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Biomedical subjects

M Salerno

Publications and source records attributed to M Salerno.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
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

Effect of oestradiol and insulin on the proliferative pattern and on oestrogen and progesterone receptor contents in MCF-7 cells.

In a long-term experiment MCF-7 cells showed an exponential proliferation rate in fetal calf serum while they become quiescent in growth-factor- and steroid-free serum. The mitogenic activity of this cell line was increased by oestradiol and insulin, exposure to both hormones showing a synergic effect. These mitogen-mediated effects are inhibited by genistein a phytoestrogen which, by itself at the doses used, did not affect either the basal proliferation rate or the total protein content. Immunoblotting and Scatchard analysis reveal respectively that insulin increases the oestrogen receptor (ER) content and its binding capacity. The presence of genistein decreases the ER content and completely abolishes the binding capacity of this protein. Insulin is able to increase progesterone receptor (PR) levels while, in the presence of genistein, the above-reported effect was completely abolished. On the basis of the latter data the authors suggest that insulin is able to affect the phosphorylation status of ER and PR, inducing functional changes in both proteins, although this was in the absence of their natural ligands. Indeed, the presence in the medium of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor such as genistein could substantially decrease both ER and PR levels in these cells.

Breast Neoplasms↗
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

[Definitive body height in constitutional retardation of growth and puberty].

BACKGROUND: Constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) is a frequent cause of short stature in childhood. Controversial results have been reported on the full achievement of these patients of their target height. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The final adult height of 20 patients with CDGP (11 male and 9 female), who did not received hormonal treatment, was compared with their target height and with the predicted adult height, by the Bayley-Pinneau method obtained before the onset of puberty. RESULTS: A spontaneous improvement of the stature from pre-puberty to adulthood was observed in all patients (from -2.9 +/- 0.7 SDS to -1.3 +/- 0.6 SDS in male and from -2.6 +/- 0.6 SDS to -0.9 +/- 0.3 SDS in female; P < 0.001). Adult height in male (166.4 +/- 4.1 cm) at the mean age of 21 years was very close to the target height (165.7 +/- 3.9 cm) and to the predicted adult height (167.3 +/- 3.1 cm). Also in female, final height (156.6 +/- 2.0 cm) did not differ from target height (153.3 +/- 4.2 cm) and from predicted adult height (155.6 +/- 2.3 cm). CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, patients with CDGP reach their predicted adult height and achieve their genetic potential without medical treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Delayed gastric emptying: a novel gastrointestinal finding in Turner's syndrome.

AIM: To evaluate gastric emptying in girls with Turner's syndrome to detect if gastrointestinal motor dysfunction was present. SUBJECTS: Thirteen girls (mean age 8.1 years) with Turner's syndrome, seven girls with familial short stature (6.1 years), and eight control girls (7.6 years). METHODS: Gastric emptying studies were performed by using 500 microCi of technetium 99m-sulphur colloid bound to a scrambled egg, and scintigraphic measurements were made for 60 to 90 minutes. RESULTS: Mean (SD) percentage retention of gastric isotope was significantly greater in girls with Turner's syndrome than in children with short stature and in controls. Furthermore, in contrast with control subjects, in whom there was an inverse linear relationship between gastric emptying rate and body mass index, in children with Turner's syndrome the delay in gastric emptying was independent of the body mass. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study suggest that delayed gastric emptying is detectable in girls with Turner's syndrome independent of age, body mass index, karyotype, and growth promoting treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Effect of triiodothyronine administration on estrogen receptor contents in peripuberal Sertoli cells.

The effects of thyroid hormone on androgen metabolism in peripuberal Sertoli cells through the inhibition of estradiol production have been reported previously. It was our intention to investigate further the possible role of thyroid hormone on the interaction between testicular steroids and Sertoli cells by analyzing the effects of triiodothyronine (T3) on estrogen receptor content in 2-, 3- and 4- week-old euthyroid rats. Triiodothyronine treatment (3 micrograms/100 body wt per day) given during the last week prior to sacrifice resulted in reduced testicular growth in 2-week-old animals. Sertoli cells from all groups were cultured initially under basal conditions for the first 24 h and subsequently in the presence of testosterone and/or T3 for the additional 24 h. The in vitro addition of T3 induced a decrease of estrogen receptors (ERs) in 2- and 3-week-old animals that appeared more pronounced especially in the presence of T3 and testosterone. When T3 was tested in vivo we noticed that the decrease of ER content was even greater in all three groups under the in vitro influence of both T3 and testosterone. In 3-week-old animals a simultaneous assay of ERs in both nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments was performed. The ER concentrations in the nucleus were closely related to those of the cytoplasm. The in vivo administration of T3 was responsible for a greater decrease of ERs in the nucleus than in the cytosol. On the basis of these results, and in agreement with our previous data, we speculate that the effect of T3 in the maturational events of Sertoli cells could involve both estradiol production and ER content.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Thyroid hormone modulates androgen and oestrogen receptor content in the Sertoli cells of peripubertal rats.

