Sleep and diabetes-specific psycho-behavioral outcomes of a new automated insulin delivery system in young children with type 1 diabetes and their parents.

BACKGROUND: Data on the use of Control-IQ, the latest FDA-approved automated insulin delivery (AID) system for people with T1D 6 years of age or older is still scarce, particularly regarding nonglycemic outcomes. Children with T1D and their parents are at higher risk for sleep disturbances. This study assesses sleep, psycho-behavioral and glycemic outcomes of AID compared to sensor-augmented pump therapy (SAP) therapy in young children with T1D and their parents. METHODS: Thirteen parents and their young children (ages 7-10) on insulin pump therapy were enrolled. Children completed an initial 4-week study with SAP using their own pump and a study CGM followed by a 4-week phase of AID. Sleep outcomes for parents and children were evaluated through actigraphy watches. Several questionnaires were administered at baseline and at the end of each study phase. CGM data were used to assess glycemic outcomes. RESULTS: Actigraphy data did not show any significant change from SAP to AID, except a reduction of number of parental awakenings during the night (p = 0.036). Parents reported statistically significant improvements in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total score (p = 0.009), Hypoglycemia Fear Survey total score (p = 0.011), diabetes-related distress (p = 0.032), and depression (p = 0.023). While on AID, time in range (70-180 mg/dL) significantly increased compared to SAP (p < 0.001), accompanied by a reduction in hyperglycemia (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that use of AID has a positive impact on glycemic outcomes in young children as well as sleep and diabetes-specific quality of life outcomes in their parents.

TARGETED LEVOTHYROXINE THERAPY FOR TREATMENT OF CONGENITAL HYPOTHYROIDISM.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if infants with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) whose initial dose of levothyroxine (LT4) is based on thyroid gland anatomy require fewer dose adjustments in the first 6 months of life than those who were started empirically on LT4. METHODS: Newborns with CH who had a thyroid ultrasound performed at diagnosis were eligible for this prospective, historical case-controlled study. The daily LT4 dose prescribed was based on results on the thyroid ultrasound as follows: 15 mcg/kg for athyreosis, 12 mcg/kg for a dysgenetic thyroid, and 10 mcg/kg for an anatomically normal gland. Routine labs according to standard guidelines were obtained, and the number of dose adjustments over the first 6 months of therapy was recorded. Each study participant was matched with 2 historical controls with CH based on sex and thyroid anatomy. RESULTS: Twenty-two subjects (10 with athyreosis, 4 with dysgenetic glands, and 8 with anatomically normal glands) were matched to 44 controls. There was no significant difference in the overall number of adjustments in the study group compared to controls (P = .74). However, there were significantly fewer adjustments made for undertreatment (P = .03) and significantly more adjustments made for overtreatment (P = .006) in subjects with athyreosis compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Targeted LT4 therapy does not appear to decrease the overall frequency of dose adjustments for infants with CH. However, 15 mcg/kg/day appears to exceed thyroid hormone requirements in infants with CH due to athyreosis. ABBREVIATIONS: CH = congenital hypothyroidism LT4 = levothyroxine OT = overtreatment T4 = thyroxine TSH = thyroid-stimulating hormone UT = undertreatment.

Assessment for Predictors of Rise in Hemoglobin A1c During Extended Use of a Closed-Loop Control System.

We assessed predictors of rising hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) during long-term use of closed-loop control (CLC) in children aged 6-13 years with type 1 diabetes. Participants used a CLC system during a 16-week randomization phase followed by a 12-week extension phase. We compared an "Increased-HbA1c" group (n = 17, ≥0.5% rise in HbA1c between randomization and extension phases) to a "Maintained-Improvement" group (n = 18, had stable or improved HbA1c). The Increased-HbA1c group had higher pre-CLC HbA1c (8.42% ± 0.80 vs. 7.45% ± 0.93, P = 0.002). Contrary to a-priori hypotheses, there were no differences in Δ-height-for-age z-score, a surrogate for a pubertal growth spurt (+0.16 vs. -0.15, P = 0.113), or number of carbohydrate boluses per day, a surrogate for missed boluses (4.4 ± 2.2 vs. 5.2 ± 2.1, P = 0.263). Both groups maintained high rates in closed-loop. Thus, some children exhibit meaningful rise in HbA1c after initial CLC use, likely from multiple contributing factors, and may benefit from added encouragement during ongoing use.

