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  • Abstract: adrenarche x
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  • Abstract: Kallmann x
  • Abstract: Klinefelter x
  • Abstract: puberty x
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Ja Hye Kim Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center Children’s Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

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Yunha Choi Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center Children’s Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

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Soojin Hwang Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center Children’s Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

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Gu-Hwan Kim Medical Genetics Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

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Han-Wook Yoo Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center Children’s Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

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Jin-Ho Choi Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center Children’s Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

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Objective

Heterozygous CHD7 mutations cause a broad spectrum of clinical phenotypes ranging from typical CHARGE syndrome to self-limited delayed puberty. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of endocrine dysfunction in patients with CHD7 mutations.

Methods

The clinical features and endocrine findings from 30 patients with CHD7 variants were retrospectively reviewed. A diagnosis of CHARGE syndrome was based on the Verloes diagnostic criteria.

Results

Seventeen patients fulfilled the criteria for typical CHARGE syndrome, one patient for partial/incomplete CHARGE, and the remaining eleven patients had atypical CHARGE syndrome. One patient was diagnosed with Kallmann syndrome and unilateral deafness. The most frequently observed features were inner ear anomalies (80.0%), intellectual disability (76.7%), and external ear anomalies (73.3%). The mean height and weight SDSs at diagnosis were −2.6 ± 1.3 and −2.2 ± 1.8, respectively. Short stature was apparent in 18 patients (60%), and 1 patient was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency. Seventeen males showed genital hypoplasia, including micropenis, cryptorchidism, or both. Seven patients after pubertal age had hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with hyposmia/anosmia and olfactory bulb hypoplasia. Truncating CHD7 mutations were the most common (n  = 22), followed by missense variants (n  = 3), splice-site variants (n  = 2), and large deletion (n  = 2).

Conclusions

A diverse phenotypic spectrum was observed in patients with CHD7 variants, and endocrine defects such as short stature and delayed puberty occurred in most patients. Endocrine evaluation, especially for growth and pubertal impairment, should be performed during diagnosis and follow-up to improve the patient’s quality of life.

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Kevin C J Yuen Departments of Neuroendocrinology and Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, University of Arizona College of Medicine and Creighton School of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona, United States

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Gudmundur Johannsson Department of Endocrinology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

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Ken K Y Ho The Garvan Institute of Medical Research and the Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

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Bradley S Miller Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Minnesota Medical School, M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

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Ignacio Bergada Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas "Dr César Bergadá" (CEDIE), CONICET-FEI-División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina

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Alan D Rogol Pediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

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Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a clinical syndrome that can manifest either as isolated or associated with additional pituitary hormone deficiencies. Although diminished height velocity and short stature are useful and important clinical markers to consider testing for GHD in children, the signs and symptoms of GHD are not always so apparent in adults. Quality of life and metabolic health are often impacted in patients with GHD; thus, making an accurate diagnosis is important so that appropriate growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy can be offered to these patients. Screening and testing for GHD require sound clinical judgment that follows after obtaining a complete medical history of patients with a hypothalamic–pituitary disorder and a thorough physical examination with specific features for each period of life, while targeted biochemical testing and imaging are required to confirm the diagnosis. Random measurements of serum GH levels are not recommended to screen for GHD (except in neonates) as endogenous GH secretion is episodic and pulsatile throughout the lifespan. One or more GH stimulation tests may be required, but existing methods of testing might be inaccurate, difficult to perform, and can be imprecise. Furthermore, there are multiple caveats when interpreting test results including individual patient factors, differences in peak GH cut-offs (by age and test), testing time points, and heterogeneity of GH and insulin-like growth factor 1 assays. In this article, we provide a global overview of the accuracy and cut-offs for diagnosis of GHD in children and adults and discuss the caveats in conducting and interpreting these tests.

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Mette Marie Baunsgaard Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

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Anne Sophie Lind Helligsoe Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

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Louise Tram Henriksen Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

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Torben Stamm Mikkelsen Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

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Michael Callesen Department of Paediatrics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Funen, Denmark

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Britta Weber The Danish Center for Particle Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

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Henrik Hasle Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

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Niels Birkebæk Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

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Objective

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is the most common endocrine late effect in irradiated survivors of childhood brain tumors. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of GHD in adults treated with proton or photon irradiation for a brain tumor in childhood and to detect undiagnosed GHD.

