Neuropathy in children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus

Nerve conduction velocities were studied in the median, posterior tibial, radial and sural nerves of 50 juvenile diabetics, average age 13 +/- 1.3 years and mean duration of diabetes 2.3 +/- 1.4 years. Motor conduction velocity (MCV) in the median nerve was reduced in 10% of the subjects, and in the posterior tibial in 32%. Sensory conduction velocity (SCV) in the radial nerve was reduced in 30% of the subjects, and in the sural in 44%. No relationship was found between the reduction in conduction velocity and the duration of diabetes; nevertheless, a correlation was observed between this reduction and the degree of glycaemic control represented by the glycosylated haemoglobin concentration. The authors emphasize the importance of good glycaemic control for the prevention of diabetic neuropathy.     

Does the Child Behavior Checklist juvenile bipolar disorder phenotype identify bipolar disorder?

BACKGROUND: A profile of Child Behavior Checklist(CBCL) T-scores>or=70 on the attention problems, aggression, and anxious/depressed subscales has been proposed to identify juvenile bipolar disorder(JBD). We tested this hypothesis in a population-based sample. METHODS: Data for this analysis come from a birth-records-based twin sample having semi-structured interview and CBCL data (N=1,346). We compared prevalence of DSM-IV psychiatric disorders and suicidal behaviors in CBCL-JBD and non-CBCL-JBD subjects. Twin modeling assessed genetic and environmental contributions to CBCL-JBD. Associations with DRD4 and DAT1 were examined using chi-square tests. RESULTS: The prevalence of CBCL-JBD was 2.5%. No subjects with CBCL-JBD met criteria for bipolar or other mood disorders. CBCL-JBD subjects had more oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder(CD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD). The CBCL-JBD profile was uncommon in these disorders. CBCL-JBD subjects more frequently endorsed suicidal behaviors. The CBCL-JBD profile was heritable and associated with the number of DAT1 9-repeat 3' untranslated region alleles. CONCLUSIONS: The CBCL-JBD phenotype does not correspond with a semi-structured interview assessment of JBD. ADHD, CD, and ODD are common in children with CBCL-JBD but do not account for the profile. Increased suicidal behaviors indicate substantial impairment in CBCL-JBD subjects.     

Female sexual receptivity is defective in juvenile hormone-deficient mutants of theapterous gene ofDrosophila melanogaster

During reproductive maturation of female insects, the acquisition of sexual receptivity is coordinated with ovarian development. Juvenile homone regulates vitellogenesis in the ovaries, but the action of this hormone in the development of sexual behavior is less well-understood. A strain ofDrosophila melanogaster carrying a mutation in theapterous gene(ap ⁴) was known to exhibit arrested vitellogenesis (rescuable by applying exogenous juvenile hormone), sterility of both sexes, and a deficiency of juvenile hormone. In this study, we examined the effects of mutations ofap on female receptivity and its relationship to juvenile hormone. We observed abnormally low female receptivity in homozygousap strains, and heteroallelic combinations ofap mutations exhibited low receptivity. For female receptivity,ap showed no dominance (i.e.,ap/ap ⁺ was intermediate betweenap/ap andap ⁺/ap ⁺). Low receptivity mapped genetically to theap locus. The reduction in female receptivity in these mutants is positively correlated with levels of juvenile hormone synthesized by their corpora allata.This work was supported in part by The Scheinfeld Center for Humans Genetics in the Social Sciences (J.R.), The National Science Foundation (BNS-882 1339 to J.R.), BARD (No. IS-1664-89R to D.S.), The Israel Cancer Research Fund (grant to D.S.), The Rekanati Foundation of Tel Aviv University (grant to D.S.), and The Israeli Fruit Council (award to M.A.)     

