Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels of AFP and hCG: Validation of the Analytical Method and Application in the Diagnosis of Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors.

The determination of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) and Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) levels on serum and amniotic fluid plays a fundamental role in the diagnosis and follow-up of specific physiological or pathological conditions (e.g., pregnancy, threat of abortion or germ cell tumors).

Low Birthweight Increases the Likelihood of Severe Steatosis in Pediatric Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Objectives: Small for gestational age (SGA) is associated with an increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Our aim was to investigate the correlation of birthweight with the severity of liver damage in a large cohort of children with NAFLD.

Methods: Two hundred and eighty-eight consecutive Caucasian Italian overweight/obese children with biopsy-proven NAFLD were included in the study.

Reduced steroidogenesis in patients with PCDH19-female limited epilepsy.

Patients affected by protocadherin 19 (PCDH19)-female limited epilepsy (PCDH19-FE) present a remarkable reduction in allopregnanolone blood levels. However, no information is available on other neuroactive steroids and the steroidogenic response to hormonal stimulation. For this reason, we evaluated allopregnanolone, pregnanolone, and pregnenolone sulfate by liquid chromatographic procedures coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry in 12 unrelated patients and 15 age-matched controls.

Congenital primary adrenal insufficiency and selective aldosterone defects presenting as salt-wasting in infancy: a single center 10-year experience.

Background: Salt-wasting represents a relatively common cause of emergency admission in infants and may result in life-threatening complications. Neonatal kidneys show low glomerular filtration rate and immaturity of the distal nephron leading to reduced ability to concentrate urine.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for infants hospitalized in a single Institution from 1(st) January 2006 to 31(st) December 2015.

Sexual dimorphism in growth and insulin-like growth factor-I in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: Impaired linear growth and reduced IGF-I levels in children with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) have been related to poor metabolic control. The aim of this study was to identify additional factors which may negatively affect growth and IGF system in patients with T1DM.

Design: Ninety-one T1DM children (54 males, age=: 11.

The response to gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test does not predict the progression to true precocious puberty in girls with onset of premature thelarche in the first three years of life.

Context: Premature thelarche in early childhood may evolve into true precocious puberty. The individuation of cases progressing to precocious puberty is challenging.

Objective: We analyzed the parameters predictive for progression in girls younger than 3 years.

ZnT8 antibodies in patients with cystic fibrosis: an expression of secondary beta-cell damage?

Cystic Fibrosis-Related Diabetes (CFRD) is caused by a severe insulin deficiency with associated different degrees of insulin resistance. Data concerning the potential impact of autoimmunity are conflicting. Ninety subjects with cystic fibrosis (CF) were tested for glucose tolerance and autoantibodies against insulin (IAA), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA), protein tyrosine phosphatase (IA2) and zinc transporter 8 (Znt8A).

Ovarian hyperandrogenism in adolescents and young women with type I diabetes is primarily related to birth weight and body mass index.

Objective: To clarify the effects of insulin therapy on ovarian androgen production, hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in adolescents and young women with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: Children's research hospital.

Parathyroid hormone levels in long-term renal transplant children and adolescents.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a common complication of chronic renal failure. Kidney transplantation corrects renal insufficiency and most metabolic abnormalities but hyperparathyroidism persists in 50% of children after transplantation. The aim of this study was to investigate parathyroid hormone (PTH) course and potential risk factors for hyperparathyroidism in children after renal transplant.

Correlation of serum TNF-alpha levels and histologic liver injury scores in pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

We tested the power of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and/or leptin in predicting the degree of liver involvement in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We measured serum levels of TNF-alpha and leptin and computed NAFLD activity score (NAS) (NAS >or= 5, diagnostic of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH]) in 72 consecutive biopsy-proven NAFLD cases (training and validation sets, 36 cases each). Univariate analysis evaluated variables significantly associated with a diagnostic NAS.

Association of serum interleukin-8 levels with the degree of fibrosis in infants with chronic liver disease.

Objective: Biliary atresia is a neonatal obstructive cholangiopathy characterized by a destructive, obliterative process affecting both the intrahepatic and extrahepatic ducts of the biliary tree that uniquely presents in the first months of life. The consequence of progressive inflammatory and sclerotic reaction is the development of obstructive jaundice. To determine the proinflammatory cytokine profile in children with biliary atresia, we measured circulating levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-8.

Treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia in pediatric heart transplant recipients.

Background: Graft coronary artery vasculopathy is the main cause of late morbidity and mortality in pediatric cardiac allograft recipients. Growing evidence suggests that elevated plasma homocysteine levels are associated with cardiac allograft vasculopathy following heart transplantation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin supplementation as a potential strategy for reducing homocysteine levels in pediatric heart transplant recipients and examine creatinine levels as potential determinants of plasma homocysteine concentration after transplantation.