Model-Informed Target Morning 17α-Hydroxyprogesterone Concentrations in Dried Blood Spots for Pediatric Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Patients

Monitoring cortisol replacement therapy in congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) patients is vital to avoid serious adverse events such as adrenal crises due to cortisol underexposure or metabolic consequences due to cortisol overexposure. The less invasive dried blood spot (DBS) sampling is an advantageous alternative to traditional plasma sampling, especially in pediatric patients. However, target concentrations for important disease biomarkers such as 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) are unknown using DBS. Therefore, a modeling and simulation framework, including a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model linking plasma cortisol concentrations to DBS 17-OHP concentrations, was used to derive a target morning DBS 17-OHP concentration range of 2-8 nmol/L in pediatric CAH patients. Since either capillary or venous DBS sampling is becoming more common in the clinics, the clinical applicability of this work was shown by demonstrating the comparability of capillary and venous cortisol and 17-OHP concentrations collected by DBS sampling, using a Bland-Altman and Passing-Bablok analysis. The derived target morning DBS 17-OHP concentration range is a first step towards providing improved therapy monitoring using DBS sampling and adjusting hydrocortisone (synthetic cortisol) dosing in children with CAH. In the future, this framework can be used to assess further research questions, e.g., target replacement ranges for the entire day.

Household income, fetal size and birth weight: an analysis of eight populations

BACKGROUND

The age at onset of the association between poverty and poor health is not understood. Our hypothesis was that individuals from highest household income (HI), compared to those with lowest HI, will have increased fetal size in the second and third trimester and birth.

METHODS

Second and third trimester fetal ultrasound measurements and birth measurements were obtained from eight cohorts. Results were analysed in cross-sectional two-stage individual patient data (IPD) analyses and also a longitudinal one-stage IPD analysis.

RESULTS

The eight cohorts included 21 714 individuals. In the two-stage (cross-sectional) IPD analysis, individuals from the highest HI category compared with those from the lowest HI category had larger head size at birth (mean difference 0.22 z score (0.07, 0.36)), in the third trimester (0.25 (0.16, 0.33)) and second trimester (0.11 (0.02, 0.19)). Weight was higher at birth in the highest HI category. In the one-stage (longitudinal) IPD analysis which included data from six cohorts (n=11 062), head size was larger (mean difference 0.13 (0.03, 0.23)) for individuals in the highest HI compared with lowest category, and this difference became greater between the second trimester and birth. Similarly, in the one-stage IPD, weight was heavier in second highest HI category compared with the lowest (mean difference 0.10 (0 .00, 0.20)) and the difference widened as pregnancy progressed. Length was not linked to HI category in the longitudinal model.

CONCLUSIONS

The association between HI, an index of poverty, and fetal size is already present in the second trimester.

Treating papillary and follicular thyroid cancer in children and young people: Single UK-center experience between 2003 and 2018

AIM

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) in children and adolescents is rare and data about its presentation and management are not well known. The aim of this study was to provide evidence of the current practice in the United Kingdom before the launch of the Rare National Paediatric Endocrine Tumours Guidelines (to be published in 2020).

METHODS

Seventy-two children and adolescents with DTC (<18 years) who were treated at our institution between 2003 and 2018 were identified and their presentation, treatment and outcomes were reviewed.

RESULTS

Median age at presentation was 12.7 years [range: 1-18] and fifty-two (72%) were girls. Fifty (69.4%) children and adolescents presented with a thyroid nodule. Thirteen (18%) had cervical adenopathy and seven of them (54%) underwent an excision biopsy under GA. Eight patients (11%) had evidence of lung metastases at presentation. Twenty-four patients (33%) underwent a hemithyroidectomy and 22 of those had a completion thyroidectomy subsequently, ten (14%) a total thyroidectomy alone and 37 (51%) a total thyroidectomy with lymph nodes dissection. Seventy patients (97%) underwent adjuvant RAI at our institution. The median number of children and adolescents managed per year was five [range: 0-10]. After an overall median follow-up of 40 months, eight patients (11%) had developed recurrent disease. The 1- and 5-year recurrence-free-survival-rates were 93% and 87%, respectively. Overall survival was 100%, with eight children and adolescents (11%) being alive with disease.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms that DTC in children and adolescents is uncommon, is frequently advanced at presentation and has considerable recurrence rates. Despite this, overall survival is excellent. Although the work-up was generally appropriate (image-guided cytology), open biopsy for the diagnosis of lymph node involvement was still employed. The introduction of a specific UK guideline for this age-group will likely result in more tailored-made treatment-pathways and thereby hopefully improve quality and outcomes even further.

TYPE OF STUDY

Prognosis study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.

Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hydrocortisone Therapy in Pediatric Patients with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

OBJECTIVES

Patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) require lifelong replacement therapy with glucocorticoids. Optimizing hydrocortisone therapy is challenging, since there are no established cortisol concentration targets other than the cortisol circadian rhythm profile. 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) concentrations are elevated in these patients and commonly used to monitor therapy. This study aimed to characterize the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of cortisol using 17-OHP as a biomarker in pediatric patients with CAH and to assess different hydrocortisone dosing regimens.

METHODS

Cortisol and 17-OHP concentrations from 30 CAH patients (7-17 years of age) receiving standard hydrocortisone replacement therapy (5-20 mg) twice (n = 17) or 3 times (n = 13) daily were used to develop a PK/PD model. Sequentially, simulated cortisol concentrations for clinically relevant 3- and 4-times daily dosing regimens were compared with cortisol and 17-OHP target ranges and to concentrations in healthy children.

RESULTS

Cortisol concentration-time profiles were accurately described by a 2-compartment model with first-order absorption and expected high bioavailability (82.6%). A time-delayed model with cortisol-mediated inhibition of 17-OHP synthesis accurately described 17-OHP concentrations. The cortisol concentration inhibiting 50% of 17-OHP synthesis was 48.6 nmol/L. A 4-times-daily dosing better attained the target ranges and mimicked the cortisol concentrations throughout the 24-hour period than 3-times-daily.

CONCLUSIONS

A PK/PD model following hydrocortisone administration has been established. An improved dosing regimen of 38% at 06:00, 22% at 12:00, 17% at 18:00, and 22% at 24:00 of the daily hydrocortisone dose was suggested. The 4-times-daily dosing regimen was superior, avoiding subtherapeutic cortisol concentrations and better resembling the circadian rhythm of cortisol.

Growth screening in children aged 3-5 years: a useful tool for public health programs in community pediatrics

Background About 90% of children grow up normally and attain a final height within their genetic target. In children with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), up to 10% will not catch up spontaneously. Turner syndrome is often diagnosed late, and a number of growth-stunted children go undiagnosed and untreated. Objectives Our primary aim was to evaluate the prevalence of stunted growth in preschool-aged children. Our secondary aim was to evaluate growth patterns in children belonging to four ethnic groups in Dreux district, France. Methods Body weight, height and body mass index (BMI) were collected for children aged 3-5 years during systematic community visits. Birth variables, family history of short stature, maternal smoking, ethnic origin, etc. were also recorded. Pubertal status was staged as per Tanner's method. Parents were instructed to attend the hospital growth clinics if their child's height was <-2.0 standard deviation score (SDS). Results Five hundred ninety-three children were screened (301 boys, 289 girls). The mean age was 4.33 ± 0.76 standard deviation (SD) years, and 48% were Caucasians, 13.7% were North Africans, 2.5% were Black Africans, 0.8% were Asians, 1.5% included others and the ethnicity was not specified in 33.5% of the cases. 91.5% of children were term-born and 8.5% were preterm. 84.2% of children were appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and 9.4% were small for gestational age (SGA). At 5 years of age, 22.2% of macrosomic North African children were overweight. Catch-up growth was complete in 98% children, 11/540 were short statured, 8/11 attended our growth clinics (seven short statured and one micropenis) and three were started on recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH). Conclusions Growth screening programs are important and useful tools for public health. There is a need for clear objectives, proper training and automated data collection tools, along with easy access to growth specialists.

Addison's disease presenting with perimyocarditis

BACKGROUND

Polyglandular autoimmune syndrome (PGA) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) do not seem to represent a coincidental association.

CASE PRESENTATION

A case of a 15-year-old boy is reported who presented with severe systemic inflammation, perimyocarditis and cardiogenic shock, in whom EGPA was initially suspected and later diagnosed with autoimmune adrenalitis with PGA.

CONCLUSIONS

The severity of the systemic inflammation and perimyocarditis suggests a more widespread autoimmune-mediated process. Autoimmune adrenal insufficiency should be considered in all cases of pericarditis and perimyocarditis, especially when the severity of clinical manifestations exceeds the expected for the severity of the cardiac findings, as timely identification and prompt treatment may be life-saving.

