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J Baptista

Publications and source records attributed to J Baptista.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Ultra-high resolution array painting facilitates breakpoint sequencing.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a considerably advanced method of array painting, which allows the rapid, ultra-high resolution mapping of translocation breakpoints such that rearrangement junction fragments can be amplified directly and sequenced. METHOD: Ultra-high resolution array painting involves the hybridisation of probes generated by the amplification of small numbers of flow-sorted derivative chromosomes to oligonucleotide arrays designed to tile breakpoint regions at extremely high resolution. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: How ultra-high resolution array painting of four balanced translocation cases rapidly and efficiently maps breakpoints to a point where junction fragments can be amplified easily and sequenced is demonstrated. With this new development, breakpoints can be mapped using just two array experiments: the first using whole-genome array painting to tiling resolution large insert clone arrays, the second using ultra-high-resolution oligonucleotide arrays targeted to the breakpoint regions. In this way, breakpoints can be mapped and then sequenced in a few weeks.

Adult↗

Our PDT experience in the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer over the last 7 years.

BACKGROUND: Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) was first described by Kennedy et al. in 1990; currently, accumulated evidence shows that topical PDT is effective in the treatment of actinic keratoses, Bowen's disease and superficial basal cell carcinoma, being potentially advantageous where size, anatomical location or number of lesions limit the efficacy and/or the acceptability of conventional therapies. It involves the use of photosensitizing drugs and the administration of an appropriate light source to activate the sensitizing agent, which leads to the production of activated oxygen species for tissue destruction. The topically administered prodrug 5-ALA is converted within cells into the active photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX, via haem cycle, with preferential accumulation in tumour cells. METHODS: The authors describe their experience with topical PDT, using 20% 5-ALA and two different incoherent light sources, 'Waldman 1200 L' and 'VersaLight', in the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer and precursor lesions. More than 100 patients were treated since 1997, with up to a 7-year follow-up period. RESULTS: Cases are illustrated and results are presented and discussed in the light of the relevant Literature. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that 5-ALA PDT is effective in the treatment of superficial skin cancer and premalignant lesions.

Administration, Topical↗

Etanercept for psoriasis: two case reports.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder. Recent advances in the understanding of its immunological basis have led to its redefinition as being T-cell mediated. New biological agents have been developed as effective selective target therapies and promise to be an alternative to conventional systemic medications. Etanercept is a recombinant human protein recently approved for psoriatic arthritis treatment that has activity against tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). It is composed of the human TNF receptor linked to the Fc portion of human IgG1. TNF-alpha seems to play a key role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Therefore, etanercept TNF antagonism is an effective approach for severe psoriasis. We describe two case reports of severe recalcitrant psoriasis, also with arthritis, that showed a remarkable improvement with etanercept, with no adverse events.

Adult↗

Topical tacrolimus in Hailey-Hailey disease.

Hailey-Hailey disease, or familial benign chronic pemphigus, is a rare relapsing-remitting autosomal-dominant epidermal blistering disease. It preferentially affects females and is characterized by recurrent vesicles and erosions in the intertriginous areas. There are several topical corticosteroid therapeutic options, which are often limited in their use by their secondary effects and localization of the lesions. We report a case of a 60-year-old woman with Hailey-Hailey disease involving axillary, groin, cervical, antecubital, inframammary and abdominal folds. She was treated with 0.1% tacrolimus ointment, applied twice daily, with clinical improvement in 2 weeks and total remission in 4 weeks. She remains asymptomatic after a 10-month follow-up period.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Early initiation of growth hormone treatment allows age-appropriate estrogen use in Turner's syndrome.

