Growth impairment and gonadal axis abnormalities are common in survivors of paediatric brain tumours.

Aim: Childhood brain tumour survivors have a high risk of endocrine morbidity. This study evaluated the growth, pubertal development and gonadal function in survivors of childhood brain tumours and identified factors associated with the problems we observed.

Methods: The 52 subjects (52% male) were diagnosed in 1983-1997 and treated for brain tumours at Tampere University Hospital, Finland.

Electroretinography and Visual Evoked Potentials in Childhood Brain Tumor Survivors.

This population-based cross-sectional study evaluates the clinical value of electroretinography and visual evoked potentials in childhood brain tumor survivors. A flash electroretinography and a checkerboard reversal pattern visual evoked potential (or alternatively a flash visual evoked potential) were done for 51 survivors (age 3.8-28.

Neurological outcome of childhood brain tumor survivors.

We assessed neurological and neurocognitive outcome in childhood brain tumor survivors. Altogether, 75 out of 80 brain tumor survivors diagnosed below 17 years between 1983 and 1997; and treated in Tampere University Hospital, Finland, were invited to participate in this population-based cross-sectional study. Fifty-two (69%) participated [mean age 14.

Obesity and metabolic changes are common in young childhood brain tumor survivors.

Background: A population based cross-sectional study was used to examine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components in childhood brain tumor survivors.

Procedure: Fifty-two survivors were examined at a mean age of 14.4 years (range 3.

Renal impairment and hypertension in brain tumor patients treated in childhood are mainly associated with cisplatin treatment.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the renal consequences of the treatment of brain tumor patients diagnosed in childhood.

Procedure: One hundred four primary brain tumor patients diagnosed before 17 years of age from 1983 to 1997 had been treated in Tampere University Hospital, Finland. Of the 80 survivors 52 (65.

Use of percutaneous estrogen gel for induction of puberty in girls with Turner syndrome.

The aim of pubertal induction by estrogen in hypogonadic girls is to achieve physical and psychological development similar to that in natural puberty. We investigated the use of percutaneous estradiol gel for induction of puberty in girls with Turner syndrome (TS).Twenty-three girls with TS and hypogonadism were included in the study.

Growth hormone is effective in the treatment of severe growth retardation in children with juvenile chronic arthritis. Double blind placebo-controlled followup study.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of growth hormone (GH) treatment in severe growth retardation in prepubertal children with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA).

Methods: In a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study, we treated 25 prepubertal children (7 boys, 18 girls, mean age 9.0 yrs) with severe growth retardation due to JCA with human recombinant GH (6 months) and placebo (6 months).

Growth and adrenal androgen status at 7 years in very low birth weight survivors with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Aims: To evaluate whether 7 year old VLBW (very low birth weight, <1500 g) survivors with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) evince similar growth status and higher adrenal androgen (AA) levels than term controls, and whether AA levels are higher in VLBW children born small for gestational age (SGA) than in non-SGA cases.

Methods: Assessment of height standard deviation score (SDs), body mass index (BMI), and serum androstenedione and dehydroepiandrostenedione sulphate levels in 31 VLBW children with BPD, 33 without BPD (no-BPD group), and 33 term controls.

Results: Lower median (range) height SDs was found in BPD (-1.

Impaired adrenocortical function in very low birth weight infants after multiple pregnancies.

Objective: To evaluate the differences in adrenal function between very low birth weight (VLBW) infants from singleton and multiple pregnancies.

Design And Methods: Forty infants of birth weights less than 1500 g underwent an ACTH test. Thirty infants born from singleton pregnancies (singleton group) and ten born from multiple pregnancies (multiple group) were enrolled.

Gonadoblastoma and dysgerminoma associated with XY gonadal dysgenesis in an adolescent with chronic renal failure: a case of Frasier syndrome.

Study Objectives: To report a rare reason for primary amenorrhea, a Frasier syndrome, XY gonadal dysgenesis associated with renal failure with eventual development of gonadoblastoma. To study immunohistochemical analysis of gonadoblastoma and dysgerminoma. To analyze the possibility of androgen receptor mutation in this rare syndrome.

Genetic screening for maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 7 in prenatal and postnatal growth retardation of unknown cause.

Objective: Many short-statured children lack an etiologic explanation for their retarded growth. Recently, uniparental disomy (UPD), the inheritance of both chromosomes of a chromosome pair from only 1 parent, has been associated with short stature for many chromosomes. Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) represents an extreme syndrome of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and slight dysmorphic signs, and maternal UPD of human chromosome 7 (matUPD7) has been observed in approximately 10% of SRS cases.

