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The level of glycosylated hemoglobin was determined in 39 diabetic children and in 94 normal children. In certain subjects, both diabetic and normal, the component HbA1c was also determined. After the evaluation of the results of their study, the Authors conclude that, for practical purposes, the determination of total glycosylated hemoglobin is sufficient and express doubt in the usefulness of this parameter for routine monitoring of metabolic balance in diabetic children. The Authors would like too point out, however, that glycosylated hemoglobin determination is useful in some cases such as chemical diabetes, diabetes in a remissive phase and diabetes in early infancy.

The effect of arginine infusion on the peripheral blood sugar, plasma insulin and plasma glucagon was studied in 28 appropriate-for-gestational-age premature newborn infants, 1-day-old, and in 12 normal children 4-10 years old. In the premature plasma insulin and glucagon concentrations increased after arginine though less noticeably than in the older children, and their insulin/glucagon molar ratio was low at fasting and did not change after arginine. It is assumed that the endocrine pancreatic activity is already developed at birth and adequate to the metabolic state in neonatal life.

Intravenous glucose injection (1 g/kg b.w.) was performed in eight newborn infants affected by erythroblastosis foetalis (IEF) and in seven controls during the first day of life in order to study insulin and glucagon response. The IEF infants were affected by mild or moderate hemolytic disease and their blood glucose values and plasma insulin concentrations before and throughout the test did not differ significantly from those of the controls. After the glucose injection the plasma glucagon concentrations showed great variations in both groups. The control infants did not show any significant changes; in the IEF infants, significant decreases were seen at 3 and 20 min of the test. These data seem to indicate that the alpha-cell sensitivity to glucose is greater in IEF than in normal infants and is not dependent on the development of the glucose-mediated insulin release mechanism.

Blood glucose, plasma insulin and plasma glucagon were determined during an arginine test at 0, 30 and 60 min in 1 to 7 and 30 day infants. The results were compared with those obtained in the 2-10-year-old children. Basal levels of blood glucose increased from the 1st to the 30th day; by the 30th day they were comparable with those observed in the 2-10-year-old children. Basal levels of plasma insulin were higher in 1 day infants, lower in 7 day infants and similar to those of the 2-10-year-old children in the 30 day infants. Basal values of plasma glucagon were higher in 1 day infants than in the 2-10-year-old children; the lowest levels were found in 7 day infants. After arginine, blood glucose increased in the 2-10-year-old children, the variations were negligible in the 1 to 7 and 30 day infants. Plasma insulin increased in 2-10-year-old children, there was a slight increase in 1 and 30 day infants and a negligible one in the 7 day infants. Plasma glucagon increased in the 2-10-year old children, and was similar in 1 day infants; the increase was reduced in 30 day infants and virtually absent in 7 day infants. These results suggest that there is a transitory alpha cell insensitivity to arginine during the first week of life.

The glomerulonephritis of congenital syphilis is thought to be immune-complex mediated. We describe a case of C. S. in whom the only manifestation was a glomerulonephritis. Immunopathogenic studies allowed the identification of treponemal antigen in glomeruli. The elution of immunoglobulins from renal tissue showed that glomerular deposits contained antitreponemal antibodies. Cryoglobulins with antitreponemal activity were also isolated from the patient's serum.