Safety and Glycemic Outcomes With a Tubeless Automated Insulin Delivery System in Very Young Children With Type 1 Diabetes: A Single-Arm Multicenter Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Very young children with type 1 diabetes often struggle to achieve glycemic targets, putting them at risk for long-term complications and creating an immense management burden for caregivers. We conducted the first evaluation of the Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System in this population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 80 children aged 2.0-5.9 years used the investigational system in a single-arm study for 13 weeks following 14 days of baseline data collection with their usual therapy. RESULTS: There were no episodes of severe hypoglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis. By study end, HbA1c decreased by 0.55% (6.0 mmol/mol) (P < 0.0001). Time with sensor glucose levels in target range 70-180 mg/dL increased by 10.9%, or 2.6 h/day (P < 0.0001), while time with levels <70 mg/dL declined by median 0.27% (P = 0.0204). CONCLUSIONS: Use of the automated insulin delivery system was safe, and participants experienced improved glycemic measures and reduced hypoglycemia during the study phase compared with baseline.

Artificial Pancreas Technology Offers Hope for Childhood Diabetes.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Here, we provide a review of recent advancements in closed-loop or automated insulin delivery systems commonly referred to as the "artificial pancreas" (AP) for the management of type 1 diabetes (T1D). RECENT FINDINGS: The use of hybrid closed-loop devices in children and adolescents with T1D consistently increases time in the target glucose range (70-180 mg/dL) without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia. Although hybrid closed-loop systems are able to maintain fairly tight glycemic control overnight, daytime control remains challenging, primarily due to meals and exercise, and careful carbohydrate counting and meal boluses remain essential components of optimal diabetes control. Bihormonal and fully automated AP systems remain investigational at this time. While commercially available hybrid closed-loop AP systems improve glycemic control in children with T1D, more work is needed to achieve a fully automated AP system and decrease the burden of using diabetes technology.

Safety and Performance of the Tandem t:slim X2 with Control-IQ Automated Insulin Delivery System in Toddlers and Preschoolers.

Background: Glycemic control is particularly challenging for toddlers and preschoolers with type 1 diabetes (T1D), and data on the use of closed-loop systems in this age range are limited. Materials and Methods: We studied use of a modified investigational version of the Tandem t:slim X2 Control-IQ system in children aged 2 to 5 years during 48 h in an outpatient supervised hotel (SH) setting followed by 3 days of home use to examine the safety of this system in young children. Meals and snacks were not restricted and boluses were estimated per parents' usual routine. At least 30 min of daily exercise was required during the SH phase. All participants were remotely monitored by study staff while on closed-loop in addition to monitoring by at least one parent throughout the study. Results: Twelve participants diagnosed with T1D for at least 3 months with mean age 4.7 ± 1.0 years (range 2.0-5.8 years) and hemoglobin A1c of 7.3% ± 0.8% were enrolled at three sites. With use of Control-IQ, the percentage of participants meeting our prespecified goals of less than 6% time below 70 mg/dL and less than 40% time above 180 mg/dL increased from 33% to 83%. Control-IQ use significantly improved percent time in range (70-180 mg/dL) compared to baseline (71.3 ± 12.5 vs. 63.7 ± 15.1, P = 0.016). All participants completed the study with no adverse events. Conclusions: In this brief pilot study, use of the modified Control-IQ system was safe in 2-5-year-old children with T1D and improved glycemic control.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Treatment Satisfaction in Parents and Children with Type 1 Diabetes Using Closed-Loop Control.

Introduction: Hybrid closed-loop systems increase time-in-range (TIR) and reduce glycemic variability. Person-reported outcomes (PROs) are essential to assess the utility of new devices and their impact on quality of life. This article focuses on the PROs for pediatric participants (ages 6-13 years) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their parents during a trial using the Tandem Control-IQ system, which was shown to increase TIR and improve other glycemic metrics. Research Design and Methods: One hundred and one children 6 to 13 years old with T1D were randomly assigned to closed-loop control (CLC) or sensor-augmented pump (SAP) in a 16-week randomized clinical trial with extension to 28 weeks during which the SAP group crossed over to CLC. Health-related quality of life and treatment satisfaction measures were obtained from children and their parents at baseline, 16 weeks, and 28 weeks. Results: Neither the children in the CLC group nor their parents had statistically significant changes in PRO outcomes compared with the SAP group at the end of the 16-week randomized controlled trial and the 28-week extension. Parents in the CLC group reported nonsignificant improvements in some PRO scores when compared with the SAP group at 16 weeks, which were sustained at 28 weeks. Sleep scores for parents improved from "poor sleep quality" to "adequate sleep quality" between baseline and 16 weeks, however, the change in scores was not statistically different between groups. Conclusions: Children with T1D who used the Control-IQ system did not experience increased burden compared with those using SAP based on person-reported outcomes from the children and their parents. Clinical Trials Registration: NCT03844789.

