Chronobiologic considerations in human growth hormone therapy.

Because there is a striking diurnal variation in serum growth hormone concentration, the effect of the time of administration of growth hormone replacement therapy was examined in nine children with growth hormone deficiency. No differences in growth rate or somatomedin concentration were noted between morning and evening treatment schedules. Somatomedin concentrations were not constant over the 48 hours between growth hormone injections, and the peak value occurred approximately 24 hours after the growth hormone injection.

The effect of sodium intake on zinc excretion in patients with sickle cell anemia.

Urinary zinc excretion is known to be elevated in subjects with sickle cell anemia. Sodium intake has been suggested to influence zinc excretion in normal subjects. In order to assess the effect of sodium on zinc excretion in subjects with sickle cell anemia, urinary zinc excretion was measured in thirteen children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia on both a high (140 mEq/day) and low (20 mEq/day) sodium intake.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of methemoglobin Bart's.

Methemoglobin Bart's (gamma 4) purified from the blood of an alpha thalassemic neonate has been crystallized in a crystal form unique for hemoglobins. The space group is trigonal, P3121, or the enantiomorph P3221, a = b = 55.85 A, c = 159.

Gelastic (laughing) seizures and precocious puberty.

Gelastic (laughing) seizures are a rare phenomenon with fewer than 150 cases previously reported. These seizures have been reported to have a benign course in children. This article reviews the small subgroup of seven patients in whom such seizures were associated with precocious puberty and adds one additional case.