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Jesper Krogh Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Peter Plomgaard Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Ruth Frikke-Schmidt Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Sten Velschow Fluisense ApS, Lillerød, Denmark

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Jesper Johannesen Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Department of Pediatrics, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev & Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Linda Maria Hilsted Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Malene Schrøder Fluisense ApS, Lillerød, Denmark

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Ulla Feldt-Rasmussen Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Repeated blood sampling is required in certain clinical and research settings, which is currently performed by drawing blood from venous catheters requiring manual handling of each sample at the time of collection. A novel body-worn device for repeated serial samples, Fluispotter®, with automated extraction, collection, and storage of up to 20 venous dried blood spot samples over the course of 20 h may overcome problems with current methods for serial sampling. The purpose of this study was to assess the performance and safety of Fluispotter for the first time in healthy subjects. Fluispotter consists of a cartridge with tubing, a reservoir for flushing solution, pumps and filterpaper, and a multi-lumen catheter placed in the brachial vein. We recruited healthy subjects for testing in an in-hospital setting. Fluispotter was attached by an anesthesiologist to 22 healthy subjects of which 9/22 (40.9%) participants had all 20 samples taken, which was lower than the goal of complete sampling in 80% of the subjects (P = 0.02). The main reason for sample failure was clogging of blood flow which was observed in 11/22 (50%) of the participants. No serious adverse events occurred, and the participants rated the pain from the insertion and the removal of catheter as very low. A cortisol profile showed nadir values at midnight and highest values at 05:00 h. Although full sampling was not successful in all participants, the Fluispotter technology proved safe and highly acceptable to the participants producing the expected cortisol profile without the requirement of staff during sample collection.

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Tomaž Kocjan Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

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Gaj Vidmar Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
University Rehabilitation Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
FAMNIT, University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia

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Peter Popović Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Clinical Institute of Radiology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

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Milenko Stanković Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Clinical Institute of Radiology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

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The 20-point clinical prediction SPACE score, the aldosterone-to-lowest potassium ratio (APR), aldosterone concentration (AC) and the AC relative reduction rate after saline infusion test (SIT) have recently been proposed for primary aldosteronism (PA) subtyping prior to adrenal vein sampling (AVS). To validate those claims, we performed a retrospective cross-sectional study that included all patients at our center who had positive SIT to confirm PA and were diagnosed with either bilateral disease (BPA) according to AVS or with lateralized disease (LPA) if biochemically cured after adrenalectomy from November 2004 to the end of 2019. Final diagnoses were used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of proposed clinical prediction tools. Our cohort included 144 patients (40 females), aged 32–72 years (mean 54 years); 59 with LPA and 85 with BPA. The originally suggested SPACE score ≤8 and SPACE score >16 rules yielded about 80% positive predictive value (PPV) for BPA and LPA, respectively. Multivariate analyses with the predictors constituting the SPACE score highlighted post-SIT AC as the most important predictor of PA subtype for our cohort. APR-based tool of <5 for BPA and >15 for LPA yielded about 75% PPV for LPA and BPA. The proposed post-SIT AC <8.79 ng/dL criterion yielded 41% sensitivity and 90% specificity, while the relative post-SIT AC reduction rate of >33.8% criterion yielded 80% sensitivity and 51% specificity for BPA prediction. The application of any of the validated clinical prediction tools to our cohort did not predict the PA subtype with the high diagnostic performance originally reported.

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Svjatoslavs Kistkins Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia

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Othmar Moser Division of Exercise Physiology and Metabolism, Institute of Sport Science, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany

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Vitālijs Ankudovičs Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia

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Dmitrijs Blizņuks Institute of Smart Computing Technologies, Riga Technical University, Riga, Latvia

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Timurs Mihailovs Institute of Smart Computing Technologies, Riga Technical University, Riga, Latvia

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Sergejs Lobanovs Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia

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Harald Sourij Trials Unit for Interdisciplinary Metabolic Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetolgoy, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

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Andreas F H Pfeiffer Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Medicine, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité University Medicine, Hindenburgdamm, Berlin, Germany

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Valdis Pīrāgs Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia
Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia

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The increasing prevalence of ‘diabesity’, a combination of type 2 diabetes and obesity, poses a significant global health challenge. Unhealthy lifestyle factors, including poor diet, sedentary behaviour, and high stress levels, combined with genetic and epigenetic factors, contribute to the diabesity epidemic. Diabesity leads to various significant complications such as cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and certain cancers. Incretin-based therapies, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual hormone therapies, have shown promising results in improving glycaemic control and inducing weight loss. However, these therapies also come with certain disadvantages, including potential withdrawal effects. This review aims to provide insights into the cross-interactions of insulin, glucagon, and GLP-1, revealing the complex hormonal dynamics during fasting and postprandial states, impacting glucose homeostasis, energy expenditure, and other metabolic functions. Understanding these hormonal interactions may offer novel hypotheses in the development of ‘anti-diabesity’ treatment strategies. The article also explores the question of the antagonism of insulin and glucagon, providing insights into the potential synergy and hormonal overlaps between these hormones.

