Exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism during adolescence: effect on peak bone mass.

Background: Chronic subclinical hyperthyroidism induced by suppressive doses of L-thyroxine (L-T4) therapy, so-called exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism, may cause diminished bone mass in postmenopausal women. The effect of subclinical hyperthyroidism during childhood and adolescence on peak bone mass, however, has not been evaluated.

Objective: To determine whether exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism during adolescence, the period of critical bone mass acquisition, would reduce peak bone mass.

Racial and etiopathologic dichotomies in insulin hypersecretion and resistance in obese children.

Objectives: To assess insulin dynamics to oral glucose tolerance testing in obese children, denoting individual contributions of insulin hypersecretion versus resistance to racial and etiopathogenetic specificity.

Study Design: We performed 3-hour oral glucose tolerance testing in 113 nondiabetic obese children (age 13.6 +/- 3.

Accuracy of glucose meters in measuring low blood glucose levels.

Background: Hypoglycemia is an emergency condition requiring treatment as soon as possible. Therefore, rapid and reliable blood glucose measurements are necessary. There are 2 systems of glucose meters (GMs), the reflectance photometer system (RPS) and the electrochemical biosensor system (BSS).

Combined raw cornstarch and nifedipine as an additional treatment in persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy.

This study reports the result of treatment with the combination of raw cornstarch and nifedipine in two infants affected with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of variable severity. The first infant developed hypoglycemia during early neonatal period and required subtotal pancreatectomy. She still developed hypoglycemia after her second operation.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone testing in premature thelarche.

Premature thelarche (PT) is characterized by isolated breast development in girls prior to 8 years of age. In addition, there is neither growth spurt nor advanced bone age. It has been suggested that luteinizing hormone (LH) response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) alone is adequate to distinguish central precocious puberty from PT.

The role of prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) in pathogenesis of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).

In previous studies it has been demonstrated that the levels of plasma 6 keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-K-PGF1), the stable metabolite of PGI2 were elevated in DHF patients during shock. In this study it is hypothesized that excessive PGI2 production plays a very important role in developing serious clinical manifestations of dengue shock syndrome (DSS) patients. In addition, an attempt was made to determine whether TXA2 has any significant role in such patients.

Persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy: long-term outcome following subtotal pancreatectomy.

Background: Persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy (PHHI) is the most common cause of persistent hypoglycemia in infants. The current standard treatment is subtotal pancreatectomy (Px). However, the long-term outcome following surgery needs further attention.

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) screening for the diagnosis of growth hormone (GH) deficiency.

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a common cause of growth retardation in children and adolescents. Gold standard for the diagnosis of GHD is based upon two standard growth hormone (GH) provocative tests demonstrating a peak serum GH of less than 7 ng/mL. These tests, besides requiring multiple blood samplings, are time-consuming and costly.

A novel E250X mutation of the PIT1 gene in a patient with combined pituitary hormone deficiency.

PIT1 abnormality is defined as a genetic abnormality in the PIT1 gene that encodes a pituitary specific transcription factor, Pit-1/GHF-1. PIT1 abnormality indicates combined deficiency of thyrotropin (TSH), growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL), and has been reported in several cases. We studied the PIT1 gene in a patient with combined deficiency of TSH, GH and PRL.

Prolactin (PRL) release in normal and growth hormone deficient children after oral metoclopramide.

Studies were done to determine plasma PRL in response to oral MC 0.2 mg/kg in 17 normal children (NC), 12 males and 5 females aged between 4.7-12.

Congenital complete absence of GH, TSH and PRL in infants: a consequence of Pit-1 gene deletion.

The patient was the first child of a short mother (140 cm) born at term with a birthweight of 2,700 g. On arrival, she was 1 4/12-year-old, weighed 4,150 g and 47 cm long. Her bone age was at the 6 month-old level.

Cushing's syndrome caused by Ewing's sarcoma secreting corticotropin releasing factor-like peptide.

Procedures were carried out in a 12-year-old girl to relate Ewing's sarcoma of the left tibia with Cushing's syndrome. Computed tomography revealed a normal pituitary and hypothalamus but bilateral adrenal hyperplasia without focal enlargement, thus readily excluding hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal tumor. Negative results from a high-dose dexamethasone suppression test do not support pituitary-dependent Cushing's disease.

Plasma prostacyclin (PGI2) in dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is an epidemic viral disease. The exact mechanism attributable to platelet and vascular dysfunctions is still obscure. Plasma 6-keto-PGF1a (6KPGF1), the stable metabolite of PGI2 was determined in 60 DHF patients and in 11 non-DHF (NDHF) patients with fever of over 38.

Growth hormone release in normal children after oral clonidine 4 micrograms/kg.

Oral clonidine 4 micrograms/kg was given to 32 normal children, 18 males and 14 females with the mean age of 8.44 +/- 3.18 years.

X-linked congenital adrenal hypoplasia: proposal pathogenesis.

Two male infants with hyperpigmentation, vomiting, lethargy and weight loss were reported. Hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia, hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis were suggestive diagnosis of salt losing adrenocortical insufficiency. The absence of ambiguous genitalia, low 24 hour urinary 17 KS and pregnanetriol excretion precluded congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Hypokalemic crisis simulating intestinal obstruction in a 4-year-old girl. A consequence of 17alpha-hydroxylase deficiency.

A 4-year-old girl had abdominal distention, muscular weakness, renal tubular dysfunction, and hypertension associated with hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis. There were no clinical symptoms of cortisol deficiency, but there was excessive deoxycorticosterone and cortisocsterone production. Basal plasma aldosterone levels were undetectable; however, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation brought plasma aldosterone levels up to normal.