Reduced final height and indications for insulin resistance in 20 year olds born small for gestational age: regional cohort study

Abstract

Objective: To assess the role of polymerase chain reaction in defining infectiousness among people infected with hepatitis C virus. Design: Published studies of hepatitis C transmission were examined. Twenty nine studies with identified sources of hepatitis C infection who were tested for presence of hepatitis C RNA by polymerase chain reaction were reviewed, including studies of vertical transmission (n = 21), transmission after transplantation (n = 3), transfusion of blood components (n = 3), and needlestick exposure (n = 2). Subjects: All patients identified in studies. Results: A total of 2022 people who had been exposed to sources positive for antibody to hepatitis C were identified. Among 1148 people exposed to sources positive by polymerase chain reaction 148 cases of transmission occurred compared with no definite case among 874 people exposed to negative sources. Rates of transmission from positive sources were 6.2% for perinatal exposure, 6.1% after needlestick exposure, 78% after solid organ or bone marrow transplantation, and 83% after transfusion of blood components. Other factors influencing risk of vertical transmission were coinfection with HIV and level of hepatitis C viraemia. Conclusions: Negative results by polymerase chain reaction indicate an extremely low probability of transmission of hepatitis C from a person with antibody to hepatitis C.

Sex differences in glucose levels: a consequence of physiology or methodological convenience? The Inter99 study

“…Several studies have shown that shorter stature is associated with higher 2hPG levels, [1,[18][19][20], and genetic or pre-and postnatal environmental factors have been suggested as explanatory mechanisms [21,22]. If the association between height and 2hPG levels is causally related to inherent metabolic abnormalities, we would expect HbA 1c levels to also be affected by height.…”

Dynamic change in adiposity from fetal to postnatal life is involved in the metabolic syndrome associated with reduced fetal growth

“…This might explain the inconstancy of the association between low birthweight or SGA and the other parameters of MS especially in young subjects [7,8,10,21,22]. It is likely that, although the association between insulin resistance and reduced fetal growth is constant, the expression and/or age at onset of the other parameters of the MS depend on the degree of genetic predisposition or on the postnatal environmental circumstances observed in the different study populations.…”

“…The association between a low birthweight and the metabolic syndrome (MS) [1][2][3] or with one of its components has been substantially documented in various populations [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. MS was originally described in humans to cluster with insulin resistance [11,12].…”

In situ lipolytic regulation in subjects born small for gestational age

“…Subjects born small for gestational age (SGA) who are prone to develop insulin resistance in adulthood [1][2][3][4][5] display an abnormal development pattern of the adipose tissue during fetal and postnatal life by showing a dramatically reduced body fat mass at birth and, in the large majority of them, a catch-up growth process during infancy and childhood involving the adipose tissue. [6][7][8] Since adipose tissue plays a key role in the development and the worsening of insulin resistance, 9,10 this very peculiar pattern of development of the adipose tissue itself might contribute to the later development of insulin resistance.…”