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The article presents abstracts on medical topics including the association between leptin and serum aldosterone, the emergence of steroidogenesis and mast cells in the human fetal adrenal, and the exome sequencing in primary generalized glucocorticoid resistance patients.

No abstract available [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) denotes an inappropriate secretion of insulin from pancreatic β-cells in the presence of a low blood glucose level due to various genetic causes. Diazoxide is the first-line medical treatment for CHI. In case of failure, a somatostatin analogue called octreotide is used. A prolonged QT interval is an unusual side effect of octreotide which can be lethal if unrecognized. Case Presentation: We report on a 35-day-old infant who was diagnosed with CHI on the 3rd day of his life and underwent pancreatectomy due to failure of medical treatment at 8 months. His genetic analysis revealed a compound heterozygosity for a novel missense mutation (p.Met115Val) and a nonsense mutation (p.Trp1339X) in the ABCC8 gene. Furthermore, at the 6th month of follow-up, a long QT (0.49 s) was determined by ECG examination, which was normalized following discontinuation of octreotide treatment after pancreatectomy. Thus, the long QT was considered to be secondary to octreotide medication. Conclusion: We recommend ECG monitoring before and during octreotide treatment in order to recognize a prolonged QT interval and to prevent related complications in cases with congenital hyperinsulinemia. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an author index and plenary lecture abstracts from the September 2013 pediatric endocrinology meeting in Italy on topics including puberty in obese children, placental expression of SPRY2, and the effect of breast milk leptin concentration on neonatal weight gain.

The article presents abstracts on medical topics which include the articles "New monogenic cause of adrenarche" by Aristotle Panayiotopoulos, Josef Michi, Steven Ghanny, and others, "In vitro expression of rare CYP21A2 mutations associated with non-classic CAH" by Svetlana Lajic, Michela Barbaro, Anna Wedell, and others, and "Psychological characteristics of adolescents with Cushing's disease" by Ekaterina Svistunova, Natalya Udalova and Valentina Peterkova.

The article presents abstracts on medical topics which include the articles "Precocious adrenarche in girls born either appropriate or small for gestational age" by Teresa Arrigo, Valeria Chirico, Carmelo Salpietro, and others, "Cyp21A2 and Cyp11Ba: first report of a digenic inheritance in CAH" by Piero Pirazzoli, Lilia Baldazzi, Antonio Balsamo, and others, and "Triple A syndrome in 2 patients with ENT signs as first manifestations" by Marie Bournez, Eric Bieth, Sophie Caula, and others.

Background/Aim: The exon 3-deleted/full-length (d3/fl) growth hormone (GH) receptor (GHR) polymorphism has been associated with responsiveness to GH therapy in some diagnostic groups. However, there are still controversies on this issue. To evaluate the effect of the GHR exon 3 polymorphism on growth after 1 and 2 years of GH therapy in Turkish patients with GH deficiency (GHD) and Turner's syndrome (TS) and the distribution of GHR exon 3 isoforms. Materials and Methods: 218 patients with GHD (125 males/93 females) and 43 patients with TS were included in the study. The control group included 477 healthy adults aged from 18 to 57 years (54 females/423 males). Anthropometric parameters and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 were evaluated annually. GHR isoforms were studied using simple multiplex PCR. Height and body mass index were expressed as standard deviation score (SDS). Results: There were no differences among TS, GHD and healthy adults regarding the distribution of GHR exon 3 isoforms (fl/fl, fl/d3 and d3/d3). There was a significant increase in height SDS in both diagnostic groups on GH therapy; however, there were neither differences in height SDS and Δheight velocity between fl/fl, fl/d3 and d3/d3 groups nor a correlation between the distribution of GHR exon 3 isoforms and change in IGF-1 SDS and IGFBP-3 SDS levels on GH therapy in either of the diagnostic groups. There was also no gender difference in GHR isoforms in healthy adults. Conclusion: The results suggest that responsiveness to GH therapy does not depend on the exon 3 GHR genotypes in GHD and TS patients. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents several abstracts related to pediatrics, including one on HIV-positive children, one on mutational screening of the AKT1 gene in patients born small for gestational age and one on growth response in 17 growth hormone-treated patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

The article presents several abstracts related to pediatrics, including one on the utility of urine steroid metabolite ratios in evaluating 544 suspected cases of disorders of sex hormone synthesis, one on preserved fertility in a patient with a 46,XY disorder of sexual development due to a new heterozygous mutation in NR5A1 gene and one on phenotypic spectrum and functional analysis of 12 new SF1 (NR5A1) gene mutations in patients with 46,XY disorders of sex differentiation.

