Evidence of a significant vitamin D deficiency among 9-13-year-old Polish children: results of a multicentre study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the extent to which the population of Polish preadolescents is vitamin D deficient and to assess seasonal variations in vitamin D status. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: A total of 720 healthy children aged 9-13 years (409 girls, 311 boys) residing in 6 representative geographical locations in Poland were studied. A parental-assisted questionnaire provided data on nutritional habits, vitamin D supplements and sun exposure. Serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin was determined twice, after the winter in March and after the summer in October. RESULTS: In March, vitamin D deficiency (25-50 nmol/L) was found in 64%, and severe deficiency (< 25 nmol/L) in 20.2% of children. In October, the deficiency and severe deficiency were still noticed in 25.9 and 0.1% of children, respectively. The mean serum concentration of 25-OHD was 52% higher in October (55.4 ± 14.0 nmol/L) than in March (36.4 ± 13.5 nmol/L), (p < 0.01). In children with 25-OHD < 50 nmol/L in March, their 25-OHD concentration increased by 64% through March to October (32.5 ± 8.2 vs. 53.2 ± 7.9 nmol/L, p < 0.01). An association was found between 25-OHD concentration and regular consumption of vitamin D supplements, cod-liver oil and fish. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of preadolescent Polish boys and girls show vitamin D deficiency after the winter period, although a distinct amelioration over summertime is found in this age group. There is a need to implement effective prevention and intervention strategies in the management of vitamin D deficiency among schoolchildren in Poland, with the supplementation throughout the entire year.

Androgens concentrations and second-to fourth-digit ratio (2D:4D) in girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (21-hydroxylase deficiency).

OBJECTIVES: Excessive hyperandrogenism, though proper hydrocortisone supplementation is a frequent clinical problem in girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). This may result from autonomic regulation of androgen production established in prenatal life. It has been suggested that the length of the second finger relative to the length of the fourth finger (2D;4D ratio) is negatively related to prenatal testosterone concentration. DESIGN AND SETTING: The retrospective study aimed to establish the relationship between the level of androgenization in utero determined using 2D:4D ratio and serum androgen concentrations in treated girls with CAH (21-OH deficiency) has been performed on 19 girls with CAH (21-OH deficiency) at the age of 3.7-19 years (mean 13.8 ± 4.07 years). All subjects were adequately treated with hydrocortisone (10-19 mg/m2; mean 13.81 ± 4.07 mg/m2). Anthropometric measurements of digits length were performed in all girls on X-rays obtained for bone age estimation. Apart from it, serum androgens concentrations (testosterone, androstenedione, s-DHEA) and 17-OH-progesterone (17-OHP) were assayed. RESULTS: Mean androgens serum concentrations in examined group were: testosterone 150.21 ± 155.44 ng/ml; androstenedione 4.15 ± 5.32 ng/ml, s-DHEA 70.39 ± 85.52 µg/dl. Mean 2D:4D ratio was 0.96 ± 0.04. Analysis of correlation showed positive linear correlations between testosterone, s-DHEA and 2D:4D ratio (r=0.53, p=0.023 and r=0.53; p=0.019, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: 2D:4D ratio parameter may be a simple test in indentification of female CAH patients prone to excessive androgen secretion despite proper treatment. The autonomization of adrenal androgens production in foetal life may cause its elevated levels in female patients with CAH although treated adequately.

[Thyroid function after external irradiation of the neck in patients with Hodgkin's disease--long-term observation]. / Czynnosc tarczycy po radioterapii okolicy szyi u pacjentów z choroba Hodgkina--dlugoletnia obserwacja.

