Growth patterns in infants born to women with pregestational overweight/obesity supplemented with docosahexaenoic acid during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies of maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation during pregnancy have controversial and contrasting results on the short and long-term effects on early child growth. The impact of this nutritional intervention on the postnatal growth patterns in the offspring of women with pregestational overweight/obesity (PGO) also remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the postnatal growth patterns during the first 4 months of life in the offspring of women with PGO randomly supplemented with 800 mg/day (PGO-800) compared with normative doses of 200 mg/day (PGO-200) of DHA during pregnancy (<15 weeks of gestation until delivery). METHODS: This study evaluated the growth patterns during the first 4 months of life of 169 infants of the women that participated in the MIGHT study (NCT02574767). We included the infants of women from the PGO-200 (n = 81) and PGO-800 group (n = 88). The growth patterns (weight, length, and head circumference) and change in z-score (World health Organization charts) were evaluated. RESULTS: Throughout the first 4 months of life, the infants of the PGO-800 group had lower weight-for-length z-score (coef. -0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.07, -0.22, p = 0.003) and lower body mass index-for-age z-score (coef. -0.56, 95% CI -0.99, -0.12, p = 0.012) compared with the PGO-200 group adjusted by maternal body mass index, gestational weight gain, gestational age, insulin in cord blood and infant feeding (exclusive breastfed, not breastfed, and partially breastfed). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal supplementation with DHA during pregnancy could beneficially limit the offspring's postnatal weight gain during the first 4 months of life.

[Severe acute pancreatitis secondary to hypertriglyceridemia as the onset of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in the pediatric age]. / Pancreatitis aguda grave secundaria a hipertrigliceridemia como debut de Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1 en edad pediátrica.

Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG)-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) secondary to insulin deficiency following the onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a rare but serious complication in children. OBJECTIVE: To describe the diagnosis and treatment of severe HTG and to emphasize the need for timely diagnosis of T1DM. CLINICAL CASE: A 15-year-old female adolescent with a history of overweight presented with a two-weeks history of fever, anorexia, and diffuse abdominal pain. Laboratory tests revealed triglycerides of 17,580 mg/dL, lipase of 723 U/L, and blood glucose of 200 mg/dL. An abdominal CT scan showed an enlarged and edematous pancreas. She was hospitalized with a diagnosis of AP and severe HTG, which progressed to acute necro-hemorrhagic pancreatitis. Treatment included continuous intravenous insulin infusion until triglyceride levels decreased. Upon discontinuation of insulin, fasting hyperglycemia (206 mg/dL) and metabolic acidosis recurred, therefore DM was suspected. Upon targeted questioning, a history of polydipsia, polyuria, and weight loss during the last 3 months stood out. Glycated hemoglobin was markedly elevated (14.7%). Insulin therapy was optimized, achieving stabilization of laboratory parameters after 15 days of treatment and complete anatomical resolution of pancreatic involvement at one year of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of severe HTG in pediatrics compels us to consider its secondary causes, such as the onset of T1DM. It is crucial to improve the ability to diagnose T1DM early, as it may present with infrequent and high-risk presentations for the patient.

A Single-Point Insulin Sensitivity Estimator (SPISE) of 5.4 is a good predictor of both metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in adolescents with obesity.

