PET/CT imaging detects intestinal inflammation in a mouse model of doxorubicin-induced mucositis.

Introduction: A severe side effect of cancer chemotherapy is the development of gastrointestinal mucositis, characterised by mucosal inflammation. We investigated if 2-deoxy-2-[18F] fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (2-[18F]FDG-PET/CT) could visualise gastrointestinal mucositis in mice treated with the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin. Methods: In this study, gastrointestinal inflammation was longitudinally evaluated by 2-[18F]FDG-PET/CT scans before and 1, 3, 6, and 10 days after treatment with doxorubicin. Doxorubicin-treated mice were compared to saline-treated littermates using the abdominal standard uptake value of 2-[18F]FDG corrected for body weight (SUVBW). Results: Abdominal SUVBW was significantly increased on day 1 (p < 0.0001), day 3 (p < 0.0001), and day 6 (p < 0.05) in the doxorubicin-treated group compared to controls. Abdominal SUVBW returned to baseline levels on day 10. In the doxorubicin group, the largest weight loss was observed on day 3 (control vs doxorubicin, mean percent of baseline weight: (98.5 ± 3.2% vs 87.9 ± 4.6%, p < 0.0001). Moreover, in the doxorubicin-treated group, villus lengths were decreased by 23-28% on days 1 and 3 in the small intestine (p < 0.05), and jejunal levels of tumour necrosis factor and interleukin-1ß were significantly increased on day 3 (p < 0.05). Discussion: Together, these findings indicate that sequential 2-[18F]FDG-PET/CT scans can objectively quantify and evaluate the development and resolution of intestinal inflammation over time in a mouse model of doxorubicin-induced mucositis.

Two-year treatment programme showed that younger age and initial weight loss predicted better results in overweight and obese children aged 2-16 years.

AIM: We investigated an outpatient programme that followed the Danish Paediatric Society's recommended multidisciplinary approach to treating overweight and obesity. METHODS: Our cohort comprised 179 participants (55.3% girls) treated from April 2011 until March 2016 at the Hospital of Southwest Jutland, Esbjerg, Denmark. The participant's age ranged from 2.3 to 16.6 years. The body mass index-standard deviation score was registered at inclusion and after three, 12 and 24 months. RESULTS: The girls were more obese than the boys at inclusion, and the mean reduction in the body mass index-standard deviation score was 0.3 units during the study. Half of the participants achieved a reduction in body mass index-standard deviation score of at least 0.25 units, and the frequency of obesity and severe obesity decreased from 69.3% to 47.5%. Predictors of weight loss were younger age and weight loss during the first 3 months. More than half (53.1%) completed the programme, and they were more likely to be younger and male. CONCLUSION: The two-year programme reduced the body mass index-standard deviation score and the frequency of obesity. Younger age and early weight loss predicted success and younger age, and male sex predicted completion rates.

[Review of online prescriptions of topical steroids for an obese boy with iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome].

A 14-year-old boy with obesity developed iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome after having received topical steroid therapy for psoriasis. The diagnosis was suspected when he developed striae, moon face and stunted growth. A review of the Danish online registration of prescriptions: Shared Medicine Card, revealed that an amount of 5.1 kg topical steroids had been prescribed during a period of twelve months. Blood tests showed stunted cortisol release. Primary obesity in children is associated with increased growth. Decreased growth warrants further investigations for an underlying condition. This case illustrates the usefulness of Shared Medicine Card, especially when multiple physicians are involved.

Preoperative ß-cell function in patients with type 2 diabetes is important for the outcome of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.

The majority of the patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) show remission after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). This is the result of increased postoperative insulin sensitivity and ß-cell secretion. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the importance of the preoperative ß-cell function in T2DM for the chance of remission after RYGB. Fifteen patients with and 18 without T2DM had 25 g oral (OGTT) and intravenous (IVGTT) glucose tolerance tests performed at inclusion, after a diet-induced weight loss, and 4 and 18 months after RYGB. Postoperative first phase insulin secretion rate (ISR) during the IVGTT and ß-cell glucose sensitivity during the OGTT increased in T2DM. Postoperative insulin sensitivity and the disposition index (DI) markedly increased in both groups. By stratifying the T2DM into two groups according to highest (T2DMhigh ) and lowest (T2DMlow ) baseline DI, a restoration of first phase ISR and ß-cell glucose sensitivity were seen only in T2DMhigh . Remission of type 2 diabetes was 71 and 38% in T2DMhigh and T2DMlow , respectively. Postoperative postprandial GLP-1 concentrations increased markedly, but did not differ between the groups. Our findings emphasize the importance of the preoperative of ß-cell function for remission of diabetes after RYGB.