Effects of growth hormone therapy in prepubertal children with short stature secondary to intrauterine growth retardation

A total of 130 short children were included in a French multicentre study and randomized between a control group (group A) and two groups treated with daily subcutaneous injections of GH at doses of 0.7 IU/kg/week (group B) and 1.4 IU/kg/week (group C) for 2 years. Height velocity was significantly increased ( p <0.0005) in groups B and C, with a greater increase in group C than in group B ( p < 0.001). The benefit after 2 years compared with controls was 4.3 cm in group B and 5.9 cm in group C. The rate of bone maturation was not affected by GH therapy. These results led to the conclusion that 2 years of treatment with GH improves final height prognosis in children with short stature secondary to IUGR, and that this effect is dose dependent. The effect on final height has still to be demonstrated.     

Defibrination syndrome after intra-amniotic infusion of hypertonic saline

To determine the role of changes in coagulation factors in hermorrhagic complications after intraamniotic infusion of hypertonic saline for therapeutic abortion, 21 women undergoing this operation, ranging 15-38 years in age with an average gestation of 18 weeks, were studied for coagulation factors, fibrinogen survival, and plasma volume. Blood tests were taken before, immediately after, and at 3-hour intervals after infusion of hypertonic saline. Significant changes were found in the following factors: Thrombin clotting time was consistently prolonged from the third hour after infusion. The platelet count dropped significantly from 310,000/cu. mm before infusion to 223,000/cu. mm 18 hours later. Fibrinogen levels dropped significantly from a mean preinfusion level of 393 mg/100 ml to 297 mg/100 ml at 18 hours. Factor VIII levels also fell significantly from 131% of normal at preinfusion to 85% of normal at 6 hours. Factor V levels declined significantly from a preinfusion mean of 104% of normal to 91% at 6 hours, though the rate of decrease varied widely among the patients. Fibrinogan/fibrin, degradation products, negative at preinfusion, appeared in all patients serums. Euglobulin lysis time was not accelerated. Fibrinogen survival studies were conducted in only 5 patients, 4 of whom showed a significant decrease, notably immediately preceding abortion, with a highly significant correlation to the time from infusion. Plasma volume increased significantly with a corresponding decrease in hematocrit. It is concluded that a mild form of diffuse intravascular coagulation develops after the intraamniotic infusion of hypertonic saline, but further research is necessary to pinpoint the cause of serious coagulopathy and hemorrhage.     

Colorectal hemangioma: radiologic findings

The authors correlated radiographs with the clinical and histologic data of 12 patients with colorectal hemangioma. All patients presented with rectal bleeding, which was chronic in seven. Phleboliths were also visible in seven cases, which correlated with chronic bleeding in five. On barium studies, three masses were soft and three produced rigid narrowing. The atypical features of rigid luminal narrowing, which might mimic a carcinoma, and hypovascularity correlated with chronic bleeding or visible phleboliths, which suggest the correct diagnosis of colorectal hemangioma.     

汉族志愿者阿米替林代谢与异喹呱羟化代谢的关系

8名男性健康志愿者po阿米替林100 mg后,以阿米替林及其3种代谢物的血浓度曲线下面积(AUC₀^∞)计算阿米替林的脱甲基化代谢及羟基化代谢能力。结果提示个体间阿米替林及其3种代谢物的AUC差异很大。其中7名志愿者测定异喹呱羟化代谢表型,6例为异喹呱强代谢者,1例为弱代谢者。尿中异喹呱的羟化代谢率与阿米替林的羟基化代谢率、阿米替林和10-羟基阿米替林的AUC₀^∞呈显著相关。阿米替林总血浆清除率与异喹呱羟化代谢率呈弱相关。此结果表明阿米替林和异喹呱的羟化代谢可能由同一酶控制,阿米替林的羟基化代谢和脱甲基化代谢可能为两个独立的代谢途径。     

Failure of ablation of a mediastinal parathyroid adenoma by repeated contrast staining

In a patient with primary hyperparathyroidism an attempt was made to ablate a middle mediastinal parathyroid gland by forceful staining with radiographic contrast material. The gland was stained on two separate occasions, two weeks apart. Both times the serum calcium level temporarily fell to the normal range but reverted to abnormal levels. The patient ultimately required surgery for correction of hypercalcemia. The mechanism of staining and possible reasons for failure as well as potential complications are discussed.