Evaluation of the promoter methylation status of hypoxia factor 3A and interleukin-6 genes and expression levels of mir-130b and mir-146b in childhood obesity.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity, which causes many serious diseases, is increasing exponentially in childhood across the world. Epigenetic changes, as well as genetics, play an important role in the process of adipogenesis. Therefore, we aimed to examine the expression levels of obesity-related MicroRNA-130b and MicroRNA-146b and the methylation status of hypoxia factor 3A and interleukin-6 genes associated with obesity in children. METHODS: This study was performed with 98 individuals (49 obese children and 49 controls) whose DNA was isolated from peripheral blood. Gene promoter methylations were analyzed by methylation-specific Polymerase chain reaction. In addition, expression levels of MicroRNAs were determined by quantitative real-time Polymerase chain reaction in 30 children (15 obese children and 15 controls). RESULTS: Methylation status of interleukin-6 gene was 93.9% in obese children (n=46/49) and 100% (n=49/49) in control group (p>0.05). There was no methylation for hypoxia factor 3A gene (p>0.05). As a result of the study, there was no statistically significant difference in terms of methylation status for hypoxia factor 3A and interleukin-6 genes in the obese group compared to the control group. However, we found that expression levels of MicroRNA-130b (p<0.01) and MicroRNA-146b (p<0.001) were higher in the obese group. CONCLUSIONS: Results support that MicroRNA-130b and MicroRNA-146b are potential biomarkers for the prevention and early diagnosis of obesity. This is the first study on childhood obesity in the Middle Black Sea region of Turkey. We believe that the results obtained by expanding the studies in our country and neighboring countries will be more decisive.

Evaluation of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus in terms of overweight/obesity in tertiary care hospital.

OBJECTIVES: Obesity is a growing problem in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) today. The aim of our study is to determine the frequency of overweight/obesity at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up in children with T1DM as well as review the conditions that may accompany. METHODS: A total of 315 patients with T1DM were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups as normal weight and overweight/obese. The two groups were compared in terms of age at diagnosis, birth weight, anthropometric measurements, insulin dose used and blood pressure measurements, and insulin, c-peptide, hemoglobin A1c, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein levels at the time of diagnosis and follow-up. RESULTS: The height, weight and body mass index standard deviation (BMI SD) scores, and c-peptide levels at the time of diagnosis of the overweight/obese group were higher than those with normal weight (p<0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively). The frequency of dyslipidemia and hypertension was higher in the overweight/obese group than in the normal weight group [18.2 vs. 5% (p = 0.015) and 10 vs. 1.5% (p = 0.003), respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the fact that the overweight/obese group had higher BMI and c-peptide and lower HDL values at the time of diagnosis can be evaluated as indicators that insulin resistance syndrome can accompany T1DM from the beginning (double diabetes). When determining the treatment and follow-up strategies of patients with T1DM, considering the risk of obesity and taking the necessary precautions is very important in terms of morbidity.

Prevalence of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Children with Type 1 Diabetes: A Comparative Assessment Based on Criteria Established by the International Diabetes Federation, World Health Organisation and National Cholesterol Education Program

Objective: To determine the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and to compare the widely accepted and used diagnostic criteria for MetS established by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), World Health Organisation (WHO) and National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII). Methods: We conducted a descriptive, cross sectional study including T1D patients between 8-18 years of age. The three sets of criteria were used to determine the prevalence of MetS and findings compared. Risk factors related to MetS were extracted from hospital records. Results: The study included 200 patients with T1D (52% boys). Of these, 18% (n=36) were overweight/obese (body mass index percentile ≥85%). MetS prevalence was 10.5%, 8.5% and 13.5% according to IDF, WHO and NCEP criteria, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in age, gender, family history of T1D and T2D, pubertal stage, duration of diabetes, hemoglobin A1c levels and daily insulin doses between patients with or without MetS. In the overweight or obese T1D patients, the prevalence of MetS was 44.4%, 38.8% and 44.4% according to IDF, WHO and NCEP-ATPIII criteria, respectively. Conclusion: Obesity prevalence in the T1D cohort was similar to that of the healthy population of the same age. Prevalence of MetS was higher in children and adolescents with T1D compared to the obese population in Turkey. The WHO criteria include microvascular complications which are rare in childhood and the NCEP criteria do not include a primary criterion while diagnosing non-obese patients according to waist circumference as MetS because the existence of diabetes is considered as a direct criterion. Our study suggests that IDF criteria which allows the diagnosis of MetS with obesity and have accepted criteria for the childhood are more suitable for the diagnosis of MetS in children and adolescents with T1D.

Utility of estimated glucose disposal rate for predicting metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents with type-1 diabetes.

Objectives To determine the clinical utility of the estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) for predicting metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children and adolescents with type-1 diabetes (T1D). Methods Modified criteria of the International Diabetes Federation were used to determine MetS in children and adolescents between 10 and 18 years of age with T1D. The eGDR, a validated marker of insulin sensitivity, was calculated in two different ways using either the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) or waist circumference (WC). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to ascertain cut-off levels of the eGDR to predict MetS. Results A total of 200 patients (52% male) with T1D were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of MetS was 10.5% (n: 21). Lower eGDR levels, indicating greater insulin resistance, were found in T1D patients with MetS when compared to those without (6.41 ± 1.86 vs. 9.50 ± 1.34 mg/kg/min) (p < 0.001). An eGDRWHR cut-off of 8.44 mg/kg/min showed 85.7% sensitivity and 82.6% specificity, while an eGDRWC cut-off of 8.16 mg/kg/min showed 76.1% sensitivity and 92.1% specificity for MetS diagnosis. The diagnostic odds ratio was 28.6 (7.3-131.0) for the eGDRWHR cut-off and 37.7 (10.8-140.8) for the eGDRWC cut-off. Conclusions The eGDR is a mathematical formula that can be used in clinical practice to detect the existence of MetS in children and adolescents with T1D using only the WC, existence of hypertension, and hemoglobin A1c levels. An eGDR calculated using the WC could be a preferred choice due to its higher diagnostic performance.

Parathyroid adenoma presenting with multiple Brown tumors in an adolescent patient.

Parathyroid glands are endocrine glands that secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH) and regulate calcium-phosphor metabolism. The overexpression of PTH is called hyperparathyroidism (HPT), and is classified as primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primer HPT (PHPT) is the most common cause of parathyroid adenomas (80%-85%). Development of juvenile PHPT during adolescence is rare. The incidence of bone lesions in all age groups is reported to be 10%-20% in the patients with PHPT, and 5% in patients with juvenile PHPT. In patients with bone lesions, regression occurs in lesions after parathyroidectomy. In this case report, we aimed to present the imaging findings of long bones and left fifth metacarpal bone multiple Brown tumors, which is a rare presentation of parathyroid adenoma in adolescent patient and regression after parathyroidectomy.