title: Plasma levels of active ghrelin until 8 weeks after birth in preterm infants: relationship with anthropometric and biochemical measures.
abstract: This study investigated the relationship between plasma levels of ghrelin and postnatal growth in preterm infants. The levels of active ghrelin in cord blood and in plasma in 25 very low birthweight (VLBW) infants were measured. The results indicate that the levels of circulating active ghrelin markedly increases after birth in VLBW infants, and suggest that the increased levels of ghrelin reflects the maturation of ghrelin production in the stomach and an increased physiological need for ghrelin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. tsimizut@aol.com
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suganuma
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hisata
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamashiro
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005865:Gestational Age; D054439:Ghrelin; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D036361:Peptide Hormones