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: Benefits from Massage Theraphy

Studied children with mild to moderate juvenile rheumatoid arthritiswho were massaged by their parents 15 minutes a day for 30 days(and a control group engaged in relaxation therapy). The children'sanxiety and stress hormone (cortisol) levels were immediatelydecreased by the massage, and over the 30-day period their paindecreased on self-reports, parent reports, and their physician'sassessment of pain (both the incidence and severity) and pain-limitingactivities     

Autosomal dominant juvenile vitreoretinal degeneration and retinal detachment

To study the inheritance and clinical picture of a new form of vitreoretinal dystrophy I examined 18 family members of a family with six generations. Seven patients, three male and four female, in three consecutive generations were observed to be affected indicating autosomal dominant inheritance. The disease was characterized by juvenile degeneration of the vitreous with detachment of the vitreous body and some floating vitreous opacities, cystoid degeneration of the peripheral retina with whitish glistening stippled areas of superficial retinal degeneration, spotty hyperpigmentation, patches of retinal atrophy with pigmentations, occasional atrophic retinal holes, and in four family members at the age of 4 to 12 years, unilateral or bilateral retinal detachment with breaks in the peripheral retina. Most patients had hyperopia with or without astigmatism. In eyes without detached retina, the disease did not show any marked progression, the lens was clear, the posterior fundus and the retinal and choroidal vessels were normal, and the visual acuity, visual fields, dark adaptation, colour vision, electroretinograms, and visually evoked response findings were normal.     

Gynandroblastoma of ovary with juvenile granulosa cell component and heterologous intestinal type glands

An ovarian gynandroblastoma in a 15-year-old girl is described. The predominant component was juvenile granulosa cell tumour. Areas of adult granulosa cell tumour and Sertoli cell elements were also present. Stromal theca and luteinised cells were identified. An additional histological finding was the presence of heterologous intestinal type glands. There was positive immunohistochemical staining of juvenile and adult granulosa cell areas with inhibin and MIC2 antibodies. Electronmicroscopy showed a close ultrastructural resemblance between tumour cells in granulosa and Sertoli cell areas, in spite of differences in architectural pattern, suggesting that both morphological components may derive from a single cell of origin. The tumour demonstrates a unique combination of elements which has not previously been described.     

中医综合疗法对假性近视患者黄斑处脉络膜厚度及微血流密度的影响

[目的] 研究中医综合疗法对青少年假性近视患者黄斑处脉络膜厚度及微血流密度的影响,为中医疗法在青少年假性近视的治疗方面提供依据。[方法] 使用SPSS 21.0软件产生随机数字,将51例（102只眼）假性近视青少年患者随机分成对照组和治疗组。对照组患者27例（54只眼）,单纯使用复方托吡卡胺滴眼液点眼治疗;治疗组患者24例（48只眼）,在对照组治疗的基础上配合中药雾化、中药眼贴和耳穴埋籽等中医综合治疗。两组患者疗程均为8周,治疗前后检测两组患者裸眼远视力、电脑验光屈光度数、黄斑中心凹下脉络膜厚度及黄斑区浅层血流密度,并评价两组患者疗效。[结果] 1）治疗组1例因中药雾化过敏导致脱落,最终纳入23例（46只眼）。2）治疗8周后,治疗组总有效率为92.3%,对照组总有效率为75.0%,治疗组疗效优于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。3）治疗后,治疗组患者平均视力较治疗前提高,差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;对照组患者平均视力较治疗前无明显改善,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。组间比较方面,治疗组治疗后平均视力较对照组有一定提高,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。4）经治疗,治疗组患者平均假性近视度数较治疗前下降,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;对照组患者平均假性近视度数较治疗前略有下降,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。组间比较方面,治疗组治疗后平均假性近视度数较对照组有一定下降,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。5）治疗组患者黄斑中心凹下脉络膜厚度较治疗前增厚,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;对照组黄斑中心凹下脉络膜厚度较治疗前无明显改变,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;组间比较方面,治疗组治疗后黄斑中心凹下脉络膜厚度较对照组增厚,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。6）治疗后,治疗组黄斑区浅层血流密度较治疗前增加,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;对照组黄斑区浅层血流密度较治疗前增加,但差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;组间比较方面,治疗组治疗后黄斑区浅层血流密度较对照组明显增加,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。[结论] 采用中医综合疗法对青少年假性近视治疗效果较好,并且可以增加黄斑中心凹下脉络膜厚度及黄斑区浅层血流密度,短期观察无不良反应,值得临床推广运用。     

