The Journal of pediatrics
-
The Journal of pediatrics · Dec 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialEarly elective insulin therapy can reduce hyperglycemia and increase insulin-like growth factor-I levels in very low birth weight infants.
To investigate the use of insulin throughout the first week of life in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (birth weight <1.5 kg) to improve glucose control and increase insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels. IGF-I is the dominant hormone involved in fetal growth, and low levels have been implicated in neonatal morbidities, such as retinopathy of prematurity. ⋯ Early insulin therapy improves blood glucose control and increases IGF-I bioactivity levels. This could result in less morbidity associated with hyperglycemia and reduced IGF-I levels.
-
The Journal of pediatrics · Dec 2007
Prevalence of the MEFV gene mutations in childhood polyarteritis nodosa.
To test the hypothesis that alterations in the Mediterranean fever (MEFV) gene are a susceptibility factor for the development of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) we investigated the prevalence of MEFV mutations in patients with PAN without any symptoms of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). ⋯ Our study confirms that alterations in the MEFV gene are important susceptibility factors for the development of PAN. We believe that mutations in MEFV gene provide a basis for the development of PAN both by forming a proinflammatory state and by possibly giving exaggerated response to streptococcal infections.
-
To evaluate the causes of acute abdominal pain in a large academic pediatric primary care population. ⋯ We found that constipation was the most common cause of acute abdominal pain in children.