Phenomenon Of Catch-up Growth Research Articles

Use of intraoperative microvascular Doppler during subinguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy in children reduces complications.

This study assessed the impact of intraoperative microvascular Doppler ultrasonography (MDU) during microsurgical subinguinal varicocele correction in children. Nineteen patients who underwent intraoperative MDU during subinguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy between 2021 and 2023 were included in this study. Each patient's age, varicocele side, clinical examination findings, preoperative ultrasonography results, intraoperative findings, spermatic artery counts and findings in terms of MDU use, postoperative complications, and results were evaluated. All varicoceles were on the left side and the average age of the patients was 15.2 years. The indications for varicocelectomy were testicular hypotrophy (n = 10) and scrotal pain or fullness (n = 9). When a surgical microscope was used, testicular artery pulsation was detected in only five patients, whereas it was detected in all cases when MDU was used. In 16 cases, a single testicular artery was identified, and two arteries were identified in three cases. Additionally, in a case where a spermatic vein was suspected, it was not ligated due to the detection of pulsation with an arterial pattern using MDU. Two to three lymphatic channels were isolated and preserved, an average of 7.5 vessels were ligated, and five external spermatic veins were identified and ligated. There were no complications, and six of the patients with testicular hypotrophy showed signs of the catch-up growth phenomenon. The use of MDU during subinguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy in children not only increases the success rate but also minimizes complications such as hydrocele and recurrence.

Catch-up growth with alpha and beta decoupling and their relationships between CO2 emissions by GDP, population, energy production, and consumption

This study explores the relationship between CO2 emissions by GDP, population, energy production, and consumption in the United States, China, Romania, and Thailand economies from 1990 to 2019. It evaluates the phenomenon of catch-up growth, which transpires when an lagging economy goes through an expansionary phase after a period of below-average performance. We used the stochastic model to illustrate in terms of alpha and beta decoupling techniques. The outcomes validated by positive and negative decoupling attitudes play a crucial role in predicting a rise in CO2 emissions owing to oil, gas, and coal use in comparison to Romania. Thailand and Romania have a more viable road to sustainability than the United States and China. The United States and China appear to have an antagonistic relationship, as suggested by decoupling attitudes. Thailand and Romania are considered to be highly environmentally sustainable countries on account of their minimal carbon emissions, efficient energy usage, and forward-thinking environmental policies. Accordingly, policy recommendations are offered based on CO2 emissions and effective mitigation policies, since this allows for determining which countries with high emissions need technological advances, best practices, and intersectoral policies.

Serum Adipocytokines Profile in Children Born Small and Appropriate for Gestational Age—A Comparative Study

Adipose tissue is not only a storage place for fat, but also an endocrine organ, secreting bioactive molecules which influence body metabolism. Such molecules are known as adipocytokines. In the past years the coincidence between adipocytokines and fetal growth restriction disorders was found. The aim of the study was to estimate serum levels of adiponectin, leptin and resistin in children born small for gestational age, compared to children born at an appropriate size for gestational age. The study consisted of 35 children aged seven to nine years, born SGA (small for gestational age) on term and 25 healthy children (14 girls, 11 boys), born with proper birthweight (AGA-appropriate for gestational age)-control group. Adiponectin and leptin levels were significantly higher in the SGA group compared to the AGA group (p = 0.023, p = 0.018 respectively). The resistin values were comparable in both groups of patients. There was a positive correlation between serum leptin concentration and current body weight in SGA group (r = 0.28; p = 0.108). In turn, adiponectin levels in this group of patients negatively correlated with actual body weight (r = -0.51; p = 0.002). The negative correlation between body mass index and plasma adiponectin levels was found only in children born SGA. SGA children had significantly higher values of diastolic blood pressure. There was negative correlation between serum adiponectin level and systolic blood pressure in SGA children. In the SGA group the phenomenon of catch-up growth was observed in 32 children. Children born SGA have abnormal adipose tissue biomarkers profiles.

Childhood obesity: rapid weight gain in early childhood and subsequent cardiometabolic risk.

.Dynamic changes in body weight have long been recognized as important indicators of risk for human health. Many population-based observational studies have shown that rapid weight gain during infancy, including a catch-up growth phenomenon or adiposity rebound in early childhood, predisposes a person to the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases later in life. However, a consensus has not been established regarding which period of weight gain contributes to future risks. This review evaluates recent evidence on the relationship between early rapid growth and future obesity and cardiometabolic risk, with a focus on the differential significance of rapid weight gain in infancy and early childhood. Although there is a need for attention to childhood growth during early infancy before 1 yr of age as it may be related to future obesity, emerging evidence strongly suggests that toddlers showing an increase in body mass index (BMI) before 3 yr of age, a period normally characterized by decreased BMI, are prone to developing later cardiometabolic risk.

