836 Calcitonin Therapy in Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Abstract

Two laboratory measurements~frequently made in the newborn period are Dextrostix (Ames) and hematocrit; yet the relationship between Dextrostix, plasm glucose and whole blood glucose values has not been described. Umbilical vein and peripheral vein blood samples were studied for vhole blood, plasm and red cell glucose (YSI Model 2 U ) and were compared to values obtained using the Dextrostix read by eye. Dextrostix predicted vhole blood glucose (R = .83, slope of regression = 1.1, not significantly different from 1.0).Plasma glucose was underestinvted by the Dextrostix (R = .64, slope = .70 in the range measured in viva (30-100 mg.dl-l).Measurements in vitro vere carried out using umbilical vein blood during incubation with and without added glucose to determine the relationship between plasm and whole blood glucose at the lower glucose levels. No statistically significant difference was observed between plasnv and whole blood glucose at these low levels. Dextrostix reflected both of these levels. No clinically significant error would have been made using the Dextrostix.In vivo, red cell glucose fell more quickly than plasma glu- Fatty acid levels and PG production were measured in blood from 40 test children with diabetes mellitus and 20 control children. Test children ranged from 3 to 19 years of age, had required insulin for at least 1 year and were considered well when tested as outpatients. Blood was drawn from all participants following a 10 to 12 hr overnight fast.The percent plasma FA'S varied in that stearic acid (18:O) levels were higher and oleic acid (18:1A9) levels lower in the diabetic compared to the control children. Quantitative levels (mg/dl) of most FA'S were elevated in the plasma of the diabeti children with total FA levels of 200 + 45 mg/dl compared to 174 + 27 mg/dl for the control children (p<.01). Red blood cell -FA'S and plasma and RBC phospholipids were similar in the 2 groups.Prostaglandin E2 and F2a levels (measured by radioinununoassay) were higher in the diabetic than in the control children following 10.20 or 70 minutes incubation of whole blood at 37OC whereas PGEl levels were higher only after 20 minutes incubation. Prostaglandin values did not correlate with 24 hr urine sugars or fasting blood sugars. The elevated PG levels may be related to the increased blood coagulation and/or the kidney or eye complications associated with diabetes mellitus. RINARY H+EXCRETION IN VERY LOW BIRTHWEIGHT(VLBW)The amount of integumentary calcium loss has been generally considered very small and therefore, has rarely been included in calcium metabolic studies. During our study of calcium and protein metabolism, two conditions of integumentary calcium loss were measured. The first, collected over a six-day period represented dermal loss by an ambulatory but rather sedentary man. The second was collected over a 40 minute period of strenous exercise The daily loss of 16 subjects in 52 determination of six-day periods each was 8.7 + 1.9 mg/m2/day. The amount was not influenced by calcium intake (0.1...