Efficacy and safety of propranolol cream in infantile hemangioma: A prospective pilot study.

Infantile hemangioma (IH) is a common tumor in infants that gradually resolves and is often untreated. However, for cosmetic reasons, parents often opt for treatment. Oral propranolol, the first-line therapy for IH, is sometimes associated with several side effects, including hypotension, bradycardia, and hypoglycemia. No clinical studies on topical propranolol have been conducted using standardized procedures. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of topical propranolol in patients with IH. This multicenter, prospective pilot study was conducted from June 2019 to October 2020 and involved eight Japanese infants aged 35-150 days with proliferating IH. Patients were treated with 5% propranolol cream twice daily. We examined the efficacy rate based on central evaluation (complete or near-complete healing of the target hemangioma) at weeks 24 and 12, respectively, compared to baseline values. The efficacy rate at week 24 was 68.8% (95% confidence interval: 44.1-85.9%). The surface area, maximum diameter, and color intensity of the target IH decreased over time. Adverse event and drug-related adverse event rates were 87.5% and 0%, respectively. Propranolol cream may be effective and safe in Japanese patients with IH and may be considered a first-choice treatment for small and superficial IHs in cosmetically problematic areas.

Comparison of delivery catheter-based and stylet-based right ventricular lead placement at the right ventricular septum under fluoroscopic guidance judged by cardiac CT (Mt. FUJI): a study protocol for the Mt. FUJI randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Pacing-induced cardiomyopathy occasionally occurs in patients undergoing pacemaker implantation. Although compared with right ventricular (RV) apical pacing, RV septal pacing can attenuate left ventricular dyssynchrony; the success rate of lead placement on the RV septum using the stylet system is low. Additionally, no randomised controlled trial has addressed the issue regarding the accuracy of RV lead placement on the RV septum using the stylet and delivery catheter systems. This study hypothesises that a newly available delivery catheter system can improve the accuracy of RV lead placement on the RV septum. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: In a multicentre, prospective, randomised, single-blind, controlled trial, 70 patients with pacemaker indication owing to atrioventricular block will be randomised to either the delivery catheter or stylet group before the pacemaker implantation procedure. The position of the RV lead tip will be assessed using ECG-gated cardiac CT in all patients within 4 weeks after pacemaker implantation. Lead tip positions are classified into three groups: (1) RV septum, (2) anterior/posterior edge of the RV septal wall and (3) RV free wall. The primary endpoint will be the success rate of RV lead tip placement on the RV septum, which will be evaluated using cardiac CT. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study will be conducted according to the stipulations of the Helsinki Declaration and the institutional review board of Hamamatsu University School of Medicine. The results of the study will be disseminated at several research conferences and will be published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: jRCTs042200014; Pre-results.

Targeted Use of Prednisolone with Intravenous Immunoglobulin for Kawasaki Disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy for acute-stage Kawasaki disease (KD) is the first-line treatment for preventing the development of coronary artery aneurysms (CAA). Corticosteroids (prednisolone) and infliximab are often used in patients at a high risk of CAA or those with CAA at diagnosis; however, there are only a few reports of non-responders to corticosteroids as an adjuvant therapy or rescue alternative to IVIG. In this study, we compared the therapeutic effects of primary and secondary prednisolone with IVIG for KD. METHODS: We established the following three protocols: A was a secondary rescue prednisolone protocol; B was no prednisolone and second-line infliximab protocol, and C was the primary prednisolone protocol. The indication for prednisolone administration was based on the following: primary prednisolone administration, Kobayashi score; and secondary administration, Shizuoka score. RESULTS: Four hundred and sixty-nine patients were enrolled in the three protocols. A comparison between primary and secondary prednisolone and IVIG, as the first-line therapy revealed that the number of first non-responders in C group was 7 (8.3%), which was significantly lower than the 50 (20.9%) in A group. There was a significant difference in the first and second non-responders among the three groups, and the number of non-responders in A group was 6 (2.5%), which was significantly lower than the 13 (9.9%) in B group (p < 0.001, by Bonferroni test). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that IVIG non-responders among the protocol groups had an adjusted odds ratio of 6.47. Fifteen IVIG non-responders were administered infliximab as a second-line therapy, and of them, 9 (60%) showed therapy resistance. CAA occurred in 21 patients (4.6%). There was no significant difference among each protocol group. CONCLUSIONS: The number of IVIG non-responders in the group with prednisolone administration was lower than that in the group without prednisolone administration. Secondary rescue infliximab therapy for IVIG non-responders resulted in a lower defervescence effect than the secondary rescue IVIG with prednisolone administration. Further prospective randomized studies are needed to identify factors useful for preventing IVIG non-responders and determine the optimal rescue therapy for preventing CAA.