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Peiwen Zheng School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, The Affiliated Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou, China

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Fan Wang Beijing Hui-Long-Guan Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China

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Hui Li Psychosomatic Medicine Research Division, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Huhhot, China

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Hanlu Chen School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, The Affiliated Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou, China

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Mengtong Li School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, The Affiliated Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou, China

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Haozheng Ma School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, The Affiliated Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou, China

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Jue He School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, The Affiliated Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou, China

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Li Chen School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, The Affiliated Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou, China

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Yanlong Liu School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, The Affiliated Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou, China

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Haiyun Xu School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, The Affiliated Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou, China

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Objective

This study aimed to reveal associations between metabolic hormones in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and cigarette smoking-induced weight gain and to explore the underlying mechanism.

Methods

A total of 156 adult men were included, comprising active smokers and nonsmokers. In addition to demographic information and body mass index (BMI), plasma levels of ApoA1 and ApoB, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, cholesterol, triglyceride, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase in the participants were measured. Moreover, the metabolic hormones adiponectin, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), ghrelin, leptin, and orexin A, as well as the trace elements iron and zinc in CSF, were assessed.

Results

Compared to nonsmokers, active smokers showed higher BMI, and elevated CSF levels of FGF21, Zn, and Fe, but decreased levels of metabolic hormones adiponectin, ghrelin, leptin, and orexin A. Negative correlations existed between CSF FGF21 and ghrelin, between CSF Zn and ghrelin, as well as between CSF Fe and orexin A in active smokers. Furthermore, elevated CSF FGF21 and Zn predicted ghrelin level decrease in the smokers.

Conclusion

These data relate smoking-induced weight gain to its neurotoxic effect on the neurons that synthesize metabolic hormones such as adiponectin, ghrelin, leptin, or orexin A in the brain, by disrupting mitochondrial function and causing oxidative stress in the neurons.

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Maxime Duval Department of Medicine, Clinique Jules Verne, Nantes, France

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Kalyane Bach-Ngohou Department of Biology, Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, CHU Nantes, Nantes, France

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Damien Masson Department of Biology, Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, CHU Nantes, Nantes, France

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Camille Guimard Department of Emergency Medicine, CHU Nantes, Nantes, France

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Philippe Le Conte Department of Emergency Medicine, CHU Nantes, Nantes, France

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David Trewick Department of Medicine, Clinique Jules Verne, Nantes, France
Department of Emergency Medicine, CHU Nantes, Nantes, France

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Objective

Severe hypocalcemia (Ca <1.9 mmol/L) is often considered an emergency because of a potential risk of cardiac arrest or seizures. However, there is little evidence to support this. The aim of our study was to assess whether severe hypocalcemia was associated with immediately life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias or neurological complications.

Methods

A retrospective observational study was carried out over a 2-year period in the Adult Emergency Department (ED) of Nantes University Hospital. All patients who had a protein-corrected calcium concentration measure were eligible for inclusion. Patients with multiple myeloma were excluded. The primary outcome was the number of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and/or neurological complications during the stay in the ED.

Results

A total of 41,823 patients had protein-corrected calcium (pcCa) concentrations measured, 155 had severe hypocalcemia, 22 were excluded because of myeloma leaving 133 for analysis. Median pcCa concentration was 1.73 mmol/L (1.57–1.84). Seventeen (12.8%) patients presented a life-threatening condition, 14 (10.5%) neurological and 3 (2.2%) cardiac during ED stay. However, these complications could be explained by the presence of underlying co-morbidities and or electrolyte disturbances other than hypocalcemia. Overall, 24 (18%) patients died in hospital. Vitamin D deficiency, chronic kidney disease and hypoparathyroidism were the most frequently found causes of hypocalcemia.

Conclusion

Thirteen percent of patients with severe hypocalcemia presented a life-threatening cardiac or neurological complication on the ED. However, a perfectly valid alternative cause could account for these complications. Further research is warranted to define the precise role of hypocalcemia.

