Energy Balance-Related Behaviors, Perinatal, Sociodemographic, and Parental Risk Factors Associated with Obesity in Italian Preschoolers.

Objective: The obesity epidemic stems from the complex interplay between genetics and environmental factors. Identifying age-specific risk factors in preschoolers may allow implementing more effective intervention strategies. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the association of overweight/obesity with several perinatal, parental, socioeconomic status (SES), and lifestyle-related risk factors in a large sample of Italian preschoolers.

[A clinical and cytogenetic study of 50 women with Turner's syndrome. Considerations of the problem of pregnancies in these patients. Part 2].

The results of a study on 50 patients with Turner syndrome, all of them older than 14 years and never treated, are reported. In order to correlate karyotypes and clinical manifestations of the syndrome, we performed a complete physical examination and ultra sonographic tests of the heart, kidneys, uterus and ovaries. We found a better spontaneous growth and sexual maturation in mosaic 45.

Transient true precocious puberty. A report of five cases.

Five girls with idiopathic true precocious puberty are reported who underwent spontaneous regression of sexual development. In all patients the signs of sexual maturation were of moderate degree. Considering the possible spontaneous regression of precocious puberty, in similar cases it seems advisable to defer suppressive central therapy for about 6-12 months.

Mitral valve prolapse in Turner syndrome.

We have evaluated 46 patients with Turner syndrome by clinical examination, M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography, dynamic exercise testing and 24 h Holter monitoring. Twelve patients (26.1%) had mitral valve prolapse and 7 patients (15.

Changes in steroid pattern following acute and chronic adrenocorticotropin administration in premature adrenarche.

Biochemically adrenarche is characterized by increased production of 5-ene steroids, in particular Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) and its sulphate (DHA-S). It is still not clear if ACTH is responsible for this adrenal steroid production. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of acute and chronic ACTH administration, without dexamethasone pretreatment, on hormonal patterns in 20 patients (5 males aged between 6 8/12 and 7 10/12 years and 15 females aged between 5 9/12 and 7 6/12 years) with idiopathic premature adrenarche.

Precocious puberty in the McCune-Albright syndrome. Progression from gonadotrophin-independent to gonadotrophin-dependent puberty in a girl.

A 5-year-old girl with McCune-Albright syndrome, was observed over a 7-year period. She presented with gonadotrophin-independent puberty and later developed gonadotrophin-dependent puberty. Hormonal signs of central puberty remained unchanged over the last 2 years.

Premature thelarche: a follow up study of 40 girls. Natural history and endocrine findings.

Follow up of 40 girls with premature thelarche showed that where this disorder occurred before age 2 years it usually regressed completely, thus representing a transient and isolated phenomenon. Premature thelarche after age 2 years persisted more frequently, however, and represented the first sign of sexual development, generally leading to simple early puberty.