Closing the Loop in Adults, Children and Adolescents With Suboptimally Controlled Type 1 Diabetes Under Free Living Conditions: A Psychosocial Substudy

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to explore psychosocial experiences of closed loop technology for adults, children, and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their parents taking part in two multicenter, free-living, randomized crossover home studies.

METHODS

Participants using insulin pump therapy were randomized to either 12 weeks of automated closed-loop glucose control, then 12 weeks of sensor augmented insulin pump therapy (open loop), or vice versa. Closed loop was used for 24 hours by adults and overnight only by children and adolescents. Participants completed the Diabetes Technology Questionnaire (DTQ) periodically and shared their views in semistructured interviews. This analysis characterizes the impact of the technology, positive and negative aspects of living with the device, alongside participants' expectations, hopes, and anxieties.

RESULTS

Participants were 32 adults, age 38.6 ± 9.6 years, 55% male, and 26 children, mean age 12 years (range 6-18 years), 54% male. DTQ results indicated moderately favorable impact of, and satisfaction with, both open and closed loop interventions, but little evidence of a comparative advantage of either. Key positive themes included perceived improved blood glucose control, improved general well-being, particularly on waking, improved sleep, reduced burden of diabetes, and visibility of data. Key negative themes included having to carry around the equipment and dislike of the pump and second cannula (ie, sensor) inserted.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, participants reported a positive experience of the closed loop technology. Results are consistent with previous research with size of equipment continuing to be a problem. Progress is being made in the usability of the closed-loop system.

A systematic review of maternal smoking during pregnancy and fetal measurements with meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Maternal smoking during pregnancy is linked to reduced birth weight but the gestation at onset of this relationship is not certain. We present a systematic review of the literature describing associations between maternal smoking during pregnancy and ultrasound measurements of fetal size, together with an accompanying meta-analysis.

METHODS

Studies were selected from electronic databases (OVID, EMBASE and Google Scholar) that examined associations between maternal smoking or smoke exposure and antenatal fetal ultrasound measurements. Outcome measures were first, second or third trimester fetal measurements.

RESULTS

There were 284 abstracts identified, 16 papers were included in the review and the meta-analysis included data from eight populations. Maternal smoking was associated with reduced second trimester head size (mean reduction 0.09 standard deviation (SD) [95% CI 0.01, 0.16]) and femur length (0.06 [0.01, 0.10]) and reduced third trimester head size (0.18 SD [0.13, 0.23]), femur length (0.27 SD [0.21, 0.32]) and estimated fetal weight (0.18 SD [0.11, 0.24]). Higher maternal cigarette consumption was associated with a lower z score for head size in the second (mean difference 0.09 SD [0, 0.19]) and third (0.15 SD [0.03, 0.26]) trimesters compared to lower consumption. Fetal measurements were not reduced for those whose mothers quit before or after becoming pregnant compared to mothers who had never smoked.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with reduced fetal measurements after the first trimester, particularly reduced head size and femur length. These effects may be attenuated if mothers quit or reduce cigarette consumption during pregnancy.

Pseudohypoparathyroidism Type 1A-Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Rapid Weight Gain as Early Clinical Signs: A Clinical Review of 10 Cases

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical signs and symptoms that would help clinicians to consider pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) type 1A as a diagnosis in a child.

METHODS

A retrospective review of the medical records of children diagnosed by erythrocyte Gsα activity and/or GNAS1 gene study and followed-up for PHP type 1A. Clinical and biochemical parameters along with epidemiological data were extracted and analyzed. Weight gain during infancy and early childhood was calculated as change in weight standard deviation score (SDS), using the French growth reference values. An upward gain in weight ≥0.67 SDS during these periods was considered indicative of overweight and/or obesity.

RESULTS

Ten cases of PHP type 1A were identified (mean age 41.1 months, range from 4 to 156 months). In children aged ≤2 years, the commonest clinical features were round lunar face, obesity (70%), and subcutaneous ossifications (60%). In older children, brachydactyly was present in 60% of cases. Seizures occurred in older children (3 cases). Short stature was common at all ages. Subclinical hypothyroidism was present in 70%, increased parathormone (PTH) in 83%, and hyperphosphatemia in 50%. Only one case presented with hypocalcemia. Erythrocyte Gsα activity tested in seven children was reduced; GNAS1 gene testing was performed in 9 children. Maternal transmission was the most common (six patients). In three other cases, the mutations were de novo, c.585delGACT in exon 8 (case 2) and c.344C>TP115L in exon 5 (cases 6&7).

CONCLUSION

Based on our results, PHP type 1A should be considered in toddlers presenting with round face, rapid weight gain, subcutaneous ossifications, and subclinical hypothyroidism. In older children, moderate mental retardation, brachydactyly, afebrile seizures, short stature, and thyroid-stimulating hormone resistance are the most suggestive features.

Defining the Newborn Blood Spot Screening Reference Interval for TSH: Impact of Ethnicity

CONTEXT

There is variability in the congenital hypothyroidism (CH) newborn screening TSH cutoff across the United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the influences of year, gender, and ethnicity on screening variability and examine whether there is an optimal operational TSH cutoff.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Single center, retrospective population study using blood spot TSH cards received by the Great Ormond Street Hospital Screening Laboratory between 2006 and 2012.

PATIENTS

A total of 824 588 newborn screening blood spot TSH cards.

INTERVENTION

Blood spot TSH results were recorded with demographic data including the Ethnic Category Code.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The proportions of samples exceeding different TSH cutoffs, ranked by ethnicity.

RESULTS

The proportion of samples exceeding the TSH cutoff increased over time, with the cutoff at 4 mU/L, but not at 6 mU/L. There was a consistent trend with ethnicity, irrespective of cutoff, with the odds ratio of exceeding the TSH cutoff lowest (∼1.0) in White babies, higher in Pakistani and Bangladeshi (>2.0), and highest in Chinese (>3.5).

CONCLUSIONS

The blood spot TSH screening data demonstrate a clear ranking according to ethnicity for differences in mean TSH. This suggests that there may be ethnic differences in thyroid physiology. Ethnic diversity within populations needs to be considered when establishing and interpreting screening TSH cutoffs.

The Incidence and Clinical Features of Dual Thyroid Ectopia in Congenital Hypothyroidism

CONTEXT

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) may arise from dual foci thyroid ectopia.

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain the incidence of dual ectopia in CH and compare the phenotype to single ectopia or thyroid agenesis.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Single center, retrospective study of babies referred through UK Newborn Bloodspot Screening between 2006 and 2012.

PATIENTS

A total of 837 377 babies were screened for CH, with 730 referred for diagnostic confirmation (134 thyroid ectopia, 73 thyroid agenesis).

INTERVENTION

Thyroid isotope scans were classified as single or dual ectopia. Biochemical, clinical, and sociodemographic data were collected.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The incidence of thyroid dual ectopia and comparison of clinical parameters with single ectopia and agenesis.

RESULTS

Thyroid ectopia occurs with an incidence of 16 per 100 000 births. Twenty-one of 134 (15.7%) babies with thyroid ectopia had dual foci, an incidence of 2.5 per 100 000 births. Dual ectopia infants had lower mean bloodspot TSH compared to single ectopia and agenesis groups (P < .001). On venous sampling, the ectopia group differences were absent, but the difference with the agenesis group remained (TSH, P < .001; free T4, P < .001). There were no between-group differences for gestation, ethnicity, maternal age, or levothyroxine requirements at 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Thyroid dual ectopia has an incidence of 2.5 per 100 000 births. Early functional activity in the ectopia groups with detectable serum free T4 concentrations is lost at 12 months when T4 requirements are the same as the agenesis group.

Effectiveness of a structured educational intervention using psychological delivery methods in children and adolescents with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes: a cluster-randomized controlled trial of the CASCADE intervention

INTRODUCTION

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) in children and adolescents is increasing worldwide with a particular increase in children <5 years. Fewer than 1 in 6 children and adolescents achieve recommended glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values.

METHODS

A pragmatic, cluster-randomized controlled trial assessed the efficacy of a clinic-based structured educational group incorporating psychological approaches to improve long-term glycemic control, quality of life and psychosocial functioning in children and adolescents with T1D. 28 pediatric diabetes services were randomized to deliver the intervention or standard care. 362 children (8-16 years) with HbA1c≥8.5% were recruited. Outcomes were HbA1c at 12 and 24 months, hypoglycemia, admissions, self-management skills, intervention compliance, emotional and behavioral adjustment, and quality of life. A process evaluation collected data from key stakeholder groups in order to evaluate the feasibility of delivering the intervention.