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Zhou-Qing Kang Department of Nursing, Jin Qiu Hospital of Liaoning Province, Geriatric Hospital of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China

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Jia-Ling Huo Department of Respiratory Medicine, Jin Qiu Hospital of Liaoning Province, Geriatric Hospital of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China

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Xiao-Jie Zhai Department of Nursing, Jin Qiu Hospital of Liaoning Province, Geriatric Hospital of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China

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Background

The optimal glycemic target during the perioperative period is still controversial. We aimed to explore the effects of tight glycemic control (TGC) on surgical mortality and morbidity.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE and CENTRAL were searched from January 1, 1946 to February 28, 2018. Appropriate trails comparing the postoperative outcomes (mortality, hypoglycemic events, acute kidney injury, etc.) between different levels of TGC and liberal glycemic control were identified. Quality assessments were performed with the Jadad scale combined with the allocation concealment evaluation. Pooled relative risk (RR) and 95% CI were calculated using random effects models. Heterogeneity was detected by the I 2 test.

Results

Twenty-six trials involving a total of 9315 patients were included in the final analysis. The overall mortality did not differ between tight and liberal glycemic control (RR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.78–1.07; I 2 = 20.1%). Among subgroup analyses, obvious decreased risks of mortality were found in the short-term mortality, non-diabetic conditions, cardiac surgery conditions and compared to the very liberal glycemic target. Furthermore, TGC was associated with decreased risks for acute kidney injury, sepsis, surgical site infection, atrial fibrillation and increased risks of hypoglycemia and severe hypoglycemia.

Conclusions

Compared to liberal control, perioperative TGC (the upper level of glucose goal ≤150 mg/dL) was associated with significant reduction of short-term mortality, cardic surgery mortality, non-diabetic patients mortality and some postoperative complications. In spite of increased risks of hypoglycemic events, perioperative TGC will benefits patients when it is done carefully.

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Elin Kahlert Clinic of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany

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Martina Blaschke Clinic of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
Endokrinologikum Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany

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Knut Brockmann Interdisciplinary Pediatric Center for Children with Developmental Disabilities and Severe Chronic Disorders, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany

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Clemens Freiberg Interdisciplinary Pediatric Center for Children with Developmental Disabilities and Severe Chronic Disorders, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany

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Onno E Janssen Endokrinologikum Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

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Nikolaus Stahnke Endokrinologikum Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

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Domenika Strik Endokrinologikum Berlin, Berlin, Germany

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Martin Merkel Endokrinologikum Hannover, Hannover, Germany

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Alexander Mann Endokrinologikum Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

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Klaus-Peter Liesenkötter Endokrinologikum Berlin, Berlin, Germany

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Heide Siggelkow Clinic of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
Endokrinologikum Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany

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Objective

Turner syndrome (TS) is characterized by the complete or partial loss of the second sex chromosome and associated with a wide range of clinical manifestations. We aimed to assess the medical care of adult patients with TS in Germany.

Design

Retrospective multicenter observational study.

Methods

Data were collected from medical records of 258 women with TS treated between 2001 and 2017 in five non-university endocrinologic centers in Germany.

Results

Mean age was 29.8 ± 11.6 years, mean height 152 ± 7.7 cm, and mean BMI 26.6 ± 6.3 kg/m2. The karyotype was known in 50% of patients. Information on cholesterol state, liver enzymes, and thyroid status was available in 81–98% of women with TS; autoimmune thyroiditis was diagnosed in 37%. Echocardiography was performed in 42% and cardiac MRI in 8.5%, resulting in a diagnosis of cardiovascular disorder in 28%. Data on growth hormone therapy were available for 40 patients (15%) and data concerning menarche in 157 patients (61%).

Conclusion

In 258 women with TS, retrospective analysis of healthcare data indicated that medical management was focused on endocrine manifestations. Further significant clinical features including cardiovascular disease, renal malformation, liver involvement, autoimmune diseases, hearing loss, and osteoporosis were only marginally if at all considered. Based on this evaluation and in accordance with recent guidelines, we compiled a documentation form facilitating the transition from pediatric to adult care and further medical management of TS patients. The foundation of Turner Centers in March 2019 will improve the treatment of TS women in Germany.

