[Obesity in infancy: new precision treatment]. / Obésité infantile : nouveautés thérapeutiques ciblées.

Obesity is a chronical disease, which leads to multiple short- and long-term complications. 4% of Swiss children and adolescents are obese. A prompt diagnosis and multicomponent lifestyle intervention is mandatory to avoid persistence of the disease into adulthood. Growth and BMI charts are still the essential tools to diagnose and define the etiology of obesity. A precocious and severe obesity, accompanied by hyperphagia, will raise the suspicion of monogenic obesity. The precise molecular diagnosis enables in some patients the use of a specific treatment. Leptine in case of LEP gene defects, or setmelanotide when the affected gene is part of the MC4R signaling pathway (LEPR, POMC, PCSK1).

L'obésité est une maladie chronique, associée à de multiples complications à court et à long termes, présente chez 4 % des enfants et adolescents en Suisse. Un dépistage et une intervention multidisciplinaire précoces sont essentiels pour éviter la persistance de la maladie à l'âge adulte. Les courbes de croissance et de l'IMC sont les outils indispensables pour repérer la maladie et orienter l'étiologie. Ainsi, une obésité d'apparition précoce, de caractère sévère et accompagnée d'une hyperphagie oriente le clinicien vers le diagnostic d'obésité monogénique. Un diagnostic moléculaire précis permet de connaître le gène défectueux et offre, dans certains cas, un traitement ciblé très efficace pour le patient : la leptine en cas de mutation du gène LEP, ou le setmélanotide dans les défauts de la voie de signalisation du MC4R (LEPR, POMC, PCSK1).

Elevated lactate in Mauriac syndrome: still a mystery.

BACKGROUND: The Mauriac syndrome was described in 1930 as a peculiar combination of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus type 1, stunted growth and glycogenic hepatopathy. More recently, lactic acidosis was recognized as an additional feature, often induced by insulin treatment. CASE PRESENTATION: A 17-year old girl known for diabetes type 1A and Mauriac syndrome was admitted to the emergency room with hyperglycemia of > 41 mmol/l without ketoacidosis. Under a standard insulin regimen, hyperglycemia was rapidly corrected but marked hyperlactatemia occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism of impaired glucose utilization and lactate elevation independent of ketoacidosis in Mauriac syndrome is intriguing. The rarity of Mauriac syndrome and its resemblance to glycogen storage diseases suggest the presence of a specific metabolic or genetic predisposition that remains to be identified.

[Polycystic ovary syndrome in obese or type 1 diabetic (T1D) adolescent girls]. / Syndrome des ovaires polykystiques chez l'adolescente diabétique ou obèse.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is frequent during adolescence (prevalence ≈ 6 %), and the prevalence increases in obese or type 1 diabetic (T1D) adolescent girls. During puberty, PCOS diagnosis is difficult because of the overlap with some pubertal physiologic signs. The 2017 international consortium suggests two required diagnostic criteria: persistent menstrual disturbances and hyperandrogenism. PCOS physiopathology is complex, including interactions between genetic, epigenetic factors, primary ovarian abnormalities, neuroendocrine alterations, hormonal and metabolic factors. Insulin seems to have a central place in obese or T1D adolescent girls. The treatment is still debated and should be monitored according to the main symptoms.

Le syndrome des ovaires polykystiques (SOPK) est fréquent à l'adolescence (prévalence ≈ 6 %), et la prévalence augmente en cas d'obésité ou de diabète de type 1 (DT1). À l'adolescence, le diagnostic du SOPK est difficile en raison de signes communs avec la puberté physiologique. Le consortium international de 2017 propose deux critères diagnostiques indispensables : les troubles du cycle menstruel et l'hyperandrogénie. La physiopathologie du SOPK, partiellement élucidée, est complexe, impliquant l'interaction entre des facteurs génétiques et épigénétiques, des anomalies ovariennes, des altérations neuroendocrines, des facteurs hormonaux et métaboliques. L'insuline semble avoir un rôle central chez l'adolescente obèse ou avec DT1. Le traitement fait encore l'objet de discussion et doit être adapté selon les signes prédominants.

