Metabolic disturbances and cardiovascular risk factors in obese children with vitamin D deficiency.

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents has been rapidly increasing in recent years. Obese individuals are at risk of vitamin D deficiency. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and anthropometric measurements, cardiovascular risk factors, and glucose homeostasis in obese children. METHODS: Between June 2011 and January 2012, 40 obese and 30 non-obese children (between 7 and 14 years of age) were evaluated at Tepecik Training and Research Hospital. The following characteristics were recorded: height; weight; body mass index (BMI); total body fat content; fasting glucose, insulin, and lipid levels; basic biochemical parameters; complete blood count; bilateral carotid intima media thickness; liver ultrasound results; and left ventricular wall thickness were recorded. 25-hydroxy (OH) vitamin D levels were measured from serum. RESULTS: The serum 25(OH) vitamin D level was low in 45 children (64.3%). The 24-h ambulatory blood pressure measurements, carotid intima-media thickness, and the prevalence of 25(OH) vitamin D deficiency were different between obese and non-obese children (P<0.05). The incidence of dyslipidemia was not statistically different between obese and non-obese children (P>0.05). Plasma 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations were negatively correlated with age, BMI, total body fat content, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure, and carotid intima-media thickness (P<0.05). Plasma 25(OH) vitamin D levels were not correlated with fasting plasma glucose, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density cholesterol, and high-density cholesterol (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent in obese children. Serum 25(OH)vitamin D was significantly associated with several cardiometabolic risk factors. There was no relationship between abnormal glucose homeostasis and dyslipidemia with vitamin D deficiency in obese children.

Precocious puberty in a patient with mosaic Turner syndrome.

Turner syndrome (TS) is one of the most common human chromosome abnormalities, occurring in approximately 1:2500 live female births. Short stature, ovarian dysgenesis and infertility are clinical hallmarks in the majority of patients with TS. The incidence of spontaneous puberty in TS is reported to be about one third. Precocious puberty in TS patients is very rare. Herein, we report precocious puberty in a case with TS.

Bamforth syndrome: is porencephaly a new finding?

Bamforth syndrome is a rare inherited condition whose main features are congenital hypothyroidism due to thyroid dysplasia, cleft palate, and spiky hair, with or without choanal atresia and bifid epiglottis. This syndrome is caused by mutations in the gene encoding thyroid transcription factor 2 (TTF-2). Here we report on a newborn with facial dysmorphism, cleft palate, spiky hair, congenital hypothyroidism and that are observed with Bamforth syndrome. This is the first case with Bamforth syndrome in which porencephaly has been observed.

Adiponectin and visfatin levels in extremely low birth weight infants; they are also at risk for insulin resistance.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess adiponectin, visfatin, HOMA-IR, glucose and triglyceride levels in term, preterm and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) babies. Each of these three groups was subdivided into two groups as small-for-gestational age (SGA), and appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA). 30 term, 30 preterm and 30 extremely low birth weight infants were included into the study. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in term and preterm infants for serum adiponectin, visfatin, and HOMA-IR levels. There were also no significant differences between term and preterm infants for glucose and triglycerides. The serum visfatin, insulin and HOMA-IR levels (p = 0.001, p = 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively) were higher in ELBW group than preterm group. Comparing the subgroups as SGA and AGA in all main groups, only in ELBW group there were no significant differences in serum adiponectin, visfatin, HOMA-IR and insulin levels. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that visfatin can be used as an early indicator of insulin resistance. Independent of being SGA, ELBW itself may be a risk factor for insulin resistance. In the follow-up of these babies the risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases may be increased as in SGA babies.  

Importance of epicardial adipose tissue thickness measurement in obese adolescents, its relationship with carotid intima-media thickness, and echocardiographic findings.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EATT) and echocardiographic parameters, such as carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), myocardial performance index (MPI), left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function, and LV mass index in adolescents with obesity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and thirty eight obese adolescents and 63 lean subjects were enrolled in the study. The body mass index standard deviation scores (BMI-SDS) between 1.65-2.49 and 2.50-2.99 were considered as mild-moderate and severe obesity, respectively. All of the subjects underwent transthoracic echocardiographic examination for determination of LV function, LV structure, LV mass index, and MPI. Epicardial adipose tissue thickness and cIMT were also measured during echocardiography. RESULTS: The EATT measurements were increased significantly in patients with severe obesity compared to lean subjects (7.38±1.76 vs 4.28±0.79 mm, respectively; p = 0.001), but there was no significant difference between the obesity groups. The average LV mass index measurements were higher in both mild-moderately and severely obese patients in comparison with the lean children (87.5±34.8, 88.5±23.0, and 62.4±18.2 g/m2, respectively; p < 0.01), but there was no significant difference between the obesity groups. EATT was positively correlated with BMI-SDS, waist and hip circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), triglyceride levels, cIMT, LV mass index, and MPI in the severe obesity group. EATT was the only independent predictor of cIMT in the multivariate analysis (standardized ß coefficient = 0.70, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates a close relationship between EATT and cIMT, and LV functions and LV mass index in obese adolescents. Assessments of EATT and cIMT in particular during routine echocardiographic examinations might be used as a feasible and reliable method for the evaluation of obesity and its related cardiovascular risks during childhood.

