Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism最新文献

Objectives: Obesity-induced insulin resistance (IR) is known to influence hepatic cytokines (hepatokines), including fibroblast growth factor (FGF-21), fetuin-A, and chemerin. This study aimed to investigate the association between hepatokines and markers of endothelial dysfunction and vascular reactivity in obese adolescents.

Methods: A total of 45 obese adolescents were categorized into three groups based on glucose tolerance: normal glucose tolerance (NGT), prediabetes (PD), and type 2 diabetes (T2D). We examined the relationships between FGF-21, fetuin-A, and chemerin with endothelial markers (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 [PAI-1], intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1], and vascular cell adhesion marker-1 [VCAM-1]) and vascular surrogates (brachial artery reactivity testing [BART] and peak reactive hyperemia [PRH]).

Results: Obese adolescents (age 16.2±1.2 years; 62 % female, 65 % Hispanic) with NGT (n=20), PD (n=14), and T2D (n=11) had significant differences between groups in BMI; waist-hip ratio (p=0.05), systolic BP (p=0.008), LDL-C (p=0.02), PAI-1 (p<0.001). FGF-21 pg/mL (mean±SD: NGT vs. PD vs. T2D 54±42; 266±286; 160±126 p=0.006) and fetuin-A ng/mL (266±80; 253±66; 313±50 p=0.018), were significantly different while chemerin ng/mL (26±5; 31±10; 28±2) did not significantly differ between the groups. Positive correlations were found between chemerin and both PAI-1 (r=0.6; p=0.05) and ICAM-1 (r=0.6; p=0.05), FGF-21 and PAI-1 (r=0.6; p<0.001), and fetuin-A with TNFα (r=-0.4; p=0.05). Negative correlations were found between chemerin and PRH (r= -0.5; p=0.017) and fetuin-A and PRH (r=-0.4; p=0.05).

Conclusions: In our cohort, IR predicted higher FGF-21 levels suggesting a linear relationship may exist between the two parameters. Hepatokines can augment alterations in the microvascular milieu in obese adolescents as demonstrated by their associations with the markers PAI-1, ICAM-1, and PRH.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the cardiac effects of hyperandrogenism in premature adrenarche (PA) and evaluate the risk of arrhythmia development.

Methods: Fifty patients with PA and 50 healthy children from a pediatric endocrinology outpatient clinic were included in the study. The patients underwent echocardiography and electrocardiographic evaluations. Conventional echocardiography, tissue Doppler echocardiography, repolarization time, and repolarization dispersion time were evaluated.

Results: The median age in the PA and control groups was 7.91 years (5.83-9.25), 8.08 years (5.75-9.33), respectively. Thirty percent of patients in the PA group were male. While mitral early diastolic velocity deceleration time (DT), isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT), and E/e' ratio were significantly higher in the PA group than in the control group, mitral lateral annulus tissue Doppler early diastolic velocity was significantly lower (p=0.0001, 0.0001, 0.003, 0.0001). While P wave dispersion (PWD), Tpe, and QT-dispersion (QT-d) values were significantly higher in the PA group than in the control group, the P minimum value was significantly lower in the PA group (p=0.0001, 0.02, 0.004, and 0.0001, respectively).

Conclusions: Early subclinical diastolic dysfunction was observed in the PA group. There was an increased risk of atrial arrhythmia with PWD and an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia with increased Tpe and QT-d. There was a correlation between testosterone levels and diastolic function parameters. The increased risk of atrial arrhythmia is closely related to diastolic function.

Objectives: To explore delayed puberty in cerebral palsy (CP) and to test the acceptability of an interventional puberty induction algorithm.

Methods: A two phase cohort study in children and adolescents diagnosed with CP who have delayed puberty. Phase 1: Retrospective review of clinical records and interviews with patients who have been treated with sex-steroids and Phase 2: Prospective interventional trial of pubertal induction with a proposed algorithm of transdermal testosterone (males) or oestrogen (females). Phase 1 examined experiences with sex-steroid treatment. Phase 2 collected data on height adjusted bone mineral density (BMAD), fractures, adverse effects, mobility and quality of life over two years during the induction.

Results: Phase 1, treatment was well tolerated in 11/20 treated with sex-steroids; phase 2, using the proposed induction algorithm, 7/10 treated reached Tanner stage 3 by nine months. One participant reached Tanner stage 5 in 24 months. Mean change in BMAD Z-scores was +0.27 % (SD 0.002) in those who could be scanned by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

Conclusions: Delayed puberty may be diagnosed late. Treatment was beneficial and well tolerated, suggesting all patients with severe pubertal delay or arrest should be considered for sex hormone supplementation.

