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Biomedical subjects

M Popa

Publications and source records attributed to M Popa.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Immunoreactive insulin (IRI) dynamics in GH-deficient patients following intravenous glycine loading.

In hypopituitary short-statured patients glycine intravenous injection (250 mg/kg of body weight) provokes a mild and inconstant stimulation of IRI release followed by a significant fall down. Though insiginificant (P 0.064), the prevalence of IRI responsive individuals to glycine in the patients group of idiopathic etiology could be of pathophysiological importance.

Adolescent↗

[The prevalence of bronchial asthma in 13- to 14-year-old schoolchildren in the city of Bistriţa].

Asthma is a major worldwide public health problem, with a prevalence in children which varies in different geographical areas from 0 to 30%. The true prevalence of the disease is not known exactly due to the lack of consensus of its definition and because the different methods used by the studies for obtaining epidemiological data. The authors study the prevalence of asthma among schoolchildren aged 13-14 years, from Bistriţa, using the ISAAC standardised methodology, world-wide accepted. A total number of 889 schoolchildren aged 13-14 years from local schools, were enrolled in the study, the sample representing 63.67% of all 1396 schoolchildren of the same age registered in the 1996/1997 school year in Bistriţa. The first step consisted of completing a questionnaire about asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema. Seventy-five (8.43%) schoolchildren gave positive response to asthma and asthma associated symptoms, with a prevalence of 7.43% in boys (33 from the total of 444) and 9.43% in girls (42 of 445). In the second step 61 schoolchildren of those who gave positive responses to the questionnaires about asthma-wheezing, representing 81.33% of the total number of 75, were complex examined (history and physical examination, respiratory function and allergological tests). The following results were obtained by correlation of questionnaires and complex examinations: 17 subjects known with asthma before completing the questionnaire, 1 with probable asthma and 21 with certain asthma. Those 39 children represent 4.38% of the total number of schoolchildren who had been examined, with a gender rate of 19 boys (4.27%) and 20 girls (4.49%). In conclusion, the estimated asthma prevalence among 13-14 years old schoolchildren from Bistriţa is 4.38%, with a similar gender rate. The prevalence data found for 13-14 years old schoolchildren in Bistriţa are comparable to those made in other geographical areas in Romania, and to those reported by former socialist countries from Eastern Europe.

Adolescent↗

[Marjolin's ulcer on burn scar, a curable but neglected disease].

We discuss 9 consecutive carcinomas developed on postburn scars. Our interest was focused on surgery, recurrence, metastasis and long-term survival. The delay between burn trauma and the first clinical manifestation was 25-63 years. The most common localisation was in the limbs (10). Two cases presented with visceral metastasis. We performed either wide excision and grafting (5) or amputation (5). From the anatomo-pathological stand point we encountered 8 SCC and 1 BCC. In 6 cases we had no local recidive or metastasis. One presented a local recidive. There were two deaths--lung metastasis and "spontaneous" rupture of invaded axillary artery. The Marjolin's ulcer has a low incidence because of the patient's poor education. The prophylactic attitude is optimal. We favour early excision--grafting of the deep burns, long-term follow-up, excision and grafting of unstable areas (joint area, depigmented regions, chronic ulcers). The optimal surgical technique is excision followed by skin grafting since it allows early detection of the recurrence.

Adult↗

Clinical assessment of cryptorchid boys by determination of urinary testosterone glucuronide following large doses of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

Urinary TG and fractionated 17-ketosteroid (Drosdowsky) determinations were performed before and after the intramuscular administration of 15,000 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in 10 sexually immature healthy boys and in 12 bilaterally cryptorchid boys. The same basal determinations were made in 11 gonadless girls. Basal serum FSH and LH were determined (by radioimmunoassay) in controls and also in cryptorchid boys. If 15mug/24 h (three SD's of basal excretion in controls) is considered the smallest adequate response, the TG but not the fractionated 17-KS determination assessed fairly well either the presence or the functional capacity of the Leydig cell-containing tissue. Agonadic girls had significantly higher basal excretion of steroids and this is presumably due to their greater absolute body size and to their more advanced bone age.

17-Ketosteroids↗

Growth hormone (GH) release by arginin-vasotocin (AVT) given intranasally in sexually immature children.

Eighteen healthy children were given 50 micrograms synthetic AVT intranasally and samples of serum for GH, magnesium and alpha-amino-nitrogen were drawn 30, 60 and 120 minutes later. There was a significantly different mean of GH peak level (13.1 +/- 3.02 microU/ml) which occurred generally at 30 minutes. The number of GH responders (i.e. peak level greater than 15 microU/ml) was of 7/18. The means of chemical determinations elicited little though opposite changes: slight increases in magnesium and slight decrease in alpha-amino-nitrogen. In a separate day, a sleep test of 30 minutes-duration performed in the morning resulted in a significantly greater GH peak level (28.2 +/- 9.7 microU/ml) but the number of GH responders was nearly the same (6/18). The serum magnesium levels following sleep decreased slightly and unsignificantly. The involvement of serotonergic neurons in mediating GH-releasing effects of AVT is briefly discussed.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Low level of urinary 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5 HIAA) in obese children having concomitantly high 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl glycol (MHPG) excretion.

Eighty six obese children and adolescents (44 males) were screened for urinary 5 HIAA and MHPG, noradrenaline (NA), and adrenaline (A) and the results compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Significantly lower amounts of 5 HIAA were found, by contrast to the significantly higher levels of MHPG. These findings cannot be easily explained but an alteration of the normal equilibrium between the adrenergic and the serotonergic tonus may be circumstantially invoked.

Adolescent↗

Thyroid hormone-induced reduction of urinary 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5 HIAA) in obese children. Comparison with hypothyroid patients of similar age having either pituitary dwarfism or congenital myxedema.

Urinary excretion of monoamine metabolites (noradrenaline-NA, adrenaline-A, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl glycol-MHPG, homovanillic acid-HVA, 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid-5 HIAA) was studied in four groups of children as follows: Group I consisting of obese children subjected to caloric restriction and to a short term course of thyroid extract in "low" dosage (1-2 mg/kg bwt), Group II consisting of obese children subjected to diet alone, Group III consisting of children myxedema and subjected to a short term course of thyroid extract given in the "high" dosage (3-5 mg/kg bwt) and Group IV consisting of GH deficient short children having (many of them) thyrotropin deficiency and subjected to a short term course of thyroid extract in "very high" dosage (5-10 mg/bwt). In obese, calorie-restricted children, the previously low mean level of 5 HIAA excretion was further lowered by thyroid extract. In obese children subjected to calorie restriction alone no urinary abnormality was noted. The congenitally hypothyroid patients had low levels of basal 5 HIAA when compared to controls. The degrees of 5-hydroxy tryptamine (5 HT) deficiency in Group III was similar to the obese groups. The thyroid extract course did not influence, at least in short term administration, the low 5 HIAA levels in group III. In GH deficient, short children (group IV) thyroid extract had no significant effect on urinary pattern of monoamine metabolites. A central 5 HT deficiency may tentatively explain the mood disturbances and possibly the other psychic disorders in both the obese and myxedematous patients. The different effects of thyroid extract on 5 HIAA may also witness the differences in the food intake behaviour in these two conditions.

Adolescent↗