Design

This study is a cross-sectional study.

Methods

We investigated GHD in 5-year survivors from two health regions in Denmark treated for childhood brain tumors with cranial or craniospinal irradiation in the period 1997–2015. Medical charts were reviewed for endocrinological and other health data. Survivors without a growth hormone (GH) test at final height were invited to a GH stimulation test.

Results

Totally 41 (22 females) survivors with a median age of 21.7 years (range: 15.1–33.8 years) at follow-up and 14.8 years (range: 5.1–23.4 years) since diagnosis were included; 11 were treated with proton and 30 with photon irradiation; 18 of 21 survivors were previously found to have GHD; 16 of 20 survivors with no GH test at final height were tested, 8 (50 %) had GHD. In total, 26 of 41 patients (63%) had GHD. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is associated poorly with the insulin tolerance test (ITT).

Conclusion

This study identified a high prevalence of undiagnosed GHD in survivors with no GH test at final height. The results stress the importance of screening for GHD at final height in survivors of childhood brain tumors with prior exposure to cranial irradiation, irrespective of radiation modality and IGF-1.

Significance statement

This cross-sectional study reports a prevalence of 63% of GHD in irradiated childhood brain tumor survivors. Furthermore, the study identified a considerable number of long-term survivors without a GH test at final height, of whom, 50% subsequently were shown to have undiagnosed GHD. Additionally, this study confirmed that a normal serum IGF-1 measurement cannot exclude the diagnosis of GHD in irradiated survivors. This illustrates the need for improvements in the diagnostic approach to GHD after reaching final height in childhood brain tumor survivors at risk of GHD. In summary, our study stresses the need for GHD testing in all adult survivors treated with cranial irradiation for a brain tumor in childhood irrespective of radiation modality.

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Jelena Stankovic Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

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Kurt Kristensen Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus (SDCA), Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
Department of Pediatrics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

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Niels Birkebæk Department of Pediatrics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

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Jens Otto Lunde Jørgensen Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

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Esben Søndergaard Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus (SDCA), Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

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Background

The diagnosis of the polyuria–polydipsia syndrome is challenging. Copeptin is a robust biomarker of arginine vasopressin (AVP) secretion. Arginine, which stimulates growth hormone (GH), has been shown also to stimulate copeptin secretion via unknown mechanisms.

Aim

The aim was to investigate copeptin levels in response to three different GH stimulation tests in patients suspected of GH deficiency.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we measured plasma copeptin levels at baseline and at 60, 105, and 150 min in patients undergoing a stimulation test for growth hormone deficiency with either arginine (n = 16), clonidine (n = 8) or the insulin tolerance test (ITT) (n = 10).

Results

In patients undergoing the arginine test, the mean age was 9 years, and 10 years for clonidine. The ITT was only performed in adult patients (>18 years) with a mean age of 49 years. Copeptin level increased significantly from baseline to 60 min after arginine (P <0.01) and ITT (P < 0.01). By contrast, copeptin level tended to decrease after clonidine stimulation (P = 0.14).

Conclusion

These data support that infusion of arginine increases plasma copeptin levels and reveal a comparable response after an ITT. We hypothesize that the underlying mechanism is abrogation of somatostatin-induced AVP suppression.

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Laura Chioma Endocrinology Unit, University Pediatric Department, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy

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Carla Bizzarri Endocrinology Unit, University Pediatric Department, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy

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Martina Verzani Endocrinology Unit, University Pediatric Department, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy

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Daniela Fava Department of Pediatrics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genova, Genova, Italy

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Mariacarolina Salerno Paediatric Endocrinology Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy

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Donatella Capalbo Paediatric Endocrinology Unit, Department of Mother and Child, University Hospital Federico II, Naples, Italy

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Chiara Guzzetti Paediatric Endocrine Unit, Paediatric Hospital Microcitemico ‘A. Cao’, AO Brotzu, Cagliari, Italy

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Laura Penta Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

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Luigi Di Luigi Endocrinology Unit, Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome ‘Foro Italico’, Rome, Italy

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Natascia di Iorgi Department of Pediatrics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genova, Genova, Italy

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Mohamad Maghnie Department of Pediatrics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genova, Genova, Italy

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Sandro Loche Paediatric Endocrine Unit, Paediatric Hospital Microcitemico ‘A. Cao’, AO Brotzu, Cagliari, Italy

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Marco Cappa Endocrinology Unit, University Pediatric Department, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy

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Objective

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate children observed for suspected precocious puberty in five Italian centers of Pediatric Endocrinology during the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic (March–September 2020), compared to subjects observed in the same period of the previous year.

