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The article discusses the potential effects of propolis, a plant-derived product, on puberty-related outcomes. It mentions that propolis contains chemicals with phytoestrogenic effects, similar to estrogens. Topics including the impact of propolis on precocious puberty, its phytoestrogenic properties, and its potential role in triggering mammary duct proliferation in prepubertal children.

Background: Maturity-onset diabetes of the youth (MODY), is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous group of diseasesand is often misdiagnosed as type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study is to investigate both novel and proven mutations of 11 MODY genes in Turkish children by using targeted next generation sequencing. Methods: A panel of 11 MODY genes were screened in 43 children with MODY diagnosed by clinical criterias. Studies of index cases was done with MISEQ-ILLUMINA, and family screenings and confirmation studies of mutations was done by Sanger sequencing. Results: We identified 28 (65%) point mutations among 43 patients. Eighteen patients have GCK mutations, four have HNF1A, one has HNF4A, one has HNF1B, two have NEUROD1, one has PDX1 gene variations and one patient has both HNF1A and HNF4A heterozygote mutations. Conclusions: This is the first study including molecular studies of 11 MODY genes in Turkish children. GCK is the most frequent type of MODY in our study population. Very high frequency of novel mutations (42%) in our study population, supports that in heterogenous disorders like MODY sequence analysis provides rapid, cost effective and accurate genetic diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. GnRH analogues (GnRHa) are used in the treatment of central precocious puberty (CPP). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with a GnRHa (leuprolide acetate) in patients with CPP. Subjects and Methods. A total of 62 female child patients who had been diagnosed with CPP, rapidly progressive precocious puberty (RP-PP), or advanced puberty (AP) and started on GnRHa treatment (leuprolide acetate, Lucrin depot, 3.75 mg once every 28 days) were included in the study. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated with anthropometric data obtained, progression of pubertal symptoms observed, as well as GnRHa tests, and, when necessary, intravenous GnRH tests carried out in physical examinations that were performed once every 3 months. Results. In the current study, treatment of early/advanced puberty at a dose of 3.75 mg once every 28 days resulted in the suppression of the HHG axis in 85.5% of the patients. Conclusion. The findings of this study revealed that a high starting dose of leuprolide acetate may not be necessary in every patient for the treatment of CPP. Starting at a dose of 3.75 mg once every 28 days and increasing it with regard to findings in follow-ups would be a better approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and purpose: This study aims to investigate the effect of Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) treatment on anterior pituitary hormones in female children with central precocious puberty (CPP). Subjects and method: There were 62 female children who had been diagnosed with CPP and received GnRHa (Leuprolide acetate, 3.75 mg intramuscular/subcutaneous/28 days) included in the study. All subjects were clinically evaluated prior to treatment and every 3 months during treatment with serum LH, FSH, ACTH, TSH, PRL as pituitary hormones, and the end hormones such as plasma E2, cortisol, fT3, fT4 levels were measured. IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were measured, and SDS was evaluated according to age and gender. Results: Prolactin levels were higher during GnRHa treatment compared to pre-treatment values although the increase was statistically significant only at month 3. In addition, while 2 (3.2%) of the patients had hyperprolactinemia before treatment, 11 (17.7%) patients developed hyperprolactinemia at different time points during treatment. Conclusion: This study concluded that GnRHa treatment resulted in hyperprolactinemia and had no significant effect other pituitary hormones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most common congenital endocrine disorder is congenital hypothyroidism (CH), which can lead to mental retardation if untreated. Majority of the patients have been found to have defects in thyroid development and migration disorders (dysgenesis), and the remaining ones have thyroid hormone synthesis defects (dyshormonogenesis). One of the most common mechanisms to cause dyshormonogenesis is a defect in the thyroid peroxidase (TPO) enzyme. In familial cases, mutations in the TPO gene are fairly prevalent. To date, more than 80 mutations have been identified, which result in variably decreasing TPO bioactivities. Clinical manifestations of TPO defects are typically permanent CH and with or without goiter. In this report, we presented two children with CH who were born to consanguineous parents and were homozygous carriers of a missense (G319R) TPO mutation, the mutation segregated with the disease status in the families confirming its pathogenicity. G319R mutation seemed to be a common cause of CH in Turkish population, which could originate from a common founder ancestor. Moreover, our results also confirmed the phenotypic variability associated with different TPO mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cushing's disease is a condition in which hypercortisolism develops due to excessive hypophyseal adrenocorticotropic hormone production. It is rare in childhood. In this paper, we report the case of a 10-year-old male patient with hypophyseal microadenoma-related Cushing's disease who presented with obesity and was found to show poor height growth at follow-up. The diagnosis was confirmed with inferior petrosal sinus sampling, and the adenoma was successfully removed by transsphenoidal surgery. While adrenal axis suppression continued for approximately 1 year, clinical improvement was clearly observed after the third month following surgery. The findings in this patient demonstrate that decreased growth rate despite rapid weight gain in children can be early sign of Cushing's disease and emphasize the importance of