Comprehensive clinical and molecular studies in split-hand/foot malformation: identification of two plausible candidate genes (LRP6 and UBA2).

Split-hand/foot malformation (SHFM) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous condition. We sequentially performed screening of the previously identified Japanese founder 17p13.3 duplication/triplication involving BHLHA9, array comparative genomic hybridization, and whole exome sequencing (WES) in newly recruited 41 Japanese families with non-syndromic and syndromic SHFM. We also carried out WES in seven families with nonsyndromic and syndromic SHFM in which underlying genetic causes including pathogenic copy-number variants (CNVs) remained undetected in our previous studies of 56 families. Consequently, we identified not only known pathogenic CNVs (17p13.3 duplications/triplications [n = 21], 2q31 deletion [n = 1], and 10q24 duplications [n = 3]) and rare variants in known causative genes (TP63 [n = 3], DLX5 [n = 1], IGF2 [n = 1], WNT10B [n = 3], WNT10B/PORCN [n = 1], and PORCN [n = 1]), but also a de novo 19q13.11 deletion disrupting UBA2 (n = 1) and variants that probably affect function in LRP6 (n = 1) and UBA2 (n = 1). Thus, together with our previous data based on testing of 56 families, molecular studies for a total of 97 families with SHFM revealed underlying genetic causes in 75 families, and clinical studies for the 75 families indicated a certain degree of correlation between genetic causes and phenotypes. The results imply that SHFM primarily occurs as a genetic disorder with genotype-phenotype correlations. Furthermore, the results together with previous data such as the development of SHFM in Lrp6 knockout mice, the presence of SHFM in two subjects with 19q13 deletions involving UBA2, and strong mouse Uba2 expression in the developing limb buds, imply that LRP6 and UBA2 represent plausible candidate genes for SHFM.

Urinary myo-inositol levels in Japanese schoolchildren with normal glucose tolerance.

BACKGROUND: Urinary myo-inositol (UMI) level is elevated in adult diabetic patients, and also increases after glucose loading. However, the relationship between UMI and plasma glucose levels in children is unknown. We aimed to assess whether UMI is a practical marker for glucose intolerance in children or not. METHODS: In Study 1 (328 schoolchildren), fasting and postprandial UMI were measured, with ΔUMI defined as the difference between fasting and postprandial UMI levels. In Study 2, oral glucose tolerance tests and UMI measurements were conducted in 18 children with suspected having diabetes. RESULTS: For Study 1, ΔUMI was observed [-0.65 (-3.9, 1.35) mg/g creatinine]. For Study 2, children with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance had a significantly higher ΔUMI than children with normal glucose tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: These studies demonstrated the normal range of UMI in children and possibility of a novel biomarker for early detection of glucose intolerance in children.

Development of waist circumference percentiles for Japanese children and an examination of their screening utility for childhood metabolic syndrome: a population-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: In Japan, waist circumference (WC) percentiles to screen for childhood metabolic syndrome (MetS) are unavailable. The objectives of this study were to develop WC and WC-to-height ratio (WC/Ht) percentile curves by age and sex for Japanese children, and to test their utility in screening for MetS in children with obesity who are otherwise healthy. METHODS: The WC and WC/Ht percentiles were developed using the LMS method of summarizing growth standards, which monitors changing skewness (L), medians (M), and coefficients of variation (S) in childhood distributions. A representative dataset was used, which consisted of 3,634 boys and 3,536 girls aged 4.5-12.75 years in Shizuoka prefecture, Japan, between 2010 and 2012. Children who were obese (355 boys and 230 girls) aged 6-12 years from Osaka prefecture, Japan, were screened for childhood MetS using the new percentiles and the International Diabetes Federation's (IDF's) definition of MetS. RESULTS: The number of participants with certain metabolic abnormalities (high systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and a high level of triglycerides) was significantly higher in boys aged 10-12 years, with a WC ≥ 90th percentile, than among those with a WC < 90th percentile. None of the participants with a WC < 90th percentile exhibited two or more metabolic abnormalities, regardless of their age or sex. Among the participants aged 10-12 years, 11.4 % of boys and 4.4 % of girls with a WC ≥ 90th percentile were diagnosed with MetS. CONCLUSIONS: The new percentiles may have a certain level of potential to screen Japanese children for childhood MetS in accordance with the IDF definition.