Design

The study population (490 children) was divided according to the year of observation and final diagnosis: transient thelarche, non-progressive precocious puberty, central precocious puberty (CPP), or early puberty.

Results

Between March and September 2020, 338 subjects were referred for suspected precocious puberty, compared to 152 subjects in the same period of 2019 (+122%). The increase was observed in girls (328 subjects in 2020 vs 140 in 2019, P  < 0.05), especially during the second half of the period considered (92 girls from March to May vs 236 girls from June to September); while no difference was observed in boys (10 subjects in 2020 vs 12 in 2019). The percentage of girls with confirmed CPP was higher in 2020, compared to 2019 (135/328 girls (41%) vs 37/140 (26%), P  < 0.01). Anthropometric and hormonal parameters in 2019 and 2020 CPP girls were not different; 2020 CPP girls showed more prolonged use of electronic devices and a more sedentary lifestyle both before and during the pandemic, compared to the rest of the 2020 population.

Conclusions

The present findings corroborate the recently reported association between the complex lifestyle changes related to the lockdown and a higher incidence of CPP in Italian girls.

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Lukas Plachy Department of Pediatrics, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, V Úvalu, Prague, Czech Republic

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Petra Dusatkova Department of Pediatrics, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, V Úvalu, Prague, Czech Republic

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Klara Maratova Department of Pediatrics, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, V Úvalu, Prague, Czech Republic

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Shenali Anne Amaratunga Department of Pediatrics, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, V Úvalu, Prague, Czech Republic

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Dana Zemkova Department of Pediatrics, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, V Úvalu, Prague, Czech Republic

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Vit Neuman Department of Pediatrics, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, V Úvalu, Prague, Czech Republic

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Stanislava Kolouskova Department of Pediatrics, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, V Úvalu, Prague, Czech Republic

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Barbora Obermannova Department of Pediatrics, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, V Úvalu, Prague, Czech Republic

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Marta Snajderova Department of Pediatrics, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, V Úvalu, Prague, Czech Republic

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Zdenek Sumnik Department of Pediatrics, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, V Úvalu, Prague, Czech Republic

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Jan Lebl Department of Pediatrics, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, V Úvalu, Prague, Czech Republic

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Stepanka Pruhova Department of Pediatrics, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, V Úvalu, Prague, Czech Republic

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Because the causes of combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) are complex, the etiology of congenital CPHD remains unknown in most cases. The aim of the study was to identify the genetic etiology of CPHD in a well-defined single-center cohort. In total, 34 children (12 girls) with congenital CPHD (growth hormone (GH) deficiency and impaired secretion of at least one other pituitary hormone) treated with GH in our center were enrolled in the study. Their median age was 11.2 years, pre-treatment height was −3.2 s.d., and maximal stimulated GH was 1.4 ug/L. Of them, 30 had central adrenal insufficiency, 27 had central hypothyroidism, ten had hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and three had central diabetes insipidus. Twenty-six children had a midline defect on MRI. Children with clinical suspicion of a specific genetic disorder underwent genetic examination of the gene(s) of interest via Sanger sequencing or array comparative genomic hybridization. Children without a detected causal variant after the first-tier testing or with no suspicion of a specific genetic disorder were subsequently examined using next-generation sequencing growth panel. Variants were evaluated by the American College of Medical Genetics standards. Genetic etiology was confirmed in 7/34 (21%) children. Chromosomal aberrations were found in one child (14q microdeletion involving the OTX2 gene). The remaining 6 children had causative genetic variants in the GLI2, PROP1, POU1F1, TBX3, PMM2, and GNAO1 genes, respectively. We elucidated the cause of CPHD in a fifth of the patients. Moreover, our study supports the PMM2 gene as a candidate gene for CPHD and suggests pathogenic variants in the GNAO1 gene as a potential novel genetic cause of CPHD.

