1,721,116 research outputs found
Studio logitudinale sull'efficacia a medio termine della terapia con ormone della crescita in bambini con malattia celiaca e ipofisite autoimmune
No full textDolore addominale acuto nelle adolescenti: le principali patologie di natura ginecologica
No full textIl dolore addominale in età adolescenziale in un soggetto di sesso femminile può rappresentare un’importante sfida diagnostica in quanto si rende necessario considerare, oltre alle più comuni cause di dolore addominale in età evolutiva, l’insieme delle possibili condizioni di natura ginecologica. Alcune delle condizioni discusse in questo articolo presentano una relazione con l’avvenuto menarca ed il ciclo mestruale; in altri casi la condizione patologica può derivare da un inizio precoce e poco consapevole dell’attività sessuale. L’anamnesi rappresenta una tappa fondamentale del percorso diagnostico e richiede una peculiare capacità comunicativa in considerazione degli argomenti trattati e dell’età della paziente.Abdominal pain in female teenagers can hide a challenging diagnosis because it is essential to consider, together with the more common causes of abdominal pain, the group of conditions of gynecological origin. Some of conditions described in this article show a correlation with menarche and menstrual cycle; conversely, other conditions can be the consequence of the premature and unaware start of sexual activity. Collection of medical history is a major milestone through the achievement of a correct diagnosis and requires peculiar ability of communication, considering the topics and the age of the patient
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals’ Effects in Children: What We Know and What We Need to Learn?
Full text linkThousands of natural or manufactured chemicals were defined as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) because they can interfere with hormone activity and the endocrine system. We summarize and discuss what we know and what we still need to learn about EDCs’ pathogenic mechanisms of action, as well as the effects of the most common EDCs on endocrine system health in childhood. The MEDLINE database (PubMed) was searched on 13 May 2022, filtering for EDCs, endocrine diseases, and children. EDCs are a group of compounds with high heterogeneity, but usually disrupt the endocrine system by mimicking or interfering with natural hormones or interfering with the body’s hormonal balance through other mechanisms. Individual EDCs were studied in detail, while humans’ “cocktail effect” is still unclear. In utero, early postnatal life, and/or pubertal development are highly susceptible periods to exposure. Human epidemiological studies suggest that EDCs affect prenatal growth, thyroid function, glucose metabolism, obesity, puberty, and fertility through several mechanisms. Further studies are needed to clarify which EDCs can mainly act on epigenetic processes. A better understanding of EDCs’ effects on human health is crucial to developing future regulatory strategies to prevent exposure and ensure the health of children today, in future generations, and in the environment
Pituitary Macroadenoma and Severe Hypothyroidism: The Link between Brain Imaging and Thyroid Function
Full text linkIn case of primary hypothyroidism, reactive pituitary hyperplasia can manifest as pituitary (pseudo) macroadenoma. We report the case of a 12-year-old boy who was evaluated for impaired growth velocity and increased body weight. Because of low insulin-like growth factor 1 levels and poor response to the growth hormone stimulation test, brain magnetic resonance imaging was performed and a pituitary macroadenoma was found. Treatment with levothyroxine was started, and thyroid function was evaluated approximately every 40 days to titrate the dosage. After few months of therapy, the size of the macroadenoma decreased and growth hormone secretion normalized. The pituitary returned to normal size in approximately 5 years. The boy went through puberty spontaneously and reached a normal adult height. In a patient affected by primary hypothyroidism, reactive pituitary hyperplasia can cause growth hormone deficiency; however, growth hormone secretion usually normalizes after starting levothyroxine treatment. Pituitary macroadenoma can be difficult to distinguish from severe pituitary hyperplasia; however, pituitary macroadenomas are rare in childhood, and our clinical case underlines how the hormonal evaluation is essential to achieve a correct diagnosis and prevent unnecessary surgery in a context of pituitary mass
Current and future drugs for appetite regulation and obesity treatment
No full textThe growing worldwide prevalence of obesity needs urgent attention because the potential morbidity, mortality, and economic tolls have to be avoided. Despite obesity is known as a healthcare issue on an epidemic scale, it remains largely an unsolved medical problem. The successful management of obesity is theoretically possible through lifestyle changes, with diet modifications and increasing physical activity. However, low results by traditional treatments have inevitably prompted interest in the development of effective therapies, including pharmacological interventions and gastrointestinal surgery. As our knowledge of the physiological systems regulating food intake and body weight has considerably increased over the past decade, many studies have underlined the scientific and clinical relevance of potential treatments based on peripheral hormones or central neuropeptides signals. Here we have summarized the complex pattern of the appetite regulation, divided into central and peripheral mechanisms. In the second part of this paper, we have reviewed the currently approved and putative obesity therapies. Up to now only two drugs, sibutramine and orlistat have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for long term use, but several other medications are currently used to cure severe obesity and many other are developing. Thus, in the last part, we have analyzed recent literature and patents describing new and upcoming molecules. The new anti-obesity drugs under clinical development include agents affecting peripheral and central mechanisms. Further investigations are needed to approve these upcoming therapeutic agents for the treatment of obesity
Challenges in the growth and development of newborns with extra-uterine growth restriction
No full textIntroduction: Extra-uterine growth restriction (EUGR) is a condition caused by the failure of very preterm infants to reach their potential growth during the NICU hospital stay. Despite enormous improvements in nutritional support and strategies, the growth pattern of preterm infants is still far from the one expected. Areas covered: This review focuses on what EUGR is, highlighting controversial aspects of this topic. EUGR is still missing a univocal definition, and the international debate is also open on what is the best growth chart to use. Moreover, professionals in NICU may not be trained on how to perform anthropometric measurements, increasing the risk of over- or underestimation, especially for length assessment. EUGR has recently been described as one of the main comorbidities in NICU, influencing growth, metabolism, and neurodevelopment later in life. Expert opinion: There is still much to investigate about what the best growth pattern in the NICU should be. What is known so far is that the majority of preterm neonates develop EUGR, and this leads to several short- and long-term consequences. It is imperative that neonatologists and pediatric endocrinologists work together, to modulate growth in the NICU
New insights on the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on children
Full text linkObjective: Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are present in many areas and materials of the common life, and exposure to these chemicals can occur from products to personal care, from air and food. This review aims to summarize the more recent epidemiological findings for the impact of EDCs on endocrine system health in children, including effects in growth, metabolism, sexual development, and reproduction. Sources: The MEDLINE database (PubMed) was searched on August 24th, 2021, filtering for EDCs, endocrine disruptors, children, and humans. Summary of the findings: Intrauterine exposure of EDCs can have transgenerational effects, thus laying the foundation for disease in later life. The dose-response relationship may not always be predictable as even low-level exposures that may occur in everyday life can have significant effects on a susceptible individual. Although individual compounds have been studied in detail, the effects of a combination of these chemicals are yet to be studied to understand the real-life situation where human beings are exposed to a “cocktail effect” of these EDCs. Epidemiological studies in humans suggest EDCs’ effects on prenatal growth, thyroid function, glucose metabolism, obesity, puberty, and fertility mainly through epigenetic mechanisms. Conclusions: EDCs cause adverse effects in animals, and their effects on human health are now known and irrefutable. Because people are typically exposed to multiple endocrine disruptors, assessing public health effects is difficult. Legislation to ban EDCs and protect especially pregnant women and young children is required and needs to be revised and adjusted to new developments on a regular basis
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
- …
