Retinal layer segmentation in a cohort of healthy children via optical coherence tomography.

Background: High-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows the detection of macular pathology and involvement of the optic nerve in a wide spectrum of diseases. For the differentiation of diseased and healthy status, normal values of retinal layer segmentation are critical. Yet, normative values mostly cover adult populations with only sparse data for paediatric cohorts.

Impact of Hippotherapy on Gross Motor Function and Quality of Life in Children with Bilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Open-Label Crossover Study.

This study investigated the effect of hippotherapy on gross motor function (Gross Motor Function Measure [GMFM]-66, GMFM dimension E and D) and quality of life (Child Health Questionnaire [CHQ 28], KIDSCREEN-27 parental versions) in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy. Seventy-three children (age: 9.1 ± 3.

Homoarginine (hArg) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in short stature children without and with growth hormone deficiency: hArg and ADMA are involved differently in growth in the childhood.

Adult subjects with growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD) are known to have reduced life expectancy due to increased cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. In adults, these events are associated with elevated circulating concentrations of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) which is an endogenous inhibitor of L-arginine (Arg)-derived nitric oxide (NO). Low circulating concentrations of homoarginine (hArg) emerged as a cardiovascular risk factor.

The L-arginine/NO pathway, homoarginine, and nitrite-dependent renal carbonic anhydrase activity in young people with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

High circulating levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and low circulating levels of homoarginine (hArg) are known cardiovascular risk factors in adults. While in adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) circulating ADMA is significantly elevated, in children and adolescents the reported ADMA data are contradictory. In 102 children with T1DM and 95 healthy controls (HC) serving as controls, we investigated the L-arginine (Arg)/nitric oxide (NO) pathway.

The L-arginine/NO pathway and homoarginine are altered in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and improved by glucocorticoids.

The L-arginine/nitric oxide (L-Arg/NO) pathway regulates endothelial function and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Yet, this pathway is poorly investigated in children suffering from DMD. Endothelial dysfunction can affect the perfusion of contracting muscles, thus leading to ischemia and hypoxia.

Biosynthesis of homoarginine (hArg) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) from acutely and chronically administered free L-arginine in humans.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, whereas L-arginine (Arg) and L-homoarginine (hArg) serve as substrates for NO synthesis. ADMA and other methylated arginines are generally believed to exclusively derive from guanidine (N (G))-methylated arginine residues in proteins by protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) that use S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) as the methyl donor. L-Lysine is known for decades as a precursor for hArg, but only recent studies indicate that arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (AGAT) is responsible for the synthesis of hArg.

Long survival in Leigh syndrome: new cases and review of literature.

Leigh syndrome (MIM 25600), also known as infantile subacute necrotizing encephalomyelopathy, is a neurodegenerative disorder with characteristic bilateral symmetric lesions in basal ganglia and subcortical brain regions. It is commonly associated with systemic cytochrome c oxidase (COX) deficiency and mutations in the SURF1 gene (MIM 185620), encoding a putative assembly or maintenance factor of COX. The clinical course is dominated by neurodevelopmental regression, brain stem, and basal ganglia involvement (e.

Pediatric herpes simplex virus encephalitis: a retrospective multicenter experience.

Knowledge on pediatric herpes simplex virus encephalitis is limited. Here we summarize 6 neonates and 32 children diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction (n = 37) or serological studies (n = 1), respectively. Diagnosis was difficult, as only 15 patients presented neurologic symptoms.