A possible role of tri-iodothyronine (T3) on the interplay between testicular steroids and Sertoli cells has been investigated on the basis of previous findings demonstrating a direct inhibitory influence of T3 on aromatase activity and oestradiol production in peripuberal Sertoli cells. In this context, the present study was focused on the effects of T3 on oestrogen receptor (ER) and androgen receptor (AR) contents in the cytosol and nucleus of Sertoli cells isolated from 2-, 3- and 4-week-old euthyroid, hypothyroid and hypothyroid treated rats. Hypothyroidism was induced by the oral administration of 0.025% methimazole (MMI) from birth until the rats were killed at 2, 3 and 4 weeks of age. Half of the MMI-treated animals were injected i.p. with L-tri-iodothyronine (T3; 3 micrograms/100 g body weight) during the last week before death. Sertoli cells from all groups were initially cultured under basal conditions for the first 24 h and subsequently in the presence of testosterone with or without T3 for an additional 24 h. Hypothyroidism was associated with severe impairment of body as well as testicular growth. Euthyroid ERs showed an elevated Kd (0.76 nM) which was similar in the different age groups investigated. The in vitro addition of T3 or testosterone induced a decrease in ER content and this decrease was greater after exposure to both hormones. In 2- and 3-week-old hypothyroid rats, ER content was markedly increased and was reversed in euthyroid rats when T3 was given in vivo. When ERs were assayed in the Sertoli cell nucleus and cytoplasm of 2- and 3-week-old animals, a strong relationship in ER content in the two cellular compartments was observed. Neither of the hormones tested seemed to affect the AR content in the nucleus significantly, while the in vitro addition of testosterone or T3 or both hormones together augmented the ARs in the cytosol to a greater extent, resulting in an increase in their total (cytosolic and nuclear) content in the cells. The present data suggest that T3 down-regulates ERs and up-regulates ARs in peripuberal Sertoli cells. The additive effect of testosterone and T3 in up-regulating ARs could possibly involve a role for T3 in influencing the androgen responsiveness of the Sertoli cells during spermatogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[A statistical epidemiological study of cranio-maxillofacial trauma in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region].

Data corresponding to 17,247 subjects, admitted in Hospital of Friuli Venezia Giulia region, were analyzed in the period between 1984/2/28 and 1993/2/27. All data were selected for for diagnosis, sex, aetiology, age, diagnosis's priority, days of stay in Hospital and locality where the patients live. The results showed 69.31% of the patients were male (range 0-80 years) of 15-19 years (2,605 cases corresponding to 15.1%) and 20-24 years (2,448 patients, 14.2%). More frequently the traumatic pathology was related to injuries of the facial bones (72.22%) and of these 62.13% were fractures of the nasal bones. The major incidence of injuries was caused from unspecified nature's incidents (47.5%), followed by road accidents (31.2%), violence, work accidents and others. The evaluation of single years showed a decrease of traumas from 2,019 cases (1984-85) to 1,759 cases (1992-93), probably caused by traffic regulations. Variables and incidence of cranial-maxillofacial traumas were also examined.

Adolescent↗
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

GH secretion in thalassemia patients with short stature.

The physiological role of GH secretion on growth retardation remains to be elucidated especially in patients with beta-thalassemia. In the present study, we investigated IGF-1 circulating levels as well as GH release following GHRH alone or combined with some inhibitors of somatostatin: pyridostigmine and arginine. In thalassemic patients lower IGF-1 circulating levels appear to be negatively correlated with both aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase as well as with ferritin circulating levels indicating a probable role of hepatic hemosiderosis in IGF-1 production. The authors however suggest that reduced IGF-1 secretion is not the main cause of growth retardation since this would have elicited an enhanced response of GHRH in the presence of a normal hypothalamic pituitary axis. In contrast, they noticed that GH response to GHRH when expressed as area under the curve was lower in thalassemic patients compared to controls. The combination of GHRH with either pyridostigmine or arginine induced a GH secretion in thalassemics which was comparable to that of controls. The results of this study lead to conclude that the alteration of GH secretion is due, in such patients, to an increased somatostatin activity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Follow-up study on the effects of thyroid hormone administration on androgen metabolism of peripubertal rat Sertoli cells.

The inhibitory effect of triiodothyronine (T3) given in early postnatal life on Sertoli cell proliferative activity, leading to their precocious terminal differentiation, has been demonstrated previously. However, data concerning the role of thyroid hormone on androgen metabolism of Sertoli cells during the same period are still lacking. In this study we performed a time-course investigation on the effects of T3 treatment on testosterone metabolism in Sertoli cells isolated from 2-, 3- and 4-weeks-old euthyroid rats. Triiodothyronine (3 micrograms/100 g body wt) was given ip., during the last week prior to sacrifice. Sertoli cells from all animal groups initially were cultured under basal conditions during the first 24 h and subsequently in the presence of testosterone (0.5 mumol/l) with or without T3 (1 nmol/l) for an additional 24 h. This treatment given to 2-week-old animals resulted in reduced testicular growth. As far as androgen metabolism is concerned, T3 in vivo and in vitro treatment in 2- and 3-week-old animals induced a lowering of dihydrotestosterone + 3 alpha-diol with an enhancement of the two other 5 alpha-reduced androgens. The effect was much less pronounced in the oldest group. In both 2- and 3-week-old treated rats a marked reduction of oestradiol was observed, which indicates an inhibition of aromatase activity, mainly in younger animals. This enzyme has been reported to be extremely active in Sertoli cells of rats (of the same strain) between the age of 5 and 20 days, but it decreases rapidly thereafter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