Circulating Liver-enriched Antimicrobial Peptide-2 Decreases During Male Puberty.

Context: Circulating levels of liver-enriched antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2), a ghrelin receptor antagonist, decrease under caloric restriction and increase in obesity. The role of LEAP2 in male puberty, a phase with accelerated energy demand, is unclear.

Objective: This work aimed to investigate whether circulating LEAP2 levels are downregulated in boys following the onset of puberty to respond to the energy need required for growth.

Serum testosterone and oestradiol predict the growth response during puberty promoting treatment.

Objective: The influence of androgens and oestrogens on growth is complex, and understanding their relative roles is important for optimising the treatment of children with various disorders of growth and puberty.

Design: We examined the proportional roles of androgens and oestrogens in the regulation of pubertal growth in boys with constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP). The study compared 6-month low-dose intramuscular testosterone treatment (1 mg/kg/month; n = 14) with per oral letrozole treatment (2.

Bone structure assessed with pQCT in prepubertal males with delayed puberty or congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

Objective: Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) is associated with impaired bone mineral density in adulthood, whereas the estimates on bone structure in adolescents with CHH has not been previously evaluated. This study describes bone structure in CHH patients and compares it to that in boys with constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP).

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Anti-Müllerian hormone and letrozole levels in boys with constitutional delay of growth and puberty treated with letrozole or testosterone.

Study Question: Does treatment of constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) in boys with aromatase inhibitor letrozole (Lz) or conventional low-dose testosterone (T) have differing effects on developing seminiferous epithelium?

Summary Answer: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) declined similarly in both treatment groups, and the two Sertoli cell-derived markers (AMH and inhibin B (iB)) exhibited differing responses to changes in gonadotrophin milieu.

What Is Known Already: Boys with CDGP may benefit from puberty-inducing medication. Peroral Lz activates gonadotrophin secretion, whereas intramuscular low-dose T may transiently suppress gonadotrophins and iB.

Association of Serum Total Osteocalcin Concentrations With Endogenous Glucocorticoids and Insulin Sensitivity Markers in 12-Year-Old Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Osteocalcin (OC) is an osteoblast-derived marker of bone turnover that has recently been linked to glucose metabolism, glucocorticoid action, and cardiovascular risk. We determined whether serum total OC (tOC) is associated with cardiometabolic factors, such as insulin sensitivity (IS) markers and endogenous glucocorticoids in 12-year-old children. In addition, we assessed whether low birth weight or exposure to maternal preeclampsia affect tOC concentrations.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 21, Adiponectin, and Irisin as Markers of Unfavorable Metabolic Features in 12-Year-Old Children.

Context: Among cytokines, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), adiponectin (Adn), and irisin have been considered potential biomarkers for insulin sensitivity (IS).

Objective: We evaluated whether serum FGF21, Adn, and irisin associate with markers of IS and serum lipids in 12-year-old children.

Design Participants And Main Outcome Measures: This cohort study included 192 12-year-old children (109 girls).

Letrozole versus testosterone for promotion of endogenous puberty in boys with constitutional delay of growth and puberty: a randomised controlled phase 3 trial.

Background: The treatment of constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) is an underinvestigated area in adolescent medicine. We tested the hypothesis that peroral aromatase inhibition with letrozole is more efficacious than intramuscular injection of low-dose testosterone in inducing puberty in boys with CDGP.

Methods: We did a randomised, controlled, open-label trial at four paediatric centres in Finland.

Serum IL-1 Receptor Antagonist Concentrations Associate With Unfavorable Metabolic Features in 12-Year-Old Children.

Context: Elevated IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) concentrations are associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in adults.

Objective: To determine if serum IL-1Ra and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels are associated with markers of reduced insulin sensitivity (IS) and serum lipids in 12-year-old children.

Design And Participants: Of 191 children (n = 109 girls), 78 were categorized as having had birth weight and length appropriate for gestational age (AGA), 69 were small for gestational age, and 44 were AGA and from preeclamptic pregnancies.

Impaired growth and intracranial calcifications in autosomal dominant hypocalcemia caused by a GNA11 mutation.

Objective: Autosomal dominant hypocalcemia (ADH) is characterized by hypocalcemia and inappropriately low PTH concentrations. ADH type 1 is caused by activating mutations in the calcium-sensing receptor (CASR), a G-protein-coupled receptor signaling through α11 (Gα11) and αq (Gαq) subunits. Heterozygous activating mutations in GNA11, the gene encoding Gα11, underlie ADH type 2.

Cinacalcet Treatment in an Adolescent With Concurrent 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome and Familial Hypocalciuric Hypercalcemia Type 3 Caused by AP2S1 Mutation.

Context: The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DS) is a common multiple anomaly syndrome in which typical features include congenital heart defects, facial dysmorphism, and palatal anomalies. Hypocalcemia due to hypoparathyroidism is a common endocrine manifestation resulting from variable parathyroid hypoplasia, but hypercalcemia has not previously been reported in 22q11.

Markers of Insulin Sensitivity in 12-Year-Old Children Born from Preeclamptic Pregnancies.

Objective: To determine whether maternal preeclampsia influences insulin sensitivity (IS) or its biochemical markers in offspring.

Study Design: Sixty children born from a preeclamptic pregnancy (PRE) and 60 matched control subjects born from a normotensive pregnancy (non-PRE) were studied at age 12 years. IS was estimated using the Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI), and serum concentrations of adiponectin, leptin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, IGF-2, IGF-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), sex hormone-binding globulin, lipids, and casual blood pressure (BP) were measured.