Japanese founder duplications/triplications involving BHLHA9 are associated with split-hand/foot malformation with or without long bone deficiency and Gollop-Wolfgang complex.

BACKGROUND: Limb malformations are rare disorders with high genetic heterogeneity. Although multiple genes/loci have been identified in limb malformations, underlying genetic factors still remain to be determined in most patients. METHODS: This study consisted of 51 Japanese families with split-hand/foot malformation (SHFM), SHFM with long bone deficiency (SHFLD) usually affecting the tibia, or Gollop-Wolfgang complex (GWC) characterized by SHFM and femoral bifurcation. Genetic studies included genomewide array comparative genomic hybridization and exome sequencing, together with standard molecular analyses. RESULTS: We identified duplications/triplications of a 210,050 bp segment containing BHLHA9 in 29 SHFM patients, 11 SHFLD patients, two GWC patients, and 22 clinically normal relatives from 27 of the 51 families examined, as well as in 2 of 1,000 Japanese controls. Families with SHFLD- and/or GWC-positive patients were more frequent in triplications than in duplications. The fusion point was identical in all the duplications/triplications and was associated with a 4 bp microhomology. There was no sequence homology around the two breakpoints, whereas rearrangement-associated motifs were abundant around one breakpoint. The rs3951819-D17S1174 haplotype patterns were variable on the duplicated/triplicated segments. No discernible genetic alteration specific to patients was detected within or around BHLHA9, in the known causative SHFM genes, or in the exome. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that BHLHA9 overdosage constitutes the most frequent susceptibility factor, with a dosage effect, for a range of limb malformations at least in Japan. Notably, this is the first study revealing the underlying genetic factor for the development of GWC, and demonstrating the presence of triplications involving BHLHA9. It is inferred that a Japanese founder duplication was generated through a replication-based mechanism and underwent subsequent triplication and haplotype modification through recombination-based mechanisms, and that the duplications/triplications with various haplotypes were widely spread in Japan primarily via clinically normal carriers and identified via manifesting patients. Furthermore, genotype-phenotype analyses of patients reported in this study and the previous studies imply that clinical variability is ascribed to multiple factors including the size of duplications/triplications as a critical factor.

Critical role of Yp inversion in PRKX/PRKY-mediated Xp;Yp translocation in a patient with 45,X testicular disorder of sex development.

45,X testicular disorder of sex development (TDSD), previously known as 45,X maleness, with unbalanced Xp;Yp translocation is an extremely rare condition caused by concomitant occurrence of loss of an X chromosome of maternal origin and an aberrant Xp;Yp translocation during paternal meiosis. We identified a Japanese male infant with an apparently 45,X karyotype who exhibited chondrodysplasia punctata and growth failure. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a 45,X.ish der(X)t(X;Y)(p22.33;p11.2)(DXZ1+,SRY+) karyotype. Array comparative genome hybridization analysis showed a simple Xp terminal deletion involving SHOX and ARSE with the breakpoint just centromeric to PRKX, and an apparently complex Yp translocation with the middle Yp breakpoint just telomeric to PRKY and the centromeric and the telomeric Yp breakpoints around the long inverted repeats for the generation of a common paracentric Yp inversion. Subsequently, a long PCR product was obtained with an X-specific and a Y-specific primers that were designed on the assumption of the presence of a Yp inversion that permits the alignment of PRKX and PRKY in the same direction, and the translocation fusion point was determined to reside within a 246 bp X-Y homologous segment at the "hot spot A" in the 5' region of PRKX/PRKY, by sequential direct sequencing for the long PCR product. These results argue not only for the presence of rare 45,X-TDSD with Xp;Yp translocation, but also for a critical role of a common paracentric Yp inversion in the occurrence of PRKX/PRKY-mediated unbalanced Xp;Yp translocation.

The lipid fraction of human milk initiates adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased worldwide over the past decade. Despite evidence that human milk lowers the risk of childhood obesity, the mechanism is not fully understood. AIMS: We investigated the direct effect of human milk on differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. STUDY DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were treated with donated human milk only or the combination of the standard hormone mixture; insulin, dexamethasone (DEX), and 3-isobututyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). Furthermore, the induction of preadipocyte differentiation by extracted lipids from human milk was tested in comparison to the cells treated with lipid extracts from infant formula. Adipocyte differentiation, specific genes as well as formation of lipid droplets were examined. RESULTS: We clearly show that lipids present in human milk initiate 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation. In contrast, this effect was not observed in response to lipids present in infant formula. The initiation of preadipocyte differentiation by human milk was enhanced by adding the adipogenic hormone, DEX or insulin. The expression of late adipocyte markers in Day 7 adipocytes that have been induced into differentiation with human milk lipid extracts was comparable to those in control cells initiated by a standard adipogenic hormone cocktail. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that human milk contains bioactive lipids that can initiate preadipocyte differentiation in the absence of the standard adipogenic compounds via a unique pathway.