Because estrogen (E) accelerates skeletal maturation it can decrease final height attainable with GH therapy in girls with Turner's syndrome (TS). Nonetheless, as age-appropriate E administration does have psychobehavioral benefits for such patients, we asked whether E treatment in TS could occur without adverse impact on final adult height if GH therapy were started at an earlier age. Near adult height (NAH) was assessed in 344 girls with TS, who had received both GH and E and were followed in the National Cooperative Growth Study database. The groups were divided into quartiles based on age at initiation of GH (2-10, 10-12, 12-14, and 14-18 yr). The longest total and E-free period of GH treatment occurred in the girls who had started treatment in the youngest quartile (mean age, 8.2 +/- 1.5 (SD) yr); they were also exposed to E at the youngest age (12.7 +/- 1.6 yr). Although the girls in the youngest group received E at an earlier age, they had a significantly greater increase (1.8 +/- 0.8) in Lyon height SD score at NAH over Lyon predicted adult height than those in the oldest GH-treated group (0.8 +/- 0.6), which first received E at 15.9 +/- 1.3 yr. Multiple linear regression equations for gain in Lyon height SD score and in height (cm) showed greater increments with a longer period of E-free GH therapy. All four GH age groups had the same NAH, but the youngest quartile was youngest at NAH and likely still having more growth potential. Comparable data were found in 127 TS girls with spontaneous puberty. In conclusion, girls with TS starting GH at an early age have a greater gain in Lyon SD score at NAH compared with those starting later, even though they received E at a younger age. If GH therapy were started early, E treatment could be initiated at a younger, more age-appropriate time without compromising adult height.

Adolescent↗

Results of the quantitative coronary angiographic analysis in the angiographic subgroup of the Multi-Link 2.5 Portuguese Registry.

INTRODUCTION: The restenosis rate of stents implanted into small coronary arteries is considered higher than that of stents in arteries > or = 3 mm, but could be influenced by clinical parameters and by the type and length of the stents. OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of angiographic restenosis at 6 months after implantation of 2.5 mm ACS RX Multi-Link (ML) stents, 15 and 25 mm length, in de novo coronary stenosis. DESIGN: Angiographic substudy of the Portuguese Multi-Link 2.5 Registry, which included Interventional Cardiology centers with facilities for coronary angiographic recordings allowing quantitative analysis. POPULATION: Between April 7 and November 20 1998 and in the 5 hospitals that agreed to participate, 61 patients were enrolled and 40 selected as having procedural and 6-month angiographies of sufficient quality for quantitative analysis. The only significant differences in the demographic, clinical and angiographic characteristics of the patients relative to those of the Registry were the lower prevalence of unstable angina and smoking in the angiographic substudy. There were 43 lesions and 46 ML stents were implanted. In 37% the lesions were located in the LAD, in 37% in the LCx and 26% in the RCA. 29 stents of 15 mm length and 17 stents of 25 mm were used. METHODS: The morphologic characteristics of the lesions were analyzed subjectively using the AHA/ACC classification. Quantitative coronary analysis (QCA) was performed, in an independent laboratory using the CAAS 2 system, for reference vessel diameter, lesion length, percentage of stenosis, minimum lumen diameter (MLD) and related parameters. Restenosis was defined as > or = 50% lumen obstruction at 6-month angiography. RESULTS: In the subjective analysis, 2 lesions were type B1, 27 type B2 and 14 type C. The overall restenosis rate was 32.6%. Restenosis was 27.7% for 15 mm stents and 36% for 25 mm stents (p = 0.4). For the QCA parameters analyzed, only MLD at the end of stent implantation was a predictor of 6-month restenosis (2.19 +/- 0.30 without vs. 2.03 +/- 0.18 with restenosis, p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: The restenosis rate of the Multi-Link 2.5 mm stents, of 15 and 25 mm length, was similar to that described with other types of stents in small coronary arteries. Minimum lumen diameter after stenting was found to be the best predictor of 6-month restenosis.

Coronary Angiography↗

High dose recombinant human growth hormone (GH) treatment of GH-deficient patients in puberty increases near-final height: a randomized, multicenter trial. Genentech, Inc., Cooperative Study Group.

