Abstract: PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to describe the dietary intake of vitamin D in an urban, low income, predominantly African American sample of adolescents with insulin dependent diabetes. METHODS: Participants were 99 adolescents diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes. Vitamin D intake was estimated from dietary recall data. Blood glucose levels were also assessed. RESULTS: The average daily vitamin D intake estimated from dietary recall data was 102 IUs (SD = 64.4) with 70% of adolescents consuming less than 50 IUs of vitamin D in their day. Level of vitamin D intake was a significant predictor of HbA1c levels in the current sample. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate a need for the assessment of vitamin D levels in this at-risk population, as supplementation may be indicated.
Abstract: X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy leads to demyelination of the nervous system, adrenal insufficiency, and accumulation of long-chain fatty acids. Most young patients with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy develop seizures and progressive neurologic deficits, and die within the first two decades of life. Congenital or acquired disorders of the respiratory system have not been previously described in patients with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy.
Abstract: Nutritional rickets has been on the rise in the United States. A chart review of patients with nutritional rickets from April 1995 to May 2005 was performed. Fifty-eight subjects were studied (62% males, 38% females, with an age range between 2 and 132 months). Of the subjects, 81% were African Americans and 14% were Arabic; 33% were Christians and 19% were Muslims. An increasing number of cases of nutritional rickets have been noted since 2000. Seventy-nine percent of patients with nutritional rickets presented at the emergency department, and in 69% of the cases, rickets was an incidental finding; 96% of patients were exclusively breast-fed, and none received multivitamin supplements. 25-OH vitamin D levels were below 5 ng/mL in 42% of the patients, all of whom were African Americans. We could document complete resolution of nutritional rickets in only 8 patients, and 3 of these patients showed sequelae of rickets.
Abstract: The study aim was to determine if multisystemic therapy (MST), an intensive home-based psychotherapy, could reduce hospital admissions for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in youth with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes over 24 months. Potential cost savings from reductions in admissions were also evaluated.
Abstract: The primary purpose of the present study was to determine whether multisystemic therapy (MST), an intensive, home-based psychotherapy, improved regimen adherence, metabolic control, and rates of hospitalization for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) among adolescents with chronically poorly controlled Type 1 diabetes 6 months after the completion of treatment. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 127 adolescents and their families. Mean participant age was 13.2 years. Sixty-three percent of participants were African American, and 51% were female. Data were collected at baseline, treatment termination, and 6-month follow-up. Changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), frequency of blood glucose testing (BGT), and rate of DKA admissions were assessed. In intent-to-treat analyses, a main effect of MST on DKA admissions was found at both treatment termination and follow-up. Improvements in BGT were moderated by family composition; only 2-parent MST families maintained improvements at follow-up. Improvements in HbA1c for the MST group at treatment termination were lost at follow-up. Results show that intensive, home-based psychotherapy created stable reductions in serious lapses in adherence, as indexed by episodes of DKA, among youth with poorly controlled diabetes.
Abstract: The purpose of the study was to determine if being overweight attenuated the effect of multisystemic therapy (MST), an intensive, home-based psychotherapy, on metabolic outcomes among adolescents with type 1 diabetes and chronically poor metabolic control. As overweight is a marker of insulin resistance, it was hypothesized that weight status would limit the impact of behavioral changes in traditional aspects of adherence to the type 1 diabetes regimen on metabolic control.
Abstract: Gynecomastia is defined as excessive development of the breast in boys. It is common in neonates and adolescents. Although in most cases this is a transient phenomenon, it might lead to significant social impediments such as decreased participation in physical education because of embarrassment. A primary care provider should be able to diagnose a false gynecomastia, a physiologic gynecomastia, and a gynecomastia with underlying pathology by taking good history, performing a thorough physical examination, and checking few screening laboratory tests. In most cases with physiologic gynecomastia, just reassurance and close follow-up is sufficient; however, psychologic counseling and surgical intervention may be required in few selected cases of physiologic gynecomastia. Suspected cases with underlying pathologic causes should be referred to a pediatric endocrinologist for further evaluation and management. Treatment of underlying causes should resolve the gynecomastia in those patients.
Abstract: To examine gender differences in adherence and metabolic control and test the mediating role of mental health symptoms in a sample of predominantly African-American, low-income youth with chronically poor metabolic control.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine whether multisystemic therapy (MST), an intensive, home-based psychotherapy, could improve adherence and metabolic control and decrease rates of hospital utilization among adolescents with chronically poorly controlled type 1 diabetes.
Abstract: The authors describe their experience with endoscopic fenestration of suprasellar cysts followed by shrinkage coagulation of the cysts to restore the anatomy in eight patients. Seven children ranging in age from 8 months to 4.5 years and one adult 24 years of age were treated. Four of the children presented with megacephaly and the other patients with malfunction of a shunt that had been placed previously for hydrocephalus. Endoscopic fenestration of the cyst dome was performed followed by shrinkage of the lesion by means of endoscopic coagulation. Follow-up studies included immediate and late postoperative magnetic resonance imaging, assessment of growth velocity and the body mass index (BMI), and an endocrine profile if indicated by a failure of growth or precocious puberty. Good intraoperative cyst shrinkage was achieved in all seven children. This was maintained on imaging studies at a mean follow-up period of 35 months. There was no significant procedure-associated morbidity. Hydrocephalus resolved in four patients who did not have a preexisting shunt. One of the four patients who had a shunt preoperatively became shunt free. The rest of the patients with preexisting shunts remained shunt dependent despite good resolution of the cyst. During a mean follow-up period of 52 months, the height, growth velocity, and BMI of each patient remained within two standard deviations of normal. In one patient there was a suspicion of precocious puberty, but the endocrine profile was normal; in another patient precocious puberty developed and required treatment. The presented technique is safe and prevents cyst recurrence and obstruction of the aqueduct by remnants of the cyst wall-the two main reasons for failure of a simple endoscopic fenestration.
Abstract: The goal of this study was to determine whether multisystemic therapy (MST), an intensive, home-based psychotherapy, could decrease diabetes-related stress among adolescents with chronically poorly controlled type 1 diabetes. Stress was also evaluated as a mediator of the effect of MST on adherence and metabolic control.
Abstract: To determine whether multisystemic therapy (MST), an intensive, home-based psychotherapy, could decrease rates of hospital utilization and related costs of care among adolescents with poorly controlled type diabetes.
Abstract: This prospective study examined how child behavior problems and family functioning predict adherence behavior and glucose regulation (glycemic control) in a sample of economically disadvantaged children.
Abstract: In this study, traditional throat culture results and direct antigen detection from throat swabs have been compared with respect to diagnosis of Group A Beta hemolytic streptococcal infections in children with acute pharyngitis who admitted to Marmara University Hospital Pediatrics Department. It has been found that direct antigen test has a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 98%.
