Differential Methylation of CYP11B1 in Girls with High DHEAS Levels and correlation with 11-Oxyandrogen levels: a pilot study.

Introduction: Premature adrenarche in girls is defined biochemically by an increase in adrenal androgen (DHEAS) levels above the age-specific reference range before age 8 years. Recently, increased levels of 11-oxyandrogens have also been reported in girls with premature adrenarche. Epigenetic modifications, specifically CpG methylation, may affect gene expression and/or activity of steroidogenic enzymes during developmental changes in adrenal androgen secretion.

Plasma insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) and IGF-II/IGF-I ratio in a chilean case of Doege-Potter Syndrome.

Introduction: Doege-Potter syndrome is a rare clinical entity characterized by recurrent hypoglycemic events caused by non-pancreatic tumors secreting an incompletely processed high-molecular-weight form of Insulin-like Growth factor-II (IGF-II).

Aim: To report IGF-II and IGF-I circulating levels in a Chilean case of Doege-Potter syndrome and control individuals, and to identify the high-molecular-weight form of IGF-II.

Methods: We measured IGF-II and IGF-I plasma levels using enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISA) in the patient and ten controls.

Differential Effect of 2 Hormonal Contraceptives on the Relative Telomere Length of Youth With Type 1 Diabetes.

Context: Adolescents and young women (AYA) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) may require hormonal contraception for an extended period. However, it is unclear what effect hormonal contraception has on telomere length, a marker of the risk for complications.

Objective: To investigate the relative telomere length (RTL) in AYA with T1D (AYA-T1D) and healthy young women (AYA-C) after 18 months of combined oral contraception use (COC) with ethinyl estradiol/desogestrel, or a subdermal etonogestrel implant (IM).

Subdermal Progestin Implant and an Oral Combined Hormonal Contraceptive in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes.

Study Objective: To determine the metabolic effects of the subcutaneous etonogestrel implant compared with an oral contraceptive in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) on body weight, body composition, glucose, lipids, and C-reactive protein levels.

Methods: This was a non-randomized, interventional, prospective study. Thirty-nine AYAs with T1D participated; 20 used the implant (Implant-T1D), and 19 used an oral combined contraceptive (OC-T1D).

Identifying patient-related predictors of permanent growth hormone deficiency.

Objective: Isolated childhood growth hormone deficiency (GHD) can persist into adulthood, and re-testing at the transition period is needed to determine whether continued growth hormone therapy is indicated. Here, our objective was to identify predictors of permanent GHD.

Design: Retrospective single-centre study of patients with childhood-onset GHD who were re-tested after adult height attainment.

Differential methylation pattern in pubertal girls associated with biochemical premature adrenarche.

Biochemical premature adrenarche is defined by elevated serum DHEAS [≥40 μg/dL] before age 8 y in girls. This condition is receiving more attention due to its association with obesity, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Nevertheless, the link between early androgen excess and these risk factors remains unknown.

Childhood Obesity and Plasma Micronutrient Deficit of Chilean Children between 4 and 14 Years Old.

Objective: To analyze the nutritional status and plasma levels of vitamins and minerals in a cohort of Chilean children between 4 and 14 years old from three cities in Chile (Santiago, Antofagasta, and Concepcion).

Design: This is a descriptive analysis of micronutrient levels in Chilean children as it relates to obesity and food consumption.

Setting: This study included 1235 children from schools in Santiago (central area), Antofagasta (northern area), and Concepcion (southern area) in Chile.

Higher Prepubertal IGF-1 Concentrations Associate to Earlier Pubertal Tempo in Both Sexes.

Introduction: Pubertal onset is triggered by multiple neuroendocrine interactions. The role of prepubertal IGF-1 in this process has not been explored in both sexes. Our objective was to analyze the association of prepubertal IGF-1 concentration with age at thelarche (B2) and menarche (M) in girls and age at gonadarche (G2) in boys.

High DHEAS in girls and metabolic features throughout pubertal maturation.

Context: An association between premature adrenarche and metabolic syndrome at presentation has been described. Our aim was to assess whether the presence of high dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS [HD]) at the adrenarche determines the risk of metabolic syndrome during puberty, taking into account body mass index (BMI) and birth weight.

