Polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene are associated with idiopathic short stature (ISS) in several countries. This study aimed to identify a possible correlation between polymorphisms in the VDR promoter in Chinese children with ISS and the efficacy of the recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment. Pre-pubertal children with ISS and healthy age- and gender-matched children...

BACKGROUND Experimental studies and preliminary clinical studies have suggested that growth hormone (GH) treatment may improve cardiovascular parameters in chronic heart failure (CHF). Recombinant human GH (rhGH) has been delivered by a recombinant protein, by plasmid DNA, and by genetically engineered cells with different pharmacokinetic and physiological properties. The present study aimed to...

Our aim was to investigate the effects of one year recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy on the regulation by insulin of gene expression in muscle and adipose tissue in adults with secondary GH deficiency (GHD). Six GHD subjects without upper-body obesity were submitted to a 3-h euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp before and after one year of rhGH therapy. Muscle and abdominal subcutane...

Human growth hormone (hGH) genomic sequence containing 5 exons and 4 introns was cloned in pcDNA-3 and the constructed plasmid was subsequently used for transfection ofNlli-3T3 cell line using lipofection technique. Expression of hGH in stably transfected cells was assayed using ELISA. Total RNA was extracted from transfected cells and hGH cDNA was amplified by RT-PCR using specific primers...

The effect of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment on the quality of life was studied in adults with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Twenty-four adults who satisfied strict criteria for GHD took part in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-month trial. 'Quality of life' assessment was performed at entry into the trial and after 1 month and 6 months, by means of self-rating questi...

Illicit use of performance-enhancing drugs is a major problem in sports. Since 1967, the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have issued continuously updated lists of prohibited substances. In 1989, the first polypeptide hormones, human growth hormone (hGH), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and adrenocorticotropin, were included in the list (1, 2 ). Presen...

OBJECTIVE Since the availability of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) all children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) living in Belgium are offered rhGH treatment after approval by a peer-review board. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence and demographic features of childhood GHD in Belgium during the period 1986-2001 and we compared them with the data from other countries. METH...

Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome is a constellation of signs and symptoms of simultaneous insufficiencies of several endocrine glands. Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 2 (APS 2) may be diagnosed when the adrenocortical insufficiency is associated with an autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's thyroiditis or Graves' disease), and/or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Turner syndrome is...

The addition of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) to GnRH agonist (GnRHa) to treat central precocious puberty (CPP) is controversial. We systemically reviewed and evaluated the efficacy and safety of the rhGH and GnRHa adjunctive therapy in Chinese children with CPP and assessed the influence of age and therapy duration on the efficacy of the combined treatment. A total of 464 patients we...

To explore the clinical profile and laboratory changes in three patients with diabetes mellitus treated with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH). Results showed that the patient in the first case was diagnosed as T1DM according to the classical course of disease, weight loss, polyuria, polydispsia, polyphagia, and positive GAD-Ab. The second patient's plasma glucose and urine glucose were a...