Accuracy, satisfaction and usability of a flash glucose monitoring system among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes attending a summer camp.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to assess accuracy, satisfaction and usability of a flash glucose monitoring system (FGM) in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) attending a diabetes summer camp. METHODS: Sixty-six children and adolescents with T1DM aged 6 to 17 years participating in a 7-day medically supervised summer camp were enrolled. Capillary blood glucose (BG) and flash glucose (FG) values were measured simultaneously at breakfast, lunch, and dinner and for any given FG value <72 mg/dL (<4.0 mmol/L) during daytime, <108 mg/dL (<6.0 mmol/L) at nighttime, >270 mg/dL (>15.0 mmol/L) or when patient symptoms were discordant with sensor readings. Sensor-related issues were documented and patients' and healthcare professionals' (HCPs) satisfaction was evaluated. RESULTS: FGM demonstrated satisfactory clinical accuracy compared to reference capillary BG values with 98.8% of values falling within the clinically acceptable zones (A and B) of the consensus error grid. Overall mean absolute relative difference (MARD) was 16.7% ± 16.1%. Specific calculations of mean absolute difference (MAD), mean relative difference (MRD), and mean difference (MD) demonstrated that FGM overestimated BG values across all glycemic ranges. Overall satisfaction with the FGM was high in 91.7% participants and 95.0% HCPs, although confidence in the system was low in 18.0% participants and 40.0% HCPs. CONCLUSIONS: The FGM exhibited satisfactory clinical accuracy. However, based on the present data, we conclude that no decision should be taken on the basis of a single, non-verified, FGM value alone. Our study highlights the need for revised therapeutic education for patients/families and further investigation on the integration of sensor readings in clinical decision-making.

[Challenges of the transition for obese teenager towards adult care]. / Défis de la transition de l'adolescent obèse aux soins adultes.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among young patients increases with age, and affects one out of five at secondary school level. Ensuring continuous care of these young patients during their growth into adulthood is a true challenge, and requires a close collaboration of pediatric and adult care teams. Each step of this transition is precarious and needs specific attentions and competencies to be successful, as teenagers and young adults are simultaneously undergoing multiple changes and challenges. As each of these young patients present with their own individual development and life experiences, individualized care transitional care plans are necessary.

La prévalence des jeunes en surpoids ou obèses augmente avec l'âge, et atteint la proportion d'un écolier sur cinq au niveau secondaire. Assurer la continuité des soins de ces jeunes patients à l'âge adulte représente un véritable challenge et demande la collaboration étroite des équipes pédiatriques et adultes. Chaque étape de la transition de soins est délicate et nécessite des attentions et des compétences particulières. Les phases d'adolescence et d'adulte émergent sont caractérisées par de multiples changements rendant la transition d'autant plus difficile. Chaque jeune patient a un développement et un vécu qui lui sont propres, ce qui implique que la transition doit être individualisée et adaptée.

Glucose variability in 6-12-month-old healthy infants.

