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Biomedical subjects

G Morgese

Publications and source records attributed to G Morgese.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Approaches to quality of control in diabetes care.

Management methods for quality of diabetes care need new approaches because of the poor metabolic control of most of these patients. Poor quality of care generally results from poor instruction and training rather than from misbehaviour of both patients and their families. Structure quality of care (who and where?), process quality (how?, which are the goals, what resolution is taken and what advice for every-day life is given) and outcome quality (which measurements must be done for the evaluation of the progression of the disease and its control) must all be ameliorated and improved. Regional governments and communities should raise funds for the establishment of diabetes centers, giving recognition and economic support to diabetic children and their families and providing for educational programs on diabetic management and care. The educational aspect seems to be crucial for a good metabolic control not only for the practice of treatment (insulin dosage, home blood glucose monitoring, diet, insulin algorithms), but especially for the active involvement of patients and their families in the management of diabetes. It is also important to consider social and cultural differences among patients in order to arrange therapy according to the individual's characteristics and needs. Improvement of quality of care in diabetic children and adolescents must be pursued; better glycemic control is, in fact, one of the major factors which can contribute to possibly reduce the frequency of macro- and microvascular diabetic complications in the coming years.

Adolescent↗

Hypoglycemia in childhood: a clinical approach.

A child with hypoglycemia presents very frequently an urgent diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The main causes of hypoglycemia and the clinical approach and laboratory investigations are reviewed underlining that the relationship between the hypoglycemic event and the last meal can aid in diagnosis, in particular for metabolic diseases. Only a correct and precise diagnosis can allow adequate and appropriate treatment and prevention of future hypoglycemic events.

Child↗

Leptin levels in non-obese and obese children and young adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serum leptin levels in children and young adults with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and to investigate whether they are different in prepuberty, puberty and young adulthood. DESIGN: Three groups of diabetics (prepubertal, pubertal and young adults) subdivided into obese and non-obese were studied. Three groups of healthy subjects matched for sex, age and body mass index served as controls. RESULTS: Diabetic patients had serum leptin concentrations similar to those of controls in all three groups. A small non-significant increase in leptin from the prepubertal to the young adult age group for both diabetics and controls was found. A significant association of serum leptin level with body mass index (P < 0.001), female sex (P < 0.001) and age (P < 0.01) in both the diabetic and control group was present. Insulin-dependent diabetes was not associated with higher leptin concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Serum leptin concentrations are similar in diabetic patients and healthy controls. The association between obesity and leptin concentration was similar in the diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. Type 1 diabetes mellitus does not modify serum leptin concentration.

Adolescent↗

Blue-on-yellow and achromatic perimetry in diabetic children without retinopathy.

OBJECTIVE: We compared blue-on-yellow perimetry with achromatic perimetry to determine whether the first was more sensitive in detecting visual field defects. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We studied 50 children and adolescents (22 male, 28 female) with IDDM, ranging in age from 10.1 to 16.3 years (mean 13.3+/-2.1 years), with a disease duration of 5.2-10.0 years (mean 7.1+/-1.9 years). Patients were divided into subgroups according to the presence of persistent microalbuminuria. No one had signs of diabetic retinopathy when studied with fluorescein angiography. RESULTS: By achromatic perimetry, the analysis of subareas of the central 30 degrees of the visual field (0-9 degrees; 10-18 degrees; out of 18 degrees) showed no differences between diabetic subgroups in the central 18 degrees of the visual field, while a significant difference between the same subgroups was found outside the 18 degrees of the 24-2 program of the Humphrey perimeter (P = 0.027). By blue-on-yellow perimetry, in all three of the perimetric subareas evaluated, the sensitivity was lower in microalbuminuric patients than in normoalbuminuric ones. The differential sensitivity between the perimetric tests performed with blue-on-yellow and with achromatic stimuli showed statistically significant data, with a higher level of significance in the central 18 degrees (P < 0.0001) than outside the 18 degrees (P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that blue-on-yellow perimetry is more useful and more sensitive than achromatic perimetry in the detection of preclinical visual field defects in diabetic children with microalbuminuria but without clinically detectable retinopathy.

