Glycosilated fetal hemoglobin in neonates of diabetic mothers.

In diabetic patients, the correlation between glycosilated adult hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and average glucose concentration over the preceding weeks is well known. We have, therefore, sought the possibility to identify newborns at risk measuring cord blood levels of fetal glycosilated hemoglobin (HbF1) in neonates of diabetic mothers. HbF1 was tested by the isoelectrofocusing method. Mean values of HbF1 have been proven to be higher in in infants born to diabetic mothers as compared to normal newborns. The highest levels were encountered in those babies whose mothers had shown a poor glycemic control during the last few weeks of pregnancy.

Met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity (MELI) and enkephalinase activity (EKA) in cord blood and newborns in the first hours of life.

Recently, the presence and the concomitant release with catecholamines of metenkephalin and other pro-enkephalin A deriving peptides have been demonstrated in the adrenal medulla of various mammals and man. As high amounts of catecholamines are released in the newborn at delivery, probably following the stress of parturition, a similar release of met-enkephalin and other pro-enkephalin A deriving peptides from the newborn chromaffin tissue may be hypothesized. In the present study we investigate the occurrence of met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity and enkephalinase (quite a specific enkephalin degrading enzyme) in cord and newborn plasma at different hours after birth. Our results show the presence of high met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity levels in cord and newborn plasma with respect to normal adult values. On the contrary, cord blood enkephalinase activity was lower than in adult subjects and further decreased during the first hours of life. A positive correlation was found between the two parameters. These data seem to indicate a release of met-enkephalin-like peptides from the newborns' sympathoadrenal tissue following the stress of delivery and in the first hours of life.

[Increase of the "null cells" in children with persistent hepatitis (author's transl)]. / Aumento delle cellule "nulle" im bambini con epatite persistente.

Some membrane and functional properties of lymphocytes have been examined in a group of children affected with persistent hepatitis. Both absolute and percentage values of B lymphocytes (cells bearing surface Ig) were normal, whereas T lymphocytes (E rosette technique) were decreased in percentage but not as absolute numbers. Only in a close range of mitogen concentration PHA responsiveness was altered, and no modification was found in the percentage of EA and EAC rosettes. A marked increase in lymphocytes lacking both T and B cell markers was observed, which may be related to an increase in precursors of mature cells or to a masking of receptors on the membrane of lymphocytes, but which is probably independent of an increase in the number of K cells, since cells bearing receptors for the Fc fragment were normal.