Association between leptin, markers of bone formation and physical growth of newborns.

BACKGROUND: The increase of body size and weight depends on metabolism in the bone tissue and accumulation of fat, but the role of many hormones and enzymatic systems that may influence these processes significantly has not been recognized. AIM: An attempt to assess the correlation between the leptin hormone taking part in the regulation of fat tissue reserves, markers of bone formation and selected anthropometric traits in newborns was made. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Levels of leptin, osteocalcin and C-terminal propeptide type I procollagen (PICP) in the serum of 64 Appropriate for Gestational Age newborns (AGA newborns) with gestational age between 27 and 42 weeks were assessed. In parallel, 15 anthropometric traits were measured and the Quetelet Index was calculated for all the newborns. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson's correlation and Spearman's correlation rank test. p < 0.05 was regarded as significant. RESULTS: Statistically significant correlations between leptin, osteocalcin, PICP and selected anthropometric traits in newborns were found. There were no statistically significant correlations between serum levels of leptin and markers of bone formation in the investigated group of children. CONCLUSION: In our study, we documented the association of leptin, osteocalcin and PICP with overall physical growth of AGA newborns. We did not confirm the relationship between leptin and bone formation in this stage of ontogenesis.

[The role of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate during puberty in girls]. / Rola siarczanu dehydroepiandrosteronu w pokwitaniu u dziewczat.

OBJECTIVES: The serum concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) in relation to serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone, estradiol, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and height and weight velocity in girls during puberty were studied. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and forty nine healthy girls aged from 9.8 to 14.7 years were divided, after physical examination, into four groups according to pubertal development. Serum concentration of DHEAS, FSH, estradiol, cortisol and IGF-I were assessed by RIA methods. One hundred and thirteen girls were examined anthropometrically again and annual increases of body height and weight were analysed concomitantly with DHEAS concentration. RESULTS: The mean serum concentration of DHEAS, FSH, estradiol and IGF-I increase progressively throughout puberty, while cortisol concentration remains constant. Positive correlation was found between DHEAS and FSH as well as between DHEAS and estradiol and IGF-I concentration. No correlation was found between DHEAS and growth velocity. CONCLUSIONS: DHEAS might play an important role during girls puberty although its exact role is very difficult to establish because this steroid works mainly as a precursor for both estrogen and androgen formation.

[The influence of IGF-1 on the biosynthesis of type I and III colagen during puberty]. / Wplyw IGF-I na synteze kolagenu typu I i III w okresie pokwitania.

OBJECTIVES: The influence of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on the biosynthesis of type I and III collagen during puberty was studied. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty-four healthy girls aged from 9.8 to 14.7 years were included into this study. After careful physical examination all girls were divided into three groups according to pubertal development. To assess pubertal stage we performed breast examination according to Tanner (bd). Group I consisted of 26 girls in prepubertal stage (1 of bd); group II (stage 2 and 3 of bd) 29 girls, and group III (stage 4 and 5 of bd)--27 girls. Serum concentration of PICP (C-terminal propeptide of type I collagen), PIIINP (N-terminal propeptide of type III collagen, as well as IGF-I were assessed by RIA methods. RESULTS: The highest mean values of serum PICP and PIIINP were found in girls in the second group (stage 2 and 3 of bd) whereas the lowest values were observed in group III (stage 4 and 5 of bd). The mean serum concentration of IGF-I presented a steady increase as puberty advanced being highest in girls in group III. No correlation was found between IGF-I and PICP and IGF-I and PIIINP. A positive correlation were observed between mean serum concentration of IGF-I and age (R = 0.52; p < 0.0001), height (R = 0.51; p < 0.0001), and body weight (R = 0.47; p < 0.0001) in investigated groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although IGF-I showed a steady increase during puberty no correlation was observed between its serum concentration and markers of collagen biosynthesis (PICP and PIIINP).

[Suppression of immunological response in a newborn with congenital cytomegalovirus infection: diagnostic difficulties]. / Supresja odpowiedzi immunologicznej w przebiegu cytomegalii wrodzonej u noworodka--trudnosci diagnostyczne.

A newborn with symptoms of congenital cytomegalovirus infection (interuterine dystrophy, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, chronic pneumonia, pleocytosis in CSF) is described in whom tests for specific anti- CMV-IgM antibodies were negative. Changes typical for cytomegaloviral infection were found on autopsy. The authors discuss the difficulties in interpreting various serologic tests (CFT, anti-CMV IgM) in congenital infections, suggesting the necessity of introducing new diagnostic methods for better diagnosis and treatment.