Adolescent↗

Relationship between contrast sensitivity and metabolic control in diabetics with and without retinopathy.

Contrast sensitivity was studied in diabetic adolescents and young adults with and without retinopathy in order to evaluate their central vision, to analyze the relationship of metabolic control to the presence and severity of retinopathy, and to re-evaluate the response to this test after a significant improvement in metabolic control. Twenty adolescent and young adult diabetics without retinopathy and 40 diabetics with retinopathy of varying degree were enrolled in the study; 20 healthy age and sex-matched subjects served as controls. Contrast sensitivity was assessed with a CSV-1000 contrast testing instrument, testing for four spatial frequencies, 3, 6, 12 and 18 cycles per degree (cpd). Diabetics with no retinopathy showed a weak but significant difference at 18 cpd compared with controls (P = 0.04), while diabetics with background retinopathy showed a significant reduction of contrast sensitivity at 12 and 18 cpd when compared with controls (P < 0.001). In patients with preproliferative/proliferative retinopathy a highly significant reduction of contrast sensitivity at all frequencies was found compared with controls. Furthermore, these patients had a significantly lower mean contrast sensitivity than patients without retinopathy. The patients were re-evaluated after a significant amelioration of metabolic control. An improvement in contrast sensitivity was found in diabetics without retinopathy and with background retinopathy, while there was no change observed in diabetics with severe retinopathy. These results show that diabetic adolescents and young adults with and without signs of retinopathy observed by fluorescein angiography have a reduced contrast sensitivity, which is more severe in patients with preproliferative/proliferative retinopathy. A significant amelioration of metabolic control is associated with an improvement of contrast sensitivity in all patients with the exception of those patients who had signs of preproliferative/proliferative retinopathy observed by fluorescein angiography. In summary, this longitudinal study provides the first evidence that reduced contrast sensitivity is reversible in diabetics with or without background retinopathy only.

Adolescent↗

Controversies on the prevention of diabetic nephropathy.

Renal function declines progressively in patients with diabetic nephropathy and the decline may be slowed by some preventive interventions. Optimized and intensive insulin therapy delays the onset and slows the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Moreover, dietary restriction, avoiding a high protein intake, could be effective in reducing glomerular hyperfiltration. Finally, there is evidence that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors reduce renal damage by one or more mechanisms independent of their antihypertensive effects. Some controversial aspects of the prevention of diabetic kidney disease are presented and discussed.

Albuminuria↗

Familial Mediterranean fever in two Italian brothers.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disease of unknown etiology, characterized by recurrent self limited episodes of fever and polyserositis. Some patients develop generalized amyloidosis, which can be fatal. Colchicine therapy modifies the natural history of the disease by decreasing the attack frequency and preventing amyloid deposition. The disease is common among Sephardic Jews, Arabs, Armenians and has also been sporadically found in other ethnic groups of Mediterranean origin. We report two cases of FMF in brothers living in Abruzzo, Italy. They were born from consanguineous parents and complained typical symptoms since childhood. The boy suffered from one febrile attack every week; he presented three episodes of acute scrotum at age 8 and 9. The elder sister showed a spontaneous partial relief during adolescence. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis was suspected and Aspirin was used for many years without any clinical improvement. Treatment with colchicine 1 mg/day was established at age 13 and 17 respectively, and a sudden reduction of frequency of attacks was obtained. A gingival biopsy did not show amyloid. The three elder brothers are, at present, in good health. Our experience point out the diagnostic difficulties of FMF especially in a country where the disease is uncommon.

Adolescent↗

Does puberty interfere with asthma?