Design: Prospective observational.

Vitamin D status and obesity in children from Chile.

Background: Vitamin D [25(OH)D] is essential for normal bone development and maintenance. Furthermore, its deficiency has been associated with obesity, cardiovascular diseases, insulin resistance, autoimmune diseases, and certain cancers.

Objective: To determine the incidence of serum 25(OH)D deficiency (<20 ng/ml) among apparently healthy Chilean children (4-14 years old) from three Chilean geographic areas during May-September 2018.

Differential effects of androgens and estrogens over cellular GH sensitivity in HEPG2 cells.

Unlabelled: Testosterone and estrogen concentrations progressively increase during puberty, and in association with growth hormone (GH), lead to the increase in height velocity known as the pubertal growth spurt. Very limited information is available however, regarding the possible effects of sex steroids over GH cellular sensitivity.

Objective: To investigate the effects of different concentrations of testosterone, estradiol and dihydrotestosterone over the GH intracellular signaling pathway.

Reproductive hormones during pubertal transition in girls with transient Thelarche.

Context: Transient thelarche (TT), that is, the appearance, regression and subsequent reappearance of breast buds, is a frequent phenomenon, but little is known about pubertal transition in these girls.

Objective: To describe pubertal progression, growth, genotypes, reproductive hormones and growth factors in girls with TT compared to those who do not present TT (non-TT).

Design: Retrospective analysis of a longitudinal population-based study.

High DHEAS Level in Girls Is Associated with Earlier Pubertal Maturation and Mild Increase in Androgens throughout Puberty without Affecting Postmenarche Ovarian Morphology.

Objective: To assess whether the presence of high DHEAS (HD) at 7 years determines different timing, sequence, and rate of pubertal events, and whether it is associated with adrenal and/or ovarian hyperandrogenism and changes in ovarian morphology throughout puberty.

Methods: In a longitudinal study of 504 girls, clinical evaluation was performed every 6 months after 7 years of age to detect Tanner stages; hormonal and anthropometric measurements were conducted at thelarche (B2), breast Tanner 4 (B4), and 1 year after menarche; ultrasonographic evaluation was also performed after menarche. The girls were classified as HD if their DHEAS level was >42.

[Psychomotor development and cortisol salivary levels in infants that live with their inmate mothers].

Introduction: In Chile, the prison system has a program that allows inmate mothers to live with their children un der two years of age. This could imply that these children are more exposed to stress conditions and a higher psychomotor developmental delay (PDD) risk.

Objective: To compare the PDD and salivary cortisol concentrations (SCC) of children living in prison with their mothers and to compare the results with control children.

Klotho Gene and Protein in Human Placentas According to Birth Weight and Gestational Age.

Fetal growth restriction may be the consequence of maternal, fetal, or placental factors. The insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are major determinants of fetal growth, and are expressed in the mother, fetus and placenta in most species. Previously we reported higher placental protein content of IGF-I, IGF-IR, and AKT in small (SGA) compared with those from appropriate for gestational age (AGA) placentas.

Is There a Difference between Ultrasonographic (US) Uterine Changes of Oral Versus Transdermal (TD) 17β Estradiol (17β E2) in Girls with Turner Syndrome (TS)? Own Experience and Literature Review.

Background: Among patients with Turner Syndrome (TS), premature ovarian failure is a main feature. Recently published consensus guidelines recommend that transdermal (TD) estradiol is the preferred route for estrogen replacement. Studies related to ultrasound (US) measurements during estrogen replacement in TS patients using estradiol (17β E2) and correlating uterine growth with estrogen metabolites are limited.

Patterns of Infancy Growth and Metabolic Hormonal Profile Are Different in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Preterm Infants Born Small for Gestational Age Compared to Those Born Appropriate for Gestational Age.

Background/aims: An increased preterm birth survival rate is associated with long-term neurological and metabolic risks; thus, our aim was to evaluate whether early patterns of infancy anthropometry and metabolic hormonal profile differ in preterm infants born small for gestational age (SGA) or appropriate for gestational age (AGA) from birth to 36 months of corrected age (CA).

Methods: We recruited 110 very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) preterm infants (AGA = 60 and SGA = 50) with a mean birth weight of -2.39 ± 0.