monitoring of growth in obese children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (HIH) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder with both familial and sporadic variants. Patients with HIH may present during the neonatal period, infancy, or childhood and may show transient, prolonged, and persistent features. In this study, we aimed to discuss our experience with HIH patients, based on a series of 17 patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and laboratory characteristics at the time of diagnosis and during treatment and evaluated the neurodevelopmental outcomes during follow-up in 17 HIH patients, who presented or were referred to the Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic of Dr. Sami Ulus Training and Research Children's Hospital between 1998 and 2011. The patients (7 male, 10 female) were aged between the first day of life and 7 years - 10 were in their first week of life, 6 in their infancy, and 1 in childhood. Results: None of the mothers had gestational diabetes. Hypoglycemic seizure (76.5%) was the most common presenting symptom. Medical treatment failed in two patients, and was stopped in eight patients. Of two diazoxide-unresponsive patients, one underwent near-total pancreatectomy, but hypoglycaemic episodes continued after surgery. The parents of other patient refused surgery, the medical treatment was continued, nevertheless, severe motor and mental retardation developed. At follow-up, 23.5% of the patients were found to have mild or moderate psychomotor retardation, and 23.5% developed epilepsy. There was no marked difference in neurological results between cases with onset in the neonatal period or in infancy. Conclusions: Clinical course and treatment response in HIH cases are very heterogeneous. Long-term careful monitoring is needed to detect and treat the complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neonatal hyperthyroidism is a rare disorder and occurs in two forms. An autoimmune form is associated with maternal Graves' disease, resulting from transplacental passage of maternal thyroid-stimulating antibodies and a nonautoimmune form is caused by gain of function mutations in the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) gene. Thyrotoxicosis caused by germline mutations in the TSHR gene may lead to a variety of clinical consequences. To date, 55 activating mutations of the TSHR gene have been documented. Fourteen cases with sporadic activating TSHR germline mutations have been described. Here we report a male infant with nonautoimmune hyperthyroidism due to an activating germline TSHR mutation (A623V), whose clinical picture started in the newborn period with severe hyperthyroidism. His parents did not have the same mutation. This mutation had been previously detected as a somatic mutation in patients with toxic adenomas. This is the first report of a sporadic case of nonautoimmune congenital hyperthyroidism associated with A623V mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although hemangioendothelioma (HHE) is a commonly encountered hepatic tumor during infancy, HHE-related hypothyroidism is rare. We present a patient who developed HHE-related hypothyroidism during the neonatal period and showed marked improvement in hypothyroidism by regression of HHE. A 28-day-old boy with TSH level of 77 mIU/mL on neonatal screening and diagnosed as congenital hypothyroidism was started on L-thyroxine (L-T4) (11 μg/kg/day) therapy on the 21th day of life. On physical examination, the liver was palpable 5 cm below the right costal margin, and the thyroid gland was nonpalpable. Thyroid ultrasonography was normal. Although L-T4 dose was increased to 15 μg/kg/day, TSH was not suppressed and free T3 level remained low. HHE in both lobes of the liver was detected by abdominal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. Treatment was started with prednisolone 2 mg/kg/day and alpha-interferon 3 million U/m2/3 times per week. Thyroid dysfunction was thought to be due to type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase activity expressed by HHE. L-T4 therapy was changed to Bitiron® tablet, which includes both T4 and T3, and euthyroidism was attained within 1 month. Thyroid hormone requirement was reduced and treatment was discontinued after regression of the HHE. At the most recent visit, the patient was 21 months old and off treatment. His growth and neurological development were normal for age and he was euthyroid. HHE should be considered in cases with severe hypothyroidism resistant to high-dose thyroid hormone replacement. The treatment of HHE in combination with T4 and T3 therapy results in euthyroidism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rett syndrome is an X-linked dominant disorder frequently caused by the mutations in the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 gene (MECP2). Its prevalence in the population is 1/15,000-20,000. Patients with Rett syndrome present apparently normal psychomotor developments during the first 6-18 months of life. Subsequently, they show a short period of developmental stagnation followed by a rapid regression in language and motor development. Precocious puberty is characterized by premature breast and pubic hair development, and advanced bone age development at 8 years of age. We present a case of Rett syndrome and precocious puberty in a 6-year-old girl. At the age of 6, the first signs of precocious puberty appeared (Tanner stage 3). Laboratory measurements were detected as follows: luteinizing hormone (LH), 0.2 mIU/mL; follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), 1.1 mIU/mL; estradiol, 36 pg/mL; bone age, 9 years. The response to luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test) was characteristic for true precocious puberty (LH, 32 mIU/mL; FSH, 26 mIU/mL). This is the first reported case of precocious puberty related to Rett syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyponatremia and hyperpotassemia occurring in the first few weeks of life primarily indicate aldosterone deficiency due to salt-losing congenital adrenal hyperplasia (SL-CAH), while mineralocorticoid deficiency and insensitivity are the main causes of hyponatremia and hyperpotassemia in older infants. Some patients who present with vomiting and poor sucking, who have