Background: The Single-Point Insulin Sensitivity Estimator (SPISE) is a biomarker of insulin sensitivity estimated using BMI and triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. We assessed the accuracy of SPISE to screen obesity-related cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents. Method: Cross-sectional validation study for a screening test in a sample of n=725 children and adolescents from an obesity clinic. Weight, height, waist circumference, blood arterial pressure, lipid profile, glucose, insulin and Tanner stage were measured. BMI, BMI for-age-and sex (BAZ), and HOMA-IR were estimated. HOMA-IR values ≥2.1 and ≥3.3 were considered IR in Tanner I-II, ≥3.3 for Tanner III-IV and ≥2.6 for Tanner V, respectively. Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) was diagnosed with the Cook phenotype. SPISE was estimated according to the following algorithm: [600* HDL^0.185/(TG^0.2* BMI^1.338)]. The optimal SPISE cut points for IR and MetS prediction were determined by ROC curve analysis. Results: In prepubertal obese patients (9.2 ± 2.1y; 18.4% males), the prevalence of IR and MetS was 28.2% y 46.9%, respectively; 58% had severe obesity (BAZ ≥4 SD). In pubertal obese patients (12.6 ± 1.8y; 57% males), the prevalence of IR and MetS was 34.1% and 55.3%, respectively; 34% had severe obesity. In prepubertal children, a SPISE of 6.3 showed the highest sensitivity (73.2%) and specificity (80%) to screen individuals with IR (AUC: 0.80; LR +: 3.3). Likewise, a SPISE of 5.7 got the highest sensitivity (82.6%) and specificity (86.1%) to screen patients with MetS (AUC: 0.87; LR +: 5.4). In pubertal patients, a SPISE of 5.4 showed the highest sensitivity and specificity to screen children and adolescents with both IR (Sn: 76.1%; Sp: 77.5%; AUC: 0.8; LR +: 3.1) and MetS (Sn: 90.4%; Sp: 76.1%; AUC: 0.90; LR +: 3.5). Conclusion: In children and adolescents with obesity, SPISE has good or very good performance in predicting IR and MetS. SPISE may be considered a relatively simple and low-cost diagnosis tool that can be helpful to identify patients with greater biological risk. In adolescents with obesity, the same cut point allows identification of those at higher risk of both IR and MetS.

Facial Dysmorphic Features in a Patient With Nonketotic Hypoglycemia and a Pathogenic Variant in the AKT2 Gene.

Background/Objective: AKT2 is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a key role in regulating insulin signaling. The phenotype related to the gain-of-function alteration in the AKT2 gene (c.49G>A, p.Glu17Lys) has been described in 5 patients with clinical findings that mimic hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia but with undetectable levels of insulin and C-peptide. One of the reports highlights the facial dysmorphic features. We report the case of a new patient with the same activating AKT2 alteration leading to autonomous activation of the insulin signaling pathway and dysmorphic features. Moreover, to our knowledge, this is the first report using waxy maize heat-modified starch (WMHMS) in this condition. Case Report: A previously healthy child was evaluated at 6 months of age for episodes of hypoglycemia. The laboratory test results for the critical samples showed hypoketotic hypoglycemia (glucose level, 2.16 mmol/L [38 mg/dL]) with undetectable levels of insulin (<0.2 mU/L) and C-peptide (<0.033 nmol/L [reference range, 0.37-1.47 nmol/L]). Physical examination revealed hypertelorism, prominent proptosis of the eyes, a flat nasal bridge, delayed psychomotor development, and postnatal symmetrical overgrowth. The genetic study of AKT2 showed a pathogenic variant (c.49G>A, p.Glu17Lys). To achieve euglycemia, a diet of regular uncooked cornstarch (UCCS) carbohydrate was started. Subsequently, waxy maize heat-modified starch (WMHMS; Glycosade Vitaflo) was used to increase the fasting period to 4 hours. However, we did not find any advantages in comparison with UCCS. Discussion: The range of phenotypes of this gain-of-function alteration in AKT2 may be broad, including dysmorphic features, although the patients harbor the same pathogenic variant. Conclusion: Regarding the treatment, we observed a similar response with WMHMS compared with UCCS, with no adverse effects.

[Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): What the pediatrician should know]. / Trastorno de Evitación y Restricción de la Ingesta de Alimentos (ARFID): Lo que el pediatra debe saber.

Feeding problems during childhood have been described over time by various authors. In 2013, Avoi dant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) was included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Ma nual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), as a new diagnosis within the Feeding and Eating di sorders, to describe a group of patients with avoidant or restrictive eating behaviors unrelated to body image disorder or weight loss desire. ARFID may appear as significant weight loss and/or nutritional deficiency and/or a marked interference in psychosocial functioning. There are three forms of pre sentation, which can co-occur or occur independently. The first one includes children with sensory aversions (selective), who reject certain foods due to their taste, texture, smell, or shape; the second one includes those children with poor appetite or limited intake (limited intake); and the third one includes those children who reject certain foods or stop eating as a result of a traumatic event (aversi- ve). Due to the recent incorporation of ARFID into the DSM-5, there is a lack of information regar ding its treatment. The purpose of this review is to clarify diagnostic criteria and to describe targeted management and treatment interventions with a multidisciplinary approach, without deepening on the treatment of organic medical causes.