Immunoradiometric assay of thyrotropin during the first six months of life.

The aim of this preliminary study was to assess variation in thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone; TSH) levels using an immunoradiometric assay during the first 6 months of life of normal infants. One hundred and five normal newborns (59 females, 46 males) were evaluated for TSH, triiodothyronine and thyroxine at 48 h of life, and TSH was additionally determined at 15 days (n = 42), 30 days (n = 38), 60 days (n = 24), 90 days (n = 28), and 180 days (n = 30). Complete determinations during the total period of the study were obtained in 17 infants.

[Variability of growth hormone response to repeated stimulation tests in children of normal height].

The presence of false negatives in the evaluation of patients with short stature and the variability of 24 hour growth hormone (GH) physiological studies in the normal population are well known. Therefore the reproducibility of two widely used pharmacological test was studied in normal children. Forty prepuberal children were evaluated (34 boys and 6 girls), with chronological ages ranging from 2 years 11 months to 12 years 11 months (mean: 9 years 1 month), bone ages from 3 years 2 months to 12 years 6 months (mean: 8 years 4 months) and with normal stature and growth velocity (SDS > -2) and normal body mass index (BMI < 25).

Pubertal varicocele: correlation between clinical, Doppler, and hormonal findings.

Clinical, Doppler, and hormonal findings in puberal patients with unilateral and bilateral varicocele were evaluated. No correlation was found between clinical and hormonal findings. A significant increase was found in LH response to LH-RH in patients with bilateral varicocele as well as an increase in T to hCG in those with unilateral varicocele with prolonged reflux.