Dominantly inherited hyperinsulinism caused by a mutation in the sulfonylurea receptor type 1.

ATP-sensitive potassium channels play a major role in linking metabolic signals to the exocytosis of insulin in the pancreatic beta cell. These channels consist of two types of protein subunit: the sulfonylurea receptor SUR1 and the inward rectifying potassium channel Kir6.2.

Vulvar symptoms in paediatric and adolescent patients.

Vulvovaginal symptoms in children and young adolescents are not yet very well understood, nor is the actual incidence known. This study evaluates the character and possible infectious aetiology of vulvar symptoms of females aged up to 16 y. The signs, symptoms and bacteriological findings of 68 consecutive cases were studied.

Surgery for ovarian masses during childhood and adolescence: a report of 79 cases.

Study Objective: Abdominal pain is a common symptom in female children and adolescents that may be caused by appendicitis, other gastrointestinal or urological conditions, or gynecological problems. This study evaluates retrospectively the preoperative work-up and the operative treatment of ovarian masses in young girls at our institution.

Settings: The medical records of all female patients aged 17 years or less operated on for an ovarian mass in 1971-1995 at the Tampere University Hospital were reviewed.

Growth of prepubertal children with juvenile chronic arthritis.

The height and height velocity standard deviation scores (HSDS and HVSDS) of 64 prepubertal children with mild to moderate chronic arthritis were calculated at the time of diagnosis and then annually during treatment and follow-up of 4 y. Preceding the diagnosis, children with chronic arthritis were as a group slightly taller than their healthy peers. During the year before the diagnosis they had grown faster than their peers.

Experiences of special gynaecological services for children and adolescents: a descriptive study.

Gynaecological examination of girls during childhood is undertaken somewhat infrequently. These genital examinations should not be taboo or a frightening experience for the girl, for her parents or for the physician. Studies of children suspected of sexual abuse have paid attention to the wide variety of gynaecological conditions already present in childhood.

Normal growth of prepubertal nephrotic children during long-term treatment with repeated courses of prednisone.

The growth of 21 prepubertal children with steroid-dependent frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome was studied before and during treatment with repeated courses of oral prednisone for 4 y. The height and height velocity standard deviation scores (HSDS and HVSDS) of the nephrotic children were -0.11 and -0.

Growth hormone therapy with three dosage regimens in children with idiopathic short stature. European Study Group Participating Investigators.

Objective: In children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) we studied the growth-promoting effect at 4 years of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy in three dose regimens and evaluated whether increasing the dosage after the first year could prevent a decline in height velocity (HV).

Design: Included were 223 patients who were treated with subcutaneous administrations of rhGH 6 days per week. They were randomized to three groups: 3 IU/m2 body surface/day, 4.

Growth of prepubertal children with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Growth retardation has been reported in children with chronic inflammatory bowel disease, especially in those with Crohn's disease. Most of these studies concern adolescent patients.

Methods: The growth of 47 prepubertal children (20 boys and 27 girls, mean age at diagnosis 7 years) with inflammatory bowel disease was studied at Tampere University Hospital, Department of Paediatrics.

Growth of asthmatic children is slower during than before treatment with inhaled glucocorticoids.

Reports on the influence of inhaled glucocorticoids on growth have been controversial. We studied the growth of prepubertal asthmatic children prior to and during glucocorticoid therapy. We collected retrospectively the notes of 201 asthmatic children aged 1-11 years receiving inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate or budesonide.

Craniofacial features in patients with deficient and excessive growth hormone.

We studied the role of growth hormone (GH) in craniofacial growth by analyzing the craniofacial structures in patients with either deficient or excessive GH. The cephalogrammes of 21 patients with isolated or combined GH deficiency and of two patients with GH excess were compared with cephalogrammes of age and sex matched controls, and the patients with deficient GH also with height and sex matched controls. In cephalometric measurements, skeletal anatomy was followed as closely as possible.

Effect of conventional dose growth hormone therapy for two years on height velocity and height prognosis in girls with Turner syndrome.

The aims of this national multicentre study in Finland were to evaluate whether the height velocity of patients with Turner syndrome would increase with the conventional human growth hormone (GH) therapy regimen normally given to GH-deficient children and whether girls with Turner syndrome actually show GH neurosecretory dysfunction. Finally, the study should show whether GH therapy improves height prognosis and, eventually, final height. Twenty-five girls with Turner syndrome, aged 7.