Association of placental insulin, total and activated insulin receptor contents, cortisol and IL-6 concentrations with human birth weight and length: pilot study.

We followed-up, from pregnancy to birth, a group of newborns both IUGR and AGA and we aimed at establishing placental biochemical determinants of birth weight and length. Insulin, total and activated insulin receptor contents (IR), cortisol and IL-6 placental concentrations were assayed in 23 IUGR and 37 AGA subjects at birth, and a multiple regression model was designed and applied to assess the significant biochemical determinants of birth size. IL-6 and activated insulin receptor content were significantly increased in IUGR, whereas insulin, total insulin receptor content, and cortisol placental concentrations were similar in IUGR and AGA. Placental cortisol concentration was found to be significantly and negatively related with both birth length (0.778, P<0.001) and weight (0.508, P<0.008). A negative effect of IL-6 placental concentration was found on birth length (P<0.002). For the first time we provide evidence of a negative association of placental cortisol and IL-6 concentrations on birth size.

Bone mineral density in survivors of childhood brain tumours.

BACKGROUND: Osteopenia has been reported in children surviving acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, apparently as consequence of therapy. Few studies have been published on bone mineral density (BMD) evaluation in children surviving from brain tumours. The endocrine system in these patients is frequently affected as consequence of therapeutic interventions such as cranial irradiation and anti-neoplastic agents: growth hormone deficiency is the most common adverse sequel. The pathogenesis of osteopenia in brain cancer survivors is multi-factorial but still uncertain. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to examine bone mass in 12 brain cancer survivors and its relationship with their hormonal status. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: We observed that most of the patients had a BMD that was lower than normal in both the lumbar column and in the femoral neck. Bone mass loss was higher in the lumbar region rather than in the femoral neck, due to spinal radiation therapy and to the effect of hormonal deficiencies. Particularly hypogonadism, but also multiple hormonal deficiencies, are associated with lower BMD values. Experience in clinical care of these patients suggests the importance of periodic evaluations of BMD, especially in those with secondary hormone deficiencies. Moreover, the periodic assessment of the hypothalamus-pituitary function is essential for an early diagnosis of hormonal insufficiency, primarily hypogonadism, to precociously detect bone mineral loss and to prevent pathological fractures, thus improving the quality of life.

[Metabolic response to food and diet in paediatric obesity]. / Risposta metabolica al pasto e dieta nell'obesità dell'infanzia.

Obesity has reached today epidemic proportions in industrialized countries with negative effects on children and adult's health, and excessive costs for society. Although genetics and ambient are surely implicated in determining the positive energy balance in the organism, to our known few has been written on the role of macronutrient (proteins, fats and carbohydrates) in diet, particularly in children, in the onset and develop of obesity. Children's eating patterns and habitudes have been hanged in the last years, so that there is an higher intake of PUFA (poliinsatured fat acids) and lower of MFA (monoinsatured fat acids), and an elevated density of carbohydrate in the diet. Considering the effects of macronutrients on body energetic metabolism , it is clear that in obese children there is an higher oxidation of exogenous carbohydrates and a lower oxidation of endogenous ones; this effect conducts in short term to an increment of tissue fat and to a consequent increment of body weight. High fat intake and fat oxidation influence the accumulation of fat mass rather over a long term in children. Fat oxidation is favourite also by the assumption of high glycemic index foods, that conducts to insulin-resistance. A low fat diet, rich in low glycemic index carbohydrates that can reduce hungry and avoid insulin resistance, acts together to a regular and aerobic constant physical activity, which helps fat mobilization from adipose tissue and from muscles, and can reduce insulin-resistance, so favouring weight loss.