Mamld1 deficiency significantly reduces mRNA expression levels of multiple genes expressed in mouse fetal Leydig cells but permits normal genital and reproductive development.

Although mastermind-like domain containing 1 (MAMLD1) (CXORF6) on human chromosome Xq28 has been shown to be a causative gene for 46,XY disorders of sex development with hypospadias, the biological function of MAMLD1/Mamld1 remains to be elucidated. In this study, we first showed gradual and steady increase of testicular Mamld1 mRNA expression levels in wild-type male mice from 12.5 to 18.5 d postcoitum. We then generated Mamld1 knockout (KO) male mice and revealed mildly but significantly reduced testicular mRNA levels (65-80%) of genes exclusively expressed in Leydig cells (Star, Cyp11a1, Cyp17a1, Hsd3b1, and Insl3) as well as grossly normal testicular mRNA levels of genes expressed in other cell types or in Leydig and other cell types. However, no demonstrable abnormality was identified for cytochrome P450 17A1 and 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD3B) protein expression levels, appearance of external and internal genitalia, anogenital distance, testis weight, Leydig cell number, intratesticular testosterone and other steroid metabolite concentrations, histological findings, in situ hybridization findings for sonic hedgehog (the key molecule for genital tubercle development), and immunohistochemical findings for anti-Müllerian hormone (Sertoli cell marker), HSD3B (Leydig cell marker), and DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box polypeptide 4 (germ cell marker) in the KO male mice. Fertility was also normal. These findings imply that Mamld1 deficiency significantly reduces mRNA expression levels of multiple genes expressed in mouse fetal Leydig cells but permits normal genital and reproductive development. The contrastive phenotypic findings between Mamld1 KO male mice and MAMLD1 mutation positive patients would primarily be ascribed to species difference in the fetal sex development.

MAMLD1 and 46,XY disorders of sex development.

MAMLD1 (mastermind-like domain containing 1) is a recently discovered causative gene for 46,XY disorders of sex development (DSD), with hypospadias as the salient clinical phenotype. To date, microdeletions involving MAMLD1 have been identified in six patients, and definitive mutations (nonsense and frameshift mutations that are predicted to undergo nonsense mediated mRNA decay [NMD]) have been found in six patients. In addition, specific MAMLD1 cSNP(s) and haplotype may constitute a susceptibility factor for hypospadias. Furthermore, in vitro studies have revealed that (1) the mouse homolog is expressed in fetal Sertoli and Leydig cells around the critical period for sex development; (2) transient Mamld1 knockdown results in significantly reduced testosterone production primarily because of compromised 17α-hydroxylation and Cyp17a1 expression in Murine Leydig tumor cells; (3) MAMLD1 localizes to the nuclear bodies and transactivates the promoter activity of a non-canonical Notch target gene hairy/enhancer of split 3, without demonstrable DNA-binding capacity; and (4) MAMLD1 is regulated by steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1). These findings suggest that the MAMLD1 mutations cause 46,XY DSD primarily because of compromised testosterone production around the critical period for sex development. Further studies will provide useful information for the molecular network involved in fetal testosterone production.

Haplotype analysis of ESR2 in Japanese patients with spermatogenic failure.

The prevalence of spermatogenic failure (SF) has gradually increased during the past few decades at least in several countries. Although multiple factors would be involved in this phenomenon, one important factor would be excessive estrogen effects via estrogen receptors (ERs). Thus, we performed haplotype analysis of ESR2 encoding ERß in 125 Japanese SF patients and 119 age-matched control males, using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) 1-9 that are widely distributed on the ~120-kb genomic sequence of ESR2. Consequently, a linkage disequilibrium (LD) block was detected in an ~60-kb region encompassing SNPs 2-7 in both groups, and four major estimated haplotypes were identified within the LD block. Furthermore, the most prevalent 'TGTAGA' haplotype was found to be significantly associated with SF, with the P-value obtained by the Cochran-Armitage trend test (0.0029) being lower than that obtained by a 100 000-times permutation test (0.0038) to cope with the problem of multiple comparisons. The results, in conjunction with our previous data indicating lack of a susceptibility factor on ESR1 encoding ERα, imply that the specific 'TGTAGA' haplotype of ESR2 raises the susceptibility to the development of SF.

