Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I)and fasting growth hormone levels were measured in a group of 255 children (163 males and 92 females. age ranged 6-17 years) of varying pubertal development and body mass index (BMI); well-nourished (BMI> 18). mildly-malnourished (BMI = 15-18) and moderately-malnourished (BMI<15). In well-nourished children IGF-I levels increased significantly (P = 0.02) with pubertal development. where girls at Tanner 5 had significantly higher (p = 0.03) IGF-I levels than the boys. Whilst there was no change in fasting GH levels with nutritional status, IGF-I levels of prepubertal boys and girls decreased significantly with BMI (P<0.001 and P = 0.01 respectively). Hence. measurement of IGF-I levels is a sensitive biochemical index in the assessment of mild and moderate form of malnutrition in prepubertal children.
MeSH terms: Adolescent; Child; Fasting; Female; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Male; Men; Nutritional Status; Sexual Maturation; Growth Hormone; Body Mass Index; Malnutrition
Mice were chronically infected with cysts of ME49 strain of Toxoplasma gondii. At different periods post-infection, their spleens were removed and single cell suspensions were made. Lymphocyte transformation experiments were performed on the lymphocyte suspensions using three different kinds of antigens of ME49 strain of T. gondii, namely soluble, excretory/secretory and cystic forms. The results showed that the pattern of lymphocyte responsiveness was dependent on the kind of antigen employed for induction of the blastogenesis. Using soluble and cystic forms of the antigen, different periods of lymphocyte suppression and lymphocyte proliferation were demonstrated. However, with the use of excretory/secretory antigen, no significant suppression of lymphocyte stimulation was noted throughout the course of infection. Thus excretory/secretory antigen may be the best form of antigen for stimulation of the cell-mediated immune response and hence it appears to be a good candidate for vaccine in toxoplasmosis.