INTRODUCTION: The modern therapy of Hodgkin's disease (HD): chemotherapy (CT) or/and radiotherapy (RT) gives a chance of a long time survival but it brings a possibility of early and late complications including thyroid gland function disorders (post-radiotherapy thyroiditis, thyroid hypofunction, Graves disease, thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer). AIM: Evaluation of thyroid gland function in patients with total HD remission status from 6 to 16 years after the treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 29 patients suffering from HD (9 women, 20 men, mean age 22.8 years), treated with CT (cycles MVPP and B-DOPA) and with RT (cervical region; 18-40 Gy) in their childhood. The patients were examined by palpation, ultrasound, fine-needle aspiration biopsy. The thyroid gland on the average 6 (1st examination) and 16 years (2nd examination) after the treatment as well as thyroid hormones (TSH, fT3, fT4), thyroglobulin (Tg) and anti-thyroid antibodies in blood serum were estimated. The results were analyzed statistically; the percentage of abnormal results of estimated hormones with reference range was calculated. RESULTS: There were no abnormalities in thyroid palpation examination in any patient. The mean thyroid volume in ultrasound in 2nd examination cor-responded to 66.3% of healthy individuals thyroid volume. In 8 patients thyroid nodules were found, in one thyroid papillary carcinoma was diagnosed. In one patient (3.4%) the features of subclinical thyroid hypofunction and in 17.2% the increased level of Tg in blood serum with normal thyroid hormone levels were found. In two patients (6.8%) the raised titre of a-TG and a-TPO was observed. CONCLUSIONS: 1. In majority of patients with HD after RT in cervical region in long term remission period the normal thyroid function was observed. 2. Due to thyroid cancer hazard even many years after radiotherapy regular morphological thyroid evaluation is necessary.

Prospective evaluation of leptin and neuropeptide Y (NPY) serum levels in girls with anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVES: The pathogenesis of anorexia nervosa (AN) remains still unclear. It has been reported that neuropeptides may play a role in the control of appetite and hormone release contributing to hormonal disturbances in AN. However the question if neuropeptide alterations are consequence or cause of malnutrition is still unresolved. METHODS: Serum leptin, neuropeptide Y (NPY) concentrations as well as hormones (FSH, LH, estradiol, cortisol and fT4) serum levels were prospectively estimated in 19 girls aged 11.7-17.7 years (mean 15.5 years) with anorexia nervosa (AN) at the admission to the hospital (baseline) and at follow-up after 7.21+ 2.32 months of treatment. The treatment consisted of hypercaloric diet, psychotherapy and vitamins supplementation. RESULTS: Mean leptin concentration significantly increased from 7.99 + 2.6 to 9.98 + 2.48 microg/ml (p<0.01), whereas mean NPY concentration significantly decreased from 34.10 + 9.81 to 29.6 + 8.04 pmol/l (p<0.01). Leptin/BMI ratio was constant, while NPY/BMI ratio decreased. There were no significant differences between leptin and NPY serum concentrations at baseline and follow-up in eumenorrheic vs. amenorrheic patients. Simple linear correlation analysis showed negative correlation between leptin and NPY concentrations at baseline (r=-0.67; p<0.05) and at follow-up (r=-0.76; p<0.05) only in eumenorrheic subgroup. There were no significant correlations between leptin, NPY and BMI and body weight values. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Serum concentration of leptin increases and serum concentration of NPY decreases significantly during the treatment of anorectic girls. 2) These changes do not correspond with increasing body weight and BMI suggesting disregulation of appetite and body weight control mechanisms in AN. 3) Altered neuroregulation of the neuropeptides (leptin and NPY) secretion may contribute persistent amenorrhea after weight gain in anorectic patients with low initial BMI.

[Association of brain computed tomography images of intracranial calcifications in three different cases of hypoparathyroidism]. / Zbieznosc obrazu radiologicznego zwapnien wewnatrzczaszkowych w tomografii komputerowej mózgowia u trójki pacjentów z róznymi postaciami niedoczynnosci przytarczyc.

The problem of intracranial calcifications in children has not been widely discussed in the literature yet. The aim of this study is to emphasise different clinical aspects of intracranial calcifications found in subcortical nuclei and cerebellum in children with disturbed calcium metabolism. We report three different cases of hypoparathyroidism in children in whom similar radiological changes on computed tomography (CT) of the brain were found. An 11-year-old boy was referred to us after episode of tetany. We confirmed the diagnosis of idiopatic hypoparathyroidism (presence of Chvostek and Trousseau signs, hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, low parathormone serum concentration). On brain CT small, symmetric calcifications in the subcortical nuclei and frontal lobes were imaged. A diagnosis of pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib in 10-year-old girl was established on the basis of clinical symptoms (syncope with seizures, recurrent carpopedal spasms in the past) and laboratory investigations (hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, high parathormone serum concentration). In 11-year-old girl autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type I was diagnosed (hypoparathyroidism with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis and nail dystrophy from the age of 2). CT of the brain showed multiple irregular symmetric calcifications in cerebellar hemispheres, internal capsula and subcortical nuclei on the border of white and grey matter in both frontal lobes.