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Biomedical subjects

O Westphal

Publications and source records attributed to O Westphal.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Normal growth and growth disorders in children.

Growth in children is influenced by innumerable factors, and to achieve optimal final height, the child has to be healthy, its nutrition sufficient, and the psychosocial environment stimulating and positive. During the 1st year of life nutritional factors and thyroid hormone seem to be the most important regulators of growth; during the following years growth hormone increases in importance. Puberty and its timing are factors of greatest importance during the 2nd decade of life; disturbances in puberty will compromise final height. Increased understanding of factors influencing growth and increased access to growth hormone and analogs of hormone that influence the timing of puberty have made it possible to increase final height in some groups of patients predisposed to short stature.

Adolescent↗

Age-related changes in interleukin production in BALB/cNNia and SJL/J mice and their modification after administration of foreign macromolecules.

In vitro production of Interleukin-2, -3, -4 and -10 by activated lymphocytes of BALB/cNNia and SJL/J was studied. While IL-2 production in BALB/c mice remains constant throughout the life span of the animals (8-113 weeks), an increase in production from stimulated SJL cells was seen. Age-related increases in IL-3 and IL-4 production occur between young and middle age (8-60 weeks) in both strains. Some organ differences in quantity of lymphokine produced were seen; the direction of age-related changes was the same for lymphocytes of spleen and MLN. The exceptional feature of BALB/cNNia was the relative stabilization of the levels of interleukin production, as animals approach old age. BALB/cNNia and SJL, which are at the two opposite extremes of lifespan, differ also in their response to molecular interventions: in BALB/cNNia fetal sheep liver extract and hemocyanin increase the output of interleukins. This is in striking contrast to the effects observed in older SJL mice in which the extract reduced the output of IL-3 and IL-4 by old animals, whereas hemocyanin increased the output of IL-2 and IL-3 at all ages tested.

Aging↗

Non-conventional growth hormone treatment in short children.

Despite the fact that GH has been available in sufficient amounts to allow treatment in non-conventional indications during childhood, results on final height are not available or are available in only very small groups of patients. Much has to be done to answer the question of how to optimize GH treatment, with respect not only to final height, but also to normal psychosocial development.

Child↗

Retrospective study of children with hypophosphatasia with reference to dental changes.

In the present retrospective study different dental and medical parameters have been analyzed in 17 Swedish children with established hypophosphatasia (HP). It was demonstrated that the basis for the establishment of the diagnosis varied among different dentists and physicians, and that the diagnostic parameters studied among the children varied. The most reliable parameters for HP included raised levels of phosphoethanolamine in urine, and clinical and radiologic findings associated with the legs. These findings were found among the children more often than lowered values of alkaline phosphatase in serum. Histologic analysis of an extracted tooth made a valuable diagnostic complement. It is concluded that a better diagnostic uniformity is recommended. In a well functioning collaboration with well defined tasks, both dentists and physicians can contribute to a reliable diagnosis.

Adolescent↗

Growth in infancy and childhood in girls with Turner's syndrome.

We describe spontaneous longitudinal growth in girls with Turner's syndrome (TS), using the infancy-childhood-puberty (ICP) growth model. Length/height during the first 12 years of life was studied in 58 Swedish girls with TS. Their mean length at birth was 47.8 cm (SDS -1.4) and mean height at 12.0 years of age 127.3 cm (SDS -3.0). A clear age-dependent subnormality was observed in the change in length-height SDS (delta SDS). Mean delta SDS values at ages 0.0 to 0.5 and 3.0 to 6.0 years were normal. In contrast, the mean delta SDS at ages 0.5 to 3.0 and 6.0 to 12.0 years were subnormal. The onset of the childhood growth component (normally located between 0.5 and 1.0 year of age) was, on the average, delayed by 0.28 year. This accounts for the subnormality of delta SDS at 0.5 to 3.0 years of age. About 50% of the variation in height at 12.0 years of age, as determined by a multiple linear regression analysis, was significantly explained by length at 0.5 year of age, age at the onset of the childhood component, and delta SDS at 6.0 to 12.0 years of age.

Adolescent↗

Restoration of the responsiveness to growth factors in senescent cells by an embryonic cell extract.