RESULTS

298/362 patients (82.3%) provided HbA1c at 12 months and 284/362 (78.5%) at 24 months. The intervention did not improve HbA1c at 12 months (intervention effect 0.11, 95% CI -0.28 to 0.50, p=0.584), or 24 months (intervention effect 0.03, 95% CI -0.36 to 0.41, p=0.891). There were no significant changes in remaining outcomes. 96/180 (53%) families in the intervention arm attended at least 1 module. The number of modules attended did not affect outcome. Reasons for low uptake included difficulties organizing groups and work and school commitments. Those with highest HbA1cs were less likely to attend. Mean cost of the intervention was £683 per child.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant challenges in the delivery of a structured education intervention using psychological techniques to enhance engagement and behavior change delivered by diabetes nurses and dietitians in routine clinical practice were found. The intervention did not improve HbA1c in children and adolescents with poor control.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN52537669, results.

Proteomic Discovery and Development of a Multiplexed Targeted MRM-LC-MS/MS Assay for Urine Biomarkers of Extracellular Matrix Disruption in Mucopolysaccharidoses I, II, and VI

The mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are lysosomal storage disorders that result from defects in the catabolism of glycosaminoglycans. Impaired muscle, bone, and connective tissue are typical clinical features of MPS due to disruption of the extracellular matrix. Markers of MPS disease pathology are needed to determine disease severity and monitor effects of existing and emerging new treatments on disease mechanisms. Urine samples from a small cohort of MPS-I, -II, and -VI patients (n = 12) were analyzed using label-free quantative proteomics. Fifty-three proteins including many associated with extracellular matrix organization were differently expressed. A targeted multiplexed peptide MRM LC-MS/MS assay was used on a larger validation cohort of patient samples (MPS-I n = 18, MPS-II n = 12, MPS-VI n = 6, control n = 20). MPS-I and -II groups were further subdivided according to disease severity. None of the markers assessed were altered significantly in the mild disease groups compared to controls. β-galactosidase, a lysosomal protein, was elevated 3.6-5.7-fold significantly (p < 0.05) in all disease groups apart from mild MPS-I and -II. Collagen type Iα, fatty-acid-binding-protein 5, nidogen-1, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 concentrations were elevated in severe MPS I and II groups. Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7, and β-galactosidase were able to distinguish the severe neurological form of MPS-II from the milder non-neurological form. Protein Heg1 was significantly raised only in MPS-VI. This work describes the discovery of new biomarkers of MPS that represent disease pathology and allows the stratification of MPS-II patients according to disease severity.

Growth and hormone profiling in children with congenital melanocytic naevi

Background

Multiple congenital melanocytic naevi (CMN) is a rare mosaic RASopathy, caused by postzygotic activating mutations in NRAS. Growth and hormonal disturbances are described in germline RASopathies, but growth and hormone status have not previously been investigated in individuals with CMN.

Objectives

To explore premature thelarche, undescended testes, and a clinically abnormal fat distribution with CMN through prospective endocrinological assessment of a cohort of subjects with CMN, and a retrospective review of longitudinal growth of a larger group of patients with CMN from outpatient clinics (which included all subjects in the endocrinological assessment group).

Patients and methods

Longitudinal growth in a cohort of 202 patients with single or multiple CMN was compared with the U.K. National Child Measurement Programme 2010. Forty‐seven children had hormonal profiling including measurement of circulating luteinizing hormone, follicle‐stimulating hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, growth hormone, prolactin, pro‐opiomelanocortin, estradiol, testosterone, cortisol, thyroxine, insulin‐like growth factor‐1 and leptin; 10 had oral glucose tolerance testing 25 had dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry scans for body composition.

Results

Body mass index increased markedly with age (coefficient 0·119, SE 0·016 standard deviation scores per year), at twice the rate of the U.K. population, due to increased adiposity. Three per cent of girls had premature thelarche variant and 6% of boys had persistent undescended testes. Both fat and muscle mass were reduced in areas underlying large naevi, resulting in limb asymmetry and abnormal truncal fat distribution. Anterior pituitary hormone profiling revealed subtle and variable abnormalities. Oral glucose tolerance tests revealed moderate–severe insulin insensitivity in five of 10, and impaired glucose tolerance in one.

Conclusions

Interpersonal variation may reflect the mosaic nature of this disease and patients should be considered individually. Postnatal weight gain is potentially related to the underlying genetic defect; however, environmental reasons cannot be excluded. Naevus‐related reduction of fat and muscle mass suggests local hormonal or metabolic effects on development or growth of adjacent tissues, or mosaic involvement of these tissues at the genetic level. Premature thelarche and undescended testes should be looked for, and investigated, as for any child.

What's already known about this topic?

CMN are caused by postzygotic mutations in the gene NRAS in the majority of cases, classifying it within the group of mosaic RASopathies.

Other germline and mosaic RASopathies are known to have growth and hormonal abnormalities.

No studies have been done on growth or endocrinology in children with CMN.

What does this study add?

Average body mass index increases markedly with age compared with the normal population; this is due to increased adiposity, and can be associated with insulin insensitivity.

Premature thelarche variant and persistent undescended testes are not infrequent findings, but puberty appears to develop normally.

Both fat and muscle mass can be reduced in areas underlying large naevi, resulting in asymmetry.

Linked Comment:Millington, Br J Dermatol 2015; 173: 1366–67.

A 24-Hour Study of the Hypothalamo-Pituitary Axes in Huntington's Disease

Background

Huntington’s disease is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterised by motor, cognitive and psychiatric disturbances. Patients exhibit other symptoms including sleep and mood disturbances, muscle atrophy and weight loss which may be linked to hypothalamic pathology and dysfunction of hypothalamo-pituitary axes.

Methods

We studied neuroendocrine profiles of corticotropic, somatotropic and gonadotropic hypothalamo-pituitary axes hormones over a 24-hour period in controlled environment in 15 healthy controls, 14 premanifest and 13 stage II/III Huntington’s disease subjects. We also quantified fasting levels of vasopressin, oestradiol, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, thyroid stimulating hormone, free triiodothyronine, free total thyroxine, prolactin, adrenaline and noradrenaline. Somatotropic axis hormones, growth hormone releasing hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like factor binding protein-3 were quantified at 06:00 (fasting), 15:00 and 23:00. A battery of clinical tests, including neurological rating and function scales were performed.

Results

24-hour concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone did not differ significantly between the Huntington’s disease group and controls. Daytime growth hormone secretion was similar in control and Huntington’s disease subjects. Stage II/III Huntington’s disease subjects had lower concentration of post-sleep growth hormone pulse and higher insulin-like growth factor-1:growth hormone ratio which did not reach significance. In Huntington’s disease subjects, baseline levels of hypothalamo-pituitary axis hormones measured did not significantly differ from those of healthy controls.

Conclusions

The relatively small subject group means that the study may not detect subtle perturbations in hormone concentrations. A targeted study of the somatotropic axis in larger cohorts may be warranted. However, the lack of significant results despite many variables being tested does imply that the majority of them do not differ substantially between HD and controls.

Thyroid Surgery in Children: Clinical Outcomes

AIM

The aim of this study was to review the outcomes of thyroid surgery in children operated for both benign and malignant conditions.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

Demography, clinical features, and surgical outcomes were noted retrospectively for operations performed during the last 23 years. Results were analyzed using Fisher exact test and Woolf (logit) method with p value < 0.05 considered as significant.

RESULTS

In total, 61 children (43 girls and 18 boys) underwent thyroidectomy for benign (70%) and malignant (30%) conditions. Median follow-up period was 1.4 years. In the benign group, 84% children had Graves disease and 16% had other conditions. In this study, 42% children had total, 22% had near-total, 27% had subtotal, and 9% had type 2 hemithyroidectomy. In the malignant group, 50% had multiple endocrine neoplasia, 33% had papillary, 11% had follicular cancer, and 6% had B-cell lymphoma. Fifty percent children had prophylactic thyroidectomy, 44% had total thyroidectomy plus lymphadenectomy, and 6% had hemithyroidectomy. At the time of surgery, children with benign conditions were older than those with malignancy (median, 12 vs. 7.5 years). There were no incidents of postoperative bleeding or infection. Hypocalcemia was significantly more frequent in the malignant group (39 vs. 9%, p value = 0.01). The type of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury was more serious in the benign group (one bilateral and one unilateral permanent injury) than in the malignant group (transient hoarseness in three). Overall rate of complications was higher for operations for malignancy (56 vs. 28%, p value = 0.07). In Graves disease, the subtotal thyroidectomies had a recurrence of 30% but no recurrence was seen following total or near-total thyroidectomy group (p value = 0.01). There was no recurrence in the malignant group. Children operated after 2000 were younger than those operated before 2000 (median age, 9 vs. 14 years). Malignant conditions were more common in children operated after 2000 in comparison to before 2000 (55 vs. 10%).

CONCLUSION

Benign conditions are commonest indications for thyroid surgery in children but the incidence of surgery for malignant conditions is rising. Overall rate of complications, especially hypocalcemia, is higher after surgery for malignancy but all cases of permanent RLN injury were in benign group. Total or near total thyroidectomy prevents recurrence of thyrotoxicosis and is an operation of choice for Graves disease.