Extended Use of the Control-IQ Closed-Loop Control System in Children With Type 1 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To further evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Control-IQ closed-loop control (CLC) system in children with type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: After a 16-week randomized clinical trial (RCT) comparing CLC with sensor-augmented pump (SAP) therapy in 101 children 6-13 years old with type 1 diabetes, 22 participants in the SAP group initiated use of the CLC system (referred to as SAP-CLC cohort), and 78 participants in the CLC group continued use of CLC (CLC-CLC cohort) for 12 weeks. RESULTS: In the SAP-CLC cohort, mean percentage of time in range 70-180 mg/dL (TIR) increased from 55 ± 13% using SAP during the RCT to 65 ± 10% using CLC (P < 0.001), with 36% of the cohort achieving TIR >70% plus time <54 mg/dL <1% compared with 14% when using SAP (P = 0.03). Substantial improvement in TIR was seen after the 1st day of CLC. Time <70 mg/dL decreased from 1.80% to 1.34% (P < 0.001). In the CLC-CLC cohort, mean TIR increased from 53 ± 17% prerandomization to 67 ± 10% during the RCT and remained reasonably stable at 66 ± 10% through the 12 weeks post-RCT. No episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis or severe hypoglycemia occurred in either cohort. CONCLUSIONS: This further evaluation of the Control-IQ CLC system supports the findings of the preceding RCT that use of a closed-loop system can safely improve glycemic control in children 6-13 years old with type 1 diabetes from the 1st day of use and demonstrates that these improvements can be sustained through 28 weeks of use.

Predictors of Time-in-Range (70-180 mg/dL) Achieved Using a Closed-Loop Control System.

Background: Studies of closed-loop control (CLC) in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) consistently demonstrate improvements in glycemic control as measured by increased time-in-range (TIR) 70-180 mg/dL. However, clinical predictors of TIR in users of CLC systems are needed. Materials and Methods: We analyzed data from 100 children aged 6-13 years with T1D using the Tandem Control-IQ CLC system during a randomized trial or subsequent extension phase. Continuous glucose monitor data were collected at baseline and during 12-16 weeks of CLC use. Participants were stratified into quartiles of TIR on CLC to compare clinical characteristics. Results: TIR for those in the first, second, third, and fourth quartiles was 54%, 65%, 71%, and 78%, respectively. Lower baseline TIR was associated with lower TIR on CLC (r = 0.69, P < 0.001). However, lower baseline TIR was also associated with greater improvement in TIR on CLC (r = -0.81, P < 0.001). During CLC, participants in the highest versus lowest TIR-quartile administered more user-initiated boluses daily (8.5 ± 2.8 vs. 5.8 ± 2.6, P < 0.001) and received fewer automated boluses (3.5 ± 1.0 vs. 6.0 ± 1.6, P < 0.001). Participants in the lowest (vs. the highest) TIR-quartile received more insulin per body weight (1.13 ± 0.27 vs. 0.87 ± 0.20 U/kg/d, P = 0.008). However, in a multivariate model adjusting for baseline TIR, user-initiated boluses and insulin-per-body-weight were no longer significant. Conclusions: Higher baseline TIR is the strongest predictor of TIR on CLC in children with T1D. However, lower baseline TIR is associated with the greatest improvement in TIR. As with open-loop systems, user engagement is important for optimal glycemic control.

Androgens During Infancy, Childhood, and Adolescence: Physiology and Use in Clinical Practice.

