Biomaterial Database

Human growth hormone (hGH) stimulation tests: the sequential exercise and L-dopa procedure. 1979

B Liberman, and F P Cesar, and B L Wajchenberg

Forty-eight normal volunteers, thirteen subjects with short stature without apparent cause and thirty-one patients with delayed growth clinically highly suggestive of growth hormone deficiency (GHD), with chronological ages of 11.4 +/- 0.4 years (mean +/- SEM), 14.0 +/- 0.7 years and 12.8 +/- 0.8 years; height age of 11.0 +/- 0.4 years, 8.9 +/- 0.7 years and 6.3 +/- 0.4 years and bone age of 10.7 +/- 0.7 years, 9.9 +/- 0.8 years and 7.5 +/- 0.7 years respectively, were tested with provocative tests of human growth hormone (hGH) release-insulin-induced hypoglycaemia, arginine infusion, L-DOPA, exercise and sequential exercise and L-DOPA--in order to identify growth hormone deficiency. In the 'normal' subjects (control plus short stature) the sequential exercise and L-DOPA test induced the greatest peak and integrated secretion rates of plasma hGH (16.5 +- 1.2 ng/ml and 679 +/- 70 ng/ml/120 min respectively) when compared to other tests. This combined stumulus was the only one to which all 'normal' subjects responded: a similar degree of responsiveness has not been earlier described for other hGH-stimuli. The responses observed with all stimuli were significantly lower (P less than 0.001) in GHD group compared to the 'normal subjects'. Emphasis was given to the sequential exercise and L-DOPA test as an innocuous, sensitive and simplified procedure in the evaluation of children with growth retardation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007003	Hypoglycemia	A syndrome of abnormally low BLOOD GLUCOSE level. Clinical hypoglycemia has diverse etiologies. Severe hypoglycemia eventually lead to glucose deprivation of the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM resulting in HUNGER; SWEATING; PARESTHESIA; impaired mental function; SEIZURES; COMA; and even DEATH.	Fasting Hypoglycemia,Postabsorptive Hypoglycemia,Postprandial Hypoglycemia,Reactive Hypoglycemia,Hypoglycemia, Fasting,Hypoglycemia, Postabsorptive,Hypoglycemia, Postprandial,Hypoglycemia, Reactive
D007328	Insulin	A 51-amino acid pancreatic hormone that plays a major role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, directly by suppressing endogenous glucose production (GLYCOGENOLYSIS; GLUCONEOGENESIS) and indirectly by suppressing GLUCAGON secretion and LIPOLYSIS. Native insulin is a globular protein comprised of a zinc-coordinated hexamer. Each insulin monomer containing two chains, A (21 residues) and B (30 residues), linked by two disulfide bonds. Insulin is used as a drug to control insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 1).	Iletin,Insulin A Chain,Insulin B Chain,Insulin, Regular,Novolin,Sodium Insulin,Soluble Insulin,Chain, Insulin B,Insulin, Sodium,Insulin, Soluble,Regular Insulin
D007980	Levodopa	The naturally occurring form of DIHYDROXYPHENYLALANINE and the immediate precursor of DOPAMINE. Unlike dopamine itself, it can be taken orally and crosses the blood-brain barrier. It is rapidly taken up by dopaminergic neurons and converted to DOPAMINE. It is used for the treatment of PARKINSONIAN DISORDERS and is usually given with agents that inhibit its conversion to dopamine outside of the central nervous system.	L-Dopa,3-Hydroxy-L-tyrosine,Dopaflex,Dopar,L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine,Larodopa,Levopa,3 Hydroxy L tyrosine,L 3,4 Dihydroxyphenylalanine,L Dopa
D008297	Male		Males
D010901	Pituitary Function Tests	Examinations that evaluate functions of the pituitary gland.	Pituitary Gland Function Tests,Function Test, Pituitary,Function Tests, Pituitary,Pituitary Function Test,Test, Pituitary Function,Tests, Pituitary Function
D001827	Body Height	The distance from the sole to the crown of the head with body standing on a flat surface and fully extended.	Body Heights,Height, Body,Heights, Body
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D005082	Physical Exertion	Expenditure of energy during PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. Intensity of exertion may be measured by rate of OXYGEN CONSUMPTION; HEAT produced, or HEART RATE. Perceived exertion, a psychological measure of exertion, is included.	Physical Effort,Effort, Physical,Efforts, Physical,Exertion, Physical,Exertions, Physical,Physical Efforts,Physical Exertions
D005260	Female		Females