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Biomedical subjects

F Chiarelli

Publications and source records attributed to F Chiarelli.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Dermatoglyphics in von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis.

We studied dermatoglyphic traits in 27 patients (12 males and 15 females) with neurofibromatosis type I (NF-1) to verify which characteristics may be considered typical of this disorder. The frequency of digital central pockets in the patients was significantly greater than in control individuals (P less than .005), but when we evaluated the sexes separately, the difference was significant only among females (P less than .002). The distribution of central pockets on the various fingers was significantly different in affected females, compared with normal controls, but only on fingers II (P less than .05), IV (P .002), and V (P less than .05). The quantitative finger tip pattern values and the total finger ridge count (TFRC) were always higher in the patients, as well as was the a-b ridge count. The latter was significantly increased only on the right hand in females (P less than .01). Among the patients, the atd angle values were increased on both hands of females and on the right hand in males, whereas both the ulnar index A'-d and the a-t' ridge counts were diminished. The frequency of high endings (5' or 5") of line A was increased in NF-1 patients on both hands. Like in previous investigations, our patients showed an increased number of secondary creases, limited to II degree according to Vormittag et al. [1986] (P less than .048). Our results only partially confirmed prior data. Therefore, we think that there is no typical dermatoglyphic pattern in NF-1 and that this parameter is not a diagnostic indicator in this disorder.

Adolescent↗

Effects of ketoacidosis and puberty on basal and TRH-stimulated thyroid hormones and TSH in children with diabetes mellitus.

Basal and TRH-stimulated thyroid hormones and TSH were evaluated in two groups of prepubertal and pubertal diabetics: group B - 45 children without ketoacidosis; group C - 16 children with ketoacidosis. The diabetic patients showed no signs of diabetic microangiopathy. Fifty-three healthy subjects served as controls (group A). T4, T3, FT4 and FT3 serum levels were reduced in diabetics, particularly in ketotic ones; T4 and T3 values were lower in pubertal than in prepubertal non-ketotic diabetics and in pubertal than in prepubertal controls, while no significant difference was observed between pubertal and prepubertal ketotic patients. Moreover, no difference in rT3 serum concentrations was found between group A, B and C, but non-ketotic and ketotic pubertals showed a significant rT3 reduction if compared with non-ketotic and ketotic prepubertals and with healthy pubertals. TBG was lower in group B and group C diabetics than in controls. After TRH stimulus, T3 levels showed a significant increase both in controls and in non-ketotic diabetics, while no variation was observed in ketotic children; furthermore, at 120 minutes T3 values were lower in diabetic than in healthy children, particularly in ketotic ones. Basal TSH serum concentrations were reduced in ketotic diabetics, while no difference was found between nonketotic and control subjects. After TRH stimulus, TSH peak was higher in pubertal non-ketotic diabetics than in pubertal controls, while no difference was found between prepubertal and pubertal diabetics, both in non-ketotic and in ketotic status.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

[Clinical study on the prevalence of dental caries in patients with juvenile diabetes mellitus].

The authors present the results of a epidemiological transversal study concerning 26 type I diabetic patients: as a control have been observed 24 healthy subjects, similar for age and sex to the diabetic patients. The results show a higher incidence of caries in diabetic patients than in the healthy subjects; this is probably due to the high carbohydrates diet of the young patients.

Adolescent↗

IgG subclass deficiency and recurrent respiratory infections in children.

The aim of this study was to investigate the humoral immunity of children with recurrent respiratory tract infections. Fifty-seven (17 female, 40 male) children, aged from 1.1 to 12.0 years were evaluated, after 1 month from the last infectious disease. The total number of children with IgG subclasses deficiency was 29/57 with the following IgG deficiency distribution: IgG1 = 2 children, IgG2 = 13 children, IgG3 = 4 children, IgG4 = 25 children. Moreover, 13 children with IgG4 deficiency showed low levels of other (one or more) IgG subclasses. It is probable that these low IgG subclasses levels are an important immunological abnormality of these children.

Child↗

[Home self-control of child and adolescent diabetics].

The authors report their experience on evaluating metabolic control at home in 63 (36 female, 27 male) diabetic children and adolescents (age: 13.6 +/- 4.6 years; duration of disease: 2 months to 14.8 years). The diabetic children who regularly measured capillary blood glucose 2 or more times for day had a better metabolic control if compared with diabetics who measured glycemia less than 2 times for day and did not measure glycosuria (HbA1c: 8.5 +/- 1.9% vs 9.8 +/- 2.0; p less than 0.01). Our results confirm that home blood glucose monitoring is necessary to improve long-term metabolic control in diabetic children. In 28 of the diabetic who did not practice home diabetes monitoring, a significant improvement of metabolic control was observed after 12 months of home blood urine glucose monitoring (9.9 +/- 8.0 +/- 1.2; p less than 0.001). During pubertal development metabolic control is worse. In fifteen diabetic children followed longitudinally from prepubertal to pubertal period a significant increase of HbA1c values was observed (7.9 +/- 2.0% vs 9.0 +/- 1.8; p less than 0.01).