GH production rates markedly increase during human puberty, mostly as an amplitude-modulated phenomenon. However, GH-deficient children have been dosed on a standard per kg BW basis similar to prepubertal children. This randomized study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of standard recombinant human GH (rhGH) therapy (group I, 0.3 mg/kg x week) vs. high dose therapy (group II, 0.7 mg/kg x week) in GH-deficient adolescents previously treated with rhGH for at least 6 months. Ninety-seven children with documented evidence of GH deficiency (peak GH in response to stimuli, <10 ng/mL), with either organic or idiopathic pathology, were recruited. Both groups were matched for sex (group I, 42 males and 7 females; group II, 41 males and 7 females), age [group I, 14.0+/-1.6 (+/-SD) yr; group II, 13.7+/-1.6], standardized height (group I, -1.4+/-1.1; group II, -1.2+/-1.1), bone age (group I, 13.1+/-1.3 yr; group II, 13.1+/-1.3) etiology, maximum stimulated GH, previous growth rate, and midparental target height. All subjects were in puberty (Tanner stage 2-5) at study entry. Of the 97 subjects enrolled, 45 were treated for 3 yr or more; 48 completed the study. Of the subjects who discontinued the study, the most common reason was satisfaction with their height, although others discontinued for adverse events or personal reasons. The frequency of patients who discontinued was the same in both groups. The primary efficacy analysis was the difference between dose groups for near-adult height, defined as the height attained at a bone age of 16 yr or more in males and 14 yr or more in girls; all subjects who qualified were included in the analysis. This difference was statistically significant at 4.6 cm by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA; P < 0.001; n = 75). For subjects who received at least 4 yr of rhGH treatment, the difference between dose groups at that time point was 5.7 cm (by ANCOVA, P = 0.024; n = 20). The mean height SD score at near-adult height was -0.7+/-0.9 in the standard dose group and 0.0+/-1.2 in the high dose group. At 36 months the cumulative change in height (centimeters) was 21.5+/-5.3 cm (group I) vs. 25.1+/-4.9 (group II; P < 0.001, by ANCOVA); the change in Bayley-Pinneau predicted adult height was 4.8+/-4.2 cm (group I) vs. 8.4+/-5.7 (group II; P = 0.032). Median plasma IGF-I concentrations at baseline were 427 microg/L (range, 204-649) in group I and 435 microg/L (range, 104-837) in group II; at 36 months they were 651 microg/L (range, 139-1079) in group I vs. 910 microg/L (range, 251-1843) in group II (P = NS). No difference in change in bone age was detected between groups at any interval. High dose rhGH was well tolerated, with a similar safety profile as standard dose treatment and no difference in hemoglobin A1c or glucose concentrations between groups. In summary, compared to conventional treatment, high dose rhGH therapy in adolescents 1) increased near-adult height and height SD scores significantly, 2) did not increase the rate of skeletal maturation, and 3) appears to be well tolerated and safe. In conclusion, high dose rhGH therapy may have a beneficial effect in adolescent GH-deficient patients, particularly those who are most growth retarded at the start of puberty.

Adolescent↗

[The angioplasty of chronic coronary occlusions with the excimer laser for debulking followed by stent implantation].

UNLABELLED: Coronary angioplasty (PCI) of chronic total occlusions (CTO), even when successful, are associated to less favourable long term results. The recent use of coronary stents has improved the long term outcome of those interventions. PURPOSE: To evaluate the short term results and long term occurrence of major adverse coronary events (MACE): death, MI, urgent revascularization and the need for a new target vessel revascularization (TVR) in patients with CTO who had previously been submitted to a PCI with excimer laser for plaque debulking followed by a provisional stent. POPULATION: From our database, we selected 19 patients with a mean age of 51 +/- 13 years (18 male) submitted to PCI between 1994 and 1998. Of those patients, 10 had had of a previous MI. Hypertension, smoking habits and hypercholesterolemia were present in 9 patients (42%). Two patients had diabetes. The main reason for PCI was stable angina in 16 patients (84%) and unstable in 3 patients (16%). Single-vessel disease was present in 18 patients (94%) and multiple-vessel in 1 patient (6%); left ventricular ejection fraction was preserved in 18 patients (94%). Single vessel PCI was performed in 16 patients (84%) and double vessel in 3 patients. Plaque debulking with excimer laser was performed in all patients, followed by 23 stents (Multilink--8; Gianturco Roubin--5; Palmaz Schatz--4; others--6). The mean clinical follow-up was 19 months. RESULTS: There were no major short-term clinical events (death, MI or urgent revascularization). During follow-up, TVR was only required in 5 patients (26%), all of them in the first 7 months after PCI. CONCLUSIONS: In the highly selected population, PCI for chronic total occlusion, with excimer laser plaque debulking followed by provisional stents, was a safe procedure with a very acceptable rate of new target vessel revascularization in the follow-up period.