Do the intervals in growth hormone therapy positively affect the growth velocity?

A significant increase in growth velocity is observed during recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy in patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD), especially just after the beginning of treatment. This phenomenon is referred to as catch-up growth". After some time, the growth velocity decreases to the physiological value, i.e. the value that is observed in healthy children. The treatment is continued until the time of the growth process is completed. The continuity of the therapy makes it impossible to assess whether the catch-up phenomenon occurs only at the beginning of the treatment or may be observed after treatment cessation and its re-introduction. Growth velocity was evaluated in agroup of 35 patients with GHD after repeated therapy application, in which, due to non-medical reasons, the rhGH treatment was abandoned for ashort time. Patients with GHD after treatment re-introduction presented the catch-up growth phenomenon and obtained growth velocity results that were significantly higher than those observed during primary treatment. Re-introduction of rhGH treatment after short-term therapy cessation leads to the re-occurrence of catch- up growth in patients with GHD.

Change in movement patterns asymmetry in infants with central coordination disorder in continuous studies

Summary Study aim: the aim of the study was to observe the dynamics of changes in postural symmetry in infants during the first year of life, undergoing a therapy using the NDT-Bobath method. Material and methods: the study included a group of 60 term infants diagnosed with central coordination disorder. The course of psychomotor development in the children was compared with a control group of peers aged 3 and 12 months. Group I (study group) consisted of 40 infants who had been subjected to treatment using the NDT-Bobath method. Group II (control group) consisted of 20 infants who, by the decision of the parents, did not undergo the therapy. In group I, four studies were carried out at an interval of every 3 months ± 1 week. In group II, studies were carried out during the 3rd and 12th month. Results: symmetry in body position patterns and movement patterns were analysed. Three levels of a child’s body were subject to the assessment of symmetry. In each study disparities in movement patterns of the left and right side were assessed. Individual features were expressed using scores, according to the principle of the higher the score, the more intense asymmetry. Conclusions: 1. The observed changes in body postural asymmetry in infants during the first year of life are more favourable in the group of children undergoing rehabilitation. 2. The catch-up growth phenomenon among the infants from the control group proceeds more slowly and reaches beyond a child’s first year of life. This indicates the need to include appropriate methods of therapy.

The influence of intensive physical training on growth and pubertal development in athletes

Genetic potential for growth can be fully expressed only under favorable environmental conditions. Although moderate physical activity has beneficial effects on growth, excessive physical training may negatively affect it. Sports favoring restricted energy availability, in the presence of high energy expenditure, are of particular concern. In gymnastics, a different pattern in skeletal maturation and linear growth was observed, resulting in an attenuation of growth potential in artistic gymnasts (AG), more pronounced in males than in females. In female rhythmic gymnasts (RG), the genetic predisposition to growth was preserved owing to a late catchup growth phenomenon. In all other sports not requiring strict dietary restrictions, no deterioration of growth has been documented so far. Intensive physical training and negative energy balance alter the hypothalamic pituitary set point at puberty, prolong the prepubertal stage, and delay pubertal development and menarche in a variety of sports. In elite RG and AG, prepubertal stage is prolonged and pubertal development is entirely shifted to a later age, following the bone maturation rather than the chronological age.

Catch-up growth after dexamethasone withdrawal occurs in cultured postnatal rat metatarsal bones

Children exposed to systemic glucocorticoids often exhibit growth retardation and after the cessation of therapy catch-up growth occurs in many, but not all patients. The developmental regulation and underlying cellular mechanisms of catch-up growth are not fully understood. To clarify this issue, we established an in vitro model of catch-up growth. Here we present a protocol for the long-term culture (up to 160 days) of fetal (E20) as well as postnatal (P8) rat metatarsal bones which allowed us to characterize ex vivo the phenomenon of catch-up growth without any influence by systemic factors. The relevance of the model was confirmed by the demonstration that the growth of fetal and postnatal bones were stimulated by IGF1 (100 ng/ml) and inhibited by dexamethasone (Dexa; 1 microM). We found that the capacity to undergo catch-up growth was restricted to postnatal bones. Catch-up growth occurred after postnatal bones had been exposed to Dexa for 7 or 12 days but not after a more prolonged exposure (19 days). Incomplete catch-up growth resulted in compromised bone length when assessed at the end of the 4-month period of culture. While exposure to Dexa was associated with decreased chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation, catch-up growth was only associated with increased cell proliferation. We conclude that the phenomenon of catch-up growth after Dexa treatment is intrinsic to the growth plate and primarily mediated by an upregulation of chondrocyte proliferation.