Aims: The objective of this study was to investigate the cause of valproate (VPA)-associated weight gain in children. Methods: Eighteen children (10.94 ± 3.78 years) with epilepsy were assigned to VPA therapy. Serum levels of glucose, insulin, cortisol, leptin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), galanin and ghrelin were assessed before (month 0) and after 18 months of therapy. Eighteen age- and gender-matched patients (10.78 ± 3.95 years) were enrolled as the control group. Results: Excess per capita weight of 2.3 kg was determined in the children receiving VPA over 18 months compared to the control group. In these patients, a statistically significant increase in standardized weight score, Homeostasis Model Assessment index, serum leptin, NPY and galanin values was determined at the 18th month compared to those before VPA treatment and in the control group, and there was also a significant decrease in ghrelin values. Conclusion: Increased serum levels of leptin, NPY and galanin play an important role in VPA-associated weight gain in children. While ghrelin is not directly associated with weight gain, its serum levels decline as a response to weight gain. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Plant growth regulators are considered to leave minimal amounts of remnants and therefore cause no significant side effects in humans. In this study, we aimed to investigate the hormonal and histopathological effects of 4-chlorophenoxy acetic acid (4-CPA), a commonly used plant growth regulator, on the gonadal functions of rats. Methods: The study was implemented on 64 Wistar albino rats (20 days old). Forty-eight rats received 4-CPA every day until 50 days of age. The rats were randomized into 4 groups (a control group and three 4-CPA groups with doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg/day); each group was further divided into males and females, making a total of 8 groups. The levels of FSH, LH, testosterone, estradiol, leptin, inhibin-B and neuropeptide-Y were measured. Histopathological examination of the testes and ductus deferens in male rats, and ovaries and uterus of female rats (caspase-3 and -9 immunoreactivity) was performed. Results:Although hormone levels were similar between the groups, rats that received 4-CPA showed significantly higher degrees of apoptosis compared to the control group (p < 0.001) and increased doses of 4-CPA were directly correlated with the amount of apoptosis (p < 0.001). Conclusion: 4-CPA induced apoptosis in the gonads of rats without concurrent changes in plasma hormone levels. Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts on medical topics, including the effects of growth hormone (GH) therapy on young adults with childhood-onset severe GH deficiency, the investigation of GH secretion stimulatory test response as a criterion indicating GH therapy, and a study of GH and thyroxine replacement therapy for a boy with Jeune syndrome and Panhypopituitarism.

The article presents abstracts on growth disorders including "Insulin sensitivity, adinoponetin and resistin levels and fat distribution before and during GH therapy (GHRx) in short SGA children," "Psychosocial deprivation and stunted growth in Georgian street children," and "Assessment of physical growth in 100 patients with beta thalassemia major in Iran-Mashhad."

The article presents abstracts of hormonal research related to ovaries. These include "Tamoxifen treatment in a patient with BPES syndrome and peripheral precocious puberty," by Cristina Gonzales, "Structural changes of mammary glands in girls with hyperprolactinaemia," by Nazelli Sargsyan, and "Effect of topiramate in twins with PCOS and bipolar disorder," by Gherta Brill.

The article presents abstracts of obesity. They include "Plasma adrenomedullin, serum nitric oxide and leptin levels in obese children," "Acylated and des-acylated ghrelin in normal weight and obese children," and "Increased oxidative stress associated with serum levels in lipid and insulin resistance in obese children."

Presents various research studies published in the September 2005 issue of "Hormone Research." "Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Other Antihypertensive Agents for the Primary Prevention of Diabetic Renal Disease," by Giovanni Strippoli, Maria Craig, Jonathan Craig and Francesco Schena; "Molecular Detection of Insulin mRNA in Whole Blood As a Predictive Test for Type 1 Diabetes," by Jadranka Popovic, Dong Yu, Wayne Moore, Karen Kover and Pei Yung Tong; "Prevalence and Determinants of Abnormal Lipid Profiles in Type 1 Diabetes," by Zacharoula Karabouta, Julian P. H. Shield and Elizabeth C. Crowe.

Background: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of the nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) constitute a complex system of mediators involved in the regulation of bone resorption process. Ghrelin, a growth hormone secretagogue, has been shown to modulate proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts. The present study was carried out to evaluate the serum concentrations of OPG and sRANKL in children with chronic renal impairment (CRI) and on dialysis, and to establish a possible relationship between their serum levels and that of ghrelin. Methods: 33 patients including 10 patients with CRI, 12 peritoneal dialysis (PD) and 11 hemodialysis (HD) patients and 22 healthy controls were enrolled into the study. OPG, sRANKL and ghrelin levels were studied with radioimmunoassay. Results: Serum OPG levels in CRI, PD and HD groups were significantly higher than the healthy controls (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively) whereas sRANKL levels were significantly lower than the healthy controls (p = 0.03, p = 0.01, p = 0.001, respectively). Ghrelin levels were significantly higher in CRI, PD and HD groups compared to healthy controls (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). We observed a negative correlation between the sRANKL and OPG levels (r = –0.27, p = 0.04) as well as between sRANKL and ghrelin levels (r = –0.31, p = 0.02). OPG levels showed a positive correlation with ghrelin levels (r = 0.63, p < 0.001). Conclusion: We found a lower RANKL bioactivity index in children with CRI and on dialysis. The mechanism and the role of elevated OPG and low sRANKL in uremia are unclear, but they might partly represent a compensatory mechanism to the negative balance of bone remodeling in renal bone disease in children. Additionally, we demonstrated for the first time that ghrelin and the RANKL/OPG system have a close relationship in CRF. Therefore, ghrelin may be of importance in mediating the effects of the RANKL/OPG system in renal bone disease. Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides abstracts on medical topics including a theory that DNA damage causes aging, control of glucose production by the hypothalamus, and the influence of sleep on neuroendocrine function.