Abnormal glucose tolerance in children with acute leukemia. Effect of induction chemotherapy including L-asparaginase.

The glycemic and insulin response to an oral glucose load was studied in 17 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 13 normal controls. The patients were randomly assigned to either group A, receiving prednisone and vincristine, or group B, receiving these agents and, in addition, L-asparaginase from days 9-19 of the study. The glucose load was performed prior to (phase I), and on days 8 (phase II), and 19 (phase III) of chemotherapy.

Cytochemical demonstration of 5-formyl-tetrahydrofolate cyclodehydrase activity in leucocytes of patients with acute leukaemia.

The activity of 5-formyl-tetrahydrofolate cyclodehydrase has been studied cytochemically in leucocytes of children with acute leukaemia. Comparison of enzymatic activity in the same types of cells showed no significant variation between normal controls and the patients with acute leukaemia. The blast cells were weakly positive or negative.

Leucocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (g-6-pd) activity in g-6-pd deficient subjects.

The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) in leucocytes was studied in the following group of Greek people. Group 1: 43 male children and 16 male students with mean values of enzyme activity of 27.7 +/- 16.

Serum levels of retinol, retinol-binding protein, carotenoids and triglycerides in children with beta-thalassemia major.

Levels of retinol (vitamin A), carotenoids and triglycerides in the serum of 50 children with homozygous beta-thalassemia have been studied, as well as the ability of the small intestine to absorb a test meal containing retinol palmitate, triglyceride, d-xylose and glucose. On the other hand, 8 patients underwent a dark-adaptation test, and in 40 children with homozygous beta-thalassemia the levels of retinol-binding protein in the serum were estimated. The mean levels of retinol, carotenoids and triglycerides in the serum of the patients were: 23 +/- 4.

Relationship between tocopherols and serum lipid levels in children with beta-thalassemia major.

Serum tocopherol levels were found to be below normal (less than 0.5 mg/100 ml) in nine (50%) of 18 children with beta-thalassemia major receiving inadequate treatment with blood transfusions. The mean tocopherol levels were significantly lower in the children with beta-thalassemia (0.

Irradiation of the head. Immediate effect on growth hormone secretion in children.

Plasma growth hormone (GH) was determined in samples obtained hourly from 1000 h to 0700 h before, and after a 3 week course of "prophylactic" cranial irradiation, in ten leukemic children who had no clinical or laboratory evidence of central nervous system involvement. The mean per hour value of GH prior to irradiation (4.1 +/- 2.

Red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate levels in children with hereditary haemolytic anaemias.

The role of red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) in increasing the availability of haemoglobin oxygen in neonatal jaundice and hereditary haemolytic anaemias was investigated. Measurements of 2,3-DPG were carried out on 58 normal children and six normal adults, 18 full-term newborns with neonatal jaundice and 57 cases (51 children and six adults) with hereditary haemolytic anaemias. In normal children and adults, with a mean haemoglobin of 12.

[Epidemiology of acute leukemia of childhood in Greece (author's transl)].

A retrospective study of 151 aged less than 15 years children suffering from acute leukaemia is reported, the parameters studied were male: female ratio, type of leukemia, age and seasonal distribution of the illness. The disease started in spring in 53 children (35,1%), in summer in 34 (22,6%), in autumn in 36 (23,8%) and in winter in 28 (18,5%). The difference between spring and winter was statistically highly significant (X2 = 10,54, P less than 0,005).