Hypophyseal Growth Hormone II. Interaction with Other Hormones

Growth hormone (GH) synthesis and release is controlled by hypothalamic GH releasing factor. Thyroid hormones, androgens and estrogens in physiologic concentrations enhance GH secretion but a controlling role for glucagon and vasopressin in GH release is not established. Under stress, ACTH directly facilitates GH release while the similar action of the catecholamines is mediated by the a-adrenergic receptors. Though physiologic doses of glucorticoids and progestins do not affect GH liberation, prolonged administration of medroxyprogesterone acetate or of glucocorticoids in high dosage will decrease blood levels or blunt Gti responsiveness. GH enhances the release of insulin. A shift in adrenal steroid biosynthesis from the glucocorticoid to the androgenic pathway may also be an effect of GH administration. Prolonged elevated GH levels decrease serum thyroid binding globulin but increase the turnover of free thyroxine. Decreased thyroidal iodine uptake is probably secondary to these changes in thyroxine metabolism. In hypothyroidism and severe Cushing\u27s syndrome GH release is blunted. In most cases of acromegaly as well as in hyperthyroidism GH is nonsuppressible, while in diabetes its response to stimuli other than hypoglycemia is exaggerated

The Effectiveness of Oxandrolone in Promoting Linear Growth in Growth Hormone Deficient Children

This two-year study consisted of a comparison of oxandrolone and growth hormone for the treatment of five children with documented growth hormone deficiency. Previously, androgens have been reported to be relatively ineffective in accelerating linear growth In growth hormone deficient children. Oxandrolone was administered for one year. Growth hormone was added in the second six months and then was given as a single agent in the third six months. Growth accelerated markedly in all patients. Only one child showed more rapid growth with the addition of growth hormone while two children actually grew more rapidly under the Influence of oxandrolone alone. Growth was poor and diminished when growth hormone was given as a single agent in the third six-month period for three children but improved when oxandrolone was re-instituted in a fourth six-month treatment period. These results suggest that oxandrolone may prove to be an effective and safe substitute for growth hormone in the management of selected cases of hypopituitarism

Complications of Treated Cushing\u27s Syndrome

Fifty-two patients with Cushing\u27s syndrome are reported with emphasis on post treatment complications. Seven patients, cured of their disease following appropriate therapy, had a recurrence of adrenal hypersecretion from one to ten years later. This occurred after all modalities of treatment, but was more common after sub-total adrenalectomy. Pituitary adenomas were found in two cases. Pseudotumor cerebri, psychiatnc complications, hyperthyroidism and hyperpigmentation were observed. One patient developed progressive hyperplgmentation despite pituitary radiation. Thirteen of fifty-two patients had malignant disease including three endometrial carcinomas, one rectal carcinoma and one adenocarcinoma of the mandible. Despite the remarkable improvement In the prognosis for patients with Cushing\u27s syndrome, this population continues to be at high risk for late complications and warrants close follow-up medical care

Acute viral bronchiolitis in South Africa : strategies for management and prevention

Management of acute viral bronchiolitis is largely supportive. There is currently no proven effective therapy other than oxygen for hypoxic children. The evidence indicates that there is no routine benefit from inhaled, rapid short-acting bronchodilators, adrenaline or ipratropium bromide for children with acute viral bronchiolitis. Likewise, there is no demonstrated benefit from routine use of inhaled or oral corticosteroids, inhaled hypertonic saline nebulisation, montelukast or antibiotics. The last should be reserved for children with severe disease, when bacterial co-infection is suspected. Prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease remains a challenge. A specific RSV monoclonal antibody, palivizumab, administered as an intramuscular injection, is available for children at risk of severe bronchiolitis, including premature infants, young children with chronic lung disease, immunodeficiency, or haemodynamically significant congenital heart disease. Prophylaxis should be commenced at the start of the RSV season and given monthly during the season. The development of an RSV vaccine may offer a more effective alternative to prevent disease, for which the results of clinical trials are awaited. Education of parents or caregivers and healthcare workers about diagnostic and management strategies should include the following: bronchiolitis is caused by a virus; it is seasonal; it may start as an upper respiratory tract infection with low-grade fever; symptoms are cough and wheeze, often with fast breathing; antibiotics are generally not needed; and the condition is usually self limiting, although symptoms may occur for up to 4 weeks in some children.http://www.samj.org.zaam2016Paediatrics and Child Healt

L\'evy-stable two-pion Bose-Einstein correlations in sNN=200\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200 GeV Au++Au collisions

We present a detailed measurement of charged two-pion correlation functions in 0%-30% centrality $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV Au$+$Au collisions by the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The data are well described by Bose-Einstein correlation functions stemming from L\'evy-stable source distributions. Using a fine transverse momentum binning, we extract the correlation strength parameter $\lambda$, the L\'evy index of stability $\alpha$ and the L\'evy length scale parameter $R$ as a function of average transverse mass of the pair $m_T$. We find that the positively and the negatively charged pion pairs yield consistent results, and their correlation functions are represented, within uncertainties, by the same L\'evy-stable source functions. The $\lambda(m_T)$ measurements indicate a decrease of the strength of the correlations at low $m_T$. The L\'evy length scale parameter $R(m_T)$ decreases with increasing $m_T$, following a hydrodynamically predicted type of scaling behavior. The values of the L\'evy index of stability $\alpha$ are found to be significantly lower than the Gaussian case of $\alpha=2$, but also significantly larger than the conjectured value that may characterize the critical point of a second-order quark-hadron phase transition.Comment: 448 authors, 25 pages, 11 figures, 4 tables, 2010 data. v2 is version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. C. Plain text data tables for the points plotted in figures for this and previous PHENIX publications are (or will be) publicly available at http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/papers.htm

Production of π0\pi^0 and η\eta mesons in U++U collisions at sNN=192\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=192 GeV

The PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider measured $\pi^0$ and $\eta$ mesons at midrapidity in U$+$U collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=192$ GeV in a wide transverse momentum range. Measurements were performed in the $\pi^0(\eta)\rightarrow\gamma\gamma$ decay modes. A strong suppression of $\pi^0$ and $\eta$ meson production at high transverse momentum was observed in central U$+$U collisions relative to binary scaled $p$$+$$p$ results. Yields of $\pi^0$ and $\eta$ mesons measured in U$+$U collisions show similar suppression pattern to the ones measured in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV for similar numbers of participant nucleons. The $\eta$/$\pi^0$ ratios do not show dependence on centrality or transverse momentum, and are consistent with previously measured values in hadron-hadron, hadron-nucleus, nucleus-nucleus, and $e^+e^-$ collisions.Comment: 403 authors from 72 institutions, 13 pages, 6 figures, 7 tables, 2012 data. v2 is version accepted by Physical Review C. Plain text data tables for the points plotted in figures for this and previous PHENIX publications are (or will be) publicly available at http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/papers.htm