[Regulatory peptides and psychomotor development in infants].

Regulatory peptides (RP) are an important homeostatic factor. The maternal organism and placenta are substantial sources of RP for fetus during the prenatal period. Not only endogenous, but also exogenous RP play an important role during early postnatal period. In this study, the concentration of exogenous RP (casomorphins-7) and the activity of peptidases (enkephalinases) in the serum of breastfed and bottle-fed infants were estimated. Possible interrelation between these two parameters and the psychomotor development (PMD) of infants were evaluated. Using specially developed RIA, the investigators estimated the presence of human and bovine casomorphins immunoreactivity (CMir) in the serum of breastfed and bottle-fed infants. A distinct correlation of CMir with PMD was demonstrated. The activity of RP-degrading serum enzymes also correlated with PMD level. The role of endo- and exogenous peptides in normal PMD process and in the pathogenesis of early child autism is discussed in the article.

Half-life of leu-enkephalin in the serum of infants of the first year of life on different types of feeding: relationship with temperament.

The half-life of leu-enkephalin in the serum of infants aged under 1 year is significantly shorter than in adults. In girls leu-enkephalin half-life is significantly longer than in boys. The half-life of leu-enkephalin is different in infants on breast and formula feeding. Nine characteristics of temperament in infants of the first year of life were determined using EITQ and ITQ questionnaires. Serum leu-enkephalin half-life directly correlated with temperament characteristics (activity, perception, threshold), but not with the level psychomotor development.

[Characteristics of hormonal homeostasis in children with thymus enlargement syndrome]. / Osobennosti gormonal'nogo gomeostaza u detei s sindromom uvelicheniia vilochkovoi zhelezy.

Hormonal homeostasis was examined in 104 children aged 1 to 14 years with thymus enlargement. There was a significant growth of somatotropic hormone in children of the first 3 years of life, characterized by thyroid dysfunction and hypofunction increase with age, by a tendency towards ACTH and hydrocortisone lowering under 6 years of age, and a significant decrease of those parameters in children over 6 years. The children with thymus enlargement also showed other disorders of hormonal homeostasis.

[Vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus of children with thymus hyperplasia syndrome]. / O vaktsinatsii protiv difterii i stolbniaka detei s sindromom uvelicheniia vilochkovoi zhelezy.

Inhibition of cellular and humoral immunity was established in children with grade I thymus enlargement syndrome (TES). The most pronounced changes were recorded in children aged 1-5 years. Vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus performed before the diagnosis of the TES was made were followed by satisfactory output of anatoxins, indicating the prospectiveness of the vaccination of the given children's group with DPT vaccine and DT- and DT-M-anatoxin.