, respectively, P < 0.001). A significantly increased expression of GHR on CD2+ cells was also found in short children (MFI 330 +/- 42 vs 285 42- 36, respectively; P < 0.002), whereas Ullrich-Turner syndrome patients did not show any difference from their age and gender matched controls (254 +/- 52 and 288 +/- 40, respectively). A negative relationship was found between GHR expression on CD2+ cells and height-SDS (r - 0.54, P < 0.0001) or BMI (r - 0.4, P < 0.015) in controls and short children, independent of their GH secretory status. Expression of GHR and CD20+ cells was higher than that expressed on CD2+ cells in all subjects. No appreciable differences were found in the MFI levels of GHR expression on CD20+ cells either among the different age group controls or between short children or Ullrich-Turner syndrome patients. A significant downregulation of expression was shown in CD20+ (P < 0.008) but not CD2+ cells after 6 months of GH treatment in 6 short children who had a poor response to GH provocative tests. CONCLUSIONS: GH receptor expression on immune cells in non-syndromic short children appears to be inversely related to the linear growth expression and BMI of the subjects, contrary to findings with hepatic derived serum GHBP. This finding may reflect alternate exon usage in lymphoid cells, and indicates that GH has a distinctive role in the immune system.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Growth pattern during the first 36 months of life in congenital adrenal hyperplasia (21-hydroxylase deficiency).

The longitudinal growth pattern during the first 36 months of life was studied in 24 patients (17 females) with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency by analyzing the mean required daily dose of cortisone with respect to steroid suppression, height and weight growth velocities and bone age maturation. All patients were treated with cortisone acetate and 9-fluorohydrocortisone. The standard deviation score for length (SDS-L), the percentage of ideal body weight (% IBW) and biochemical parameters, 17-hydroxy-progesterone (17-OHP) and androstenedione (A) were evaluated every 3 months; bone age (BA) was evaluated annually. At diagnosis, the female population of patients with respect to the males were younger (chronological age (CA): 15 +/- 14 vs. 45 +/- 16 days, p < 0.005) and had a higher % IBW (91.7 +/- 8.0 vs. 76.3 +/- 16.7%, p < 0.05). At 3 months of age (45 days after initiating treatment) the % IBW in males normalized (97 +/- 19%) and was similar to that found in females (101 +/- 12.8%). No differences were noted in SDS-L at the moment of diagnosis (females-1.1 +/- 1.1 vs. males -0.5 +/- 0.7); however, at 3 months of age the SDS-L in females increased (0.41 +/- 0.88, p < 0.005 vs. diagnosis SDS-L) whereas that of males progressively decreased to reach the nadir at 6 months (-1.41 +/- 0.96). No differences between males and females were noted throughout this time with regard to: (a) A or 17-OHP levels (neither of which were suppressed to 'control values'); (b) the dosage of cortisone received (13.5-17.8 mg/m2/day), and (c) change in BA/CA ratio. In all patients the SDS-target height (TH) correlated with the SDS-L at 2 years (r = 0.74, p < 0.0005) and at 3 years (r = 0.60, p < 0.02) of age. In 12 patients who reached 7 years of age the SDS-L correlated with both SDS-predicted adult height (PAH) (r = 0.75, p < 0.001) and SDS-TH (r = 0.80, p < 0.005). Although the commonly accepted definition of "good control' for patients with CAH has generally included, in addition to adequate suppression of hormone markers, normal growth and skeletal maturation, the present data suggest that normal growth and BA maturation are the most useful parameters to follow and not necessarily strive for hormone suppression. Early diagnosis and replacement therapy using cortisone doses less than those currently recommended allow normal growth within the genetic potential at least for the first 7 years of life.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗
PubMed1997

Assessment of red blood cell indices in growth-hormone-treated children.