Intrinsic catch‐up growth of hypoplastic fetal lungs is mediated by interleukin‐6

Fetal lung hypoplasia is a common finding in several fetal conditions such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Interestingly, previous studies have demonstrated that hypoplastic lungs have the ability to recover to normal size, when relieved from mechanical factors. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Recently, interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been involved in catch-up growth phenomenon in children. Thus, we hypothesized that IL-6 could mediate fetal growth recover from hypoplastic lungs. Control and nitrofen-induced hypoplastic lung explants were cultured either in normal conditions or with IL-6 neutralizing antibodies. The total number of peripheral airway buds, epithelial perimeter, and total explant area were analyzed and daily branching rates were calculated. Additionally, IL-6 mRNA and protein expression was assessed both in qualitative (by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry) and in quantitative (by real-time PCR and Western blot) approaches, in control and hypoplastic lungs (nitrofen and CDH groups). Nitrofen-induced hypoplastic lungs showed in vitro, out of systemic environment, the ability to recover from hypoplasia and presented daily branching rates significantly higher than controls. Blocking IL-6 activity significantly diminished the intrinsic capacity of hypoplastic fetal lungs to recover from hypoplasia and attenuated their daily branching rates. Although more exacerbated in CDH, both nitrofen-exposed lungs presented significant IL-6 mRNA and protein over-expression throughout all studied gestational ages. The present study suggests, for the first time, that fetal lung is able to recover from growth retardation through a way that resembles the catch-up growth phenomenon, and it seems to be, at least partially, orchestrated by intrinsic mechanisms implicating IL-6.

Restricción del crecimiento fetal e insulinorresistencia: Nuevos hallazgos y revisión de la literatura

There is a strong association between low birth weight and insulin resistance. The thrifty phenotype hypothesis, which postulates fetal programming for adaptation to an adverse intrauterine environment, resulting in a lower insulin sensitivity in utero, is one of the hypothesis to explain this association. Later in life, syndrome X may develop, featuring hypertension, dyslipidemia, central obesity and type 2 diabetes, associated to an excessive food intake. Our investigation during the first three years of life in a prospective cohort of small (SGA) or appropriate for gestational age newborns, demonstrated that a significant increase of insulin levels is detected in SGA, as early as during the first year of life, but only when catch up growth (CUG) occurs. Orexigenic peptides such as Ghrelin appear to participate in this CUG phenomenon. We also sought to determine whether these associations were observed in individuals born with very low birth weight. We found that in utero as well as postnatal growth rates were independent determinants of insulin sensitivity and secretion. Education about feeding practices and physical activity in SGA children, is a future challenge to prevent the onset of syndrome X in this predisposed population.

Growth, pubertal development, skeletal maturation and bone mass acquisition in athletes

The genetic potentials for growth can be fully expressed only under favourable environmental conditions. Excessive physical training may negatively affect growth, especially during puberty. Sports that require a strict control of energy input in the presence of a high energy output are of particular concern. In gymnastics, a different pattern in skeletal maturation was observed, leading to an attenuation of growth potential ins Artistic Gymnasts (AG), more pronounced in males than in females, whereas in female Rhythmic Gymnasts (RG) the genetic predisposition to growth was preserved because of a late catch-up growth phenomenon. In all other sports not requiring strict dietary restrictions, no deterioration of growth has been documented. Intensive physical training and negative energy balance modify the hypothalamic pituitary set point at puberty, prolong the prepubertal stage and delay pubertal development and menarche in a variety of sports. In elite RG and AG the prepubertal stage is prolonged and pubertal development is entirely shifted to a later age, paralleling the bone age rather than the chronological age. Bone formation, and, consequently, BMD are enhanced by physical activity. In athletes, high-impact loading activities have been shown to improve BMD, while in sports requiring a lean somatotype, the delay in skeletal maturation and pubertal development, resulting from hypoestrogenemia, predisposes athletes to osteopenia. In AG, an increase in bone density is observed using the bone age as denominator.

Titration of growth hormone dose using insulin-like growth factor-1 measurements: Is it feasible in children?

Titration of growth hormone dose using insulin-like growth factor-1 measurements: Is it feasible in children?