The relationship between Insulin-like Growth Factor 1, sex steroids and timing of the pubertal growth spurt

OBJECTIVE

Progress through puberty involves a complex hormonal cascade, but the individual contributions of hormones, particularly IGF-1, are unknown. We reanalysed Chard growth study data to explore the tempo of puberty based on changes in both height and hormone levels, using a novel method of growth curve analysis.

DESIGN AND SUBJECTS

Schoolboys (n = 54) and girls (n = 70) from Chard, Somerset, England, recruited in 1981 at age 8/9 and followed to age 16.

MEASUREMENTS

Every 6 months, height and Tanner stages (genitalia, breast, pubic hair) were recorded, and in a subsample (24 boys, 27 girls), blood samples were taken. Serum IGF-1, testosterone (boys) and oestradiol (girls) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Individual growth curves for each outcome were analysed using variants of the super-imposition by translation and rotation (SITAR) method, which estimates a mean curve and subject-specific random effects corresponding to size, and age and magnitude of peak velocity.

RESULTS

The SITAR models fitted the data well, explaining 99%, 65%, 86% and 47% of variance for height, IGF-1, testosterone and oestradiol, respectively, and 69-88% for the Tanner stages. During puberty, the variables all increased steeply in value in individuals, the ages at peak velocity for the different variables being highly correlated, particularly for IGF-1 vs height (r = 0·74 for girls, 0·92 for boys).

CONCLUSIONS

IGF-1, like height, the sex steroids and Tanner stages, rises steeply in individuals during puberty, with the timings of the rises tightly synchronized within individuals. This suggests that IGF-1 may play an important role in determining the timing of puberty.

Structured, intensive education maximising engagement, motivation and long-term change for children and young people with diabetes: a cluster randomised controlled trial with integral process and economic evaluation - the CASCADE study

BACKGROUND

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) in children and young people is increasing worldwide with a particular increase in children under the age of 5 years. Fewer than one in six children and young people achieve glycosylated fraction of haemoglobin (HbA1c) values in the range identified as providing best future outcomes. There is an urgent need for clinic-based pragmatic, feasible and effective interventions that improve both glycaemic control and quality of life (QoL). The intervention offers both structured education, to ensure young people know what they need to know, and a delivery model designed to motivate self-management.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the feasibility of providing a clinic-based structured educational group programme incorporating psychological approaches to improve long-term glycaemic control, QoL and psychosocial functioning in a diverse range of young people.

DESIGN

The study was a pragmatic, cluster randomised control trial with integral process and economic evaluation.

SETTING

Twenty-eight paediatric diabetes services across London, south-east England and the Midlands.

RANDOMISATION

Minimised by clinic size, age (paediatric or adolescent) and specialisation (district general hospital clinic or teaching hospital/tertiary clinic).

ALLOCATION

Half of the sites were randomised to the intervention arm and half to the control arm. Allocation was concealed until after clinics had consented and the first participant was recruited. Where possible, families were blind to allocation until recruitment finished.

PARTICIPANTS

Forty-three health-care practitioners (14 teams) were trained in the intervention. The study recruited 362 children aged 8-16 years, diagnosed with T1D for > 12 months, with a mean 12-month HbA1c level of ≥ 8.5%.

INTERVENTION

Two 1-day workshops taught intervention delivery. A detailed manual and resources were provided. The intervention consists of four group education sessions led by a paediatric diabetes specialist nurse with another team member.

OUTCOMES

The primary outcome was glycaemic control, assessed at the individual level using venous HbA1c values, measured at baseline, 12 and 24 months. Secondary outcomes were directly and indirectly related to diabetes management, including hypoglycaemic episodes, hospital admissions, diabetes regimen, knowledge, skills and responsibility for diabetes management, intervention compliance, clinic utilisation, emotional and behavioural adjustment, and general and diabetes-specific QoL.

PROCESS EVALUATION

Questionnaires, semistructured interviews, informal discussion following observation sessions, fieldwork notes and case note review were used to collect qualitative and quantitative data from key stakeholder groups at specific time points in the trial.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES

Primary and secondary analyses were intention-to-treat comparisons of outcomes at 12 and 24 months, using analysis of covariance with a random effect for clinic. Prespecified subgroup analyses based on age, gender, initial HbA1c value and socioeconomic status were estimated from models that included an interaction term. The economic analysis compared long-term costs and predicted quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs).

RESULTS

The intervention did not improve HbA1c at 12 months [intervention effect 0.11; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.28 to 0.50; p = 0.584] or 24 months (intervention effect 0.03; 95% CI -0.36 to 0.41; p = 0.891). A total of 298/362 patients (82.3%) provided blood samples at 12-month follow-up, and 284/362 (78.5%) provided blood samples at 24-month follow-up. Follow-up questionnaires were completed by 307 patients (85.3%) at 12 months and by 295 patients (81.5%) at 24 months. Intervention group parents at 12 months (95% CI 0.74; 0.03 to 1.52) and young people at 24 months (0.85; 95% CI 0.03 to 1.61) had higher scores on the diabetes family responsibility questionnaire. Young people reported reduced happiness with body weight at 12 months (-0.56; 95% CI -1.03 to -0.06). Only 68% of groups were run. Of the 180 families recruited, 96 (53%) attended at least one module. Reasons for low uptake included difficulties organising groups, and work and school commitments. Young people with higher HbA1c levels were less likely to attend. Parents and young people who attended groups described improved family relationships, improved knowledge and understanding, greater confidence and increased motivation to manage diabetes. Twenty-four months after the intervention, nearly half of the young people reported that the groups had made them want to try harder and that they had carried on trying. A high-quality, complex, pragmatic trial of structured education can be delivered alongside standard care in NHS diabetes clinics. Health-care providers benefited from behaviour change skill training and can deliver pragmatic aspects of a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)-compliant structured education programme after relatively brief training. The process evaluation provides insight into aspects of the model, and highlights strengths and aspects that may have contributed to the failure to influence primary and secondary outcomes. Current NHS practice dominates CASCADE (Child and Adolescent Structured Competencies Approach to Diabetes Education) in that it achieves the same number of QALYs at a lower cost. The mean cost of providing the intervention was £5098 per site or £683 per child. Members of paediatric diabetes services trained to deliver the CASCADE structured education package using behaviour change techniques did not improve glycaemic control in patients compared with control subjects 1 and 2 years after the intervention. The training workshops for practitioners were well evaluated; however, more intensive training was needed. The intervention cost £683 per patient but was not cost-effective because it did not improve metabolic control.

CONCLUSIONS

A high-quality, complex, pragmatic trial of structured education can be successfully conducted alongside standard care in NHS diabetes clinics. Pragmatic components of a NICE-compliant structured education programme can be successfully delivered following a relatively brief 2-day training while paediatric health-care professionals benefit from training in behaviour change skills. The study provides invaluable information on barriers and opportunities regarding future, similar interventions. A low dropout rate and good attendance for the subgroup that attended the intervention suggests there might be improved uptake if offered to young people with lower HbA1c. Testing whether this approach can be more successful with a robust ongoing supervisory element should be a target of further research.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN52537669.

FUNDING

This project was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 18, No. 20. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Surgical treatment of children with hyperparathyroidism: single centre experience

BACKGROUND

Hyperparathyroidism (HPT) in children is rare and surgical management is supported only by limited evidence.

METHODS

Retrospective case series of all children under the age of 16 years who underwent parathyroidectomy (PTx) between 1978 and 2012.

RESULTS

We identified 29 children who had surgery for HPT. Six were neonates with neonatal severe hyperparathyroidism (NSHPT) and 23 older children (age range 7-16 years) with sporadic (16) or familial (7) HPT and 93% were symptomatic. Accuracy of ultrasound and MIbi in localising solitary parathyroid adenomas was 96%, but less helpful in hyperplasia and neonates. Children with NSHPT underwent 5 curative total and 1 subtotal PTx (no reoperations). Children with familial HPT underwent 3 total and 4 subtotal PTx. One child with subtotal PTx required a reoperation. Children with sporadic HPT underwent subtotal PTx prior to 1980 (2), exploration and removal of enlarged glands 1980-2002 (5) and minimally invasive PTx since 2002 (9) and all cured by the first operation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study documents that HPT in children is predominantly symptomatic on presentation and genetically determined in 46% of cases. Imaging is accurate in localising parathyroid adenomas, but not hyperplasias. Total PTx for familial HPT was curative and minimally invasive PTx is the operation of choice for older children with sporadic HPT.

