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Data on body composition in conjunction with reference centiles are helpful in identifying the severity of growth and nutritional disorders in infancy and for evaluating the adequacy of treatment given during this important period of rapid growth. Total body fat (TBF) and fat-free mass (FFM) were estimated from total body electrical conductivity (TBEC) measurements in 423 healthy term Caucasian infants, aged 14-379 days. Cross sectional age, weight, and length related centile standards are presented for TBF and FFM. Centiles were calculated using Altman's method, based on polynomial regression and modelling of the residual variation. The TBF percentage steeply increased during the first half year of life, and slowly declined beyond this age. Various simple TBEC derived anthropometric prediction equations for TBF and FFM are available to be used in conjunction with these standards. Regression equations for the P50 and the residual SD, depending on age, weight, or length, are provided for constructing centile charts and calculating standard deviation scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Low density eosinophils are more prominent in asthmatic patients compared with healthy subjects. LDE are metabolically more active and produce more tissue-injuring and spasmogenic proteins than normal eosinophils. Objective and methods With a method providing information about eosinophils of 12 different densities we were able to study eosinophil density characteristics in 24 young patients in detail with allergic asthma in a stable phase, and in 21 patients after a bronchial allergen challenge. Results Study of the eosinophil density profile of patients and healthy controls revealed two density populations. Patients had more low density eosinophils than controls. In the patients eosinophil density characteristics and in particular the number of low density eosinophils correlated strongly with both FEV1% predicted (ρ = -0.66. P<0.001) and FEV1/FVC (ρ=-0.47. P<0.01) as well as with bronchial responsiveness to histamine (ρ=-0.68, P<0.001) and house dust mite (ρ=-0.37, P<0.05). Allergen induced bronchial reactions were associated with an increase in the number (P<0.001) and percentage (P<005) of low density eosinophils. A selective rise in the number of eosinophils collected from fractions with a low density accounted for the observed rise in the total number of eosinophils. Density changes did not differ between patients with an isolated early reaction and patients with both an early and a late reaction, nor was there a relation between the severity of the late reaction and the shift in eosinophil density. Conclusion In conclusion, peripheral blood eosinophil density characteristics and in particular numbers of low density eosinophils are closely related with Indicators of the asthma severity under stable conditions. Allergen inhalation induces a further shift towards lower density suggesting additional activation of the eosinophils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After initial promotion of copper excretion with D-penicillamine, the effect of oral zinc sulphate (3 X 150 mg/day, loading dose; 3 X 100 mg/day, maintenance dose) in two children with clinically stable Wilson's disease was evaluated after completion of three years' treatment. The course, judged by clinical, biochemical, and histological parameters was satisfactory in both. The urinary copper concentration reverted to less than 1.26 mumol/24 hours; and the serum copper concentration decreased further during zinc sulphate treatment. In one child the rise in 24 hour urinary copper excretion observed after a challenge dose of D-penicillamine (+/- 20 mg/kg) remained constant throughout the period of observation while the liver copper content fell from 1460 micrograms/g dry weight to 890 micrograms/g dry weight. In the other patient, however, the liver copper content as well as the 24 hour urinary copper excretion increased after D-penicillamine challenge during the third year of treatment. We conclude that zinc sulphate is a low toxic and well tolerated alternative for D-penicillamine. The dosage depends, however, on individual factors not yet well understood, and we recommend restriction of its use to patients who do not tolerate D-penicillamine well. We suggest monitoring of treatment with yearly D-penicillamine challenge and a liver biopsy if liver function deteriorates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum copper and zinc concentrations and 24 hour urinary copper and zinc excretion were determined serially from the beginning of treatment with D-penicillamine in four children with Wilson's disease. The data show a progressive decrease in both serum copper and zinc concentrations in all. Urinary copper excretion gradually levelled off to approximately 50% of initial values, but zinc excretion increased. Urinary zinc:copper ratios therefore increased with the duration of treatment. Copper elimination was considered adequate as soon as challenge with a test dose of D-penicillamine did not result in an increase in copper excretion. Urinary zinc excretion was increased further by the test dose. Zinc depletion was suspected clinically in one patient on D-penicillamine maintenance treatment. Lowering the dose alleviated the symptoms, urinary zinc loss decreased from 64 to 34 mumol/24 hours, and copper excretion remained largely unchanged. Data obtained indicate that D-penicillamine alters the metabolism of both copper and zinc. The extent of this is not only dose dependent but is also related to the efficacy of copper elimination. Both copper and zinc concentrations must by monitored to assess the benefits of treatment and the risks of inducing manifest or subclinical zinc deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expired hydrogen and blood glucose were measured during an oral lactose tolerance test in 163 children aged between 9 months and 14 years. Lactose malabsorption, defined as an abnormal increase in expired H2 during a lactose tolerance test, was found in 54 children. Of these, 30 were found to be lactose intolerant as the increased expired H2 was accompanied by clinical symptoms. The other 109 children, in whom there was no rise in expired H2, were assumed to have normal lactose absorption. In children with lactose intolerance the increase in expired H2 tended to occur earlier after lactose ingestion than in children with malabsorption. The mean value of the rise in blood glucose was 2.4 mmol/100 ml) in the lactose-tolerant children and 1.0 mmol/1 (18 mg/100 ml) in the lactose-intolerant ones. Although this difference is significant (p less than 0.001), the rise in blood glucose, in predicting the correct diagnosis, was wrong in 13% of cases in the lactose-tolerant group, and wrong in 37% in the lactose-intolerant group (95% confidence limits 9-19% and 22-53% respectively). It is concluded that a rise in blood glucose, whether or not of more that 1.2 mmol/1 (22mg/100 ml) is of little help in differentiating lactose tolerance from intolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was concerned with the correlation between skin test, bronchial provocation test, and histamine release from leucocytes and the serum level of total and allergen-specific IgE in patients atopic to house-dust mite allergen (Dermatophagiodes pteronyssinus) as measured by an intracutaneous skin test. It is concluded that, assuming a positive provocation test to be evidence of allergy, estimation of the allergen-specific IgE concentration in the serum will not offer any major advantages over the intradermal skin test in determining the clinical significance of house-dust mite allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of progressive vomiting in a boy aged 5 months is reported. Vomiting was secondary to an obstruction in the antrum of the stomach caused by a mass consisting of alginate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]