The importance of patient centricity and keeping the patient at the heart of research design is now well recognised within the healthcare community. The involvement of patient, caregiver and clinician representatives in the study design process may help researchers to achieve this goal and to ensure robust and meaningful data generation. Real-world data collection allows for a more flexible and patient-centred research approach for gaining important insights into the experience of disease and treatments, which is acutely relevant for rare diseases where knowledge about the disease is more likely to be limited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major cause of mortality in type 1 diabetes (T1D). The objective of this study is to evaluate fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and calcium-phosphate metabolism in relation to cardiovascular risk factors in adults with and without T1D.
Methods: A case-control study was conducted using data from patients with T1D and age- and sex matched controls without T1D from the Lifelines Cohort Study.
Mutations in (PTH-like hormone), cause brachydactyly type E (BDE) characterized by shortening of metacarpals, metatarsals and/or phalanges with short stature. In this report we describe three siblings and their mother with a novel heterozygous mutation c.25 T > C, p.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Osteoporosis is a condition of increased bone fragility associated with fractures. Apart from primary genetic osteoporotic conditions, secondary osteoporosis in children is being increasingly recognized. As a result, there is growing interest in its prevention and treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground & Aims: Cancer treatment is known to have impact on nutritional status, and both underweight and overweight have been reported in several studies in survivors. A limitation of most studies is that they relied on retrospective data or were limited to a subgroup of patients. The current study aims to describe changes in body size and body composition prospectively seven years after diagnosis in a heterogeneous sample of childhood cancer survivors and to evaluate associated factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to identify the genetic basis of two female siblings - born to consanguineous Sudanese parents - diagnosed clinically as having the rare condition of 25-hydroxylase deficiency (vitamin D-dependent rickets type 1B). The initial diagnosis was established based on clinical data, laboratory and radiological findings retrospectively. Primers for all exons (5) of human CYP2R1 (NM_024514) were generated followed by Sanger sequencing on exons 1-5 for both girls and their parents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Early recognition of osteoporosis in children and adolescents is important in order to establish an appropriate diagnosis of the underlying condition and to initiate treatment if necessary. In this review, we present the diagnostic work-up, and its pitfalls, of pediatric patients suspected of osteoporosis including a careful collection of the medical and personal history, a complete physical examination, biochemical data, molecular genetics, and imaging techniques. The most recent and relevant literature has been reviewed to offer a broad overview on the topic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: In X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH), excess fibroblast growth factor-23 causes hypophosphatemia and low calcitriol, leading to musculoskeletal disease with clinical consequences. XLH treatment options include conventional oral phosphate with active vitamin D, or monotherapy with burosumab, a monoclonal antibody approved to treat children and adults with XLH. We have previously reported outcomes up to 64 weeks, and here we report safety and efficacy follow-up results up to 160 weeks from an open-label, multicenter, randomized, dose-finding trial of burosumab for 5- to 12-year-old children with XLH.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFParathyroid hormone-like hormone (PTHLH) plays an important role in bone formation. Several skeletal dysplasias have been described that are associated with disruption of PTHLH functioning. Here we report on a new patient with a 898 Kb duplication on chromosome 12p11.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Childhood brain tumor survivors (CBTS) are at risk for developing obesity, which negatively influences cardiometabolic health. The prevalence of obesity in CBTS may have been overestimated in previous cohorts because of inclusion of children with craniopharyngioma. On the contrary, the degree of weight gain may have been underestimated because of exclusion of CBTS who experienced weight gain, but were neither overweight nor obese.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJMIR Form Res
November 2020
Background: Electronic learning (e-learning) is a widely accessible, low-cost option for learning remotely in various settings that allows interaction between an instructor and a learner.
Objective: We describe the development of a free and globally accessible multilingual e-learning module that provides education material on topics in pediatric endocrinology and diabetes and that is intended for first-line physicians and health workers but also trainees or medical specialists in resource-limited countries.
Methods: As complements to concise chapters, interactive vignettes were constructed, exemplifying clinical issues and pitfalls, with specific attention to the 3 levels of medical health care in resource-limited countries.
Vitamin D is important for skeletal growth, bone mineralization and dental health. Vitamin D deficiency is reported in many countries, may have several causes and can cause rickets in children. A guideline with recommendations of vitamin D supplementation to prevent nutritional rickets was published recently.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: X-linked hypophosphataemia (XLH) is a rare, hereditary, progressive and lifelong phosphate wasting disorder characterised by pathological elevations in fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 concentration and activity; XLH has an incidence of approximately 1 in 20-25,000 individuals. Excess FGF23 activity leads to increased phosphate excretion in the kidneys - mediated by downregulation of renal tubular phosphate transporters - and reduced phosphate absorption in the intestines - due to impaired vitamin D activation. This results in impaired bone growth and mineralisation, short and disproportionate stature, leg bowing, musculoskeletal pain, spontaneous dental abscesses, rickets, and osteomalacia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The incidence of cranial radiotherapy (cRT)-induced central hypothyroidism (TSHD) in childhood brain tumor survivors (CBTS) is reported to be low. However, TSHD may be more frequent than currently suspected, as its diagnosis is challenging due to broad reference ranges for free thyroxine (FT4) concentrations. TSHD is more likely to be present when FT4 levels progressively decline over time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: X-linked hypophosphatemia is characterized by increased secretion of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23), which leads to hypophosphatemia and consequently rickets, osteomalacia, and skeletal deformities. We investigated burosumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets FGF-23, in patients with X-linked hypophosphatemia.
Methods: In an open-label, phase 2 trial, we randomly assigned 52 children with X-linked hypophosphatemia, in a 1:1 ratio, to receive subcutaneous burosumab either every 2 weeks or every 4 weeks; the dose was adjusted to achieve a serum phosphorus level at the low end of the normal range.
Background/aims: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a rare disease characterized by recurrent severe hypoglycemia. In the diffuse form of CHI, pharmacotherapy is the preferred choice of treatment. Long-acting somatostatin analogues have been used in children as off-label medication.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFContext: Percutaneous epiphysiodesis (PE) around the knee to reduce predicted excessive final height. Studies until now included small numbers of patients and short follow-up periods.
Objective And Design: This Dutch multicentre, long-term, retrospective, follow-up study aimed to assess adult height (AH), complications, knee function and patient satisfaction after PE.
Purpose To evaluate the prevalence of, and risk factors for, early endocrine disorders in childhood brain tumor survivors (CBTS). Patients and Methods This nationwide study cohort consisted of 718 CBTS who were diagnosed between 2002 and 2012, and who survived ≥ 2 years after diagnosis. Patients with craniopharyngeoma or a pituitary gland tumor were excluded.
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