Plasma melatonin is reduced in Huntington's disease

This study was undertaken to determine whether the production of melatonin, a hormone regulating sleep in relation to the light/dark cycle, is altered in Huntington's disease. We analyzed the circadian rhythm of melatonin in a 24-hour study of cohorts of control, premanifest, and stage II/III Huntington's disease subjects. The mean and acrophase melatonin concentrations were significantly reduced in stage II/III Huntington's disease subjects compared with controls. We also observed a nonsignificant trend toward reduced mean and acrophase melatonin in premanifest Huntington's disease subjects. Onset of melatonin rise was significantly more temporally spread in both premanifest and stage II/III Huntington's disease subjects compared with controls. A nonsignificant trend also was seen for reduced pulsatile secretion of melatonin. Melatonin concentrations are reduced in Huntington's disease. Altered melatonin patterns may provide an explanation for disrupted sleep and circadian behavior in Huntington's disease, and represent a biomarker for disease state. Melatonin therapy may help the sleep disorders seen in Huntington's disease.

Paediatric estimated average glucose in children with Type 1 diabetes

AIM

Estimated average glucose has been used to transform HbA1c into a glucose measure that might better inform patients of their glycaemic control. The data set used to obtain the estimated average glucose equation was derived in adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, along with normal healthy control subjects, and requires testing in children.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of 234 children and young people (106 male) with Type 1 diabetes aged 4.0-23.5 years who underwent continuous glucose monitoring over a 5-day period along with a measure of HbA1c . Regression analysis was used to determine estimated average glucose and agreement was assessed with the average glucose estimated from the Nathan equation: Nathan average glucose equation = 1.59 (HbA1c% ) - 2.59.

RESULTS

Mean HbA1c was 76 mmol/mol (25.1) [9.1 (2.3)%] and mean continuous glucose monitoring tissue glucose was 10.4 (2.6) mmol/l. The relationship between continuous glucose monitoring tissue glucose and HbA1c was described by the paediatric equation: paediatric estimated average glucose = 0.49 (HbA1c %) + 5.95 (r = 0.45; P < 0.001). The mean paediatric estimated average glucose was 10.4 (1.1) mmol/l compared with that from the Nathan average glucose equation of 11.9 (3.7) mmol/l (P < 0.001). Overall, the paediatric estimated average glucose was 2.7 mmol/l lower than the Nathan estimated average glucose, with a 95% limit of agreement of ± 0.5 mmol/l. The agreement was very close with HbA1c values below 80 mmol/mol (9.5%).

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that the Nathan estimated average glucose could be used in children and young people with Type 1 diabetes. Caution should still be exercised in the estimates derived for average glucose as the data set is skewed in both Nathan and paediatric average glucose estimates in opposite directions because of the differences in average HbA1c .

Screening for congenital hypothyroidism: comparison of borderline screening cut-off points and the effect on the number of children treated with levothyroxine

BACKGROUND

The newborn screening programme for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) has led to the prevention of severe developmental delay associated with this condition. In the UK, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) screening cut-off points have changed over time, in some instances prompted by changing methodological platforms. The use of borderline cut-off points varies throughout the country.

OBJECTIVE

To use discordance in cut-off points to assess the performance of the UK Newborn Screening Programme Centre (UKNSPC) definitions.

METHODS

Between January 2006 and December 2007, 223,658 newborn infants were screened by the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) for CH. All children with positive results and those with blood-spot TSH concentrations >6 mU/l on repeat screening were referred to GOSH. We compared the numbers of children detected and treated for CH using the GOSH cut-off points (>6 mU/l) and those of the national screening programme (>10 mU/l). Children were defined as transient CH if levothyroxine treatment had been discontinued by 3 years.

RESULTS

Of the children screened between January 2006 and December 2007, 167 out of 223,658 fulfilled the GOSH screening criteria; 136 of these required levothyroxine treatment, but 29 (21%) of the children treated would not have been detected by the current UKNSPC guidelines. Transient CH was found in 17/47 (36%) of the treated children detected with a cut-off point >6 mU/l. Raising the cut-off point to >10 mU/l reduced the number of children treated for transient CH to 4/18 (22%).

CONCLUSION

A significant number of children with true and transient CH are missed with a screening cut-off point of >10 mU/l. Our data suggests that a cut-off point of 6 mU/l is appropriate.

Methodology for quantifying fasting glucose homeostasis in type 2 diabetes: observed variability and lability

BACKGROUND

Increased glycemic variability is associated with an increase risk of adverse clinical outcomes in diabetes. Central to the understanding of diabetes is glucose homeostasis. "Good" homeostasis is equated to low glycemic variability, and "poor" homeostasis is linked to greater glycemic variability. We have, therefore, developed a method with the aim to objectively quantify the domain of glucose-insulin homeostasis. We have termed this method as Observed Variability And Lability (OVAL).

METHOD

Blood samples for the measurement of glucose and insulin concentrations were acquired every 2 min for 120 min from 12 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM; median (range) age 35 (25-47) years and duration of diabetes 7 (2-9) years receiving oral hypoglycemic treatment] and 27 controls [aged 38(30-53) years] with an equal split of genders and equal distribution of body mass indexes. The insulin-glucose time variant data form the boundaries of OVAL, defined as the ellipse enclosing the 95% confidence intervals of the insulin and glucose concentrations plotted on an x-y scatter graph and normalized to ensure equal weighting of insulin and glucose.

RESULTS

Less precise OVAL homeostasis was observed in subjects with T2DM, by a factor of 4, in comparison with controls [OVAL, T2DM 7.8(3.8) versus controls 1.9(1.0); p = .0003]. The assessment remained statistically robust (p < .001) with increased sampling intervals up to 8 min.

CONCLUSION

The OVAL model is a robust method for measuring glucose-insulin homeostasis in controls and T2DM subjects (available online at http://www.oval-calc.co.uk). Deranged glucose-insulin homeostasis is the hallmark of diabetes and OVAL has the capacity to quantify in the fasting state.

The identification of new biomarkers for identifying and monitoring kidney disease and their translation into a rapid mass spectrometry-based test: evidence of presymptomatic kidney disease in pediatric Fabry and type-I diabetic patients

Using label-free quantative proteomics, we have identified 2 potential protein biomarkers that indicate presymptomatic kidney disease in the urine of pediatric patients with type-I diabetes and Fabry disease (n = 20). Prosaposin and GM2 activator protein (GM2AP) were observed to be elevated in the urine of these patient groups compared to age- and sex-matched controls. These findings were validated by development of a rapid MRM-based tandem mass spectrometry test. Prosaposin was observed to be both significantly elevated in the urine of patients with Fabry disease compared to controls (p = 0.02) and reduced after 12 months enzyme replacement therapy (ERT, p = 0.01). Similarly, GM2AP concentrations were observed to be significantly higher compared to controls in the diabetic group (p = 0.049) and the pretreatment Fabry group (p = 0.003). In addition, this observed to be reduced significantly in the Fabry group following 12 months of ERT (p = 0.01). The process of detection of the biomarkers, development into a test and implications for monitoring patients and treatment are discussed.

Normal reference range for mean tissue glucose and glycemic variability derived from continuous glucose monitoring for subjects without diabetes in different ethnic groups

BACKGROUND

Glycemic variability has been proposed as a contributing factor in the development of diabetes complications. Multiple measures exist to calculate the magnitude of glycemic variability, but normative ranges for subjects without diabetes have not been described. For treatment targets and clinical research we present normative ranges for published measures of glycemic variability.

METHODS

Seventy-eight subjects without diabetes having a fasting plasma glucose of <120 mg/dL (6.7 mmol/L) underwent up to 72 h of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) with a Medtronic Minimed (Northridge, CA) CGMS(®) Gold device. Glycemic variability was calculated using EasyGV(©) software (available free for non-commercial use at www.easygv.co.uk ), a custom program that calculates the SD, M-value, mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE), average daily risk ratio (ADRR), Lability Index (LI), J-Index, Low Blood Glucose Index (LBGI), High Blood Glucose Index (HBGI), continuous overlapping net glycemic action (CONGA), mean of daily differences (MODD), Glycemic Risk Assessment in Diabetes Equation (GRADE), and mean absolute glucose (MAG).

RESULTS

Eight CGM traces were excluded because there were inadequate data. From the remaining 70 traces, normative reference ranges (mean±2 SD) for glycemic variability were calculated: SD, 0-3.0; CONGA, 3.6-5.5; LI, 0.0-4.7; J-Index, 4.7-23.6; LBGI, 0.0-6.9; HBGI, 0.0-7.7; GRADE, 0.0-4.7; MODD, 0.0-3.5; MAGE-CGM, 0.0-2.8; ADDR, 0.0-8.7; M-value, 0.0-12.5; and MAG, 0.5-2.2.

CONCLUSIONS

We present normative ranges for measures of glycemic variability in adult subjects without diabetes for use in clinical care and academic research.

