The case of five pediatric patients who presented to the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus between January 2001 and September 2003 is reported. Each case was complicated by hyperosmolarity and hypernatremia and required intensive therapy. Fluid intake prior to admission in each case was documented and consisted of between 5 and 12 L of carbonated carbohydrate beverages and 'isotonic' sports drinks. At presentation, biochemical results of the four cases (four males and one female), mean age 13.6 yr (range 11.7-15.1 yr) included glucose (mean 1460 mg/dL; range 864-2106), adjusted sodium (mean 176.3 mmol/L; range 165-183), serum osmolarity (mean 399 mmol/kg; range 364-424), anion gap (mean 48 mEq/L; range 42-84), and pH (mean 7.15; range 7.01-7.27). All five cases had evidence of ketonuria on presentation. Treatment in all five cases consisted of replacement of fluids over a prolonged period of 72 h and careful monitoring of electrolyte response. Three of five cases required hemofiltration in the first 48 h postadmission. All five cases made a complete recovery without neurological sequelae. Carbonated carbohydrate fluid intake may precipitate a more severe presentation of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Fluid composition and intake should be carefully estimated at admission to help identify and manage similar cases.

Volumes obtained from reconstructions in either plane were essentially identical. There was a linear increase in log-transformed pituitary volume with age, but relatively weak correlations with height or body mass index. There was no gender difference and only weak correlations between pituitary height and pituitary volume and between estimated pituitary volume calculation and measured pituitary volume. We provide age-related reference ranges for pituitary volumes in graphical and tabular forms.

Survival in cystic fibrosis has improved significantly in the last 30 years, with major therapeutic goals of delaying the progressive loss of pulmonary function and maintaining normal growth. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was performed in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) to assess both bone mineral density and body composition. We hypothesised that there would be an association between body composition and pulmonary function in children with CF. Fifty subjects with CF (28 males), mean age 12.7 years, participated in the study. Body composition was determined by DEXA. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from the ratio of weight/height2 (kg/m2). Lung function was assessed by spirometry. Most patients (78%) had mild lung disease. The mean forced expired volume in 1 sec percent predicted (FEV1% predicted) for the 50 patients was 79.2% (range, 24-117%). There was a strong association between FEV1% predicted and BMI (R=0.59, P=0.0001). Fat-free mass had positive association with pulmonary function tests (R=0.30, P=0.03). Although fat mass showed a positive correlation with pulmonary function, this association did not reach statistical significance. In our group of children with CF and mild lung disease, pulmonary function was more strongly associated with BMI than with fat and fat-free mass.