Objectives: We aimed to obtain local normative data on thyroid volume evaluated by ultrasonography and iodine status by measuring urine iodine levels in school-age children living in Aydın province.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a sample comprising 1,553 cases was meticulously selected from a total cohort of 170,461 children aged 6-17, drawn from 21 distinct educational institutions located within the Aydın region, as participants in the investigation. Those with a known chronic disease or thyroid disease were excluded from the study. The children underwent physical examinations and ultrasonography imaging of the thyroid gland, and urine samples were collected to measure urinary iodine concentration (UIC).

Results: The median UIC was 189.5 (IQR=134.4) μg/L, which was optimal according to WHO criteria. Thyroid volume was found to be 4.6 (IQR=3.5) mL in girls and 4.2 (IQR=4.0) mL in boys (p=0.883). The thyroid volumes in our study were found to be smaller when compared to the WHO. According to WHO age and body surface area criteria, thyroid volume was over 97 % in 0.9 % (n=15) of cases. Thyroid volume was found to have a positive correlation with age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and body surface area (BSA) in both genders (p<0.001). However, there was no significant correlation between thyroid volume and UIC.

Conclusions: This cross-sectional study provides normative data on thyroid volume and iodine status in school-age children in iodine-sufficient population, revealing a low prevalence of goiter and correlations between thyroid volume and anthropometric measures.

Objectives: To report an unusual case of MCT8 deficiency (Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome), an X-linked condition caused by pathogenic variants in the SLC16A2 gene. Defective transport of thyroid hormones (THs) in this condition leads to severe neurodevelopmental impairment in males, while heterozygous females are usually asymptomatic or have mild TH abnormalities.

Case presentation: A girl with profound developmental delay, epilepsy, primary amenorrhea, elevated T3, low T4 and free T4 levels was diagnosed with MCT8-deficiency at age 17 years, during evaluation for primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). Cytogenetic analysis demonstrated balanced t(X;16)(q13.2;q12.1) translocation with a breakpoint disrupting SLC16A2. X-chromosome inactivation studies revealed a skewed inactivation of the normal X chromosome.

Conclusions: MCT8-deficiency can manifest clinically and phenotypically in women with SLC16A2 aberrations when nonrandom X inactivation occurs, while lack of X chromosome integrity due to translocation can cause POI.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate the efficacy of a nomogram for predicting lung metastasis in pediatric differentiated thyroid cancer.

Methods: The SEER database was utilized to collect a dataset consisting of 1,590 patients who were diagnosed between January 2000 and December 2019. This dataset was subsequently utilized for the purpose of constructing a predictive model. The model was constructed utilizing a multivariate logistic regression analysis, incorporating a combination of least absolute shrinkage feature selection and selection operator regression models. The differentiation and calibration of the model were assessed using the C-index, calibration plot, and ROC curve analysis, respectively. Internal validation was performed using a bootstrap validation technique.

Results: The results of the study revealed that the nomogram incorporated several predictive variables, namely age, T staging, and positive nodes. The C-index had an excellent calibration value of 0.911 (95 % confidence interval: 0.876-0.946), and a notable C-index value of 0.884 was achieved during interval validation. The area under the ROC curve was determined to be 0.890, indicating its practicality and usefulness in this context.

Conclusions: This study has successfully developed a novel nomogram for predicting lung metastasis in children and adolescent patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Clinical decision-making can be enhanced by assessing clinicopathological variables that have a significant predictive value for the probability of lung metastasis in this particular population.

Objectives: The fatty acid 2-hydroxylase gene (FA2H) compound heterozygous or homozygous variants that cause spastic paraplegia type 35 (SPG35) (OMIM # 612319) are autosomal recessive HSPs. FA2H gene variants in humans have been shown to be associated with not only SPG35 but also leukodystrophy and neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation.

Case presentation: A patient with a spastic gait since age seven was admitted to the paediatric metabolism department. She was born to consanguineous, healthy Turkish parents and had no family history of neurological disease. She had normal developmental milestones and was able to walk at 11 months. At age seven, she developed a progressive gait disorder with increased muscle tone in her lower limbs, bilateral ankle clonus and dysdiadochokinesis. She had frequent falls and deteriorating school performance. Despite physiotherapy, her spastic paraplegia was progressive. Whole exome sequencing (WES) identified a homozygous NM_024306.5:c.460C>T missense variant in the FA2H gene, of which her parents were heterozygous carriers. A brain MRI showed a slight reduction in the cerebellar volume with no iron deposits.

