Biomedical subjects

Sze May Ng

Publications and source records attributed to Sze May Ng.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Continuous insulin infusion in hyperglycaemic extremely-low- birth-weight neonates.

BACKGROUND: The inability of the newborn to inhibit gluconeogenesis in response to a glucose infusion leading to insulin resistance has been postulated as an important cause of hyperglycaemia observed in premature infants. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency and rate of response to continuous insulin infusion in improving glucose tolerance in hyperglycaemic extremely-low-birth-weight (ELBW) neonates (< or =1,000 g) compared to neonates with birth weight >1,000 g (LBW). METHODS: We included in the study 115 consecutive neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit who developed hyperglycaemia from January 2000 to December 2001. A standard protocol for the use of exogenous insulin infusions was commenced for all hyperglycaemic neonates. The efficiency of continuous insulin infusion was compared in two groups of infants: ELBW < or =1,000 g compared with neonates with birth weight >1,000 g (LBW). RESULTS: The duration (hours) of insulin infusion required to normalise blood glucose level was significantly longer in the ELBW group compared to LBW group (p < 0.0001). Average insulin infusion (units/kg/h) required to maintain normoglycaemia was also significantly higher in the ELBW group (p < 0.0001). No significant difference was found in the mean amount of intravenous dextrose tolerated, mean postnatal age (hours) at which infusions were initiated and the average blood glucose recorded. ELBW infants were more likely to receive steroid administration, have surgery, higher CRIB scores and sepsis. CONCLUSION: Continuous insulin infusion was relatively safe and effective in the treatment of persistent hyperglycaemia in premature neonates. No serious adverse side effects of insulin therapy were noted. With the current protocol for use of exogenous insulin infusion at our unit, the response to treatment was significantly slower in the ELBW neonates. The dose of insulin infusion required to maintain normoglycaemia was also higher in this group of neonates. There may be a need for different treatment schedules for this subgroup of neonates so that normalisation of blood glucose can be achieved earlier.

Blood Glucose↗

PubMed2005

The gonadotrophins response to GnRH test is not a predictor of neurological lesion in girls with central precocious puberty.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the value of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test in identifying intracranial abnormality in girls with central precocious puberty (CPP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A study of 67 girls diagnosed with CPP who underwent cranial MRI scans. Patients were not receiving any therapy and there were no neurological signs or symptoms at presentation. Patients underwent evaluation of GnRH stimulation test and plasma oestradiol levels at presentation. RESULTS: Mean age at onset of puberty was 6.2 years (range 2.0 to 8.0 years). Intracranial abnormalities were present in 10 (15%) patients, while 57 girls (85%) had no abnormalities. No significant difference was shown between girls with intracranial abnormality and girls without intracranial abnormality in basal LH or FSH values, peak LH or FSH values, LH/FSH peak ratios, peak LH/basal LH ratios, peak FSH/ basal FSH ratios at presentation. CONCLUSION: GnRH stimulation test does not identify those with underlying intracranial abnormality at presentation. MRI imaging remains necessary in all cases of central precocious puberty in girls.

Brain Neoplasms↗

PubMed2004

Head circumference and linear growth during the first 3 years in treated congenital hypothyroidism in relation to aetiology and initial biochemical severity.

AIMS: To determine the head circumference and linear growth in children with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) during the first 3 years of life in relation to the aetiology of CH and initial biochemical severity of thyroid function. METHODS: We examined the head circumference and linear growth of 125 patients with CH from diagnosis up to 3 years of age. All infants had radionuclide scans prior to treatment. Patients were categorized into athyreosis, ectopia and dyshormonogenesis. Occipito-frontal circumference (OFC) SD, length SD, initial plasma TSH, initial plasma thyroxine (T4) and age of suppression of plasma TSH were compared between the groups. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine factors affecting OFC SD at 3 years of age. RESULTS: There were 125 children in the study: athyreosis (n = 34), ectopia (n = 73) and dyshormonogenesis (n = 18). No difference was found in gestation, birth weight, age of starting L-T4 and initial dose of L-T4 in mcg/kg/day between groups. Confirmatory plasma total T4 at diagnosis was significantly lower for athyreosis when compared with ectopia and dyshormonogenesis. Median values for confirmatory TSH were significantly lower in dyshormonogenesis compared with the other two groups. At diagnosis, OFC were similar in all three groups. Children with athyreosis showed significantly larger OFCs compared with ectopia and dyshormonogenesis from 1 to 3 years. Length SD was within 1 SD of normal population standards at diagnosis and did not differ between the three groups throughout the 3 years. Spearman's correlation for OFC SD at 3 years of age showed a significant negative correlation with initial confirmatory plasma T4 (r = -0.35, P = 0.01). Multivariate analysis for OFC SD at 3 years of age showed confirmatory T4 as the only independent risk factor. CONCLUSION: Children with athyreosis showed significantly larger OFC from 1 to 3 years of age compared with ectopia and dyshormonogenesis, independent of linear growth. Our data shows that initial confirmatory T4 at diagnosis is an independent factor influencing head growth in the first 3 years of life.

Body Height↗

PubMed2003

The differing outcomes of hyperthyrotropinaemia.

Hyperthyrotropinaemia, in which normal levels of T4 occur in association with raised TSH, is picked up on neonatal screening. The outcome of children with persistent hyperthyrotropinaemia is uncertain. The study objective was to evaluate the outcome of children with the persistent form of hyperthyrotropinaemia. We carried out a retrospective analysis on children who attended one institution over the last 20 years with this diagnosis. Eight children were diagnosed with hyperthyrotropinaemia lasting more than 3 months in total. Four had a transient form lasting between 3 and 18 months in total. Three continue to have persistently raised TSH at 5, 9 and 17 years, respectively. One patient became biochemically hypothyroid at 1 year of age requiring treatment with replacement thyroxine. All of our group had normal growth and development. We recommend that thyroid function monitoring should continue in all children with hyperthyrotropinaemia until the thyroid function tests have normalised.

Congenital Hypothyroidism↗