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Rossella Cannarella Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

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Teresa Mattina Genetics, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

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Rosita A Condorelli Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

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Laura M Mongioì Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

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Giuseppe Pandini Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

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Sandro La Vignera Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

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Aldo E Calogero Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

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Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), mapping on the 15q26.3 chromosome, is required for normal embryonic and postnatal growth. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the IGF1R gene expression and function in three unrelated patients with chromosome 15 structural abnormalities. We report two male patients with the smallest 15q26.3 chromosome duplication described so far, and a female patient with ring chromosome 15 syndrome. Patient one, with a 568 kb pure duplication, had overgrowth, developmental delay, mental and psychomotor retardation, obesity, cryptorchidism, borderline low testis volume, severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and gynecomastia. We found a 1.8-fold increase in the IGF1R mRNA and a 1.3-fold increase in the IGF1R protein expression (P < 0.05). Patient two, with a 650 kb impure duplication, showed overgrowth, developmental delay, mild mental retardation, precocious puberty, low testicular volume and severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. The IGF1R mRNA and protein expression was similar to that of the control. Patient three, with a 46,XX r(15) (p10q26.2) karyotype, displayed intrauterine growth retardation, developmental delay, mental and psychomotor retardation. We found a <0.5-fold decrease in the IGF1R mRNA expression and an undetectable IGF1R activity. After reviewing the previously 96 published cases of chromosome 15q duplication, we found that neurological disorders, congenital cardiac defects, typical facial traits and gonadal abnormalities are the prominent features in patients with chromosome 15q duplication. Interestingly, patients with 15q deletion syndrome display similar features. We speculate that both the increased and decreased IGF1R gene expression may play a role in the etiology of neurological and gonadal disorders.

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M Ahmid Developmental Endocrinology Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

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C G Perry Department of Endocrinology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospitals, Glasgow, UK

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S F Ahmed Developmental Endocrinology Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

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M G Shaikh Developmental Endocrinology Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

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Until quite recently, the management of children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) had focussed on the use of recombinant human GH (rhGH) therapy to normalise final adult height. However, research over the past two decades that has demonstrated deficits in bone health and cardiac function, as well as impaired quality of life in adults with childhood-onset GHD (CO-GHD), has questioned this practice. Some of these studies suggested that there may be short-term benefits of rhGH in certain group of adolescents with GHD during transition, although the impact of GHD and replacement during the transition period has not been adequately investigated and its long-term benefits remain unclear. GH therapy remains expensive and well-designed long-term studies are needed to determine the cost effectiveness and clinical benefit of ongoing rhGH during transition and further into adulthood. In the absence of compelling data to justify widespread continuation of rhGH into adult life, there are several questions related to its use that remain unanswered. This paper reviews the effects of growth hormone deficiency on bone health, cardiovascular function, metabolic profile and quality of life during transition and young adulthood.

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Diana-Alexandra Ertl Department of Pulmonology, Allergology and Endocrinology, University Clinic for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

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Andreas Gleiss Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics, and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

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Katharina Schubert Department of Pulmonology, Allergology and Endocrinology, University Clinic for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

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Caroline Culen Department of Pulmonology, Allergology and Endocrinology, University Clinic for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

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Peer Hauck Pediatric Heart Center Vienna, University Clinic for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

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Johannes Ott Clinic Division for Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

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Alois Gessl Division of Endocrinology, University Clinic of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

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Gabriele Haeusler Department of Pulmonology, Allergology and Endocrinology, University Clinic for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

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Background

Previous studies have shown that only a minority of patients with Turner syndrome (TS) have adequate medical care after transfer to adult care.

Aim of this study

To assess the status of medical follow-up and quality of life (QoL) in adult women diagnosed with TS and followed up until transfer. To compare the subjective and objective view of the medical care quality and initiate improvements based on patients’ experiences and current recommendations.

Methods

39 adult women with TS out of 64 patients contacted were seen for a clinical and laboratory check, cardiac ultrasound, standardized and structured questionnaires (SF-36v2 and Beck depression inventory).

Results

7/39 of the patients were not being followed medically at all. Only 2/39 consulted all the specialists recommended. Comorbidities were newly diagnosed in 27/39 patients; of these, 11 related to the cardiovascular system. Patients in our cohort scored as high as the mean reference population for SF-36v2 in both mental and physical compartments. Obese participants had lower scores in the physical function section, whereas higher education was related to higher physical QoL scores. Adult height slightly correlated positively with physical health.

Conclusion

Medical follow-up was inadequate in our study cohort of adults with TS. Even though their medical follow-up was insufficient, these women felt adequately treated, leaving them vulnerable for premature illness. Initiatives in health autonomy and a structured transfer process as well as closer collaborations within specialities are urgently needed.

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