Serum leptin concentrations in hyperinsulinemia in the sets of obese, lipodystrophic and/or non-obese patients.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between serum leptin and circulating insulin under basal and in response to oral glucose administration in hyperinsulinemic patients with or without obesity. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fifteen female patients of known hyperinsulinemia provided material for the study. Leptin and insulin in sera were estimated by radioimmunoassay methods. RESULTS: Eight of the 15 hyperinsulinemic patients with high body mass index (BMI) (31 +/- 0.94 kg/m2) had significantly (p < 0.01) elevated serum leptin concentrations (26.1 +/- 2 ng/ml) as compared to the levels in the remaining seven non-obese hyperinsulinemic patients with BMI of 20 +/- 1.0 kg/m2; their mean levels of serum leptin were low 5.7 +/- 1.1 ng/ml. Four of the latter group had face-sparing partial lipodystrophy. The mean circulating leptin concentrations in the control group of seven healthy normoinsulinemic and regularly menstruating women with normal BMI (19 +/- 0.95 kg/m2) were 13.7 +/- 1.8 ng/ml. DISCUSSION: The results of the present study in 15 hyperinsulinemic patients show that circulating levels of leptin are not related to serum insulin. However, there was a positive correlation with BMI. An interesting observation of the study is that, notwithstanding the normal BMI, the group of hyperinsulinemic patients with face-sparing partial lipodystrophy had the lowest levels of circulating leptin concentrations. They were closer to the values found in prepubertal girls.

Gastrointestinal decontamination in the emergency department.

Pediatric poisoning is a problem commonly encountered in the emergency department. After stabilization of airway, breathing, and circulation, one of the goals of treatment is decontamination in order to limit poison absorption and the resulting systemic toxicity. Decontamination modalities include gastric emptying (ipecac and gastric lavage), inhibiting absorption (activated charcoal), and catharsis (sorbital, magnesium citrate, and whole bowel irrigation). Each modality is discussed. Choice of modality by the practitioner must be individualized to each patient's situation.