Cystic hygroma of the breast in a 5 year old boy presenting as a gynecomastia.

Cystic hygroma, also known as lymphangioma, are unusual congenital malformations of the lymphatic system. Cystic lymphangioma is a rare lesion in the breast of children. Only a few cases have been documented in literature. We report a rare case of a 5-year-old boy presented with a gradually enlarging, painless breast mass which was identified sonographically and histologically as a breast lymphangioma and treated by surgical excision. A local excision of the lump was performed and a diagnosis of cystic lymphangioma was made. Cyst was surgically removed, with preservation of normal tissue, and histopathologic findings showed a lymphangioma. The patient is well, after one year of follow-up, with no complaints or recurrence.

An infant with congenital fibula deficiency accompanying with deafness.

Congenital longitudinal deficiency of the fibula (CLDF) is the most common congenital defect involving the long bones. There have been many different classifications developed for fibula deficiency. Achterman and Kalamchi's classification is most commonly used and will be described. Our case was complied with type II. Other anomalies includes cardiac anomalies, thrombocytopenia absent-radius (TAR) syndrome, thoracoabdominal schisis, spina bifida and renal anomalies, but most associated anomalies are skeletal. We here presented firstly in literature an infant with congenital fibula deficiency accompanying with deafness.

Rapid progression to diabetes in a four-year-old girl with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) results from mutations in the gene that encodes the CF transmembrane conductance regulator protein located on chromosome 7. This gene encodes a protein that functions as a cyclic adenosine monophosphate-regulated chloride channel. Abnormal function of the channel results in aberrant conductance across the apical

Assessment of abnormal glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance in Turkish obese children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The worldwide increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions and is associated with a dramatic rise in cases of type 2 diabetes. We determined the prevalence of impaired glucose regulation and insulin resistance in obese children and adolescents. METHODS: A total of 196 obese children [SD score (SDS) of body mass index (BMI): 2.17 +/- 0.03], aged 7-18 years, including 86 male subjects, underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (1.75 g glucose/kg body weight). We used the modified WHO criteria adapted for children for abnormal glucose homeostasis. Homeostasis model assessment was used to estimate insulin resistance in all subjects. The insulin sensitivity index was also determined in subjects. RESULTS: Of the total of 196 obese children, 15 (6.6%) had an abnormal fasting glucose level. Of the 196 obese children, 35 (18%) had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and 83 (43%) had insulin resistance. Of the 196 obese children were six (3%) diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance indices were correlated well with the degree of abnormal glucose tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: IGT, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes are far more common in obese Turkish children than previously thought. Early treatment in obese children and adolescents with IGT constitutes a strategy of reversing the progression to beta-cell failure and preventing type 2 diabetes.

Evidence for an association between type 1 diabetes and premature carotid atherosclerosis in childhood.

Acute phase proteins have been suggested to be increased in patients with type 1 diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and intima-media thickness (IMT) and functions of the common carotid artery (CCA) in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Serum CRP levels were measured in 65 children and adolescents with diabetes (33 girls and 32 boys; mean age, 12.7 +/- 3.8 years; range, 7-18; duration of diabetes, 6.9 +/- 3.6 years). Age and diabetes duration, as well as major cardiovascular risk factors including anthropometric and metabolic parameters, were matched between girls and boys. The relations of serum CRP levels to CCA structure and functions were measured by ultrasonography as IMT, cross-sectional compliance, cross-sectional distensibility, diastolic wall stress (DWS), and incremental elastic modulus (IEM). There was no significant difference for serum CRP levels between girls and boys (3.7 +/- 1.3 vs 3.2 +/- 0.4 mg/L; p > 0.05). CRP was positively correlated with IMT (r = 0.49, p = 0.001), IEM (r = 0.24, p = 0.05), DWS (r = 0.58, p < 0.001), and body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.28, p = 0.05). In a multivariate regression model, we included CRP and metabolic and anthropometric parameters such as duration of diabetes, HbA1c, BMI, waist:hip ratio, age, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure as independent variables in the model for CCA structure and functions. CRP emerged as an independent correlation for mean IMT (beta = 0.51, p < 0.001) and DWS (beta = 0.61, p < 0.001). According to our findings, CRP was associated with CCA structure and functions in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.