Adult↗

Growth hormone safety update from the National Cooperative Growth Study.

We reviewed adverse event (AE) data in the National Cooperative Growth Study from start-up (1985) until January 1, 1999. Enrollment was 33,161. A total of 2,632 AE reports were received; 863 were serious events, with 156 deaths. The most common cause of death was recurrence of intracranial neoplasm. There were 20 reports of leukemia, and the standard morbidity ratio (SMR) was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.20-1.86) for the four cases without risk factors. There were 35 reports of extracranial nonleukemic malignancy, and the SMR was 0.44 (95% CI: 0.24-0.74) for the 14 cases without risk factors. The recurrence rate for all brain tumors present at baseline was 7.6%, and for craniopharyngiomas, 6.4%. There were 49 reports of intracranial hypertension (20 patients had papilledema), 68 reports of diabetes/hyperglycemia, 45 of slipped capital femoral epiphysis, 136 of scoliosis, and five of pancreatitis. There was no evidence of increased incidence of leukemia or extracranial nonleukemic malignancies among patients without prior risk factors. Intracranial hypertension does not necessarily occur early in growth hormone therapy. Other findings were consistent with past observations.

Brain Neoplasms↗

Effect of growth hormone treatment on adult height of children with idiopathic short stature. Genentech Collaborative Group.

BACKGROUND: Short-term administration of growth hormone to children with idiopathic short stature results in increases in growth rate and standard-deviation scores for height. However, the effect of long-term growth hormone therapy on adult height in these children is unknown. METHODS: We studied 121 children with idiopathic short stature, all of whom had an initial height below the third percentile, low growth rates, and maximal stimulated serum concentrations of growth hormone of at least 10 microg per liter. The children were treated with growth hormone (0.3 mg per kilogram of body weight per week) for 2 to 10 years. Eighty of these children have reached adult height, with a bone age of at least 16 years in the boys and at least 14 years in the girls, and pubertal stage 4 or 5. The difference between the predicted adult height before treatment and achieved adult height was compared with the corresponding difference in three untreated normal or short-statured control groups. RESULTS: In the 80 children who have reached adult height, growth hormone treatment increased the mean standard-deviation score for height (number of standard deviations from the mean height for chronologic age) from -2.7 to -1.4. The mean (+/-SD) difference between predicted adult height before treatment and achieved adult height was +5.0+/-5.1 cm for boys and +5.9+/-5.2 cm for girls. The difference between predicted and achieved adult height among treated boys was 9.2 cm greater than the corresponding difference among untreated boys with initial standard-deviation scores of less than -2, and the difference among treated girls was 5.7 cm greater than the difference among untreated girls. CONCLUSION: Long-term administration of growth hormone to children with idiopathic short stature can increase adult height to a level above the predicted adult height and above the adult height of untreated historical control children.

Adult↗

[Elective coronary angioplasty in acute coronary syndromes: early versus delayed treatment].

BACKGROUND: In patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) the optimal time required to stabilize the patient before attempting coronary intervention (PTCA) is uncertain. The recent use of newer devices and antiplatelet drugs allowed earlier percutaneous intervention. OBJECTIVE: We examined the efficacy and safety of coronary angioplasty in patients with ACS according to the period of stabilization with medical therapy. METHODS: We included 83 patients, 15 female, 54 with unstable angina and 29 with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. We studied the rate of complications related to the procedure, the duration of CCU and hospital stay according to the period of stabilization with medical therapy: < 48 hours (early PTCA) and > or = 48 hours (delayed PTCA). RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the two groups of patients with respect to success rate (92% in early PTCA vs 98% in delayed PTCA), stents implantation (74% vs 78%), use of abeiximab (42% vs 24%), abrupt closure during procedure (3% vs 2%), infarct related procedure (0% vs 7%), re-PTCA (5% vs 7%) and surgical revascularization (0% vs 2%). No deaths occurred, CCU stay (2.5 vs 6.7 days, p < 0.001) and hospital stay (4 vs 9.4 days, p = 0.001) were significantly shorter in the group of early PTCA. CONCLUSIONS: In the present group of patients with ACS, early coronary intervention was a safe procedure with a shorter CCU and hospital stay compared with deferred PTCA.