Abdominal obesity is associated with cardiovascular risk in Japanese children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is listed as a risk for atherosclerosis. However, changes in that risk during childhood and adolescence have not been well-documented. It is also unclear whether individuals with abdominal obesity, but with as yet undiagnosed metabolic syndrome, have cardiovascular risks. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ninety-two patients were studied at the Hamamatsu University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics. Physical measurements including abdominal circumference (AC), body mass index (BMI), body fat (BF), intima media thickness (IMT), arterial elasticity: beta index (Beta), carotid artery compliance (CAC), and Young's elastic modulus (YEM) using ultrasonography were taken. A positive correlation between systolic blood pressure, AC, BMI, and BF was observed (AC, r = 0.717, p < 0.001; BMI, r = 0.672, p < 0.001; BF, r = 0.518, p < 0.001). IMT showed a weak positive correlation with AC, BMI and BF (AC, r = 0.211, p = 0.044; BMI, r = 0.233, p = 0.025; BF, r = 0.232, p = 0.026). The relationship between AC, BMI, BF and arterial elasticity, especially in AC, positively correlated with beta index and YEM but negatively correlated with CAC. CONCLUSION: We suggest that AC is the most sensitive marker in the detection of arterial elasticity, even in school age children. Earlier pre-diagnostic intervention, especially in the prevention of abdominal obesity, may reduce the incidence of metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents.

Dynamics of endogenous glucocorticoid secretion and its metabolism in Kawasaki disease.

OBJECTIVE: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a severe inflammatory disease that occurs in childhood. Recently, the initial corticosteroid therapy for KD has been reconsidered because its efficacy is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamic change in endogenous glucocorticoid levels and their relation with 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD) activity in the acute phase of KD. STUDY DESIGN: Sixteen KD patients were investigated. Cortisol and cortisone levels, the cortisol/cortisone ratio and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured on admission, before the first intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy and convalescence. RESULTS: The 16 patients were divided into two groups. Group A included patients who received the first IVIG on admission and blood samples were collected before the first IVIG and convalescence. Group B included patients whose blood samples were collected at three different time points (on admission, before the first IVIG, and convalescence). CRP and cortisol levels and the cortisol/cortisol ratio were markedly higher before the first IVIG than those of convalescence in all patients except in one patient. In Group B patients, both serum cortisol levels and the cortisol/cortisone ratio on admission were significantly increased compared with those before the first IVIG (cortisol: p<0.005, cortisol/cortisone: p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Decreases in cortisol levels and the cortisol/cortisone ratio before the first IVIG may be explained by a reduction in adrenal secretion and/or local glucocorticoid action through 11beta-HSD activity. These findings suggest that exogenous glucocorticoid treatment in combination with the first IVIG at the acute stage may play a synergetic role in KD.

Initial Treatment of Pediatric Graves' Disease with Methimazole: A Retrospective Follow-up Study.

Antithyroid drugs are widely used in the therapy of Graves' disease (GD), and methimazole (MMI) is preferred for treatment of pediatric GD. The recommended initial dosage of MMI is 0.5-1.0 mg/kg/d for pediatric GD, although there are few studies on the optimal MMI dosage for initial treatment in children. We retrospectively compared the efficacy of different doses of MMI in 35 children with GD. Eight children were excluded due to lack of follow-up, etc. The remaining 27 children were divided into a high-dose group (HD; MMI≥0.7 (0.85 ± 0.13) mg/kg/d, n=8) and a low-dose group (LD; MMI<0.7 (0.51 ± 0.12) mg/kg/d, n=19), and we compared the time needed for the serum FT4 levels to normalize (≤1.6 ng/dl) between the groups. There were no significant differences between the FT4 levels (HD: 5.5 ± 2.8 ng/dl; LD: 5.0 ± 2.4 ng/dl p=0.59) or thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody levels (HD: 56.2 ± 29.3%; LD: 60.9 ± 27.2% p=0.69) between the groups before treatment. The mean time required to normalize the FT4 levels was 22.5 ± 7.4 d in the HD group and 28.8 ± 16.2 d in the LD group (p=0.30). In addition, no other factor influenced the time to efficacy of MMI. A dose of MMI<0.7 (0.51 ± 0.12) mg/kg/d appears to as effective as a higher dose in normalizing the serum FT4 level in children with mild or moderate GD.