Adaptive role of energy expenditure in modulating body fat and protein deposition during catch-up growth after early undernutrition

After 10 or 30 d of growth arrest due to undernutrition during the early weaning period, rehabilitated rats fed ad libitum showed the phenomenon of catch-up growth, ie, gains in body weight and body protein were greater by 50% and 25%, respectively, (P < 0.001) than those of controls with similar starting body weight [ie, weight-matched (WM) controls]. These increases, however, were entirely dependent on the higher food intake because they failed to occur when food intakes were maintained at similar amounts to those for WM controls. In contrast, independent of whether the rehabilitated groups were spontaneously hyperphagic relative to WM controls or made normophagic by pair-feeding to WM controls, the gross energetic efficiency was increased (P < 0.01) and body fat gain was more elevated (2-2.5 fold, P < 0.001) during the first 2 wk of refeeding compared with WM controls--differences that were uninfluenced by the duration of growth arrest. Taken together, these studies suggest that the often reported impressive gains in body fat during recovery from malnutrition may result not only from unbalanced diets or excess dietary intake, but also from a transitory enhancement in the efficiency of food utilization and a shift in energy partitioning in favor of an acceleration for the replenishment of fat stores.

A MATHEMATICAL MODEL DESCRIBING CATCH-UP GROWTH IN CELIAC DISEASE

The phenomenon of catch-up growth (CUG) is well known, but still poorly understood. One of the best examples of CUG is the growth pattern after the institution of a glutenfree diet in children with celiac disease (CD). Treatment leads in almost all cases to complete catch-up growth within 2 years. Therefore, the pattern of CUG during adequate treatment of CD may be considered as a model for optimal catch-up growth in children treated with any form of therapy for any growth disturbance. In order to describe this pattern mathematically, we analysed growth data of 17 CD patients who showed growth retardation before therapy and completed CUG before the start of puberty. Two subgroups were formed on the basis of the initial height standard deviation score (HSDSI). Nonlinear regression analysis of the individual growth data expressed as HSDS (corrected for parental height SDS) was carried out using a monomolecular growth function. For each subgroup an equation was found from which the expected HSDS at any given moment(HSDSI) can be calculated:Graphical representation of these equations shows that group 1 undergoes a relatively quick CUG which stabilizes at −0.5 SDS after two years of therapy. Group 2 catches up at a lower rate and stabilizes one year later, but reaches a higher endpoint at +0.4 SDS. These equations provide the clinician with a reference instrument for assessing the efficacy of a growth promoting therapy.

Growth and Cellular Composition in Rats with Intrauterine Growth Retardation: Effects of Postnatal Nutrition

We evaluated the catch-up growth of rats with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) raised in normal litters (8–10 pups) or in large litters (14–16 pups) during the first 2 wk of life. We also studied the influence of nutrition on cellular composition at birth and at 2 wk. Fifty-four pups (27 IUGR and 27 controls) were enrolled into normal or undernutrition groups. Postnatal undernutrition resulted in significantly lower growth in both control and IUGR rat pups than in normally fed pups. In the control group, postnatal undernutrition resulted in a lower liver weight but not a lower brain weight. Underfeeding of the IUGR group produced a greater number of cells of the brain and liver, but with smaller cell size than in normally fed IUGR rats. We conclude that compensatory catch-up growth in the mild-IUGR rat occurs if the postnatal nutrition is adequate. When postnatal nutrition is restricted, the non-IUGR rats became malnourished at 2 wk of age and the mild-IUGR rats did not demonstrate the catch-up growth phenomenon as was seen in those with adequate nutrition. In the severe-IUGR rat, undernutrition further compromised growth rate, so that at 2 wk of age their weights were the lowest of all the groups studied.

RELATION OF SPECIFIC DYNAMIC ACTION (SDA) TO WEIGHT GAIN IN NORMAL AND MALNOURISHED RATS

In two independent studies of infants recovering from malnutrition Krieger et al. (J.Ped.1969) showed a positive linear correlation between SDA and weight gain and lack of a correlation with nitrogen (N) intake, while Ashworth (Nature 1969), noting also a correlation with weight gain, called for a “new concept of SDA.” It is not known whether during growth normal individuals show the same relationships. In this study malnourished rats had metabolic rate measurements 4 and 17 hours after food removal. The difference was 3.9% during growth arrest at 5 weeks, but 20.0 and 28.7% during growth recovery at 7 and 14 weeks, suggesting that the mechanism is the same as in human infants with malnutrition. Measurements were therefore conducted in 39 normal 4 to 36 week rats. The metabolic rate, 4 hours after food removal, rose from 15.6 to 45.1 kcal/day at 10-13 weeks, and then declined to 38.5 kcal/day at 32-36 weeks. The difference between the 4 and 17 hour values, which can be attributed to SDA, was determined in 21 rats. It was 28.8% in 5-15 week old rats who gained 5.2 g/day and 1.1% at 24-36 weeks when weight gain had ceased. CONCLUSION: SDA reflects energy requiring anabolic processes in normal and malnourished rats. Similar observations in malnourished human infants thus do not represent an abnormal phenomenon of catch-up growth. These findings are not incompatible with the correlation between SDA and N-intake known to exist in adults who are in N-balance. A new concept of SDA is indeed necessary.