Abciximab↗

[Peripheral revascularization by cardiologists].

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the initial experience in peripheral arterial revascularization, using percutaneous techniques, by interventional cardiologists. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. SETTING: Cardiology department of a specialised public non-university hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty patients, 18 male and 2 female, with ages between 37 and 84 years, who underwent peripheral interventions between May 5 1989 and February 20 1998. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were subdivided into two groups: Group I, 9 patients, 8 male, average age of 56 +/- 13 years, undergoing renal artery angioplasty; Group II, 11 patients, 10 male, average age of 63 +/- 10 years, undergoing angioplasty of the distal aorta (1), of the right subclavian artery (1), of the iliac arteries (6) and of the femoral arteries (3). In Group I, 11 arteries were dilated, 6 by balloon angioplasty and 5 with stent implantation (Palmaz-Schatz--4 and Symphony--1). In Group II, 12 arteries were dilated, 5 by balloon angioplasty and 7 with 12 stent implantations (Palmaz-Schatz--6, Symphony--5 and NIRTM--1). In 8 patients, 1 of Group I and 7 of Group II, coronary angioplasty was also performed in 14 arteries and 18 segments, exclusively by balloon (3 patients) or with 10 stent implantations (5 patients). RESULTS: There was angiographic success in all patients (100%) and clinical success in 85% (17/20) of patients. All clinical complications occurred in Group I patients: retroperitoneal bleeding in one; right femoral artery pseudoaneurysm requiring surgery in one patient: acute renal failure in one patient. There were no cardiac complications in patients undergoing peripheral and cardiac angioplasties at the same stage. In the mean follow-up period of 26 months, one patient required reangioplasty of a right iliac artery and another underwent iliac-femoral bypass, both of Group II and before peripheral stents were available. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous peripheral arterial revascularization performed by experienced interventional cardiologists seems safe and efficient, being perfectly justified in patients requiring simultaneous coronary angioplasty.

Adult↗

Adult height in growth hormone deficiency: historical perspective and examples from the national cooperative growth study.

There are few historical data on final or adult heights after the completion of long-term growth hormone (GH) therapy in children with GH deficiency (GHD). Adult height has been defined as that achieved at chronologic ages ranging from 18 to 30 years, at bone ages >/=13 years (girls) and >/=15 years (boys), at growth velocities </=1 to 2 cm per 6 to 12 months, at the "cessation of growth," at "1 year after the completion of pubertal development," and that at which patients are either "satisfied with their height" or have attained an "accept adult stature." Without GH treatment, children with GHD have a mean adult height standard deviation score of -4.7 (range, -6. 1 to -3.9). After treatment, the standard deviation score range from -4.7 to -1.2 (pituitary GH [pitGH] 2-4 times a week) and from -1.4 to -0.5 (recombinant human [rhGH] GH 3 times a week to daily) in women and from -3.6 to -1.1 (pitGH) and from -1.3 to -0.7 (rhGH) in men. Because there is no uniformly applied definition of adult height, comparisons are difficult, but historical data suggest that posttreatment heights are greater with rhGH than with pitGH. Using the National Cooperative Growth Study database, we found that the criteria used to define adult height affected the apparent outcome. When chronologic age >/=20 years for men and >/=18 years for women was the only criterion, 27% of patients grew >/=5 cm after having reached this age. Adding the requirement of advanced puberty before adult height could be considered to have been attained reduced the proportion of those who later grew >/=5 cm to <10%, but also decreased the number of patients available for analysis. A combination of criteria for adult height (chronologic and bone age >/=16 years for boys and >/=14 years for girls plus advanced puberty plus growth rate of <2 cm per year) left only 1% of patients with later growth of >/=5 cm.

