Epicardial adipose thickness in youth with type 1 diabetes.

Background And Objective: Epicardial adipose thickness (EAT) is increased in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and is thought to contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in this population. Given that CVD risk factors emerge early in life, the purpose of this study was to identify whether EAT is increased in pediatric patients with T1D compared with non-diabetic controls.

Methods: Anthropometric data, blood pressure (BP), and EAT were evaluated in 20 youth with T1D and 20 age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) matched healthy controls between the ages of 5 and 18 years.

Growth Tracking in Severely Obese or Underweight Children.

Objectives: To illustrate the difficulties in optimal growth monitoring of children with severe obesity or underweight by using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2000 age- and sex-specific BMI percentile growth charts. We also aimed to examine the utility of a new modified CDC BMI score chart to monitor growth in children with normal and extreme BMI percentiles by using real-life clinical scenarios.

Methods: Modified BMI score charts were created by using the 2000 CDC algorithm.

Endocrine Effects of Inhaled Corticosteroids in Children.

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are widely used as first-line treatment for various chronic respiratory illnesses. Advances in devices and formulations have reduced their local adverse effects. However, as delivery of ICSs to the lungs improves, the systemic absorption increases, and an adverse effect profile similar to, although milder than, oral corticosteroids has emerged.

Are the ADA hemoglobin A(1c) criteria relevant for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in youth?

Diagnostic criteria for diabetes in children have not been established with nearly the rigor as that employed in adults. Recently revised American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria allowed utilization of hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA1c) ≥ 6.5 % for diagnosis of diabetes.

Parathyroid hormone reserve in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

Objective: We hypothesized that most patients with 22q11.2 deletion and a history of hypocalcemia have inadequate parathyroid function, manifested by intact parathyroid hormone levels below normal. We aimed to evaluate intact parathyroid hormone levels both during normocalcemia and at hypocalcemia, in this population.