Body indices and basic vital signs in Helicobacter pylori positive and negative persons

It has been hypothesized that Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection may contribute to reduced stature, risk of hypertension or obesity. The aim was to evaluate body indices in Hp positive and negative persons. A total of 2436 subjects (4–100 years old) were tested for Hp status by 13Curea breath test. Data on height and weight were collected for 84%, and blood pressure for 80% of the study subjects. The prevalence of Hp infection was 41.6%. The odds ratio for a 10-year increase in age was 1.21 (95% CI 1.17–1.25, p-value <0.001). Statistically significant negative association of Hp positivity with body height was most pronounced in the younger age groups, while a positive association of Hp positivity with body mass index was only seen in those aged 15+ years. There was a negative effect of Hp positivity on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in subjects below 25 and a relatively strong positive effect on blood pressure in subjects over 65 years. Residual confounding by social characteristics as a possible explanation for the associations of Hp positivity with height and blood pressure cannot be excluded. Unmeasured factors related to social and family environment may cause the apparent association between Hp positivity and children’s growth and blood pressure

Vitamin A and beta carotene levels in constitutional delay of growth and puberty

The objective of this study was to investigate the vitamin A (vit A) status and beta carotene levels of children with constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP). Serum vit A and beta-carotene levels of 26 children with CDGP were measured. 20 age-matched healthy children with normal pubertal development served as controls. Except for the height SDS, which was significantly lower in the CDGP group (p0.05). Although serum vit A levels of children in both groups were within normal limits according to WHO criteria, serum vit A levels were significantly lower in the CDGP group than in controls (44.13 +/- 12.25 and 59.60 +/- 19.75 mu g/dl respectively, p<0.05). It was concluded that vit A deficiency may play a role in CDGP in developing countries

Anthropometric and nutritional evaluation of short statured children from low socio-economic class

The objective of this study was to evaluate the anthropometric parameters of short statured children examined in our outpatient clinic. 367 children were evaluated. Body weight for age, weight for height, height for age and body mass index of subjects were expressed as percent of standards. Wasting and stunting were established according to Waterlow's criteria /4/. Of 367 children, 27.8% were wasted and stunted; 59.1% were stunted; 3.8% had constitutional delay of growth and 9.3% had growth hormone deficiency. Ninety-seven percent of growth hormone deficient children had deficiency in weight as well as height. This study indicates that most short statured children and some growth hormone deficient children present with anthropometric indices of chronic. nutritional deficiency in a country where nutritional deprivation is frequent

TREATMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL DELAYED PUBERTY WITH A COMBINATION OF TESTOSTERONE ESTERS

Thirteen boys with constitutional delayed puberty (CDP) were treated with a combination of short and long-acting testosterone esters (testosterone propionate, testosterone phenylpropionate, testosterone isocaproate). Mean age at the onset of treatment was 14.9 +/- 0.6 years and bone age delay was -2.7 +/- 0.9 years. The dose of testosterone used was 200 mg intramuscularly four times at three week intervals, and the treated CDP boys were followed for two years. All the boys with CDP entered puberty after the last dose (testicular volume greater-than-or-equal-to 4 ml), and growth rate increased from 4.5 +/- 0.5 cm / year, pretreatment, to 8.4 +/- 1.6 cm / year, posttreatment, at the two year follow-up. Height for bone age SD score did not change significantly from a mean of -1.1 before treatment to -1.3 after treatment, nor did predicted height before treatment 1173.5 +/- 6.6 cm) and after treatment (173.3 +/- 4.9 cm). Combination of testosterone esters in a given dose and schedule is a safe and effective treatment for prepubertal boys with constitutional delayed puberty

Helicobacter pylori infection in children with constitutional delay of growth and puberty

Helicobacter pylori is a gastroduodenal pathogen strongly associated with chronic gastritis and duodenal ulceration. It is thought that H, pylori infection might be one of the causes of growth retardation in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of H, pylori in children with constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP). H. pylori seropositivity was studied in 24 children with CDGP (22 M, 2 F) and 32 healthy age-matched children with normal pubertal development. Mean age of the children with CDGP was 14.53 +/- 1.12 yr and all of them had been diagnosed as CBGP after physical and laboratory assessment. H, pylori IgG positivity was detected in 16 of the 24 children with CDGP (66.6%) and 12 of 32 controls (37.5%) (p <0.05), This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that H, pylori infection could be one of the environmental factors causing CDGP

Albumin excretion rate, serum insulin-like growth factor-I and glomerular filtration rate in type I diabetes mellitus at puberty

The albumin excretion rate (AER), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) levels were studied in 49 diabetic children and 49 controls, The duration of diabetes varied from newly diagnosed to 17.5 years, Diabetics exhibited a wide range of AER values and had significantly higher AER and IGF-I levels compared to controls, At puberty elevated circulating growth hormone (GH) concentrations were found with a parallel increase in the levels of IGF-I. High IGF-I levels were found in 10-12 year-old girls and 15-16 year-old boys in both diabetic and control groups, Positive correlations were found between IGF-I and GFR in girls of both groups (p<0.05) and in control girls between IGF-I, GFR and microalbuminuria (p<0.05), The diabetic boys also showed microalbuminuria with respect to controls at high HbA(1c) levels and when their testis volume exceeded 8 ml (p<0.05), We concluded that the prominent change in GH release at puberty, reflected by IGF-I, is in pulse amplitude, and that this is increased in diabetes but it is not a very important factor when determining the abnormal levels of urinary albumin excretion

SPONDYLOMETAPHYSEAL DYSPLASIA, TYPE-VII

Spondylometaphyseal dysplasia was first described by Kozlowski et al. in 1967 as a new dysplastic bone disease, characterized by metaphyseal dysplasia associated with generalized platyspondyly in the vertebral column [1]. Kozlowski ct ai. have pointed out the autosomal dominant transmission of this disorder at that time. However, later reports showed that thc manner of genetic transmission and the degree of the manifestation of the radiological findings could be variable and accordingly seven types of spondylometaphyseal dysplasia were described [2]. In this article, three cases displaying one of the rare forms of spondylometaphyseal dysplasia,"type VII" Lire presented and the diagnostic findings as well as the differential diagnostic criteria are discussed