177,806 research outputs found
Diagnosis of GH deficiency in the transition period: accuracy of insulin tolerance test and insulin-like growth factor-I measurement.
No full textEur J Endocrinol. 2005 Apr;152(4):589-96.
Diagnosis of GH deficiency in the transition period: accuracy of insulin tolerance test and insulin-like growth factor-I measurement.
Maghnie M, Aimaretti G, Bellone S, Bona G, Bellone J, Baldelli R, de Sanctis C, Gargantini L, Gastaldi R, Ghizzoni L, Secco A, Tinelli C, Ghigo E.
Source
Department of Pediatrics, University of Pavia, Italy. [email protected]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
A consensus exists that severe growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in adults is defined by a peak GH response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia (insulin tolerance test, ITT) of less than 3 microg/l based on a cohort of subjects with a mean age of 45 years.
DESIGN AND METHODS:
By considering one of the following two criteria for the diagnosis of probable permanent GHD, i.e. the severity of GHD (suggested by the presence of multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies (MPHD)) or the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging identification of structural hypothalamic-pituitary abnormalities, 26 patients (17 males, 9 females, mean age 20.8 +/- 2.3 years, range 17-25 years) were selected for re-evaluation of the GH response to ITT and their IGF-I concentration. Eight subjects had isolated GHD (IGHD) and 18 had MPHD. Normative data for peak GH were obtained after ITT in 39 healthy subjects (mean age 21.2 +/- 4.4 years, range 15.1-30.0 years) and the reference range for IGF-I was calculated using normative data from 117 healthy individuals.
RESULTS:
Mean peak GH response to ITT was significantly lower in the 26 patients (1.8+/-2.0 microg/l, range 0.1-6.1 microg/l) compared with the 39 controls (18.5 +/- 15.5 microg/l, range 6.1-84.0 microg/l; P < 0.0001). One subject with septo-optic dysplasia had a peak GH response of 6.1 microg/l that overlapped the lowest peak GH response obtained in normal subjects. There was an overlap for IGF-I SDS between subjects with IGHD and MPHD, as well as with normal controls. The diagnostic accuracy of a peak GH response of 6.1 microg/l showed a 96% sensitivity with 100% specificity. The maximum diagnostic accuracy with IGF-I SDS was obtained with a cut-off of -1.7 SDS (sensitivity 77%, specificity 100%) while an IGF-I < or = - 2.0 SDS showed a sensitivity of 62%.
CONCLUSION:
Our data show that the cut-off value of the peak GH response to ITT of less than 3 microg/l or 5 microg/l and of IGF-I of less than -2.0 SDS are too restrictive for the diagnosis of permanent GH deficiency in the transition period. We suggest that permanent GHD could be investigated more accurately by means of an integrated analysis of clinical history, the presence of MPHD, IGF-I concentration and the MR imaging findings of structural hypothalamic-pituitary abnormalities
Batti il tamburo e non avere paura.
No full textBatti il tamburo e non aver paura è un verso di una poesia di Heinrich Heine, il maggiore poeta romantico tedesco (ebreo, contrario al pangermanesimo, morto esule a Parigi) che invita tutti al coraggio ed allo impegno, delineando un excursus tra parole chiave della filosofia della scienza e della matematica (in particolare, in Kant, Husserl e Hilbert), per ricavare i moniti alla Geomatica. Infatti questa è costituita da un insieme di discipline scientifiche e tecnologiche che possono offrire benefici al mondo ed alla società, ma causare danni gravi ed è compito dei ricercatori, tecnici, studenti ed operatori fare che scienza e tecnologia siano adoperate ai fini di pace, sviluppo e progresso, e non di guerra, abuso e dominio. Per quanto riguarda i tre studiosi, Kant è preso in considerazione, come geografo (storico e studioso della politica) e come filosofo della scienza e della morale (nelle prime due sue sintesi critiche, seppure della seconda solo brevemente). Husserl e Hilbert (nello ordine un filosofo di formazione matematica ed un matematico, attento a problemi di logica) sono presi in considerazione nelle loro ultime opere, rispettivamente sulla crisi delle scienze europee e sui fondamenti della matematica. Infatti questi due studiosi possono entrambi rappresentare insieme uno dei punti di arrivo delle possibili riletture kantiane e il segnavia per una ripartenza verso nuovi pensieri (rispettivamente la filosofia analitica della conoscenza ed il convenzionalismo critico della matematica)
Tecniche di validazione di dati territoriali qualitativi e quantitativi
No full textIl controllo delle modificazioni territoriali ed ambientali cresce continuamente di importanza. I GIS si propongono come sistemi insostituibili in questo settore, per la varietà e la complessità dei dati di cui tengono conto e la capacità di aggiornamento.
La validazione delle basi di dati viene effettuata mediante un’opportuna analisi delle differenze qualitative e quantitative tra i campioni ed i dati disponibili nelle basi di dati. Si definisce una procedura operativa che valuti opportuni indicatori statistici con i quali stabilire se le basi di dati sono attendibili, oppure se è necessario procedere al loro aggiornamento
Pathogenesis of the blister in cicatricial pemphigoid and in bullous pemphigoid. A comparative ultrastructural study
No full textA comparative ultrastructural study of bullous lesions of four cases of Cicatricial Pemphigoid and three cases of Bullous Pemphigoid showed: a) in Bullous Pemphigoid the blister seems to form in the intermembrane space while the basal lamina is still visible on the floor of the blister, b) in Cicatricial Pemphigoid it is the basal lamina which appears to be directly affected, its disappearance probably being the consequence of a marked edema of the superficial dermis. It is pointed out that controversial ultrastructural information concerning dermo-epidermal bullous diseases can often be ascribed to the speed of blister formation, to the time at which the biopsy is performed and to the different techniques used in the preparation of specimens
Hexarelin, a synthetic GH-releasing peptide, is a powerful stimulus of GH secretion in pubertal children and in adults but not in prepubertal children and elderly subjects.
No full textAppropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
No full textWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Supplemental_Material – Supplemental material for Cost-effectiveness analysis of alectinib versus crizotinib in first-line treatment of anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer
No full textSupplemental material, Supplemental_Material for Cost-effectiveness analysis of alectinib versus crizotinib in first-line treatment of anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer by R Ravasio, M Tiseo, L Pradelli, M Bellone, A Gervasi and M Coffani in Global & Regional Health Technology Assessment</p
"Closing the R&D Gap, Evaluating the Sources of R&D Spending"
No full textBoth spending and tax policies have been implemented in the United States with the goal of stimulating private sector research and development (R&D). Karier questions whether current R&D policy, especially the research and experimentation tax credit, can contribute to closing the gap between nondefense expenditures on R&D in the United States and such expenditures in other countries, such as Japan and Germany. He also explores possible changes to our current R&D policy to make it more effective.
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