We provide an in-depth review of the role of androgens in male maturation and development, from the fetal stage through adolescence into emerging adulthood, and discuss the treatment of disorders of androgen production throughout these time periods. Testosterone, the primary androgen produced by males, has both anabolic and androgenic effects. Androgen exposure induces virilization and anabolic body composition changes during fetal development, influences growth and virilization during infancy, and stimulates development of secondary sexual characteristics, growth acceleration, bone mass accrual, and alterations of body composition during puberty. Disorders of androgen production may be subdivided into hypo- or hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism may be either congenital or acquired (resulting from cranial radiation, trauma, or less common causes). Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism occurs in males with Klinefelter syndrome and may occur in response to pelvic radiation, certain chemotherapeutic agents, and less common causes. These disorders all require testosterone replacement therapy during pubertal maturation and many require lifelong replacement. Androgen (or gonadotropin) therapy is clearly beneficial in those with persistent hypogonadism and self-limited delayed puberty and is now widely used in transgender male adolescents. With more widespread use and newer formulations approved for adults, data from long-term randomized placebo-controlled trials are needed to enable pediatricians to identify the optimal age of initiation, route of administration, and dosing frequency to address the unique needs of their patients.

Safety and Efficacy of Initializing the Control-IQ Artificial Pancreas System Based on Total Daily Insulin in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes.

Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of a simplified initialization for the Tandem t:slim X2 Control-IQ hybrid closed-loop system, using parameters based on total daily insulin ("MyTDI") in adolescents with type 1 diabetes under usual activity and during periods of increased exercise. Research Design and Methods: Adolescents with type 1 diabetes 12-18 years of age used Control-IQ for 5 days at home using their usual parameters. Upon arrival at a 60-h ski camp, participants were randomized to either continue Control-IQ using their home settings or to reinitialize Control-IQ with MyTDI parameters. Control-IQ use continued for 5 days following camp. The effect of MyTDI on continuous glucose monitoring outcomes were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA): baseline, camp, and at home. Results: Twenty participants were enrolled and completed the study; two participants were excluded from the analysis due to absence from ski camp (1) and illness (1). Time in range was similar between both groups at home and camp. A tendency to higher time <70 mg/dL in the MyTDI group was present but only during camp (median 3.8% vs. 1.4%, P = 0.057). MyTDI users with bolus/TDI ratios >40% tended to show greater time in the euglycemic range improvements between baseline and home than users with ratios <40% (+16.3% vs. -9.0%, P = 0.012). All participants maintained an average of 95% time in closed loop (84.1%-100%). Conclusions: MyTDI is a safe, effective, and easy way to determine insulin parameters for use in the Control-IQ artificial pancreas. Future modifications to account for the influence of carbohydrate intake on MyTDI calculations might further improve time in range.

One-Year Follow-Up of Girls with Precocious Puberty and Their Mothers: Do Psychological Assessments Change over Time or with Treatment?

BACKGROUND: To determine whether psychological characteristics of girls with variations of early puberty and their mothers change over time and with treatment in girls with central precocious puberty (CPP). METHODS: Girls with CPP, premature adrenarche (PA), and early normal puberty (ENP) completed psychological assessments at baseline and after 1 year along with their mothers. All girls with CPP were treated with GnRH analogs. Psychological effects of group and time were examined using 2 × 3 mixed ANOVAs. RESULTS: Sixty-two subjects aged 7.5 ± 1.4 years (range 4.8-10.5) were enrolled, of whom 36 (15 with CPP, 8 with PA, and 13 with ENP) completed 1-year follow-up assessments. Psychological measures were normal in all girls. No significant group differences were found for any measure of girls' psychological functioning at either time point. However, across all groups there was change over time with a decrease in perceived physical competence (p < 0.001) and an increase in perceived maternal acceptance (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: No abnormalities in psychological functioning were found among girls with variations of early puberty, and all groups were in the normal range. Our results are largely reassuring regarding concerns of adverse psychological consequences of early puberty in girls.

Infants With Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Are at Risk for Hypercalcemia, Hypercalciuria, and Nephrocalcinosis.

