Search

Obesity is associated with various alterations in lung function in adults. These alterations appear to be proportional to the degree of EP and the beneficial effect of weight loss on respiratory function has been reported. Therefore, in 35 children and adolescents affected by essential obesity of medium-severe degree, we have evaluated the following parameters: FVC (forced vital capacity), PEF (peak expiratory flow), FEV1 (forced expiratory volume), FEV75, FEV50, FEV25, before and after six months of dieting. Twelve subjects (34%) showed at least a pathologic value of PEF and/or FEV50 before dieting. All the female patients normalized their parameters after six months of dieting, whilst 5 out of 7 males still showed pathologic respiratory indexes, although a similar weight loss was obtained in the two groups of patients. Our study enhances the presence of respiratory functions derangements in a significant percentage of children with medium-severe degree of obesity. A careful monitoring of these subjects is therefore necessary, in order to prevent further progression of the lung function damage. After dieting the pulmonary function improved in female patients only, suggesting that factors other than the EP are involved in the pathogenesis of the respiratory alterations.

A study was carried out to characterize in the growing skeleton the absorptiometric measurement of the ultradistal radial epiphysis where the trabecular bone is higher than at proximal scanning planes. The study showed that a radius scan, 1 to 1.4 cm proximal to the ulnar tip, and consequently 4 to 6 mm proximal to the growing plate, gives reproducible informations in infants aged 6 years or more when the BMC, and not the BMC/BW, is considered, as the measurement error is 3.5% and 5.7%, respectively.

In the last few years the therapeutic management of GHD children has been improved by the recent synthesis of GH by DNA recombinant technique (rGH). rGH made it possible to overcome the problems of availability and purity of extractive GH, obtaining the same results (in growth velocity) without any information as regards late side effects of such a treatment. GHRH therapy in GHD patients of hypothalamic origin is still on trial and a lot of aspects are to be pointed out (indications to treatment, schedule and route of administration, cost/benefit ration, side effects).

Osteopenia of preterm newborns is a condition of undermineralization which arises during the first years of life in very low birth-weight infants. The pathogenesis of disease is multifactorial, even if its main mechanism is the inadequate mineral intake (overall the inadequate phosphorus intake). A wide spectrum of signs and symptoms may be observed ranging from overt rickets to asymptomatic conditions. Diagnosis is usually based on either photon or biochemical findings (hypophosphoremia, hyper calciuria, hypophosphaturia). There is not agreement about the prevention and the treatment and about the benefit of any form of mineral supplementation. The aim of our study is a review of the recent studies concerning the osteopenia of prematurity to focus this new problem.