Growth rate of coeliac children is compromised before the onset of the disease

INTRODUCTION

Growth impairment has often been described in children who develop coeliac disease (CD). Based on data from the multicentre, longitudinal PreventCD study, we analysed the growth patterns of infants at genetic risk of CD, comparing those who developed CD by 6 years of age (CD 'cases', 113 infants) versus those who did not develop CD by 6 years (no CD 'controls', 831 infants).

METHODS

Weight and length/height were measured using a longitudinal protocol. Raw measurements were standardised, computing z-scores for length/height and weight; a linear mixed model was fitted to the data in order to compare the rate of growth in the two cohorts.

RESULTS

Neither cases nor controls had significant growth failure. However, when the mean z-scores for weight and height were analysed, there was a difference between the two groups starting at fourth month of life. When the growth pattern in the first year was analysed longitudinally using mixed models, it emerged that children who develop CD had a significantly lower growth rate in weight z-score (-0.028/month; 95% CI -0.038 to -0.017; p<0.001) and in length/height z-score (-0.018/month; 95% CI -0.031 to -0.005; p=0.008) than those who do not develop CD. When the whole follow-up period was analysed (0-6 years), differences between groups in both weight and length/height z-scores were confirmed.

CONCLUSION

The growth of children at risk of CD rarely fell below 'clinical standards'. However, growth rate was significantly lower in cases than in controls. Our data suggest that peculiar pathways of growth are present in children who develop CD, long before any clinical or serological signs of the disease appear.

Equilibrium binding model of bile salt-mediated chiral micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

Optimum concentration of bile salts in chiral separations depends on both the aggregation properties of the surfactant and the stability of the analyte-micelle complexes. An equilibrium model is proposed in which these two effects are treated separately. First the aggregation constants should be determined under the experimental conditions of the chiral MEKC analysis. With these data, the equilibrium concentrations of bile salt aggregates can be calculated at any total surfactant concentration. Using the Offord equation to approximate the mobilities of the enantiomer-bile salt complexes, a model function has been derived to fit the experimental mobilities. The method yields the binding constants of the enantiomers to each aggregate present. Those species are assumed to be important in the chiral recognition process, which have significantly different stability constants for the enantiomers. The method is demonstrated by the chiral separation of R- and S-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diyl hydrogen phosphate with sodium taurodeoxycholate. Based on the calculated binding constants, tetrameric aggregates are assumed to be the discriminating species, while no significant difference in enantiomer binding to dimers was found.

Auditory brainstem potentials in uraemia

Evoked response audiometry was carried out to assess the viability of the auditory pathway in haemodialysed patients. The latency of the waves III and V and I-V interpeak latencies were significantly longer in the renal patients compared to the control group. The I-V interpeak latency was longer in 8 of our 13 patients than the upper limit (4.38 ms) in our laboratory. The possible cause for the central auditory dysfunction may be multifactorial, including the effect of metastatic calcifications, repeated occurrence of disequilibrium syndrome, or some small, molecular, toxic, metabolic substance. The significance of the different factors may vary among different haemodialysis centres.

Metabolites of gentamicin-producing Micromonospora species I. Isolation and identification of metabolites

From the cultural broth of a Micromonospora species 25 aminocyclitol antibiotics were isolated by repeated ion-exchange chromatographic processes. The main components of the metabolites were identified as gentamicin C1, C2, and C1a. The other previously reported gentamicin type antibiotics and some other degradation products including gentamicin A, B, B1, X2, sisomicin, garamine, gentamines etc., were identified by chemical, PMR, and mass spectroscopic studies. Besides these, seven new gentamicin type antibiotics were isolated and characterized.

Effect of experimental removal of molars on gastric and submaxillary salivary secretion in the rat

The absence of molars decreased HCl acid content of the stomach and histamine concentration in the gastric wall. Dry and wet weight of the submaxillary gland did not change, but the rate of secretion decreased significantly in rats without molars. A decrease in the number of afferent impulses from the oral cavity is believed to be a cause of diminished secretion.

Effect of removal of molars on weight increase and food intake in albino rats

Experimental extraction of molars, which rendered mastication impossible, reduced the rate of growth of young albino rats in comparison with controls. When free choice between granular and solid food was allowed, the rats with inhibited mastication preferred the food of granular consistency. A significant depression of growth rate in the rats deprived of chewing ability was noted, even when compared with pair-fed control rats that had received the same amount of food.