Lipoprotein (a) in obese children with a family history of cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the influence of family history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) on lipoprotein (a) (Lpa) values in obese children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Lpa values were measured by a nephelometric technique in 837 prepubertal obese children (442 girls, 395 boys) aged 6-8 years. Lpa > 30 mg/dl were determined to be a risk factor for CVD after complete recording of dietary norms, family history of CVD and coronary risk in relatives aged less than 50 years old. RESULTS: The obese children's group with BMI > 30 and with family history of CVD presented higher values of Lpa (32.07 +/- 1.2 mg/dl) in comparison to the less obese group with family history of CVD (27.19 +/- 0.8 mg/dl) (p < 0.01), and both of these groups had significantly higher Lpa values than the groups with no family history of CVD. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood obesity with high BMI increases the risk of CVD when these children become adults in children with family risk factors for CVD.

Clinical usefulness of urinary growth hormone measurements in normal and short children according to different expressions of urinary growth hormone data.

To assess the clinical usefulness of urinary growth hormone (UGH) measurements, a UGH determination technique, including dialysis, ultrafiltration, and measurement by polyclonal-coated tube RIA, was established. Sixty-three short children were studied: 56 idiopathic growth retarded (37 prepubertal and 19 pubertal) and seven prepubertal with classic GH (growth hormone) deficiency. Forty-two healthy children (32 prepubertal and 10 pubertal) served as controls. Two groups of adults were studied: eight with active acromegaly and 11 healthy controls. UGH was measured in 24-h urine samples from all patients and controls. Mean +/- SD UGH excretion expressed as ng/24 h was significantly lower in the GH-deficient group compared with prepubertal growth-retarded and control children (p less than 0.01). No differences were found between UGH excreted by controls and by the growth-retarded groups. Pubertal children excreted significantly higher amounts of GH when UGH was expressed as ng/24 h (p less than 0.02 and p less than 0.03, respectively), but this difference disappeared when UGH was expressed as ng/g creatinine. UGH was significantly higher in acromegalic patients compared with adult controls (p less than 0.001). Differences between day, night, and 24-h UGH were studied in 23 children. UGH in night urine was significantly lower whether expressed as the total amount or as ng/g creatinine. The effect of recombinant hGH administration on UGH was studied in 13 children after 6 and 12 mo of treatment. UGH increased significantly under recombinant hGH treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of chronic clonidine treatment on urinary growth hormone excretion and linear growth in children with short stature.

Eleven prepubertal children with short stature were treated with clonidine (0.15 mg/m2 daily) for a period of 1 year. The effect of this drug was evaluated on both clinical (growth velocity, height standard deviation scores for chronological age and bone age) and hormonal (urinary growth hormone excretion and insulin-like growth factor I) parameters. Our study shows that long-term clonidine administration in children with short stature did not result in significant differences in growth velocity, height standard deviation scores for chronological age and bone age, insulin-like growth factor I or in urinary growth hormone excretion.

Clinical experience with somatrem in growth hormone deficiency.

Three studies of human growth hormone (hGH) in hGH deficiency were initiated. In the first of these, adolescent patients were switched from pituitary hGH to somatrem (SI preparation) for 1 month. No significant differences were noted in any of the clinical parameters measured during treatment with either preparation. In the second study, nine patients (six of them naïve) were treated with somatrem (SII preparation) for 9-12 months. The naïve patients exhibited catch-up growth, and bone age developed in parallel to chronological age during the study period. Somatomedin activity increased and correlated positively with growth. Antibodies to hGH and Escherichia coli polypeptide (ECP) developed in some patients, but titres and binding capacities were low. In the third study, 21 patients are currently being treated with Somatonorm; the first 3-6 months are evaluable. Growth velocities increased to normal values. Antibodies to hGH and ECP were present in several patients, but again the titres and binding capacities were low, and Somatonorm was less antigenic than the SI and SII preparations.

A case of male pseudohermaphroditism with normal androgen receptor binding and 47,XYY karyotype.

A case of male pseudohermaphroditism with 47,XYY karyotype in blood and cutaneous fibroblasts is described. The plasma testosterone response to HCG stimulation was slightly below the normal range on two occasions suggesting a deficit of gonadal function. A study of the receptors for dihydrotestosterone in fibroblasts of genital and nongenital skin showed a normal concentration of receptors in genital skin; 5-alpha-reductase activity in fibroblasts of the genital skin was low, but the plasma relationship testosterone/dihydrotestosterone under HCG stimulation was normal. The diagnostic possibility of a complete testicular feminization syndrome with normal receptors for dihydrotestosterone is commented on.

Poland-Möbius syndrome associated with dextrocardia.

A newborn male with Möbius syndrome, Poland anomaly, and dextrocardia is described. This is the second case reported of Poland-Möbius syndrome associated with dextrocardia. The patient presented with strabismus, facial diplegia, difficulty in swallowing, hypoplasia of the left pectoralis major muscle, partial absence of the upper costal cartilages, absence of the left areola, hypoplasia of the left forearm and hand, and dextrocardia without murmurs.

Treatment of exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. A comparative double-blind study with cotrimoxazole and cefadroxil.

A double-blind, randomized study was carried out in 40 chronic bronchitic patients, to evaluate the effectiveness of cefadroxil as compared with cotrimoxazole in the treatment of the exacerbation stage. The patients were in hospital while the study lasted and received cotrimoxazole at doses of 160 mg of trimethoprim and 800 mg of sulfamethoxazole twice a day, or cefadroxil 500 mg twice a day, for seven days. To evaluate the response the following parameters were used: clinical improvement, reduction in volume of sputum, reduction in purulence of the sputum and eradication of germs from the sputum. All the parameters improved in both groups of patients without any significant difference between the two types of treatment.