Patellofemoral joint cartilage restoration with particulated juvenile allograft in patients under 21 years old

BackgroundPatellofemoral joint cartilage defects are difficult to treat due to their unique thickness and topography.PurposeTo report the postoperative outcomes of patients age 21 and younger treated with particulated juvenile allograft cartilage (PJAC) for full-thickness cartilaginous defects of the patellofemoral joint. The primary aim was to report surgical outcomes and complication rates, as well as return to sport activity. A secondary aim was to provide objective scores of defect restoration by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment.MethodsA retrospective review of all PJAC cases conducted between 2012 and 2019 at a single tertiary care urban musculoskeletal institution was conducted. Patients 21 years old or younger with minimum clinical follow up of 1 year and postoperative MRI at a minimum of 6 months were included. Cartilage restoration by MRI was independently assessed using the International Cartilage Repair Society’s (ICRS) standardized system.ResultsThirty four patients, 36 knees, were included, with mean age 16.1 ± 3.1 years old. Return to sport rate among patients who participated in a sport preoperatively was 100%. On independent MRI assessment, two thirds of defects achieved an overall grade of normal or nearly normal, while 28 patients (78%) had majority defect fill. Primary graft failure occurred in two cases and one patient experienced a surgical complication.ConclusionRestoration of patellofemoral chondral defects in young patients with particulated juvenile allograft results in satisfactory short-term outcomes and postoperative MRI appearance, along with high rates of return to sport and low rate of complications and graft failure.What is known about the subject: Patellofemoral joint cartilage defects are difficult to treat due to their unique thickness and topography. Several cartilage restoration techniques are available, but these rarely achieve the same mechanical properties as native hyaline cartilage. PJAC is a cell-based technique that has demonstrated promise since its introduction in 2007.What this study adds to existing knowledge: This series of patients adds the largest single cohort of pediatric and adolescent patients who receive PJAC for defects of the patellofemoral joint. Surgeons treating patients in this age group should be aware of every technique, and their respective outcomes.     

Adhesion of peripheral blood lymphocytes of children with arthritis to human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

To determine whether adhesion of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) may be enhanced, adhesion of PBL of children with JRA, children with seronegative spondyloarthropathies (SSA), age-appropriate and adult controls, to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) was assessed in vitro. B and CD4 T lymphocytes in initial, adherent, and non-adherent cell fraction were identified by flow cytometry. B lymphocytes of all the younger subjects combined had a higher adherence to activated HUVEC compared with B lymphocytes of the adult donors. Except for greater adherence of HLA-DR+ CD4 T cells, lymphocytes of children with JRA showed no enhanced adhesion to either unactivated or activated HUVEC. The percentage of B cells adherent to activated HUVEC in each of the subject groups was 1.5-3.6-fold higher than adherent CD4 T lymphocytes. Surface analyses indicated higher percentages of CD49d (alpha 4)+ and CD29 (beta 1)+ CD4 T lymphocytes in adherent cells, but less of a differential in CD49 (alpha 4)+ and no difference in CD29 (beta 1)+ B lymphocytes. There were fewer Leu-8 (L-selectin)+ B and Leu-8+ CD4 T cells among adherent cells. The data suggest a greater adhesive capacity of B lymphocytes compared with CD4 T lymphocytes which is unrelated to disease, and the possibility that B lymphocytes may utilize adhesion molecules distinct from those of CD4 T lymphocytes. Only a small subset of T cells of patients with JRA may have an enhanced capacity for adhesion to endothelium.