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Simultaneous serum concentrations of thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), prealbumin (TBPA) and albumin (Alb) were measured in 130 fullterm, 32 small-for-gestational age and 25 preterm infants during their first six days of life. In all infants serum concentrations of TBG were higher and serum TBPA and Alb were lower than in male adults. Even higher serum TBG levels were found in the mothers. There was no correlation between serum concentrations in paired maternal and cord sera. In infants with birth weights appropriate for gestation serum TBG, TBPA, and Alb concentrations increased progressively with gestational age. In small-for-gestational age infants born at term serum concentrations of TBG and Alb were lower than those in fullterm, but higher than those in premature newborns. Serum TBPA in small-for-gestational age babies was even lower than seen in prematures. A positive correlation was found between thyroid hormones and TBG concentrations, not between serum TBPA and thyroid hormones. The ratios between serum concentration of thyroid hormones and proteins might indicate that more thyroid hormonebinding sites are occupied in fullterm than in low birth-weight newborns. However, the main reason for the different serum levels of thyroid hormones in fullterm, small-for-gestational age and preterm babies is probably the various serum TBG concentrations demonstrated in these infants.

From July 1967 to September 1974, 26 kidney transplantations were carried out in 16 children aged 6 to 17 years, in Gotherburg. The average age at the primary transplantation was 12 years and average body weight 29.7 kg. Five patients had familial juvenile nephronophthisis, 5 chronic glomerulonephritis, 5 chronic pyelonephritis, and one bilateral Wilms's tumour. Four patients were predialytic. Fourteen grafts came from living related donors. The surgical technique was standard as was the immunosuppression with azathioprine and cortisone; exceptionally antilymphocyte globulin was used. Thirteen patients were alive in September 1974, observed 2-65 months, 8 with a normal serum creatinine, 3 with moderately elevated serum creatinine, and 2 on hemodialysis. The 6- and 12-month survivals of patients are 100% and 93% respectively. Normal growth and full rehabilitation in recipients of functioning grafts make renal transplantation justified as a therapeutic procedure in terminally uremic children.

The significance of somatomedin A (SM) and human chorionic somatomammotropin (HCS) in fetal growth was examined. SM, determined by chick embryo assay, was studied during the last trimester of pregnancy, in maternal serum and cord blood at term and in a group of normal newborns in the first week of life. Furthermore a group newborns of diabetic mothers was studied in the first or second day of life. HCS was measured in maternal serum and in cord blood at term. In amniotic fluid inhibitory factors caused a low SM activity as measured by the bioassay. The following results were obtained: 1) Normal values of SM in the last trimester with a decline at term were found in 3 normal primigravidae. 2) The mean levels of SM in 22 mothers and their offspring were decreased. The difference between the two values was significant, but a positive correlation was found between the maternally related pairs of SM values. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between maternal SM, birth weight and length. HCS was not correlated to above-mentioned parameters, but there was positive correlation between placental weight and birth weight. 3) In 6 newborns during the first 5 days SM rose from very low values to normal values found in infants in their first year. 4) The mean value of SM in ten newborns of diabetic mothers was not significantly different from the mean value of control group. The results do not exclude the possibility of a transplacental transport of SM and the positive correlation between SM levels and birth weight found in this investigation supports the concept that SM plays an important role in fetal growth.