This study reviews whether, to date, scientific evidence exists that puberty interferes with the occurrence of asthma. This question was triggered by three points: (a) clinical experience with asthma as a relatively benign disease that children often 'grow out of'; (b) observations implying that asthma can change during fluctuations of sexual steroid hormones; and (c) knowledge that puberty is an age of deep hormonal changes. No scientific evidence was found that pubertal changes interfere with the occurrence of asthma. Nevertheless, there is a general agreement about the influence of age and sex on its outcome. The overall occurrence of the disease, which is highest in childhood, declines with age. In the wane phenomena, puberty does not seem to be more important than previous ages. Furthermore, the pattern of occurrence is different in the two sexes. Boys have more asthma before 10 years of age or the mid-teens. Girls then overtake boys and have more asthma up to the years of sexual maturity. During the fifth or sixth decade, asthma again seems to become slightly more prevalent in men than women, or at least the difference between the sexes disappears. It is concluded that the risk of asthma is not influenced by puberty. Age and sex seem to be more important factors, although the reason for this is unknown.

Adolescent↗

Lipids and lipoproteins in diabetic adolescents and young adults with retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To compare serum concentrations of lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in insulin-dependent diabetic patients with and without retinopathy. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed on 42 diabetic adolescents and young adults with different degrees of retinopathy. The mean +/- SD age of the patient was 21.1 years (range 12.8-27.9 years); their mean duration of diabetes was 12.3 years (range 7.1-19.9 years). Their glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and fructosamine were respectively 10.2% (8.2-15.4%) and 280.8 mumol/l (202.1-458.5 mumol/l). Forty-two diabetics without retinopathy similar to the study population as regards age, sex, duration of disease, HbA1c and microalbuminuria values, and 42 healthy subjects, served as controls. RESULTS: Serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations were not different from those of healthy controls in patients either with or without retinopathy. The diabetic patients were subdivided in two groups according to the degree of their retinopathy: background and preproliferative/proliferative retinopathy. Patients with preproliferative/proliferative retinopathy were found to have significantly higher lipoprotein (a) values than the other group (background, 73.3 IU/l; preproliferative/proliferative, 205.9 IU/l; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The increase in lipoprotein (a) levels might play a role in the development of severe retinopathy.

Adolescent↗

Changes in serum lipids and lipoproteins in epileptic children treated with anticonvulsants.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of long-term treatment of phenobarbital, carbamazepine and sodium valproate on serum lipids and lipoproteins in epileptic children. METHODOLOGY: One hundred and fourteen (55 male, 59 female) children and adolescents suffering from various types of epilepsy who received different antiepileptic drugs were studied. The patients were subdivided into three groups according to their therapy: (i) carbamazepine (35 patients); (ii) phenobarbital (34 patients); and (iii) sodium valproate (45 patients). One-hundred healthy sex- and age-matched children served as controls. Lipids and lipoprotein profile were evaluated before the beginning of the anticonvulsant therapy and after at least 2.5 years. In the patients receiving phenobarbital, we re-evaluated 12 children (seven male, five female) at the end of therapy. RESULTS: The children receiving phenobarbital showed high levels of serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and low levels of triglycerides, while children treated with carbamazepine had high levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Children treated with valproate had low triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels with high levels of HDL cholesterol. The patients treated with phenobarbital showed a normalization of all parameters after the end of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Anticonvulsant drugs significantly modify serum lipids and lipoproteins in epileptic children. The changes due to phenobarbital seem to be transient.

Adolescent↗

Hepatitis B vaccine: current issues.