In order to evaluate the effect of growth hormone (GH) on erythropoiesis, red blood cell (RBC) indices (hemoglobin, Hb; hematocrit, Ht; RBC count, and mean corpuscular volume, MCV) of 19 GH-deficient children (12 with isolated GH deficiency and 7 with multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies) between 2 months and 15 years of age were compared to those of 57 sex- and age-matched short normal controls before starting treatment with recombinant human GH (rhGH). The RBC indices were expressed as standard deviation score (SDS). Moreover, the RBC indices in the GH-deficient group were analyzed after the first 3 and 6 months of GH treatment and compared to those of 9 Ullrich-Turner syndrome (UTS) patients with GH therapy. Both patients with isolated and those with multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies presented significantly lower values of Hb-SDS (-1.6 +/- 1.0 and -2.0 +/- 1.4, respectively; p = 0.004), Ht-SDS (-1.55 +/- 0.9 and -2.5 +/- 2.1, respectively; p = 0.001) and RBC-SDS (-0.6 +/- 1.6 and -1.2 +/- 0.9, respectively; p = 0.002) when compared to controls (Hb-SDS: -0.6 +/- 1.4; Ht-SDS: -0.1 +/- 1.9; RBC-SDS: 0.17 +/- 1), in the presence of comparable MCV-SDS values. In contrast, RBC indices did not differ between patients with isolated and those with multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies. When the variations of RBC indices were analyzed after 3 and 6 months of rhGH therapy in the 19 GH-deficient children, an increase in the Hb-SDS (p = 0.01), Ht-SDS (p = 0.03) and RBC-SDS was observed, indicating an early stimulatory effect on RBC proliferation in these patients. However, an analysis of the RBC indices in the group of UTS patients did not reveal any significant change after both 3 and 6 months of therapy with rhGh. The increase in Hb, Ht, and RBC count observed during GH treatment confirms the in vivo erythropoietic growth-promoting effects of GH. However, this effect seems to be related only to conditions of GH deficiency. When GH deficiency is associated with multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies there are pathological influences on erythropoiesis which are not corrected until Gh treatment is started, indicating a 'permissive' role of GH in the hematopoietic system.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Pubertal growth, sexual maturation, and final height in children with IDDM. Effects of age at onset and metabolic control.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate growth and pubertal development in children with IDDM and the influence of the age at onset of IDDM and the degree of metabolic control on final height. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective evaluation of 62 subjects followed longitudinally both clinically and metabolically from the onset of IDDM until final height was reached. RESULTS: Height at diagnosis was within the normal percentiles in boys (0.5 +/- 1.0 standard deviation score [SDS]) and girls (0.4 +/- 1.0 SDS), but above the genetic target height (-1.0 +/- 0.9 SDS in boys and -1.1 +/- 0.6 SDS in girls; P = 0.0001 for both comparisons). Although a lesser height gain was observed during the ensuing years, the final height reached by boys (-0.4 +/- 1.1 SDS) and girls (-0.4 +/- 0.9 SDS) was higher than the genetic target height. Blunted total pubertal growth was observed both in boys (24.5 +/- 3.6 cm) and girls (20.1 +/- 4.2 cm). The decrease in height gain was independent of the duration of IDDM, the degree of metabolic control, or the insulin requirement. The greater the height at diagnosis, with respect to the genetic target height, the lesser was the subsequent height gain to reach final adult height (r = 0.34, p < 0.01). BMI increased with age as normally occurs in healthy children, independent of the duration of disease and the degree of metabolic control. Pubertal development began and progressed normally both in boys and girls. In boys, a testicular volume of 4 ml was reached at a mean age of 12.1 +/- 0.9 years. In girls, breast enlargement occurred at a mean age of 10.4 +/- 1.2 years and the mean age of menarche was 12.8 +/- 1.4 years. Pubertal development and progression occurred independent of the age at onset of IDDM, the glycemic control, or the insulin requirement during the pubertal period. CONCLUSIONS: Children with IDDM have normal onset of puberty and normal sexual maturation. Even though final height falls within the normal percentiles, the diminished height gain after diagnosis requires further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Anemia in infants with congenital hypothyroidism diagnosed by neonatal screening.

Although anemia is a common finding in adult hypothyroid patients, there are no studies on anemia in hypothyroid infants. The aim of this study, therefore, was to review the hematologic status during the first year of life in 50 infants with congenital hypothyroidism detected through the regional neonatal screening program. The mean age at diagnosis was 23.7 +/- 6.5 days and treatment was initially begun with a mean L-thyroxine dose of 6.8 +/- 1.3 micrograms/kg/day. Clinical and haematological assessments were performed at diagnosis, 3, 6 and 12 months of age. The patients were divided in 2 groups based on whether T4 serum concentration at diagnosis was < 3 micrograms/dl (Group A) or > or = 3 micrograms/dl (Group B). Data for hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Ht), red cells count (RCC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), serum iron and ferritin were expressed as Standard Deviation Score (SDS). Although at diagnosis the mean value of Hb-SDS, Ht-SDS and RCC-SDS were in the low-normal range in both groups, at 3 months of age the values in Group A (Hb -1.9 +/- 0.79; Ht -2.34 +/- 1.02; RCC -1.56 +/- 1.25) were significantly lower than in Group B (Hb -1.14 +/- 0.78, p < 0.005; Ht -1.59 +/- 0.94, p < 0.05; RCC -0.55 +/- 1.32, p < 0.02). A rise of the Hb, Ht and RCC values was observed in both groups from 6 to 12 months. The mean values of MCV-SDS and MCH-SDS were in the normal range at diagnosis in both groups, decrease progressively at 3 and 6 months and returned to normal at 12 months of age; no differences were found between the 2 groups at any time. Mean Hb levels at 3 months of age were correlated with mean serum T4 at diagnosis (r = 0.30, p < 0.05). The present results indicate that anemia is a frequent finding in infants with congenital hypothyroidism and is depended on the degree of neonatal hypothyroidism and imply that hypothyroidism during development may produce persisting changes even after thyroid replacement has begun.