Normal reference range for mean tissue glucose and glycemic variability derived from continuous glucose monitoring for subjects without diabetes in different ethnic groups

BACKGROUND

Glycemic variability has been proposed as a contributing factor in the development of diabetes complications. Multiple measures exist to calculate the magnitude of glycemic variability, but normative ranges for subjects without diabetes have not been described. For treatment targets and clinical research we present normative ranges for published measures of glycemic variability.

METHODS

Seventy-eight subjects without diabetes having a fasting plasma glucose of <120 mg/dL (6.7 mmol/L) underwent up to 72 h of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) with a Medtronic Minimed (Northridge, CA) CGMS(®) Gold device. Glycemic variability was calculated using EasyGV(©) software (available free for non-commercial use at www.easygv.co.uk ), a custom program that calculates the SD, M-value, mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE), average daily risk ratio (ADRR), Lability Index (LI), J-Index, Low Blood Glucose Index (LBGI), High Blood Glucose Index (HBGI), continuous overlapping net glycemic action (CONGA), mean of daily differences (MODD), Glycemic Risk Assessment in Diabetes Equation (GRADE), and mean absolute glucose (MAG).

RESULTS

Eight CGM traces were excluded because there were inadequate data. From the remaining 70 traces, normative reference ranges (mean±2 SD) for glycemic variability were calculated: SD, 0-3.0; CONGA, 3.6-5.5; LI, 0.0-4.7; J-Index, 4.7-23.6; LBGI, 0.0-6.9; HBGI, 0.0-7.7; GRADE, 0.0-4.7; MODD, 0.0-3.5; MAGE-CGM, 0.0-2.8; ADDR, 0.0-8.7; M-value, 0.0-12.5; and MAG, 0.5-2.2.

CONCLUSIONS

We present normative ranges for measures of glycemic variability in adult subjects without diabetes for use in clinical care and academic research.

Does plasma IGF-BP3 measurement contribute to the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency in children?

OBJECTIVE

To audit the contribution of plasma IGF-PB3 measurement to the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in children.

POPULATION AND METHODS

Retrospective case study including boys and girls aged 0 to 18 years who attended our paediatric endocrinology clinic for short stature and/or post-irradiation follow-up, and had at least one GH provocative testing. Children with hypothyroidism, Laron or Kowarski syndromes, severe malnutrition, chronic renal failure and liver failure were excluded.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight children were enrolled and grouped as GHD [+] (19 cases) and GDH [-] (39 cases). IGF-I and IGF-BP3 assay was carried out in 88% and 62% cases respectively, both groups were comparable for age, sex, BMI, target height, pubertal stage and bone age. There was a significant difference in peak GH between GDH [-] and GHD [+] groups (41.8 mUI/L ± 21.7 versus 11.5 ± 5.9 mUI/L, P<0.00001, respectively). No difference was found between groups with regards to IGF-I Z-scores and IGF-BP3 Z-scores. There was, however, a positive correlation between IGF-I Z-scores and IGF-BP3 Z-scores (r=0.50; P<0.0016). IGF-BP3 measurement could not differentiate between GHD [+] and GHD [-] groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Measurement of plasma IGF-BP3 level contributes poorly to the diagnosis of GHD. We do not recommend it in routine use.

Founder effect in the Horn of Africa for an insulin receptor mutation that may impair receptor recycling

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Genetic insulin receptoropathies are a rare cause of severe insulin resistance. We identified the Ile119Met missense mutation in the insulin receptor INSR gene, previously reported in a Yemeni kindred, in four unrelated patients with Somali ancestry. We aimed to investigate a possible genetic founder effect, and to study the mechanism of loss of function of the mutant receptor.

METHODS

Biochemical profiling and DNA haplotype analysis of affected patients were performed. Insulin receptor expression in lymphoblastoid cells from a homozygous p.Ile119Met INSR patient, and in cells heterologously expressing the mutant receptor, was examined. Insulin binding, insulin-stimulated receptor autophosphorylation, and cooperativity and pH dependency of insulin dissociation were also assessed.

RESULTS

All patients had biochemical profiles pathognomonic of insulin receptoropathy, while haplotype analysis revealed the putative shared region around the INSR mutant to be no larger than 28 kb. An increased insulin proreceptor to β subunit ratio was seen in patient-derived cells. Steady state insulin binding and insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation of the mutant receptor was normal; however it exhibited decreased insulin dissociation rates with preserved cooperativity, a difference accentuated at low pH.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

The p.Ile119Met INSR appears to have arisen around the Horn of Africa, and should be sought first in severely insulin resistant patients with ancestry from this region. Despite collectively compelling genetic, clinical and biochemical evidence for its pathogenicity, loss of function in conventional in vitro assays is subtle, suggesting mildly impaired receptor recycling only.

Prenatal hormones and childhood sex segregation: playmate and play style preferences in girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia

We investigated playmate and play style preference in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) (26 females, 31 males) and their unaffected siblings (26 females, 17 males) using the Playmate and Play Style Preferences Structured Interview (PPPSI). Both unaffected boys and girls preferred same-sex playmates and sex-typical play styles. In the conflict condition where children chose between a same-sex playmate engaged in an other-sex activity or an other-sex playmate engaged in a same-sex activity, boys (both CAH and unaffected brothers) almost exclusively chose playmates based on the preferred play style of the playmate as opposed to the preferred gender label of the playmate. By contrast, unaffected girls used play style and gender label about equally when choosing playmates. Girls with CAH showed a pattern similar to that of boys: their playmate selections were more masculine than unaffected girls, they preferred a boy-typical play style and, in the conflict condition, chose playmates engaged in a masculine activity. These findings suggest that prenatal androgen exposure contributes to sex differences in playmate selection observed in typically developing children and that, among boys and girls exposed to high levels of androgens prenatally, play style preferences drive sex segregation in play.

Maximising engagement, motivation and long term change in a Structured Intensive Education Programme in Diabetes for children, young people and their families: Child and Adolescent Structured Competencies Approach to Diabetes Education (CASCADE)

Background

This trial aims to evaluate effective delivery and cost effectiveness of an innovative structured psycho-educational programme (CASCADE) for young people and their families living with diabetes. The increase in numbers of people being diagnosed with diabetes is posing a challenge for both the UK and the rest of the world. The peak age for diagnosis is between 10 and 14 years of age. There is clear evidence that improved diabetes control from diagnosis in childhood can reduce the incidence and progression of long-term complications. However, despite the development of improved insulin regimens and delivery methods, the overall metabolic control in children and adolescents has improved little in the UK in the past decade. Therefore there is a need for novel interventions and health delivery mechanisms aimed at young people and their families to help improve control and reduce complications, illness burden and costs to the NHS.

Methods/Design

The CASCADE trial is a multi-centre randomised control trial with 26 clinics randomised to control or intervention groups, with 572 children and young people involved in the study. The intervention will be delivered in 4 group sessions, over a 4 month period. A developmentally appropriate curriculum will be delivered to groups of 3 - 4 families, focusing on achievement of increasing competency in self-management of diabetes. The control group will receive standard care from their clinical team, usually consisting of regular 3-monthly clinic visits and telephone contact as required with the clinical nurse specialist and consultant. The primary outcomes of the trial will be change in HbA1c between baseline and 12 months and 24 months post recruitment. Secondary outcomes will include measures related to the economic evaluation, psychosocial outcomes, outcomes related to management of diabetes outcomes, and adherence to the intervention.

Discussion

The trial will be run by independent research and service delivery teams and supervised by a trial steering committee. A data monitoring and ethics committee has been put in place to monitor the trial and recommend stopping/continuation according to a Peto-Haybittle rule. The trial will be conducted according to the principles of MRC Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Guidelines and CTRU Phase III Trial Standard Operating procedures.

Trial Registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN52537669

Glycaemic risk assessment in children and young people with Type 1 diabetes mellitus

AIM

To ascertain if those with diabetes (and their carers) ascribe a similar level of risk to blood glucose control as healthcare professionals.

METHODS

We used a structured questionnaire to ask fifty healthcare professionals how 'dangerous' a given blood glucose value was. Their answers were modelled to produce an algorithm of assessed risk. To examine if patients (and their carers) would apportion a similar level of risk to that of healthcare professionals, the same questionnaire was issued to fifty children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. For patients under 8 years old the carers completed the questionnaires (n = 23). Both patient and carers together completed the questionnaire for those aged 8-11 years (n = 15) and patients over the age of 11 years completed the questionnaire themselves (n = 12). The median results and interquartile range of the assessed level of risk, as determined by the two groups, were compared using a generalized linear model.

RESULTS

A significant difference (P < 0.0001) was identified between the median risk assessments of the two groups. The zero level of assessed risk was upward shifted in the patient group by 0.8 mmol/l and indicated the patients' view of risk increased.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with Type 1 diabetes (and their carers) evaluate the risk from blood glucose values differently from healthcare professionals. The euglycaemic state (zero ascribed risk) that patients chose was 0.8 mmol/l greater than that of healthcare professionals, indicating, perhaps, hypoglycaemia avoidance, a more pragmatic approach or less exposure to current trends in glycaemic control.

High prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and disease in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

SETTING

Western Cape Province, South Africa.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) infection and disease in children with type 1 diabetes and to investigate the association between glycaemic control and prevalence of TB infection and disease.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional hospital-based study conducted at two public referral hospitals. All children and adolescents (aged <21 years) with type 1 diabetes underwent a Mantoux tuberculin skin test (>or=10 mm classified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection), measurement of glycosylated haemoglobin and a chest radiograph. Patients with symptoms suggestive of TB were investigated using mycobacterial culture. Radiologically and/or bacteriologically confirmed disease was classified as TB disease.

RESULTS

Of 291 eligible patients, 258 (88.7%) were included (58% female). The prevalence of M. tuberculosis infection was 29.8% (95%CI 24.2-35.4); nine patients were diagnosed with prevalent TB disease (point prevalence disease 3488 per 100,000 population). Poor glycaemic control (hazard ratio 1.39, 95%CI 1.18-1.63 per unit increase in glycated haemoglobin [HbA1c]) and contact with a TB source case (P = 0.0011) was associated with prevalent TB disease.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a high prevalence of TB disease in diabetic children and adolescents in this setting. Routine TB screening of children with type 1 diabetes may be indicated in settings highly endemic for TB. Preventive treatment should be considered for diabetic children with proof of TB exposure and/or infection.

Validation of continuous glucose monitoring in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To validate continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Paired oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) and CGM monitoring was undertaken in 102 children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (age 9.5-19.0 years) at baseline (CGM1) and after 12 months (CGM2). CGM validity was assessed by reliability, reproducibility, and repeatability.

RESULTS

CGM was reliable with a Bland-Altman agreement between CGM and OGTT of 0.81 mmol/l (95% CI for bias +/- 2.90 mmol/l) and good correlation between the two (r = 0.74-0.9; P < 0.01). CGM was reproducible with no significant differences in the coefficient of variation of the CGM assessment between visits and repeatable with a mean difference between CGM1 and CGM2 of 0.09 mmol/l (95% CI for difference +/- 0.46 mmol/l) and a discriminant ratio of 13.0 and 15.1, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort of children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis, CGM performed on two occasions over a 12-month period was reliable, reproducible, and repeatable.

Establishing glycaemic control with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: experience of the PedPump Study in 17 countries

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

To assess the use of paediatric continuous subcutaneous infusion (CSII) under real-life conditions by analysing data recorded for up to 90 days and relating them to outcome.

METHODS

Pump programming data from patients aged 0-18 years treated with CSII in 30 centres from 16 European countries and Israel were recorded during routine clinical visits. HbA(1c) was measured centrally.

RESULTS

A total of 1,041 patients (age: 11.8 +/- 4.2 years; diabetes duration: 6.0 +/- 3.6 years; average CSII duration: 2.0 +/- 1.3 years; HbA(1c): 8.0 +/- 1.3% [means +/- SD]) participated. Glycaemic control was better in preschool (n = 142; 7.5 +/- 0.9%) and pre-adolescent (6-11 years, n = 321; 7.7 +/- 1.0%) children than in adolescent patients (12-18 years, n = 578; 8.3 +/- 1.4%). There was a significant negative correlation between HbA(1c) and daily bolus number, but not between HbA(1c) and total daily insulin dose. The use of <6.7 daily boluses was a significant predictor of an HbA(1c) level >7.5%. The incidence of severe hypoglycaemia and ketoacidosis was 6.63 and 6.26 events per 100 patient-years, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

This large paediatric survey of CSII shows that glycaemic targets can be frequently achieved, particularly in young children, and the incidence of acute complications is low. Adequate substitution of basal and prandial insulin is associated with a better HbA(1c).

Neonatal and late-onset diabetes mellitus caused by failure of pancreatic development: report of 4 more cases and a review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

Permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus caused by developmental failure of the pancreas is rare. Thus far, only a few genetic causes have been reported. We now report the clinical and genetic aspects of 4 more cases of permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus caused by pancreatic agenesis or hypoplasia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All 4 of the patients were from consanguineous kinships, and all presented with diabetes mellitus and pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. Three patients had pancreatic agenesis, and 1 had pancreatic hypoplasia on computed tomography scan. DNA was extracted from blood samples of patients and unaffected family members. Specific genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and characterized by DNA sequencing.

RESULTS

Several genes that encode transcription factors that have known roles in pancreas development were characterized in the affected children and unaffected family members. These genes include Pdx1, the master regulator of pancreas development and beta-cell differentiation, and other transcription factors that are expressed early in pancreas development, namely, Ptf1a, Sox9, Sox17, Hnf6, and HlxB9. Several novel polymorphisms were found in our patients. However, these were also present in unaffected individuals. No disease-causing mutations were found in any of these genes.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings add to the 4 cases already in the literature in which the Pdx1 structural gene has been found to be normal in patients with pancreatic agenesis or hypoplasia. The analysis here has been extended to include the screening of 4 other candidate genes in addition to promoter elements upstream of the Pdx1. Two of the cases occurred in a sibling pair, and 2 were isolated, so there may be more than 1 etiology in the cases reported here.

The natural history of neuroendocrine changes in pediatric posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after motor vehicle accidents: progressive divergence of noradrenaline and cortisol concentrations over time

BACKGROUND

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the catecholaminergic system are involved in the pathophysiology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This was a prospective and longitudinal study of neuroendocrine physiology in children with PTSD following a motor vehicle accident (MVA).

METHODS

Sixty children aged 7-18 were studied immediately after an MVA and 1 and 6 months later. Fasting morning plasma catecholamine and serum cortisol concentrations were measured. Salivary cortisol concentrations were measured serially five times daily to examine circadian variation in all three assessments. Values were compared between those who did (PTSD) or did not develop PTSD (non-PTSD) after the trauma and a control group at months 1 and 6.

RESULTS

Twenty-three of the children had PTSD at the 1-month and 9 children at the 6-month evaluations. 1) Plasma noradrenaline concentrations were higher in the PTSD group than in the other two groups at both months 1 and 6 (p = .001 and p = .001, respectively). Additionally, the PTSD patients presented with significantly higher salivary cortisol concentrations at 18.00 (p = .03) and 21.00 (p = .04) at month 1.2) Eight children suffering from PTSD at both months 1 and 6 had significantly elevated plasma noradrenaline concentrations at month 6 compared with those at month 1 and at baseline and to the other two groups (within subjects: p < .001; between subjects: p = .005). The initially elevated evening salivary cortisol concentrations in this group normalized at month 6.

CONCLUSIONS

This progressive divergence of noradrenaline and cortisol concentrations over time might underlie the natural history and pathophysiology of PTSD.

Increased aggression and activity level in 3- to 11-year-old girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)

Experimental research in a wide range of mammals has documented powerful influences of androgen during early development on brain systems and behaviors that show sex differences. Clinical research in humans suggests similar influences of early androgen concentrations on some behaviors, including childhood play behavior and adult sexual orientation. However, findings have been inconsistent for some other behaviors that show sex differences, including aggression and activity level in children. This inconsistency may reflect small sample sizes and assessment limitations. In the present study, we assessed aggression and activity level in 3- to 11-year-old children with CAH (38 girls, 29 boys) and in their unaffected siblings (25 girls, 21 boys) using a questionnaire that mothers completed to indicate current aggressive behavior and activity level in their children. Data supported the hypotheses that: (1) unaffected boys are more aggressive and active than unaffected girls; (2) girls with CAH are more aggressive and active than their unaffected sisters; and (3) boys with and without CAH are similar to one another in aggression and activity level. These data suggest that early androgens have a masculinizing effect on both aggressive behavior and activity level in girls.

Adrenocortical suppression increases the risk of relapse in nephrotic syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Children with nephrotic syndrome (NS) are usually treated with long-term low dose alternate day prednisolone with or without glucocorticoid sparing therapy, such as levamisole or ciclosporin, to maintain remission. The degree of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) suppression with such therapeutic strategies has not been studied systematically. HPA suppression could cause a relapse or adrenal crisis.

STUDY DESIGN

To study the risks of HPA suppression, a modified low dose synacthen test (0.5 mug) was administered to 32 patients (22 male,10 female) with a mean age of 9.7 years (range 3.8-17.6 years) with NS receiving long-term alternate day prednisolone for over 12 months. Twelve patients received alternate day prednisolone, 11 alternate prednisolone+levamisole and nine alternate prednisolone+ciclosporin. All patients were followed up for 3 years and the relapse rate noted.