hyponatremia and hyperpotassemia and are initially diagnosed as CAH, during follow-up, are found to suffer from pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA). This situation has been reported several times before. The cases described here represent the opposite situation: they presented with hyponatremia and hyperpotassemia, thus PHA was considered as aldosterone levels were very high, but subsequent investigation and genetic analysis led to the diagnosis of SL-CAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the essential role of insulin in the management of patients with insulin deficiency, insulin use can lead to adverse effects such as hypoglycaemia and weight gain. Rarely, crucial fluid retention can occur with insulin therapy, resulting in an oedematous condition. Peripheral or generalised oedema is an extremely rare complication of insulin therapy in the absence of heart, liver or renal involvement. It has been reported in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, in poorly controlled type 2 diabetes following the initiation of insulin therapy, and in underweight patients on large doses of insulin. The oedema occurs shortly after the initiation of intensive insulin therapy. We describe two adolescent girls with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, who presented with oedema of the lower extremities approximately one week after the initiation of insulin treatment; other causes of oedema were excluded. Spontaneous recovery was observed in both patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels in children with isolated growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and to determine the effect of GH replacement therapy on these levels., Methods: 31 patients diagnosed with isolated GHD and 29 age-and sex-matched healthy children were enrolled in the study. Height, weight and waist circumference were measured in all subjects. Fasting serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), IGF binding protein-3, glucose, insulin and lipid levels were evaluated. Serum ADMA levels were assessed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The same evaluations were repeated on the 3rd and 6th months of treatment in 28 of the GHD cases., Results: There were no significant differences in ADMA levels between the patient and control groups [0.513±0.130 (0.291-0.820) µmol/L vs. 0.573±0.199 (0.241-1.049) µmol/L]. There was a positive correlation between serum ADMA and HbA1c levels in the control group. In the GHD cases, ADMA levels negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein levels and positively correlated with low-density lipoprotein levels. There was also a significant increase in ADMA levels in patients receiving GH therapy compared to pre-treatment levels [serum ADMA level, 1.075±0.133 (0.796-1.303) µmol/L at the 3rd month and 0.923±0.121 (0.695-1.159) µmol/L at the 6th month of treatment]. There was a negative correlation between ADMA levels and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance values at the 6th month evaluation. There were no relationships between ADMA levels and age, sex, or pubertal state either before or during the treatment., Conclusion: Serum ADMA levels were found to be similar in patients with GHD and in healthy children. However, serum ADMA levels showed a significant increase in GHD patients following GH replacement therapy.

Objective: Training teachers and education professionals on diabetes is crucial for full-time monitoring of diabetic children in schools. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge on diabetes in a group of school teachers in Turkey., Methods: Between November 2010 and November 2011, 1054 teachers from three regions of Ankara were given a questionnaire to assess their knowledge on diabetes. The mean age of the group (27% males, 73% females) was 38.8±8 years. 61.7% of the participants were class teachers, 23.3% were school counselors, and the rest were physical education teachers and administrators., Results: A fair percentage (47.6%) of the participants had a moderate knowledge level on diabetes and 32.4% expressed a lower level of knowledge. A large proportion (94%) gave an accurate definition of diabetes. Of the total group of 1054 teachers, 625 were aware that blood glucose level might decrease in diabetic children during follow-up. Also, 75% believed that diabetic children were eligible for physical education classes. 52.8% of these teachers had no diabetic child in their classes and teachers with a diabetic patient in their family had better knowledge of diabetes compared to their counterparts., Conclusions: Our study results indicate that school teachers have limited knowledge on diabetes. We believe that their knowledge levels can be improved by widespread training programs.

A combination of Turner syndrome (TS) and classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is rare. A one-day-old newborn was referred to our hospital with ambiguous genitalia. The parents were third-degree relatives. The infant's weight was 3350g (50-75p), and the head circumference was 34.5cm (50p). The gonads were nonpalpable. Presence of a 3 cm phallus, one urogenital opening into the perineum, and incomplete labial fusion were identified. Laboratory tests revealed a classical type of CAH due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Karyotyping revealed a 45X0(35)/46XX(22) pattern with negative sex-determining region Y (SRY) on gene analysis. At the most recent follow-up visit, the patient appeared to be in good health - her height was 70.4 cm [-1.5 standard deviation (SD)] and her weight was 9.8 kg (0.3 SD). She was receiving hydrocortisone in a dose of 10 mg/m²/day, fludrocortisone acetate in a dose of 0.075 mg/day, and oral salt of 1 g/day. System examinations were normal. The patient's electrolyte levels were found to be normal and she was in good metabolic control. The findings of this patient demonstrate that routine karyotyping during investigation of patients with sexual differentiation disorders can reveal TS. Additionally, signs of virilism should always be investigated at diagnosis or during physical examinations for follow-up of TS cases. SRY analysis should be performed primarily when signs of virilism are observed. CAH should also be considered in patients with negative SRY.