Adrenocortical hormonal activity in 20-year-old subjects born small or appropriate for gestational age.

Background: Altered adrenocortical activity is one suggested mechanism relating small birth size with the metabolic syndrome in adulthood. Adrenal androgen concentrations are higher in children born small (SGA) than appropriate for gestational age (AGA).

Aim: To compare adrenocortical hormonal activity between 20-year-old subjects born SGA or AGA.

Tracking serum lipid levels and the association of cholesterol concentrations, blood pressure and cigarette smoking with carotid artery intima-media thickness in young adults born small for gestational age.

Background: Small birth size is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk, but the mediating factors are poorly understood.

Methods And Results: Serum lipids, blood pressure (BP), carotid artery intima-media thickness (CA-IMT), and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (BA-FMD) were studied in 70 20-year-old subjects [35 sex- and age-matched pairs born small (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA)]. The SGA subjects had higher serum levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, total/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and LDL/HDL cholesterol ratios, and lower HDL cholesterol levels than the AGA subjects (2.

Serum glucocorticoids and adiponectin associate with insulin resistance in children born small for gestational age.

Objectives: Altered glucocorticoid activity is one possible mechanism linking fetal growth restriction with later insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes. We aimed to investigate whether serum glucocorticoid parameters are related to IR in children born small for gestational age (SGA).

Design: A total of 110 children (55 age- and gender-matched pairs born SGA or appropriate for gestational age (AGA) in a case-control setting) were studied at the mean age of 12.

Maternal preeclampsia predicts elevated blood pressure in 12-year-old children: evaluation by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitoring offers a reliable method for determining blood pressure (BP) in children. The aim of this cohort study was to examine whether maternal preeclampsia is associated with elevated BP in an offspring. The study population consisted of 57 children born to preeclamptic mothers (PRE) and their 57 age- and sex-matched control subjects born to normotensive mothers (non-PRE).

Preeclampsia and androgen receptor gene CAG repeat length: results from both children and women.

Purpose: We studied whether the CAG (encoding glutamine) repeat length polymorphism in the first exon of the androgen receptor (AR) gene is predictive of preeclampsia.

Methods: Fifty-nine children born after preeclamptic pregnancy (PRE) and 58 control subjects born after normotensive pregnancy (non-PRE) were genotyped for the CAG repeat length of the AR gene. Secondly, the ARCAG repeat lengths of 133 unrelated preeclamptic women and 112 healthy controls were studied.

Association of serum lipid concentrations, insulin resistance index and catch-up growth with serum cortisol/cortisone ratio by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in children born small for gestational age.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) may influence adrenocortical function, lipid metabolism and glucose tolerance in later life. Both cortisol (F) synthesis and metabolism contribute to serum F concentrations. 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11beta-HSD2) enzyme converts F to biologically inactive cortisone (E).

Serum markers of GH and insulin action in 12-year-old children born small for gestational age.

Objectives: Our aim was to determine whether markers of growth hormone and insulin action differ between children born small for gestational age (SGA) and those born of an appropriate size for gestational age (AGA).

Design: Fifty-five SGA children and their 55 age- and sex-matched AGA control subjects were studied in a case-control setting at 12 years of age.

Methods: We examined serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-II, IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-1 and IGFBP-3, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), leptin, fasting insulin, and blood glucose.

Blood pressure, serum lipids, fasting insulin, and adrenal hormones in 12-year-old children born with maternal preeclampsia.

Women with prior preeclamptic pregnancies have an increased risk for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. Maternal preeclampsia has been associated with elevated blood pressure (BP) in offspring during childhood. The aim of our study was to determine whether elevated BP pressure and metabolic changes, such as dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and increased adrenal hormonal activity, are found in 12-yr-old children of preeclamptic mothers.

Increased adrenocortical and adrenomedullary hormonal activity in 12-year-old children born small for gestational age.

Objectives: To determine whether adrenal hormonal activity is altered in children born small for gestational age (SGA), and whether concentrations of adrenal hormones relate to those of serum lipids or to anthropometric measures.

Study Design: We studied 55 SGA children and 55 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) children at the age of 12 years in a case-control setting. The concentrations of fasting serum cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), plasma epinephrine (E), and norepinephrine (NE) were analyzed.

Ambulatory blood pressure in 12-year-old children born small for gestational age.

An association between low birth weight and subsequent elevated blood pressure has been demonstrated in a large number of studies, but the number of subjects born small for gestational age in these studies has been negligible. The inverse relationship between birth weight and blood pressure in children has been evaluated previously with an ambulatory blood pressure device, but only in children with normal birth weights. In this prospective case-control study from birth to the age of 12, we evaluated the ambulatory blood pressures in 50 children born at term but small for gestational age and in 50 full-term children born appropriate for gestational age.

Serum lipid concentrations and growth characteristics in 12-year-old children born small for gestational age.

According to Barker's hypothesis, children born small for gestational age (SGA) are at increased risk for cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. The aim of our study was to determine whether retarded fetal growth is associated with dyslipidemia in childhood and, if so, to find predictive factors in the growth characteristics of SGA children. We studied the serum lipid concentrations of 55 SGA children and their 55 appropriate for gestational age control subjects at the age of 12 y.

The clinical efficacy of nebulized racemic epinephrine and albuterol in acute bronchiolitis.

Objective: To investigate whether nebulized racemic epinephrine or albuterol improves respiratory distress in infants with acute bronchiolitis.

Design: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.

Setting: A university hospital providing primary hospital care for all pediatric patients in a defined area.