OBJECTIVE: To review two main issues concerning the hepatitis B vaccine: (1) the management of unresponsive subjects and (2) the need for routine booster doses. DATA SOURCES: Pertinent literature identified via MEDLINE (1980-1996) search as well as references cited in published articles. DATA SYNTHESIS: The optimal procedure for management of subjects unresponsive to hepatitis B vaccine has not been well established. Most unresponsive subjects are not absolute nonresponders, since most of them can develop protective concentrations of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBsAg) after hepatitis B revaccination, consisting of a fourth or a fifth dose or a new complete course of immunization. In subjects who do not respond to the hepatitis B vaccine after four or more injections, the benefits of the combination of cytokines (e.g., interferon-alfa, interleukin-2 [aldesleukin]) and vaccine have not been clearly shown. There are two main opinions regarding the need for routine booster doses. Experts from the US, claiming long-term protection from immunologic memory, suggest delaying booster doses for at least a decade after vaccination in subjects with normal immune status. Furthermore, postvaccination antibody testing should be restricted only to high-risk subjects. Once a vaccinated subject has responded satisfactorily, further antibody tests are unnecessary. Only hemodialysis patients should be tested annually for adequate antibody concentrations and the booster dose administered when concentrations decline to less than 10 IU/L. Experts from Europe suggest that vaccine-induced antibody responses should be assessed in all subjects and booster doses administered at intervals, with the theory being that protection correlates with the presence of antibody. However, indications about appropriate timing for booster doses and target titers of anti-HBsAg remain controversial. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to obtain seroconversion in nonresponders by using variations in vaccination strategies (i.e., > 3 doses, double amounts of HBsAg). Adjuvants such as interferon-alfa or aldesleukin are of limited use. The opinions of American experts regarding routine booster doses, as expressed by the statement of the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee, seem to be well defined and helpful to clinicians trying to resolve controversies for individual patients. The opinions of the European experts are not unanimous and are sometimes impractical. A consensus conference is needed.

Antibodies, Viral↗

The importance of microalbuminuria as an indicator of incipient diabetic nephropathy: therapeutic implications.

Nephropathy is the major life-threatening complication of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The clinical syndrome is characterized by persistent albuminuria (greater than 300 mg day), a rise in arterial blood pressure, and a relentless decline in glomerular filtration rate leading to end-stage renal failure. The availability of a radioimmunoassay for detecting albumin in low concentrations in urine has allowed the study of urinary albumin excretion rates in diabetics well before clinically persistent proteinuria develops. An albumin excretion rate greater than that in normal subjects and lower than that in macroalbuminuric subjects is called microalbuminuria (range 20-200 microg/min or 30-300 mg/24 h). Although recent studies have challenged the predictive value of microalbuminuria for later development of overt diabetic nephropathy, albumin excretion rate in the microalbuminuric range and its tracking (i.e. annual increase) are still considered reliable markers for prediction of later overt diabetic kidney disease. Overnight urinary collection is preferred for calculation of the rate of albumin excretion, but may be difficult to perform precisely. The albumin:creatinine ratio of the first morning urine sample is a reliable screening method: the microalbuminuric range is considered to be 2.5-25 mg/mmol or 30-300 mg/g (3.5 mg/mol has been proposed as lower limit in females because of their lower creatinine excretion). Irrespective of the procedure used, at least two samples over a 3-6-month period should test positive before microalbuminuria is confirmed and 'persistent microalbuminuria' defined. If the albumin excretion rate is persistently in the microalbuminuric range it is of crucial importance to define strategies and carry out interventions for prevention of decline in kidney function. The goal of achieving the best glycaemic control as early as possible in as many IDDM patients as is safely possible is particularly important in microalbuminuric patients. Although it is unsafe to reduce dietary protein intake drastically, particularly in children and adolescents, moderate decrease of protein intake (i.e. 0.9-1.1/g/kg day) is advisable in diabetic patients from the very beginning of the disease. Timely treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, independently of rise in arterial blood pressure, should be considered if improvement of glycaemic control and moderate decrease of dietary protein intake for 6-12 months have failed to reduce the albumin excretion rate. Screening programmes for microalbuminuria and early intervention can substantially modify the natural history of diabetic renal involvement and disease and possibly reduce the incidence of end-stage renal failure.

Albuminuria↗

Serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF binding protein-3 levels in children with precocious puberty treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog without or in combination with cyproterone acetate.