RESULTS

20/32 (62.5%) patients had a peak serum cortisol concentration of <500 nmol/l, which suggested suboptimal cortisol secretion and possible HPA suppression. 10/12 children in the prednisolone group and 8/11 in the levamisole group had a suboptimal cortisol response compared with 2/9 in the ciclosporin group. During follow-up, the 20 children who had a suboptimal cortisol response had significantly more relapses (95 relapses) compared to the 12 children with a normal cortisol response who had 24 relapses (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Children with NS receiving long-term alternate day prednisolone therapy are at risk of developing HPA suppression and should be evaluated using the modified synacthen test. Children with evidence of HPA suppression are at a greater risk of relapse.

A cross-sectional international survey of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in 377 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus from 10 countries

OBJECTIVE

To document current practices using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) by downloading electronically the 90-d pump data held within the pump memory and relating that to clinical data from children and adolescents in different pediatric diabetes centers from Europe and Israel.

METHODS

Data of patients (1-18 yr) treated with CSII in 23 centers from nine European countries and Israel were recorded with the encapture software (PEC International, Frankfurt, Germany). The number of patients who participated was 377 (48% female; mean diabetes duration +/- SD: 6.8 +/- 3.7 yr; age: 12.9 +/- 3.8 yr, preschool n = 33; prepubertal n = 95; adolescent n = 249; CSII duration: 1.6 +/- 1.2 yr; local HbA1c: 8.1 +/- 1.2%).

RESULTS

The total insulin dose was lower than previously reported for injection therapy (0.79 +/- 0.20 U/kg/d). Covariance coefficient of daily total insulin was high in all age groups (adolescents 19 +/- 9%, prepubertal 18 +/- 8 and preschool 17 +/- 8). The distribution of basal insulin infusion rates over 24 hr (48 +/- 12% of total dose) varied significantly between centers and age groups. The number of boluses per day (7 +/- 3) was not significantly different between the age groups (average daily bolus amount: 0.42 +/- 0.16 U/kg). The rate of severe hypoglycemia (coma/convulsions) was 12.4 episodes per 100 patient-years and the number of diabetes-related hospital days was 124 per 100 patient-years.

DISCUSSION

Pediatric CSII patients show a high variability in their insulin therapy. This relates both to age-dependent differences in the distribution of basal insulin as to the age-independent day-to-day variation in prandial insulin.

Onset of breast and pubic hair development in 1231 preadolescent Lithuanian schoolgirls

BACKGROUND

Correct staging of puberty is essential in order to differentiate different pathologies, as various components of the endocrine system influence breast, pubic, and axillary hair development.

AIMS

To determine the current timing of adrenarche and breast development in Lithuanian preadolescent schoolgirls.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study of 1231 schoolgirls aged 7.0-11.6 years. Puberty was staged according to the method of Tanner. Mean age at entry into each pubertal stage was calculated by probit analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 255 girls aged 7 years, two had premature adrenarche (0.8%) and one premature thelarche (0.4%). Mean age of onset of pubic/axillary hair development was 11.0 years, and for breast development (Stage 2) 10.2 years. Breast Stage 3 development was attained at 11.3 years and Stage 4 at 13.9 years. Mean BMI, height, weight, and systolic blood pressure SD scores were higher in pubertal than in prepubertal girls. Skinfold thickness was also significantly higher in girls with isolated adrenarche than in prepubertal girls. The increase in BMI and weight resulted from an increase in body fat as evidenced by measures of subscapular and triceps skinfold thickness. Girls with only signs of adrenarche or thelarche did not differ from each other from the anthropometric standpoint.

CONCLUSIONS

Premature thelarche and premature adrenarche were relatively uncommon in this population. Pubertal onset was slightly earlier than the UK Tanner standards and tended to occur in girls with a higher BMI.

Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome due to defects in the function of pancreatic beta-cell adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels

BACKGROUND

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a congenital overgrowth syndrome that is clinically and genetically heterogeneous. Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia occurs in about 50% of children with BWS and, in the majority of infants, it resolves spontaneously. However, in a small group of patients the hypoglycemia can be persistent and may require pancreatectomy. The mechanism of persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in this group of patients is unclear.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using patch-clamp techniques on pancreatic tissue obtained at the time of surgery, we investigated the electrophysiological properties of ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channels in pancreatic beta-cells in a patient with BWS and severe medically-unresponsive hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia.

RESULTS

Persistent hyperinsulinism was found to be caused by abnormalities in K(ATP) channels of the pancreatic beta-cell. Immunofluorescence studies using a SUR1 antibody revealed perinuclear pattern of staining in the BWS cells, suggesting a trafficking defect of the SUR1 protein. No mutations were found in the genes ABCC8 and KCNJ11 encoding for the two subunits, SUR1 and KIR6.2, respectively, of the K(ATP) channel. Genetic analysis of this patients BWS showed evidence of mosaic paternal isodisomy.

CONCLUSIONS

In this novel case of BWS with mosaic paternal uniparental disomy for 11p15, persistent hyperinsulinism was due to abnormalities in K(ATP) channels of the pancreatic beta-cell. The mechanism/s by which mosaic paternal uniparental disomy for 11p15 causes a trafficking defect in the SUR1 protein of the K(ATP) channel remains to be elucidated.

Prevalence of the insulin resistance syndrome in obesity

AIMS

To assess prevalence of the insulin resistance syndrome (IRS: obesity, abnormal glucose homoeostasis, dyslipidaemia, and hypertension) in obese UK children and adolescents of different ethnicities and to assess whether fasting data is sufficient to identify IRS in childhood obesity.

METHODS

A total of 103 obese (BMI >95th centile) children and adolescents 2-18 years of age referred for assessment underwent an oral glucose tolerance test, measurement of fasting lipids, and blood pressure determination. Main outcome measures were prevalence of components of IRS by modified WHO criteria, with IRS defined as > or =3 components (including obesity).

RESULTS

There were 67 girls (65%). BMI z-score ranged from 1.65 to 6.15, with 72% having a z-score > or =3.0. Abnormal glucose homoeostasis was identified in 46% (hyperinsulinism in 40%, impaired fasting glucose in 0.8%, impaired glucose tolerance in 11%). No subjects had silent type 2 diabetes. Dyslipidaemia was identified in 30% and hypertension in 32%. Thirty one per cent had obesity alone, 36% had two components, 28% had three, and 5% had all four components. Birth weight, BMI, and family history of IRS were not associated with risk of IRS. Higher age increased the risk of IRS; however the syndrome was seen in 30% of children under 12 years. The use of fasting glucose and insulin data for identifying IRS had a sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 100%.

CONCLUSIONS

One third of obese children and adolescents have the IRS; however type 2 diabetes is rare. Obese children with the IRS may form a high risk group to whom scarce intervention resources should be targeted. Further work is needed to develop appropriate screening programmes for IRS components in significantly obese children.

Neonates with symptomatic hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia generate inappropriately low serum cortisol counterregulatory hormonal responses

Serum cortisol plays an important role in counterregulation to hypoglycemia. It antagonizes the peripheral effects of insulin and also directly influences glucose metabolism. Classically serum cortisol concentrations rise in response to hypoglycemia, but the response in neonates with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia is unclear. To investigate the serum cortisol responses in neonates with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia, 13 neonates (34-40 wk gestation; male/female ratio, 7/6) with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia underwent diagnostic fasts. The serum cortisol concentration was measured before the commencement of the fast and at the time of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. The hypoglycemia was then treated with iv glucose (1 ml/kg bolus of 10% dextrose), and serum cortisol concentrations were measured at 10-min intervals for a total of 50 min. Six of the 13 neonates had plasma ACTH concentrations measured at the time of hypoglycemia and then received a 62.5- microg i.v. bolus injection of Synacthen. The mean (+/-SEM) serum cortisol concentration 15 min before the hypoglycemic episode was 156 +/- 24 nmol/liter, and that at the time of hypoglycemia was 182 +/- 28 nmol/liter. Mean cortisol concentrations at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 min for the first seven neonates who were not given Synacthen at the time of hypoglycemia were 213 +/- 44, 223 +/- 48, 209 +/- 49, 228 +/- 46, and 252 +/- 30 nmol/liter, respectively. The six neonates who received an i.v. bolus dose of Synacthen had significantly greater (P < 0.01) serum cortisol concentrations at the same time points, 208 +/- 39, 219 +/- 46, 378 +/- 139, 664 +/- 57, 905 +/- 121, 1048 +/- 247, and 1192 +/- 105 nmol/liter, respectively. Plasma ACTH levels were inappropriately low in all six neonates at the time of hypoglycemia (mean plasma ACTH concentration, 13.2 pg/ml). Neonates with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia fail to generate an adequate serum cortisol counterregulatory hormonal response. This appears to be related to the lack of drive from the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, with inappropriately low plasma ACTH concentrations at the time of hypoglycemia. The normal serum cortisol response to an i.v. bolus injection of Synacthen suggests that this is a centrally mediated phenomenon and does not imply that these patients have adrenal insufficiency.