Aging↗
PubMed1996

Thyroxine effect on intestinal Cl-/HCO3- exchange in hypo- and hyperthyroid rats.

Changes in transepithelial water and electrolyte transport as causative or contributing factors of the diarrhoea and constipation found associated with changes in thyroid physiology were studied. Albino Wistar rats were pharmacologically made either hypothyroid or hyperthyroid. After sacrifice, the small intestine was mounted in Ussing chambers in order to measure in vitro ion net fluxes under short-circuit conditions. Hypothyroid animals showed an increase in intestinal transit time, Cl- absorption (mainly due to an increment in its mucosal to serosal component) and residual ion flux (which is believed to represent HCO3- secretion) when compared with euthyroid animals. The hyperthyroid animals showed a decrease in Cl- mucosal to serosal transport. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between serum L-thyroxine (T4) levels and both net Cl- transport (r = -0.74, P < 0.00001) and residual ion flux (r = -0.55, P < 0.005). These results indicate that the effect of T4 is firstly to inhibit Cl-/HCO3- anion exchange thereby influencing transepithelial flux transport and secondly to affect intestinal motility. Such inhibition was not found when T4 was acutely added to rat ileum, suggesting that the effect on electrolyte transport probably requires protein synthesis. In conclusion, the phenomenon observed in vitro could explain the clinical manifestations of constipation and diarrhoea in hypo- and hyper-thyroidism respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Prognostic factors in the intellectual development at 7 years of age in children with congenital hypothyroidism.

The influence of the initial L-T4 dose and some other factors on the intellectual development was evaluated at 7 years of age in 47 congenitally hypothyroid children detected by the regional screening program. All patients were initially treated with 25 micrograms LT4/kg/day that represented a mean replacement dose of 6.8 +/- 1.3 micrograms/kg. Despite the "low" initial dose mean IQ at 7 years resulted within normal range (96 +/- 9). Twenty-eight patients initially treated with 6.0 +/- 0.6 micrograms L-T4/kg/day had a mean IQ (96 +/- 9) which was not different with respect to 19 patients (IQ 94 +/- 7) treated with a significantly higher L-T4 dose (8.1 +/- 0.9 micrograms/kg/day; p < 0.0001). The initial L-T4, dose did not correlate with IQ at 7 years whereas a significant correlation was found between IQ and serum T4 concentration at diagnosis (r = 0.35; p < 0.01) regardless of the fact that serum T4 concentration normalized after the first 2 months of therapy in both groups. Twenty-three patients whose serum T4 at diagnosis was < 2 micrograms/dl (1.0 +/- 0.5) had a mean IQ at 7 years (92 +/- 9) which was significantly lower than the 24 patients (IQ 98 +/- 7; p < 0.02) whose serum T4 was > 2 micrograms/dl (5.7 +/- 2.4; p < 0.001). The present findings suggest that the severity of neonatal hypothyroidism is an important factor in determining subsequent intellectual development of congenitally hypothyroid children.

Child↗
PubMed1995

Periodontal status and selected cultivable anaerobic microflora of insulin-dependent juvenile diabetics.

The periodontal status and subgingival microflora of insulin-dependent juvenile diabetic (JD) patients (n = 16, mean age = 11.3) were compared with that of their non-diabetic cohabiting healthy siblings (HS, n = 16, mean age = 13.2). JD patients were monitored every 3 months for levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and clinical and microbial parameters were measured 6 weeks before drawing blood for levels of HbA1c (M% = 8.76). Clinical indices, measured for the entire permanent dentition, included: probing depth (PD), attachment level (AL), sulcus bleeding index (SBI), and plaque index (PI). Subgingival plaque samples were obtained at 2 sites from each subject; whenever possible, the site with the deepest probing depth and the mesial aspect of the maxillary right first molar were used. Microbial analyses were determined by cultural characteristics and biochemical tests. No significant differences were detected in any of the clinical indices for the entire dentition. The mean AL for JD sites was 2.32 +/- 0.83 mm and for HS sites was 2.2 +/- 0.85 mm. Mean percentage of total cultivable anaerobic microflora included Capnocytophaga spp. (JD, 13.21%; HS, 11%) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (JD, 5.1%; HS, 7.9%). Differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. When cluster analysis was performed on sampled sites, one cluster group in JD patients showed significantly elevated P. gingivalis and lower Capnocytophaga spp. levels as compared to the overall mean. The clinical parameters of this cluster were characterized by statistically significant greater loss of attachment and probing depth. These data would suggest few differences between JD patients and their HS in this population.

Adolescent↗