In order to assess the behavior of growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in girls with central precocious puberty treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog-therapy, we studied 14 girls with this condition, the patients were subdivided into two groups, according to the therapy followed. Group A (n = 7; age 4.2-7.1 years) received GnRH analog in combination with cyproterone acetate, and Group B (n = 7; age 4.4-6.9 years) received long-acting analog alone. Before treatment, IGF-I levels were significantly increased compared to healthy age-matched children in the two groups (447 +/- 33 micrograms/l for Group A and 435 +/- 38 micrograms/l for Group B vs. control 175 +/- 78 micrograms/l; p < 0.01). Moreover, serum IGFBP-3 levels were significantly higher than the age-related reference range for IGFBP-3 (4478.2 +/- 178 micrograms/l for Group A and 4532.3 +/- 167 micrograms/l for Group B vs. control 2905 +/- 641 micrograms/l; p < 0.01). During the two years of gonadal suppression, Group A patients showed a significant decrease in IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels, while in Group B there was no significant change in IGF-I; moreover, in Group B, IGFBP-3 levels increased significantly compared to baseline values during the first year of treatment (4532.3 +/- 167 micrograms/l vs. 5410.3 +/- 169 micrograms/l; p < 0.05) and decreased significantly at the end of the second year of treatment (3816.1 +/- 189 micrograms/l vs. 5410.3 +/- 169 micrograms/l; p < 0.01). Our study shows that the two different treatments of precocious puberty (with and without cyproterone acetate) have different effects on IGF-I and IGFBP-3, and suggests that these growth factors are under different metabolic regulation.

Child↗

Flicker perimetry in diabetic children without retinopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the flicker fusion frequency in children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) who did not have fluorescein angiographic signs of retinopathy. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Antidiabetic Centre, departments of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy. PATIENTS: Forty-five patients aged 9 to 18 years with IDDM without fluorescein angiographic signs of retinopathy. Forty-five healthy subjects matched for sex and age constituted the control group. The patients were classified into two subgroups according to their metabolic control: good (percentage hemoglobin Alc 9% or less) or poor (percentage hemoglobin Alc greater than 9%). OUTCOME MEASURES: Retinal flicker fusion frequency, evaluated with an automated flicker perimeter in the central 30 degrees of the visual field. RESULTS: The subjects with poor metabolic control had a significantly lower mean flicker fusion frequency than the control subjects (27.43 Hz [standard deviation (SD) 5.16 Hz] vs. 38.72 Hz [SD 4.27 Hz]) and the patients with good metabolic control (33.94 Hz [SD 5.54 Hz]) (p < 0.001). There was a significant relation between flicker fusion frequency and the percentage of hemoglobin Alc (r = -0.533, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that children with poorly controlled IDDM without fluorescein angiographic signs of retinopathy have an impairment of retinal flicker sensitivity in the central 30 degrees of the central visual field and that this impairment is related to the degree of metabolic control. Flicker perimetry is a simple, noninvasive tool that may be useful to evaluate the eye function of diabetic children.

Adolescent↗

Early infantile epileptic encephalopathy: a long-term follow-up study.

The authors describe the electroclinical aspects and long-term evolution of five (in one male and four female patients) cases of early infantile epileptic encephalopathy in the neonatal period, the most common seizures were tonic spasms (either generalized or lateralized) that, very often, occurred in series. All newborns showed the typical suppression-burst pattern. The neurological status (initially normal) progressively deteriorated in the subsequent months, and all infants suffered from severe mental insufficiency and daily intractable seizures. Four out of the five children developed hypsarrythmia and one, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. The authors discuss the main problems related to the suppression-burst pattern and the long-term prognosis of this abnormality.

Anticonvulsants↗

Severe hypoglycemia in insulin-dependent diabetic children treated by multiple injection insulin regimen.