High DHEAS Is Associated With Earlier Pubertal Events in Girls But Not in Boys.

Context: Premature adrenarche (PA) has been associated with increased metabolic risk.

Objective: To describe the risk of precocious thelarche (PT; <8 years), pubarche (PP; girls <8 years, boys <9 years), and gonadarche (PG; <9 years) in children with high dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS [HD]) vs those with normal DHEAS (ND).

Setting And Intervention: Longitudinal Chilean cohort (n = 1052, 49.

Hyperandrogenism in adolescent girls: relationship with the somatotrophic axis.

Background: During puberty there is a physiologic increase in adrenal and ovarian androgens. It has been suggested that the somatotrophic axis may be related to the development of hyperandrogenism and anovulation in non-obese adult women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The objective of the study was to investigate whether ovarian androgen secretion in young postmenarchal girls is related to the function of their somatotropic axis.

Folate Transporters in Placentas from Preterm Newborns and Their Relation to Cord Blood Folate and Vitamin B12 Levels.

Folate deficiency during pregnancy has been related to low birth weight, preterm (PT) birth and other health risks in the offspring; however, it is unknown whether prematurity is related to low folate transport through the placenta due to altered expression of specific folate transporters. We determined placental expression (mRNA and protein concentrations by RT-qPCR and WB respectively) of specific folate transporters: RFC, PCFT/HCP1 and FOLR1 in chorionic (fetal) and basal (maternal) plates of placentas of PT pregnancies (PT, 32-36 weeks, n = 51). Term placentas were used as controls (T, 37-41 weeks, n = 47).

Long-term metabolic risk among children born premature or small for gestational age.

Accumulating evidence suggests that both the intrauterine environment and growth during early life can influence the development of chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, in adulthood. Here, we review the available human data supporting increased metabolic risk among children born premature or small for gestational age; the adrenal and pubertal modifications that contribute to this risk; metabolic changes that occur during adolescence and early adulthood; and approaches to potentially modify or decrease risk of metabolic disease. The risks associated with delivery at term or preterm are compared for each period of life.

Relationship between folate transporters expression in human placentas at term and birth weights.

Background: Adequate folate levels are essential for successful pregnancy outcomes. We aimed to study the relationship between placental mRNA and protein levels of folate transporters to birth weight.

Methods: Placental folate transporters (FOLR1, RFC1 and HCP1/PCFT) mRNA and protein levels in basal (BP) and chorionic plate (CP) of small (SGA), appropriate (AGA) and large (LGA) for gestational age term infants (≥37 weeks gestation, n = 111) were determined by real-time PCR and Western blot respectively.

[Severe vitamin D deficiency in children from Punta Arenas, Chile: Influence of nutritional status on the response to supplementation].

Unlabelled: There is a high risk of vitamin D (VD) deficiency in the population of southern Chile that can be treated with VD supplements. Weight excess (WE) can influence the response to supplements.

Objectives: To study the prevalence of VD deficiency and the effect of cholecalciferol (VD3) supplements in healthy children from Punta Arenas, Chile, and evaluate a possible association with nutritional status.

[Insulin autoimmune syndrome: Report of two cases].

Insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS) is characterized by spontaneous hypoglycemia with extremely high insulin levels and the presence of circulating autoantibodies against insulin, in patients who have never been exposed to exogenous insulin. We report two patients with the syndrome. A 36 years old male presenting with hypoglycemia in the emergency room had an oral glucose tolerance test showed basal and 120 min glucose levels of 88 and 185 mg/dl.

Hirsutism and oligomenorrhea are appropriate screening criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome in adolescents.

We evaluated the association of hirsutism and oligomenorrhea (persistent menstrual cycles > 45 days) as screening criteria for the detection of biochemical hyperandrogenism (BH) and polycystic ovaries (PCOM) during adolescence and determined which androgens, granulosa cell hormone, ultrasonographic parameters have the best association with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Hirsute girls with oligomenorrhea (N = 26 Hirs/Oligo group) and non-hirsute girls with regular cycles (N = 63, C group) were studied. Prevalence of BH and PCOM, diagnostic performance of androgens and ultrasound parameters for PCOS diagnosis were analyzed.