CONTEXT: Hypercalcemia is reported as a rare finding in adrenal insufficiency, but is not well described in congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients with CAH diagnosed before the age of 2 years who had at least one recorded serum calcium measurement. Data from birth to 6 years of age were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 40 patients who met inclusion criteria, 33 (82.5%) had at least one elevated calcium concentration and 21 (53%) had two or more elevated calcium concentrations. Of the 126 elevated serum calcium concentrations, the median was 10.9 mg/dL (range, 10.6 to 14.2 mg/dL). Median age at the last elevated calcium measurement was 5 months (range, 0.3 to 46 months). Serum calcium concentration was inversely related to age (r = -0.124; P = 0.004). Overall, calcium level positively correlated with 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) concentration (r = 0.170; P = 0.003), and this remained significant after adjusting for age (P < 0.05). However, patients had hypercalcemia with both high and low 17OHP concentrations. Serum calcium concentration also was positively related to glucocorticoid (r = 0.196; P = 0.012) and fludrocortisone (r = 0.229; P = 0.003) doses, and remained significant after age adjustment. Only seven patients were evaluated for hypercalciuria. Of these, six had at least one period of documented hypercalciuria. Three patients had nephrocalcinosis on renal ultrasound. CONCLUSION: Children with CAH are at risk for developing hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria, and nephrocalcinosis. Further studies are needed to determine the broader prevalence and the etiology of hypercalcemia in CAH.

The Use of 123I in Diagnostic Radioactive Iodine Scans in Children with Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Adult studies have shown that iodine-123 ((123)I) is as effective as (131)I in detecting metastatic disease in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. However, the type and administered activity of radioiodine used for diagnostic imaging of metastatic thyroid cancer has not been well studied in children. Here we describe our institution's experience with using (123)I in diagnostic radioiodine scans in children with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: Every patient with differentiated thyroid carcinoma who completed diagnostic scanning followed by radioiodine therapy at our institution over the past 8 years was included in this retrospective chart review. Patient age, sex, presentation of thyroid disease, past medical history, thyrotropin, thyroglobulin, and antithyroglobulin antibodies were recorded. A single nuclear medicine radiologist evaluated all scans. RESULTS: Thirty-three subjects completed 37 pairs of scans at a mean age of 13.4 years (range 6-17 years). The majority of subjects were female (81%) and had papillary thyroid cancer (91%). For diagnostic scanning, 5 received 2 mCi of (131)I, 21 received 2 mCi of (123)I, and 11 received 3 mCi of (123)I. There was no statistically significant difference in rate of discordant scan pairs when comparing (131)I and (123)I (20% and 23% respectively, p=0.9). The detection of metastatic pulmonary disease on diagnostic scanning was not improved by increasing the dose of (123)I from 2 mCi to 3 mCi (10% rate of missed lung detection with 2 mCi (123)I vs. 20% with 3 mCi (123)I). CONCLUSIONS: (123)I is effective for use in diagnostic radioactive iodine scans in children with differentiated thyroid cancer. The primary advantages of using (123)I include decreased radiation exposure and avoidance of stunning. However, in children there is a possibility of missed detection of metastatic pulmonary disease.

Psychological assessment of mothers and their daughters at the time of diagnosis of precocious puberty.

BACKGROUND: Concerns about psychological distress are often used to justify treatment of girls with precocious puberty, but there is little evidence to support these concerns. The extent to which psychological problems are associated with central precocious puberty (CPP) compared with other forms of early puberty in girls has likewise not been established. METHODS: Girls presenting with untreated CPP, premature adrenarche (PA) or early normal puberty (ENP) were recruited from our pediatric endocrine clinic along with their mothers. Child psychological adjustment was assessed by child self-report and parent report. Parent self-reported personality, anxiety, and depression were also assessed. Differences between groups were explored using one-way ANOVA and Dunnett's T3 test. RESULTS: Sixty-two subjects (aged 7.5 ± 1.4 years, range 4.8-10.5) were enrolled, of whom 19 had CPP, 22 had PA, and 21 had ENP. Girls with ENP were significantly older (8.9 ± .9 years) than girls with CPP (6.9 ± 1.1 years, p < .001) and PA (6.6 ± 1.0 years, p < .001). Girls with PA had significantly higher BMI z-scores (1.7 ± .8) than girls with CPP (1.1 ± .6, p = .01) and ENP (1.2 ± .6, p = .04). More girls with PA and ENP were from racial minorities (47% and 50% respectively) than girls with CPP (32%). No group differences were found for any child measure of psychological adjustment. However, mothers of girls with PA scored significantly higher than mothers of girls with ENP on one measure of depression (p = .04) and stress (p = .01). CONCLUSIONS: While mothers of girls with PA report increased psychological distress on some measures, no differences in psychological adjustment were found at baseline amongst the girls themselves. Whether these results will change as puberty progresses in the PA and ENP groups or with treatment of CPP is unknown. Long-term prospective studies are needed in order to further investigate psychological correlates of early puberty in girls.