The occurrence and risk factors of severe hypoglycemic attacks were analyzed during a 4-year study in a group of children and adolescents who received human insulin and followed a multiple daily injection regimen (three or four injections per day); 29 patients experienced severe hypoglycemia at least once in 4 years. Of these, 13 suffered recurrent episodes: 8 had two episodes, 4 had four episodes, and 1 patient had seven episodes. For comparative purposes, the nonhypoglycemic population (217 diabetic children) was used as a control group. The hypoglycemic children received insulin doses which were significantly higher than for nonhypoglycemic patients (1.05 +/- 0.6 U/kg daily vs 0.87 +/- 0.7; P < 0.05). Moreover, the hypoglycemic group had a significantly higher mean number of previous episodes of severe hypoglycemia than the nonhypoglycemic group (0.98 +/- 1.2 vs 0.26 +/- 0.7; P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in age, sex, duration of disease, and metabolic control between hypoglycemic and nonhypoglycemic children. There was no association between severe hypoglycemia and the presence of retinopathy, persistent microalbuminuria, or autonomic neuropathy. Severe hypoglycemia is a recurrent problem, not related to the quality of metabolic control nor to the presence of long-term microvascular complications, and diabetic children with a personal history of severe hypoglycemia are at risk for future episodes.

Adolescent↗

Neonatal diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis.

Intracranial tumors are rare in the neonatal period, and generally the most common histological types are astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, choroid plexus papilloma and neuroectodermal tumors. The early diagnosis of these tumors is often very difficult. The authors report a case of a full-term newborn who presented with opisthotonus. A subependymal mass was detected by cerebral ultrasonography, and when the child was 1 month of age depigmentations appeared on the trunk and on the right leg, confirming the suspicion of tuberous sclerosis. At 3 months of age the child suffered infantile spasm with hypsarrhythmia. The developmental delay, the marked progressive neurological deterioration and the daily seizures suggested surgical resection. Histologic studies showed a subependymal giant cell astrocytoma such as typically occurs in tuberous sclerosis.

Brain↗

Macular recovery time in diabetic children without retinopathy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether patients with initial diabetic nephropathy (defined as persistent microalbuminuria) have an impairment of macular recovery time and if this impairment changes in a long-term follow-up. Eighty insulin-dependent diabetic children without fluorescein angiographic signs of retinopathy and 80 controls were included in the study. All patients underwent nyctometry at the beginning of the study; diabetic children repeated the same test after 7 years. Diabetics were divided into two subgroups as regards presence of persistent microalbuminuria (albumin excretion rate > 20 micrograms/min/1.73 m2). At the beginning of the study, diabetics as a whole and normoalbuminuric patients showed similar data to controls, while microalbuminuric ones showed worse data at nyctometry (initial recovery time (IRT): 44.89 +/- 12.50; Summation method (SM): 509.1 +/- 312.0) in comparison with normoalbuminuric (IRT: 38.12 +/- 10.31, P = 0.010; SM 648.6 +/- 272.2, P = 0.036) and control subjects (IRT: 37.77 +/- 11.82, P = 0.004; SM: 661.5 +/- 297.5, P = 0.013). After 7 years, normoalbuminuric subjects showed a slight, but not significant worsening of nyctometry, while in microalbuminuric ones a significant difference between baseline and the end of follow-up was found (IRT: 44.89 +/- 12.50 vs. 52.91 +/- 13.9, P < 0.01; SM: 509.1 +/- 312.0 vs. 374.8 +/- 271.9, P < 0.05). Diabetic patients had a higher rate of abnormal IRT and SM than controls (P = 0.0004 and P = 0.0006, respectively). A higher number of patients in microalbuminuric subgroup than in normoalbuminuric one were found (both at baseline and at the end of follow-up) above the 95th centile of IRT (baseline 3 vs. 15; P = 0.0002; end of follow-up 5 vs. 23; P < 0.0001) and below the 5th centile of SM (baseline 5 vs. 14; P = 0.004; end of follow-up 5 vs. 19; P < 0.0001). Nyctometry was found more altered in microalbuminuric patients than in normoalbuminuric and controls. Unfortunately, there is a large overlap between the two diabetic subgroups and between diabetics and controls; for this reason, this technique is not suited for everyday practice.

Adolescent↗