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Biomedical subjects

F Zappulla

Publications and source records attributed to F Zappulla.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Neonatal screening for congenital adrenal hyperplasia using a microfilter paper method for 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone radioimmunoassay. Experience gained from the study of 22,233 cases.

We examined 22,233 infants born in Emilia-Romagna (Italy). Capillary blood samples for 17-OH-progesterone assay were collected on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th day of life on filter paper of the same type used for the screening of aminoacidopathy and hypothyroidism. 17-OH-progesterone values were determined using a micromethod modified from that of Pang and co-workers. 20 pg/disk was considered as a threshold value and called for a second assay, which was performed in 0.18% of the cases. Pathologic values of 17-OH-progesterone were confirmed in the serum of 4 neonates. In our population the incidence of 21-hydroxylase deficiency was found to be 1 out of 5,558 cases.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital↗
PubMed1981

Disordered prolactin secretion in the obese child and adolescent.

Thirty-eight obese (13 prepubertal, 25 pubertal) boys, and 17 obese (16 prepubertal, 11 pubertal) girls underwent a thyroid-releasing hormone test with assay of prolactin. Obese pre-pubertal boys had prolactin levels that were significantly below those of the control group both under basal conditions and after stimulus. In the obese pubertal boys the difference was significant only after stimulus. The pituitary prolactin reserve in obese pubertal girls was lower than that of the control group. We conclude that in children and adolescents obesity may induce a hypothalamo-pituitary disorder that affects prolactin secretion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Effect of long-term GH administration on pituitary-thyroid function in idiopathic hypopituitarism.

Twenty-four euthyroid children with idiopathic pituitary dwarfism were studied. The euthyroid state for seven of these patients was determined by negative physical examinations, normal plasma T4 assays and normal 131I uptakes. For the other children, thyroid function was evaluated with T3 and T4 assays and on the basis of the TRH test. Each of the children was treated with HGH in one of three different ways. The first group (five cases) was given a HGH dose, ranging from 12.4 to 17.2 IU/m2//week. The second and third groups (nine and ten cases, respectively) were treated with 10 and 20 IU/m2/week, respectively. Treatment was carried out for periods ranging from 6 months to 6 years. After no less than 6 months of treatment, and at intervals of 6 months (or some multiple of 6 months) plasma T3 and T4 assays, as well as a TRH test were performed in each patient. In some patients one of the indices was once beyond the upper or lower limit of the normal range (none of the children presented simultaneous abnormal levels of more than one index during the controls). This value, however, returned to within normal limits at the following control. There was no correlation between T3, T4 and TSH with the duration of HGH therapy. There was no significant difference between the groups of children treated with the different HGH doses. These data seem to demonstrate that the risk of inducing an alteration in thyroid function in hypopituitary patients during HGH treatment is very slight, and that the irregularly abnormal thyroid indices observed in some of the children during one of the controls might be an expression of their metabolic status at that moment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Hypophyso-gonadal function in the diabetic child.

14 diabetic boys (five with a family history of diabetes and nine without) and 29 "short normal" boys were studied. A gonadal function test (2.000 IU of hCG i.m. for 3 days and plasma testosterone assay before and after the hCG administration) as well as an LH-RH test (50 microgram i.v.) were carried out. While basal testosterone level turned out to be similar in the two groups of children, it was significantly lower (p less than 0.01) after hCG than the mean value of the control group. This difference was mainly observed in those patients with a family history of diabetes. In the diabetic children, basal LH level was normal and the pituitary LH reserve was lower than in the control group. Both basal FSH level and FSH pituitary reserve were lower than in normal children. These data show that an alteration in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal function is already evident in the diabetic child.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Luteinising hormone-releasing hormone nasal spray as therapy for undescended testicle.

Twenty-two prepubertal children with unilateral cryptorchidism were treated. None had undergone previous medical or surgical to modify the abnormal position of the testes, all of which were located inthe inguinal canal. Treatment was with luteinising hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) nasal spray given for 7 days. 9 boys insufflated 100 microgram LH-RH in each nostril 6 times per 24 hours (1200 microgram/24 h); the remaining 13 boys insufflated 500 microgram 12-hourly (1000 microgram/24 h). An LH-RH test (500 microgram IV) was carried out before and after therapy. Full descent of the testis into the scrotum was obtained in 7 out of the 22 cases; in a further 6 cases the testis moved down the inguinal canal. Basal values of luteinising hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone and those for pituitary reserve remained unchanged before and after therapy, and were similar to the values of a control group. No correlation was found between response to therapy and bone age, testosterone level in serum, basal values or pituitary reserve of luteinising hormone or follicle-stimulating hormone.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1978

Growth hormone release during sleep in growth-retarded children with normal response to pharmacological tests.

Twenty-one prepubertal children of small stature, 10 boys and 11 girls, aged from 4-3 to 12-8 years, were studied. Their height was less than 3rd centile, and during the preceding year all had a growth rate less than 4-5 cm/year. Arginine and L-dopa tests were given, and the release of growth hormone (GH) during monitored sleep was investigated. On the basis of the electroencephalogram and horizontal electro-oculogram, sleep was divided into stages 1-2-3-4 and rapid-eye-movement. All the children had a GH response greater than 8 ng/ml in at least one of the two pharmacological tests, and were therefore accepted as not suffering from GH deficiency. In all 21 children during sleep there was at least one secretory peak with GH greater than 8 ng/ml. Of a total of 46 secretory peaks recorded, 22 (48%) took place during deep, slow sleep (stages 3-4), 10 (22%) during light sleep (stage 2), 10 (22%) during REM sleep, and 4 (8%) during wakening. In 4 patients (19%) no secretory peak was observed during stages 3-4, even though there were peaks at other times. The data (a) show that it is essential to monitor GH throughout the night to ascertain with certainty the presence or absence of physiological secretory peaks of GH; (b) emphasise the rare disagreement between pharmacological and physiological tests; (c) suggest the use of this physiological test for GH secretion in those cases where the insulin test may be hazardous.

Arginine↗