Background: Metabolic programming of glucose homeostasis in the first 1,000 days of life may impact lifelong metabolic and cardiovascular health. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices may help measure the impact of dietary intake on glucose rhythms and metabolism in infants during the complementary feeding period. Objectives: Demonstrate the feasibility of CGM to measure and quantify glucose variability in response to infant feeding and to evaluate associations between macronutrient meal composition and glucose variability. Methods: The "FreeStyle Libre Pro®" device interstitial glucose meter was applied to the anterior thigh of 10 healthy 6-12-month-old infants. Parents recorded food intake, time of feeding, and used daily dairies to record sleep time and duration. Descriptive statistics were employed for food intake, sleep and key glycemic parameters over three full days. Mixed linear models were used to assess glycemic changes. Results: Mid-day, afternoon, and evening feeds contained >30 g carbohydrate and induced higher 2-h iAUC (3.42, 3.41, and 3.50 mmol/L*h respectively) compared to early and mid-morning feedings with ≤25 g carbohydrates (iAUC 2.72 and 2.81 mmol/L*h, p < 0.05). Early morning and evening milk feedings contained approximately 9 g of fat and induced a longer time to reach maximal glucose value (Tmax; 75 and 68 min, respectively) compared to lower fat feedings (2.9-5.9 g; Tmax range: 34-60 min; p < 0.05). Incremental glucose value at time of food intake (C0) increased significantly from 0.24 ± 0.39 mM in early morning to 1.07 ± 0.57 mM in the evening (p < 0.05). Over the day, 70% of glucose values remained within the normal range (3.5-5.5 mmol/L), 10% were between 5.5-10 mmol/L, and 20% were < 3.5 mmol/L. Conclusion: Our data support the feasibility of using CGM to measure glucose in 6-12-month-old infants. The observation of possible diurnal glucose variability and typical glucose values may have implications for future studies investigating metabolic adaptation to nutritional intake in early life.

Turner syndrome: skin, liver, eyes, dental and ENT evaluation should be improved.

Introduction: Turner syndrome association with multi-organ system comorbidities highlights the need for effective implementation of follow-up guidelines. We aimed to assess the adequacy of care with international guidelines published in 2007 and 2017 and to describe the phenotype of patients. Methods: In this multicenter retrospective descriptive cohort study, we collected growth and pubertal parameters, associated comorbidities, treatment, and karyotype in patients diagnosed at age <18 years between 1993 and 2022. We assessed age-appropriate recommendation follow-up (children, adolescents and adults) according to the 2007 guidelines if the last visit was before 2017 (18 recommendations) and the 2017 guidelines if the last visit was after 2017 (19 recommendations). Results: We included 68 patients followed at Lausanne University Hospital (n=64) and at Neuchatel Regional Hospital (RHNe) (n=4). 2.9% of patients underwent all recommended investigations.Overall, 68.9 ± 22.5% and 78.5 ± 20.6% of the recommendations were followed, before and after 2017 respectively. High implementation rates were found for height, weight and BMI (100%), cardiac (80 to 100%) and renal (90 to 100%) imaging. Low implementation rates were found for Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) (56.5%), skin (38.5%), dental (23.1%), ophthalmological (10%) and cholestasis (0 to 29%) assessments, depending on age and time of visit. In adults (n=33), the mean proportion of followed recommendations was lower before than after 2017: 63.5 ± 25.8% vs. 78.7 ± 23.4%, p=0.039. Conclusion: Growth parameters, cardiac and renal imaging are well followed. However, efforts should be made for dental, ENT, ophthalmological, skin and cholestasis assessments. Adequacy of follow-up improved with the quality of transition to adult care.

High Prevalence of Hypovitaminosis D in Adolescents Attending a Reference Centre for the Treatment of Obesity in Switzerland.

Background: Hypovitaminosis D is common in populations with obesity. This study aimed at assessing (1) the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and (2) the associations between vitamin D levels and cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents attending a reference centre for the treatment of obesity. Design: Cross-sectional pilot study conducted in the paediatric obesity unit of the Lausanne university hospital, Switzerland. Methods: Participants were considered eligible if they (1) were aged between 10 to 16.9 years and (2) consulted between 2017 and 2021. Participants were excluded if (1) they lacked vitamin D measurements or (2) the vitamin D measurement was performed one month after the base anthropometric assessment. Hypovitaminosis D was considered if the vitamin D level was <30 ng/mL (<75 nmol/L). Severe obesity was defined as a BMI z-score > 3 SD. Results: We included 52 adolescents (31% girls, mean age 13 ± 2 years, 33% with severe obesity). The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was 87.5% in girls and 88.9% in boys. The vitamin D levels were inversely associated with BMI, Spearman r and 95% CI: −0.286 (−0.555; −0.017), p = 0.037; they were not associated with the BMI z-score: −0.052 (−0.327; 0.224), p = 0.713. The vitamin D levels were negatively associated with the parathormone levels (−0.353 (−0.667; −0.039), p = 0.028) and positively associated with the calcium levels (0.385 (0.061; 0.708), p = 0.020), while no association was found between vitamin D levels and blood pressure and lipid or glucose levels. Conclusion: almost 9 out of 10 adolescents with obesity in our cohort presented with hypovitaminosis D. Hypovitaminosis D does not seem to be associated with a higher cardiovascular risk profile in this group.

