Biomedical subjects

L Iughetti

Publications and source records attributed to L Iughetti.

43 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Oral health in children and adolescents with IDDM--a review.

Children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus have a lower salivary flow rate, pH and buffer capacity, but a higher glucose content and peroxidase, IgA, magnesium and calcium concentration, in comparison with healthy children. Nevertheless the incidence of caries is lower than normal in diabetic children with good metabolic control. Periodontal disease usually starts at puberty as mild gingivitis with bleeding and gingival recession, and it may develop into severe periodontitis, especially in children with poor control of diabetes. Microangiopathy, impaired immune response, different bacterial microflora and collagen metabolism are involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic periodontal disease. The gingival flora is mostly composed of Gram-negative, anaerobic bacteria, while collagen has a lower solubility and is atrophic and inadequate to support the occlusion forces. For these reasons, prevention of periodontitis is important in diabetic children; they should receive oral hygiene instruction and visit a dentist at least twice a year.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Genetics and molecular biology of the GHRH-GH-IGF-I axis.

In this paper, the genetics and molecular biology of the GHRH-GH-IGF-I (Growth Hormone Releasing hormone-Growth Hormone-Insulin like Growth Factor I) axis involved in the pathogenesis of short stature are reviewed. Short stature associated with GH deficiency is estimated to occur in about 1/4000-10,000 live births; 3-30% of cases affect first-degree relatives, suggesting a genetic aetiology. Identification of such molecular defects is very recent and dependent on new findings on the physiology of GHRH-GH-IGF-I axis: for example the pituitary-specific transcription factors and their mutations have only been described in the last few years. The epidemiological importance of the identified molecular defect depends on the level of the axis involved, but the prevalence of some of these genetic defects is probably underestimated. Time will tell what the practical relevance of these findings is and what the clinical features of the new mutations are; we will probably learn something more about the GHRH-GH-IGF-I axis: to date, no mutations have been reported regarding the GHRH gene or the IGF-I receptor.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Dermatitis herpetiformis and latent celiac disease in two siblings].

The association between coeliac disease (CD) and dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is well known. Moreover, this cutaneous disease may be the only sign of an otherwise asymptomatic CD. Subjects presenting with both CD and DH generally show an HLA pattern in which A1, B8, DR2, DR7, DQw2 are the most frequent antigens one can find. We report about 2 brothers presenting with DH, clinically asymptomatic, without antigliadin serum antibodies (AGA), but positive to the research of antiendomysial (EMA) ones. The biopsy performed by digestive endoscopy showed a complete atrophy of duodenal villi and the diagnosis of CD was confirmed according to the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (ESPGAN) criteria. The diet without gluten caused the DH to recovery and the duodenal villi microscopic aspect to normalize as well. Both the brothers had the same HLA pattern: A1, B8, DR3-DR2, DQw2. Our clinical study suggests that it is very important, especially for the general practitioner, to recognize a DH and in every child presenting with a dermatitis like that it will be mandatory to perform a laboratory research of both AGA and EMA.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Autoimmune endocrinopathies and Down's syndrome: a case report].

The authors refer about a girl, 16 years old, affected by Down's syndrome which developed diabetes mellitus (type I) and soon after hypothyroidism following autoimmune thyroiditis. They underline the usefulness of monitoring endocrine function in these patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Liver damage and obesity in pediatric age].

In adult obese patients both an increase of aminotranspherase values and hepatic steatosis have been frequently showed. Conversely in childhood the existence of a liver's damage is often not investigated. To assess the prevalence of hepatic alterations in obese children, we studied 135 subjects, all affected by simple obesity, showing in a 20% of them the presence of ultrasonographic evidence of hepatic steatosis and/or hyperaminotransferasemia. Our study demonstrates the existence of silent hepatic alterations also in obese children and suggests to improve the treatment of obesity in childhood to prevent the progression of liver's damage.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Non-specific pituitary responses in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents].

OBJECTIVES: Several reports indicate a number of changes in the control of the release of PRL, LH, FSH, GH and beta-endorphin (B-EP) as a result of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). In this study we evaluate the presence of non-specific pituitary responses to releasing hormones in IDDM children and adolescents. METHODS: The non-specific effects of TRH on plasma GH, LH and B-EP levels and of GnRH on plasma GH, PRL, TSH and B-EP levels were measured in 16 IDDM children and in 16 healthy children matched by age and sex. All subjects were tested with injection of TRH (200 micrograms i.v. bolus) and GnRH (50 micrograms i.v. bolus). GH, TSH, PRL, LH and B-EP levels were evaluated with radioimmunological methods on blood samples collected before and after stimulation by releasing hormones. RESULTS: GH and B-EP non-specific responses to TRH and GnRH were significantly more pronounced in IDDM patients than in controls. All patients showed at least one non-specific response to one of the two releasing hormones. No significant correlations were found between non-specific pituitary responses and the patient's age, the duration and onset of disease or the degree of metabolic control. CONCLUSIONS: These observations may indicate that: in IDDM hypothalamus-pituitary regulating mechanism is altered; the hormones whose levels are most often found to be abnormal in IDDM (other than insulin) are also hormones which respond non specifically to the neuropeptides TRH and GnRH.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Atypical cat-scratch disease: a case report of splenic granulomatosis].

Generally cat-scratch disease is a benign inflammatory adenopathy. The Authors describe an atypical form of this disease, characterized by persistent fever and splenic granulomatosis requiring a diagnostic and therapeutic prolonged effort. They point out the important role of new immuno-fluorescent techniques to exactly identify the bacterium--Bartonella henselae--causing cat-scratch disease and suggest to include cat-scratch disease among the causes of unknown origin fever.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