Intravenous pamidronate treatment in osteogenesis imperfecta.

Three children with osteogenesis imperfecta, severe osteopenia, and repeated fractures were treated with cyclic infusions of aminohydroxypropylidene bisphosphonate (pamidronate) for a period ranging from 22 to 29 months. A clear clinical response was shown, with a striking reduction of new fracture episodes and a marked improvement in the quality of the patients' lives. Bone mineral density increased significantly in two patients, and linear growth continued along the percentile at the start of treatment. There were no adverse effects of note during treatment, and further studies are warranted.

[Blood sugar control in children and young diabetics during an educational summer camp]. / Controllo glicemico in bambini e giovani diabetici durante un soggiorno educativo estivo.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of educative summer camp on the glycemic control in two different age-groups of young diabetic patients. METHODS: 54 patients (36 M, 18 F, age 10-27 years, duration of diabetes 2-19 years), treated with 0.81 +/- 0.2 UI/kg/day of insulin and with HbA1c mean levels of 8.25 +/- 1.35 g% were followed by an equip of 8 medical doctors, 4 nurses and 1 dietician for a week during an educative summer camp. RESULTS: 34 children, group 1 (20 M, 14 F, 10-14 years aged, mean duration of the disease 4.52 years, range 2-12 years) and 20 young adults, group 2 (16 M, 4 F, age 16-27 years, mean duration 10.21 years, range 2-19 years) were evaluated. Insulin doses and HbA1c levels were 0.82 +/- 0.21 UI/kg/day vs 0.80 +/- 0.22 U/kg/day and 9.54 +/- 1.5% vs 7.6 +/- 0.6%, p < 0.02 in group 1 and 2 respectively. Glycemic levels at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (180 +/- 87 mg% vs 219 +/- 77 mg%, p < 0.05 and 164 +/- 84 mg% vs 201 +/- 81 mg%, p < 0.05). Hypoglycemic/patient/episodes were 1.82 vs 0.72, p < 0.05 in group 1 and group 2 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Glycemic control was unsatisfactory in both groups and it was significantly worse in the group of youngs, though in this group HbA1c level was significantly lower. 2. The risk of hypoglycemia was significantly higher in group 1, though in this group insulin doses were significantly decreased.

[Evaluation of a rapid and simple ambulatory method for the determination of HbA1c in diabetic children]. / Valutazione di una metodica ambulatoriale rapida e di semplice esecuzione per la determinazione dell'HbA1c nei bambini diabetici.

The aim of this study was to compare a simply and quick outpatient method for the determination of HbA1c (DCA 2000 Bayer) to a laboratory immunoturbidimetric method (B M Hitachi 911). We have determined HbA1c in 139 subjects (120 diabetics and 19 healthy controls, 81 males and 58 females, mean age ( +/- DS) 14.4 +/- 6.41 years, range 2-40) with the two methods at the same time. The HbA1c normal range, determined by DCA 2000 and by laboratory method, were 4-5.2% and 4.5-6% respectively. The HbA1c values determined with both methods were significantly correlated (r = 0.91; p < 0.001). In 16 diabetic patients, chosen for their reliability, the HbA1c values determined by DCA 2000 were significantly correlated to the last two month mean glycemic level preceding the test. In 14 healthy subjects HbA1c was determined simultaneously by DCA 2000 in capillary and venous blood samples. The values were similar. The DCA 2000 method showed to be reliable, simply to use, no traumatic and ideal for pediatric outpatient use.