In senescent fibroblast cell cultures which have approached a postmitotic stage in vitro, responsiveness to growth factors is restored upon exposure to an embryonic sheep cell extract. The extract contains molecules below a molecular weight of 1 x 10(5) Da in aqueous solution. Following a transient exposure to the extract, mitotic activity is resumed, and the cells keep dividing over several passages. The target cells which respond to the treatment were identified in a single-cell assay as those that still had the capacity to undergo at least several mitotic divisions before entering the final stage of senescence.

Animals↗

Quality of life of adults with growth hormone deficiency: a controlled study.

The quality of life of 23 adults with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) who had received growth hormone (GH) therapy was compared with that of 47 normal individuals in a control group. The GHD group had a poorer quality of life than the control group. Statistically significant differences were found between the groups for social isolation, physical mobility, sleep, and emotional status. More individuals in the control group had a driving licence and were married than in the GHD group.

Adult↗

Recombinant somatropin in treatment of growth hormone deficient children in Sweden and Finland.

A total of 23 previously untreated and 28 previously treated GH deficient children were included for at least 12 months in a trial of recombinant somatropin, 0.1 IU/kg/day given by subcutaneous injection. All the children increased their height velocity over the pretreatment values, to nearly 11 cm/year, corresponding to a significant increase in height of 1 SD score for chronological age. The increase in height SD score for bone age was also statistically significant. No adverse effects were recorded, though one child experienced local itching and redness at the injection site which did not recur after a short cessation of therapy. One child developed detectable antibodies to recombinant somatropin, but the binding capacity was low and no clinical symptoms or growth attenuation occurred. Recombinant somatropin was shown to be safe and effective during the first year of therapy in children with GH deficiency.

Adolescent↗

Results of combined hormonal and surgical treatment for undescended testis in boys under 3 years of age. A randomized study.

The effects of hormonal treatment (LH-RH, LH-RH plus hCG) on undescended testis were studied on 42 testicles in 37 boys under 3 years of age. Descensus was achieved primarily in 40% but eight testicles reascended. A new course of hCG resulted in descensus in three cases. Altogether, therefore, full descensus could be achieved in 29% of cases with hormonal treatment. Hormonal treatment is recommended before surgery.

Child, Preschool↗

Daily subcutaneous administration of human growth hormone in growth hormone deficient children.

Sixteen children (10 boys, 6 girls) on treatment for some years with i.m. injections twice or thrice weekly of human growth hormone (hGH; Crescormon Kabi Vitrum), participated in a prospective study. The weekly amount of hGH (8, 12, or 16 IU) was kept the same in each child, but divided into daily (7) s.c. injections at bedtime. The growth rate increased in all children during the first year on s.c. daily hGH (5.3 to 7.4 cm/year; 1.95 to 4.27 SDS). This increased growth rate did not persist during the second year on daily s.c. hGH, but an increased growth rate did not persist during the second year on daily s.c. hGH, but an increased predicted final height was found. The plasma profile of hGH was followed: i.m. injected hGH gave mostly a high (200 mU/l) plasma level of some hours (wide intra- and interpatient variation), and s.c. injected hGH a lower max level of longer duration (wide inter patient variation). The daily s.c. regimen of hGH was extremely well accepted by the children and their parents and no GH-antibodies or other adverse effects were found. We recommend daily s.c. injection of hGH as an alternative in the treatment of GH-deficient children.

Adolescent↗

Experiences of Somatonorm in Sweden.

About 180 patients in Sweden are currently receiving treatment with somatrem; a majority of them have previously received pituitary hGH. A high incidence of antibody formation was noted in patients without prior pituitary hGH treatment, but growth velocity was not decreased in these patients. Antibodies developed in about 15% of patients previously treated with pituitary hGH. Adverse effects occurred in four patients within 3 weeks of commencing therapy, but were temporary and treatment could be continued.

Adult↗

Synthetic and natural Escherichia coli free lipid A express identical endotoxic activities.

The recently chemically synthesized Escherichia coli lipid A and the natural free lipid A of E. coli were compared with respect to their endotoxic activities in the following test systems: lethal toxicity, pyrogenicity, local Shwartzman reactivity, Limulus amoebocyte lysate gelation capacity, tumour necrotizing activity, B cell mitogenicity, induction of prostaglandin synthesis in macrophages, and antigenic specificity. It was found that synthetic and natural free lipid A exhibit identical activities and are indistinguishable in all tests.

Animals↗