Blood asymmetric dimethylarginine and nitrite/nitrate concentrations in short-stature children born small for gestational age with and without growth hormone therapy

Increased Oxidative Stress and Decreased Citrulline in Blood Associated with Severe Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia in Adult Patients

This study investigated the correlation between oxidative stress and blood amino acids associated with nitric oxide metabolism in adult patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pneumonia. Clinical data and serum samples were prospectively collected from 100 adult patients hospitalized for COVID-19 between July 2020 and August 2021. Patients with COVID-19 were categorized into three groups for analysis based on lung infiltrates, oxygen inhalation upon admission, and the initiation of oxygen therapy after admission. Blood data, oxidative stress-related biomarkers, and serum amino acid levels upon admission were compared in these groups. Patients with lung infiltrations requiring oxygen therapy upon admission or starting oxygen post-admission exhibited higher serum levels of hydroperoxides and lower levels of citrulline compared to the control group. No remarkable differences were observed in nitrite/nitrate, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and arginine levels. Serum citrulline levels correlated significantly with serum lactate dehydrogenase and C-reactive protein levels. A significant negative correlation was found between serum levels of citrulline and hydroperoxides. Levels of hydroperoxides decreased, and citrulline levels increased during the recovery period compared to admission. Patients with COVID-19 with extensive pneumonia or poor oxygenation showed increased oxidative stress and reduced citrulline levels in the blood compared to those with fewer pulmonary complications. These findings suggest that combined oxidative stress and abnormal citrulline metabolism may play a role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 pneumonia.

Incidence and Neonatal Risk factors of Short Stature and Growth Hormone treatment in Japanese Preterm Infants Born Small for Gestational Age

Incidence and neonatal risk factors for short stature in preterm children born small for gestational age (SGA) have not been fully investigated in Japan. In this prospective study, infants born ≤32 weeks' gestational age (GA) from 2004-2015 were enrolled and followed for 3 years. Incidence of short children born SGA and short stature treated with growth hormone (GH) were investigated. Neonatal risk factors were analysed using univariate and multivariate analyses. GA cut-off value was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. Of 604 infants born ≤32 weeks' GA, 76 (13%) were SGA at birth. Twenty-seven infants (36%) developed short stature at age 2 and 14 infants (19%) received GH treatment at age 3. GA, birthweight, birth length, birth head circumference, and chronic lung disease at 36 weeks' corrected GA were determined as risk factors by univariate analyses (p < 0.01). Multivariate analyses only revealed low GA as an independent risk factor. ROC curve analysis determined a cut-off value of 24 weeks' GA. Nineteen percent of preterm SGA infants ≤32 weeks' GA developed short stature treated with GH. A low GA at birth could be an early detection marker for short stature that requires GH treatment in preterm infants born SGA.