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Biomedical subjects

H M Hoey

Publications and source records attributed to H M Hoey.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

A longitudinal study of iron status in children at 12, 24 and 36 months.

OBJECTIVES: To assess iron status in a sample of clinically well, Caucasian children and explore the complex factors which contribute to iron deficiency during infancy. DESIGN: Infants recruited at birth and followed longitudinally at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 24 and 36 months; feeding practices and socioeconomic data recorded. Iron status assessed using venous blood at 12, 24 and 36 months. SETTING: Baseline data recorded in the maternity unit. Follow-up visits took place in the infants' homes and blood sampling in a paediatric hospital. SUBJECTS: Subjects comprised a mixed socioeconomic group of healthy children (n = 121). Blood samples taken from 85, 72 and 67% at 12, 24 and 36 months, respectively. RESULTS: Prevalence of anaemia (Hb < 110 g l(-1)) in the longitudinal sample (n = 76) increased from 2.6% at age 12 months to 9.2% at 24 months, and at age 36 months (n = 70) was 8%. The most significant finding was that at age 12 months, cows' milk consumption was negatively associated with iron status. Other variables also had an influence. At both 24 and 36 months the most significant predictor of iron status was earlier iron status. CONCLUSIONS: Infants born to anaemic mothers or mothers who smoke and infants who consume cows' milk during infancy are at increased risk of developing anaemia. Breast milk is the ideal, but for the infant who is not breast fed an iron fortified formula should be used. Advice to mothers should focus on the importance of introducing nutrient dense complementary foods, such as meat, which contains readily absorbable iron.

Anemia↗

Prevalence of renal malformation in Turner syndrome.

The presence of renal malformation was evaluated in 43 patients with Turner syndrome (TS) and compared with the karyotype in each case; 28 patients (65%) had a mosaic karyotype and the other 15 (35%) had only 45,X metaphases. Renal malformations characteristic of TS were found in 24% of the complete sample group. Of the 15 cases of pure 45,X karyotype, 8 (53%) had abnormal renal findings, while these were found in only 2 of the 28 mosaic cases (7.1%). The probability of this distribution having occurred by chance is P < 0.05. More than 50% of girls with TS are said to have a renal anomaly. In this study renal malformations were found in 25% of the sample group. A significantly greater association of renal malformation was found with monosomy 45,X than with mosaicism. As mosaicism occurs in up to 60% of all girls with TS, the lower figure reported here represents a truer prevalence than that quoted in older series, where the figures quoted applied only to the 45,X syndrome.

Child↗

Head circumference standards for Irish children.

A cross-sectional study measuring head circumference was performed on 3,344 Irish Children aged from 5 to 19 years. Comparison with other countries showed a slightly larger head circumference than the 1965 British standards produced by Tanner, but significantly smaller than the Ounsted data from Oxford. There was no significant difference between the urban and rural children, but the children of non-manual workers had a significantly larger head than those of manual workers.

Adolescent↗

Clinical growth standards for Irish children.

A cross-sectional study, measuring height and weight, was performed on a representative sample of 3,509 Irish children aged from 5 to 19 years inclusive. Comparison with other countries showed a significantly later pubertal growth spurt than either the U.K. or the U.S. However, the final adult height and weight are similar to other countries as in the weight-for-height of children aged 5 to 9 years. The urban children are taller than the rural and the higher socio-economic groups are taller than the lower at all ages, but all achieved the same final adult height. Longitudinal tempo-conditional growth standards were constructed based on the Irish cross-sectional and menarche data together with all the available information from longitudinal studies. These charts are similar to those of the U.K., but the use of colours allows more information to be put on the charts, thus making them more suitable for clinical use.

Adolescent↗

Neonatal hyperparathyroidism.

We describe a girl with congenital hyperparathyroidism who presented soon after birth with respiratory distress, hypotonia, feeding difficulties, and bone deformities. Hypercalcaemia, hypophosphataemia, and raised alkaline phosphatase were present and plasma parathyroid hormone levels measured by radioassay and bioassay were raised. X-rays showed gross demineralisation with metaphyseal fractures, erosions, and sub-periostal reaction along the bones. Following surgical removal of four hyperplastic parathyroid glands and subsequent maintainance therapy with 1-alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol there has been virtually complete reversal of her bone abnormalities.

Female↗

Psychosocial aspects of short stature.

Normal growth in childhood requires, amongst other factors, an emotionally supportive environment. Psychosocial deprivation results in poor growth, and also growth disorders themselves can cause psychosocial problems /1/.

Adaptation, Psychological↗