Adult↗

[Revascularization in patients with prior coronary bypass surgery].

UNLABELLED: Increasingly over the past several years, patients have returned after coronary surgery for reintervention procedures. This reflects immediate postsurgical complications and the relentless progression of coronary artery disease in the native circulation and in the bypass grafts. Although there are randomized comparative data for coronary bypass surgery (CABG) versus percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and medical therapy, these trials have always excluded patients with previous (GABG). OBJECTIVES: We attempted to compare the risks and benefits of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and repeat coronary artery bypass grafting (re-CABG) in patients with previous coronary bypass surgery (CABG). METHODS AND RESULTS: This study examines follow up data (15.4 +/- 11.0 months) from 130 patients with previous CABG, who required either PTCA (Group A, n = 73) or re-CABG (Group B; n = 57) at a single center from 1994 to 1997. Follow up data were obtained from subsequent office visits and telephone calls. The PTCA and re-CABG groups were similar with respect to gender (86% vs 94% males), mean age (62 +/- 9 vs 59 +/- 10 years), angina CCS classes 3 and 4 (73% vs 69%), diminished left ventricular function (23% vs 26%), risk factors such as diabetes (19% vs 17%), hypercolesterolemia (49% vs 45%) and smoking (48% vs 39%) and three-vessel native coronary artery disease (67% vs 72%). The symptomatic status prior to the revascularization procedure was similar in both groups. Complete and functional revascularization was achieved in 85% of the PTCA group and in 92% of those with re-CABG (p = NS). During the hospital stay the complication rates were lower in the PTCA group. Actuarial survival was different at follow up (p = 0.04). Both PTCA and re-CABG groups resulted in equivalent event-free survival (freedom from death, myocardial infarction, unstable angina and urgent revascularization). The need for repeat revascularization at follow up was significantly higher in the PTCA group (PTCA 28% vs re-CABG 10%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In this non-randomized study of patients with previous CABG requiring revascularization procedures, PTCA resulted in lower procedural morbidity and mortality risks. At follow up, both PTCA or CABG were similar for event-free survival; PTCA offered lower overall mortality, although it is associated to a greater need for subsequent revascularization procedures.

Aged↗

[Total occlusion of the left common coronary artery--a case report].

Total chronic occlusion of the left main coronary artery is an unusual finding. After a review of the literature, the authors present a case report of a patient with stable angina and total occlusion of the left main coronary artery, right coronary with atherosclerotic lesions and normal ventricular function.

Aged↗

Adult height in growth hormone (GH)-deficient children treated with biosynthetic GH. The Genentech Growth Study Group.

Near-adult height (AH) was determined in 121 children (72 males and 49 females) with GH deficiency (GHD) who were prepubertal when they began treatment with recombinant DNA-derived preparations of human GH. AH as a SD score was -0.7 +/- 1.2 (mean +/- SD), significantly greater than the pretreatment height SD score (-3.1 +/- 1.2), the predicted AH SD score (-2.2 +/- 1.2; Bayley-Pinneau method), and the height SD score at the start of puberty (-1.9 +/- 1.3). In contrast to studies of GH treatment outcome, which used pituitary-derived GH (pit-GH) in lower doses, we found that males did not have a higher AH SD score than females, spontaneous puberty did not diminish AH, and AH was significantly greater than that predicted at the start of GH treatment. In a multiple regression equation, the statistically significant variables (all P < 0.0001) related to AH (r2 = 0.70) were the following: duration of treatment with GH, sex (males were taller than females, as expected for the normal population), age (younger children had a greater AH) and height at the start of GH, and growth rate during first year of GH. For the AH SD score (r2 = 0.47), pretreatment predicted AH, duration of GH, and bone age delay were significant (P < 0.0002) explanatory variables. Bone age delay (chronological age-bone age) had a negative impact on the AH SD score. Target height, etiology of GHD, previous treatment with pituitary GH, and the presence or absence of spontaneous puberty did not significantly improve the prediction of AH. Early diagnosis of GHD and continuous treatment with larger doses of GH to near AH should improve the outcome in children with short stature due to GHD.

Body Height↗