Testicular tissue cryopreservation for fertility preservation in prepubertal and adolescent boys: A 6 year experience from a Swiss multi-center network.

Testicular tissue cryopreservation is the only option of fertility preservation in prepubertal boys. While it is considered experimental, since procedures to obtain mature spermatozoa from prepubertal testicular tissue are still under development, testicular tissue cryopreservation programs have emerged worldwide. Our aim was to study the feasibility and safety of a program of testicular tissue cryopreservation in prepubertal and adolescent boys facing gonadotoxic treatment in three University hospitals in Switzerland. Testicular tissue cryopreservation was accepted by 90% of families, with a total of 35 patients included. The average patient age was 8.5 years (range 7 months to 18.5 years). Malignancies were the most common diagnosis (31 patients, 88.6%) with 16 (45.7%) solid tumors and 15 (42.9%) hematological malignancies. Four (11.4%) patients had a benign condition. The main indication for testicular tissue cryopreservation was conditioning for hematologic stem cell transplantation (25 patients, 71.4%). Testicular tissue was cryopreserved according to the freezing protocol of Louvain Catholic University (Belgium), which includes either only immature testicular tissue freezing, or mature and immature testicular tissue freezing depending on the age of the patient and the presence or absence of haploid cells. The median number of spermatogonia per tubule cross-section was 2 (range 0-6) and spermatozoa were found in only one patient. Tumoral cells were found in one testicular biopsy of a leukemic patient. There were two minor adverse events and none of them required medical treatment or surgical revision. Five patients died during follow-up. Our data demonstrate the feasibility and safety of a program of testicular tissue cryopreservation coordinated by a multidisciplinary team of fertility preservation. Despite the experimental aspect of the procedure, the acceptation rate was high, which highlights the willingness of families and patients to participate in testicular tissue cryopreservation.

Congenital hyperinsulinism: 2 case reports with different rare variants in ABCC8.

Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a rare glucose metabolism disorder characterized by unregulated secretion of insulin that leads to hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (HH). Most cases are caused by mutations in the KATP-channel genes ABCC8 and KCNJ11. We report 2 patients that experienced severe HH from the first day of life. Patient 1 developed midgut volvulus after initiating diazoxide and required intestinal resection. He was subsequently managed with a high-dose octreotide and glucose-enriched diet. Consistent with diffuse type CHI by 18F-dihydroxyphenylalanine positron emission tomography-computed tomography, genetic testing revealed a homozygous ABCC8 variant, c.1801G>A, p.(Val601Ile). The rare variant was previously reported to be diazoxide-responsive, and the patient responded well to diazoxide monotherapy, with clinical remission at 2 years of age. Patient 2 responded to diazoxide with spontaneous clinical remission at 15 months of age. However, an oral glucose tolerance test at 7 years of age revealed hyperinsulinism. Genetic testing revealed that the proband and several seemingly healthy family members harbored a novel, heterozygous ABCC8 variant, c.1780T>C, p.(Ser594Pro). Genetic findings identified previously unrecognized HH in the proband's mother. The proband's uncle had been diagnosed with monogenic ABCC8-diabetes and was successfully transitioned from insulin to glibenclamide therapy. We report findings of intestinal malrotation and volvulus occurring 2 days after initiation of diazoxide treatment. We also report a novel, heterozygous ABCC8 variant in a family that exhibited cases of CHI in infancy and HH and monogenic diabetes in adult members. The cases demonstrate the importance and clinical utility of genetic analyses for informing and guiding treatment and care.

Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism after ovarian tissue cryopreservation on a 13-year-old female: A case report and review of the literature.

Ovarian failure is a major long-term adverse event following gonadotoxic treatment of malignant diseases. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation can be offered in some conditions to preserve fertility. We report the case of a 13-year-old female with a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, who presented with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism after unilateral ovariectomy for fertility preservation and before highly gonadotoxic treatment. Even though damage seemed only partial, this case suggests that the remaining contralateral ovarian function may be compromised after ovarian tissue cryopreservation, leading per se to a hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. Although indication of ovarian cryopreservation is not called into question in situations of highly gonadotoxic therapy, this procedure should only be performed after evaluation by a specialized multidisciplinary team and provided a solid indication.

Use and Effectiveness of Sperm Cryopreservation for Adolescents and Young Adults: A 37-Year Bicentric Experience.

Aim: Sperm cryopreservation (SCP) should be offered to every adolescent before gonadotoxic treatment, but experience in this age range is still relatively limited. The goal of this study is to assess how to optimize this procedure. Methods and Patients: One hundred thirty-three patients between 12 and 20 years old, who underwent SCP between 1980 and 2017, were included. Baseline data (age, indication for SCP, and semen parameters at freezing) and follow-up data (outcome of sperm straws and follow-up of sperm quality) were collected and analyzed. Results: SCP is feasible from the age of 12. Semen assessment parameters at this age were close to parameters of adults. However, we observed quantitative impairments in testicular tumors and qualitative impairments in leukemia and bone marrow failure. Four patients (3%) used their cryopreserved semen for medically assisted reproduction, 15 patients died (11.3%), 18 asked for destruction of their straws (13.5%), and nine samples were destroyed because of lack of news (6.8%). Very few patients underwent a sperm analysis after treatment. Conclusions: SCP is an efficient, still underused, procedure for adolescents and young adults. Cryopreserved sperm is rarely used and rarely destroyed, but studies with a longer follow-up are needed to better assess these observations. Follow-up with a specialist of reproductive medicine is valuable for better information of the patient.

A novel CHD7 mutation in an adolescent presenting with growth and pubertal delay.

Mutations in the CHD7 gene, encoding for the chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 7, are found in approximately 60% of individuals with CHARGE syndrome (coloboma, heart defects, choanal atresia, retarded growth and development, genital hypoplasia, ear abnormalities and/or hearing loss). Herein, we present a clinical case of a 14-year-old male presenting for evaluation of poor growth and pubertal delay highlighting the diagnostic challenges of CHARGE syndrome. The patient was born full term and underwent surgery at 5 days of life for bilateral choanal atresia. Developmental milestones were normally achieved. At age 14 his height and weight were -2.04 and -1.74 standard deviation score respectively. He had anosmia as well as prepubertal testes and micropenis (4 cm×1 cm). The biological profile showed low basal serum testosterone and gonadotropins (testosterone, 0.2 nmol/L; luteinizing hormone, 0.5 U/L; follicle-stimulating hormone, 1.3 U/L), and otherwise normal pituitary function and normal imaging of the hypothalamic-pituitary area. The constellation of choanal atresia, anosmia, mild dysmorphic features, micropenis and delayed puberty were suggestive of CHARGE syndrome. Targeted genetic testing of CHD7 was performed revealing a de novo heterozygous CHD7 mutation (c.4234T>G [p.Tyr1412Asp]). Further paraclinical investigations confirmed CHARGE syndrome. Despite the presence of suggestive features, CHARGE syndrome remained undiagnosed in this patient until adolescence. Genetic testing helps clarify the phenotypic and genotypic spectrum to facilitate diagnosis, thus promoting optimal follow-up, treatment, and appropriate genetic counselling.