Adolescent↗

[Neonatal hyperthyroidism with early onset and protracted course].

Neonatal hyperthyroidism has often been described as a rare, transient disorder in which the mother has hyperthyroidism during her pregnancy. We have found 99 cases mentioned in recent literature, but not in all reports the clinical characteristics were described. This survey has shown that the prolonged clinical course, though less common than the transient one, is to be taken into account. A case of a female child who had signs of hyperthyroidism soon after the birth is presented. Now, at the age of 7.8 years, she continues to have hyperthyroidism with several problems in treatment.

Child↗

[Methodologic approach to the therapeutic problem of infant and childhood obesity. Review of the literature and personal experience].

Notwithstanding the high prevalence and morbidity, current knowledge of obesity is rather rudimentary. Nevertheless recent findings have enabled us to surmount anachronistic nosographic generalizations whereby excess weight was attributed only to inappropriate and excessive food intake and the lack of physical exercise. Various studies indicate that there are complex interactions in determining weight excess: genetic, psychosocial, cultural but also biochemical factors are incriminated and it is now recognised that the aetiology of obesity is multifactorial and that, consequently, there are different types of obesity. However, in most studies concerning the therapeutic approach, it is noted that the same type of treatment is applied to groups of subjects that are probably highly heterogeneous for type of obesity. No easy or final solution to the problem is proposed as for the moment no ideal treatment exists. What is suggested is the need to attempt to identify possible factors linked to weight excess before commencing the therapeutic approach. For each single case, this could permit the use of the most appropriate treatment and make therapeutic results less frustrating.

Adolescent↗

Low serum C4 concentrations in type-1 diabetes mellitus.

Serum levels of complement factors C3 and C4 were investigated in 64 insulin-dependent diabetic children and 52 healthy controls. The mean value of C4 was significantly lower in diabetic than in control subjects (27.99 +/- 8.01 vs 32.03 +/- 8.91 mg/dl; P less than 0.01). Sixteen out of 64 children had serum C4 levels below the normal range; 6 out of these 11 patients had microalbuminuria. This study demonstrates low serum levels of C4 in insulin-dependent diabetes; this reduction is not related to the duration nor to the degree of metabolic control. There is a high prevalence of microalbuminuria in patients with a low C4 concentration.

Adolescent↗

Long-term study on T lymphocyte subsets in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus.

T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood from 16 newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic children were studied prospectively at four time intervals: as soon as possible after diagnosis and 1, 4 and 12 months later. T lymphocyte subsets were analysed using monoclonal antibodies and counted by cytofluorimetry. The percentage of T lymphocytes (OKT3+ cells) did not change at the four study times. The percentage of helper/inducer T cells (OKT4+ cells) was high at the diagnosis (43.1 +/- 2.1%), but decreased after 1 and 4 months with no difference in the control values. The percentage of suppressor/cytotoxic T lymphocytes (OKT8+ cells) was low at the diagnosis, but increased after 1 and 4 months. The OKT4/OKT8 ratio was 2.31 +/- 0.22 at the diagnosis study, decreasing to 1.83 after 1 month, compared with 16 sex- and age-matched control children. The high percentage of helper/inducer T lymphocytes and low number of suppressor/cytotoxic T cells at onset of diabetes favour immune reactions that lead to beta-cell damage.

Adolescent↗

Natural killer cell function in atopic dermatitis.

The natural killer cell activity was studied in 41 children with mild, moderate and severe atopic dermatitis (AD) and in 37 controls. The natural killer cell function of lymphocytes was reduced in atopic children (mean +/- SD 21.92 +/- 6.18% vs. 43.87 +/- 5.80%; p less than 0.0001). This decrease was not related to the IgE serum level. A negative correlation was found between natural killer cell activity and the clinical severity of AD (r = 0.73; p less than 0.001). Natural killer cell function was re-evaluated after 9 months in 27 children during a quiescent phase of AD; it was still low, but to a lesser degree (27.66 +/- 5.42%, in the quiescent phase, vs. 43.87 +/- 5.80, controls; p less than 0.0001). The reduced natural killer cell activity seems related to the disease activity.

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