Conclusions: Pathogenic variants of the FA2H gene have been linked to neurodegeneration with iron accumulation in the brain, leukodystrophy and SPG35. When patients developed progressive gait deterioration since early childhood even if not exhibited hypointensity in the basal ganglia detected by neuroimaging, FA2H-related neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation should be ruled out. FA2H/SPG35 disease is characterised by notable clinical and imaging variability, as well as phenotypic diversity.

Objectives: Pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1A (PHP1A) encompasses the association of resistance to multiple hormones, features of Albright hereditary osteodystrophy and decreased Gsα activity. Little is known about the early signs of PHP1A, with a delay in diagnosis. We report two PHP1A cases and their clinical and biochemical findings during a 20-year follow-up.

Case presentation: Clinical suspicion was based on obesity, TSH resistance and ectopic ossifications which appeared several months before PTH resistance, at almost 3 years of age. Treatment with levothyroxine, calcitriol and calcium was required in both patients. DNA sequencing of GNAS gene detected a heterozygous pathogenic variant within exon 7 (c.569_570delAT) in patient one and a deletion from XLAS to GNAS-exon 5 on the maternal allele in patient 2. In patient 1, ectopic ossifications that required surgical excision were found. Noticeably, patient 2 displayed adult short stature, intracranial calcifications and psychomotor delay. In terms of weight, despite early diagnosis of obesity, dietary measures were established successfully in both cases.

Conclusions: GNAS mutations should be considered in patients with obesity, ectopic ossifications and TSH resistance presented in early infancy. These cases emphasize the highly heterogeneous clinical picture PHP1A patients may present, especially in terms of final height and cognitive impairment.

Objectives: Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare skeletal dysplasia caused by variants in the alkaline phosphatase (ALPL) gene. More than 400 pathogenic variants of the ALPL gene have been registered in the ALPL gene variant database. Here, we describe the case of a Japanese child with odonto-hypophsphatasia (odonto-HPP) and a novel ALPL variant.

Case presentation: At the age of 2 years and 1 month, he prematurely lost one deciduous tooth, with the root intact, when he fell and hit his face lightly. Three months later, he lost another adjacent deciduous tooth without incentive. His serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level was 72 U/L. His urine phosphoethanolamine (PEA) level was extremely high at 938 μmol/mg·Cre. The serum pyridoxal 5'-phosphaye (PLP) level was 255.9 nmol/L. Based on the clinical symptoms and laboratory findings, the patient was clinically diagnosed with odonto-HPP. Genetic analysis of the ALPL gene revealed a heterozygous variant (NM_000478.6:c.1151C>A, p.Thr384Lys).

Conclusions: We report a case of odonto-HPP with a novel variant in the ALPL gene. HPP is a rare disease, and the heterozygous mutation in the ALPL gene highlights the novelty of this case.

Objectives: Primary Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency-7 (OMIM 616276) results from bi-allelic pathogenic variants in the COQ4 gene. Common clinical findings include hypotonia, seizures, respiratory distress, and cardiomyopathy. In this report, we present two patients diagnosed with Primary Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency-7 along with a review of previously published cases, with the aim being to provide a better understanding of the clinical and laboratory manifestations of the disease.

Case presentation: A 3-month-and-22-day-old male was admitted to our outpatient clinic due to poor feeding and restlessness. He was born following an uneventful pregnancy to a nonconsanguineous marriage. A physical examination revealed hypotonia, a dolichocephaly, periorbital edema, and long eyelashes. Blood tests revealed metabolic acidosis and elevated serum lactate levels, while the genetic analysis revealed a variant previously reported as pathogenic, c.437T>G (p.Phe146Cys), in the COQ4 gene. Genetic tests were also conducted on both mother and father, and it revealed heterozygous variant, 0.437T>G (p.Phe146Cys), in the COQ4 gene. As a result of these findings, the patient was diagnosed with neonatal encephalomyopathy-cardiomyopathy-respiratory distress syndrome (Primary Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency-7). A 1-year-old male was admitted to our clinic with complaints of hypotonia, seizures, and feeding difficulties. He was born following an uneventful pregnancy to a nonconsanguineous marriage. On his first day of life, he was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit due to poor feeding and hypotonia. A physical examination revealed microcephaly, a high palate, poor feeding, weak crying, hypotonia, bilateral horizontal nystagmus, and inability to maintain eye contact. Laboratory findings were within normal limits, while a whole exome sequencing analysis revealed a homozygous variant previously reported as pathogenic, c.458C>T (p.A153V), in the COQ4 gene. The patient was diagnosed with Primary Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency-7.

Conclusions: Primary Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency-7 should be considered in the differential diagnosis of infants presenting with neurological and dysmorphic manifestations.