[Circadian rhythm of melatonin in liver cirrhosis].

The liver plays an important role in the intermediate metabolism of numerous substances involved in hormonal action. Starting from the presupposition that the pineal has an inhibitory effect on the reproduction system through melatonin (aMT) and that hepatic cirrhosis can be included among the pathologies characterised by sexual disorders, the authors felt that it was interesting to evaluate the light/darkness rhythm of aMT in some patients suffering from hepatic cirrhosis in order to highlight the possible pathogenetic role of aMT in causing the altered sexual activity observed in this pathology. A total of 4 subjects (3 males and 1 female), with a mean age of 60.

Dexfentluramine in the treatment of juvenile obesity.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of dexfenfluramine (dF) for reducing cardiovascular risk factors and improving compliance towards diet in a group of young patients hospitalized for essential obesity of high degree (BMI > or = 35).

Methods: 103 adolescents (mean age 15.4 +/- 0.

[Effect of sex on the increase of GH induced by galanin, alone or in combination with GHRH with or without pyridostigmine in pubescent subjects].

Growth hormone response to galanin (GAL) and growth hormone releasing hormone have been demonstrated to be higher in females than in males, and moreover the cholinergic system appears to be able to enhance them. On the basis of this presumption, we evaluated the GH response (expressed as area under the curve: AUC-GH) to galanin (GAL, 10 mg/kg i.v.

[Epidemiology of childhood obesity: prevalence in North-West Italy].

Childhood obesity is currently the most important form of malnutrition in populations with a high socioeconomic status. In Italy the prevalence of this pathology increases steadily every year with differing percentages in the various regions. This paper aims to contribute to epidemiological studies on childhood obesity by analysing the prevalence of this disorder in a relatively large area of north-western Italy.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone and prolactin responses to thyrotropin-releasing hormone in juvenile obesity before and after hypocaloric diet.

This study was performed on 36 obese subjects aged 8.5-17.4 yr, 14 boys and 22 girls (prepubertal: 5 boys and 5 girls [stage I, according to Tanner]; BMI: 35.