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Chiara Jongerius Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, Medical Psychology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Amsterdam Public Health, Quality of Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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Marij A Hillen Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, Medical Psychology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Amsterdam Public Health, Quality of Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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Ellen M A Smets Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, Medical Psychology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Amsterdam Public Health, Quality of Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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Mathijs J Mol Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, Medical Psychology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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Eefje S Kooij Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, Medical Psychology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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Maria A de Nood Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, Medical Psychology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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Edwin S Dalmaijer MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

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Eric Fliers Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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Johannes A Romijn Department of Medicine, Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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Daniel S Quintana University of Oslo, Department of Psychology, Oslo, Norway
Department of Rare Disorders and Disabilities, Oslo University Hospital, NevSom, Oslo, Norway
University of Oslo, Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT) and KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Oslo, Norway

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The patient–physician relationship is a critical determinant of patient health outcomes. Verbal and non-verbal communication, such as eye gaze, are vital aspects of this bond. Neurobiological studies indicate that oxytocin may serve as a link between increased eye gaze and social bonding. Therefore, oxytocin signaling could serve as a key factor influencing eye gaze as well as the patient–physician relationship. We aimed to test the effects of oxytocin on gaze to the eyes of the physician and the patient–physician relationship by conducting a randomized placebo-controlled crossover trial in healthy volunteers with intranasally administered oxytocin (with a previously effective single dose of 24 IU, EudraCT number 2018-004081-34). The eye gaze of 68 male volunteers was studied using eye tracking during a simulated video call consultation with a physician, who provided information about vaccination against the human papillomavirus. Relationship outcomes, including trust, satisfaction, and perceived physician communication style, were measured using questionnaires and corrected for possible confounds (social anxiety and attachment orientation). Additional secondary outcome measures for the effect of oxytocin were recall of information and pupil diameter and exploratory outcomes included mood and anxiety measures. Oxytocin did not affect the eye-tracking parameters of volunteers’ gaze toward the eyes of the physician. Moreover, oxytocin did not affect the parameters of bonding between volunteers and the physician nor other secondary and exploratory outcomes in this setting. Bayesian hypothesis testing provided evidence for the absence of effects. These results contradict the notion that oxytocin affects eye gaze patterns or bonding.

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Ja Hye Kim Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

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Yunha Choi Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

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Soojin Hwang Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

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Ji-Hee Yoon Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

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Jieun Lee Department of Pediatrics, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea

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Min Jae Kang Department of Pediatrics, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea

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Gu-Hwan Kim Medical Genetics Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

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Han-Wook Yoo Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

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Jin-Ho Choi Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

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Objective

This study was performed to investigate the molecular characteristics and frequency of copy number variations (CNVs) of ANOS1 in patients with Kallmann syndrome (KS) or normosmic isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (nIHH) using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) analysis and sequencing.

Methods

Among 45 patients from 43 independent families, Sanger sequencing, next-generation sequencing (NGS), or microarray was performed in 24 patients from 23 families, and MLPA was performed in 19 patients who did not show rare sequence variants (n = 18) or ANOS1 amplification by PCR (n = 1).

Results

Seven patients (four patients with KS, one patient with nIHH, one prepubertal boy with anosmia, and one newborn patient) from six families (6/43, 14%) harbored molecular defects in ANOS1 including a nonsense mutation (c.1140G>A (p.W380*)), a frameshift mutation (c.1260del (p.Q421Kfs*61)), a splice site mutation (c.1449+1G>A), an exon 7 deletion, a complete deletion, and 7.9 Mb-sized inversion encompassing ANOS1. The complete deletion of ANOS1 was identified in a neonate with a micropenis and cryptorchidism. Unilateral renal agenesis was found in three patients, whereas only one patient displayed both synkinesia and sensorineural hearing loss. There was no reversal of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in any patient during 9.1 ± 2.9 years of treatment with testosterone enanthate.

Conclusions

Molecular defects in the ANOS1 gene could be identified in 14% of probands including various types of CNVs (3/43, 7.0%). Comprehensive analysis using sequencing and analysis for CNVs is required to detect molecular defects in ANOS1.

Open access
Saroj Kumar Sahoo Department of Endocrinology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
Division of Endocrinology, Mid and South Essex NHS Trust, Broomfield, UK

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Jayakrishnan C Menon Department of Endocrinology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India

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Nidhi Tripathy Department of Endocrinology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India

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Monalisa Nayak Department of Liver Intensive Care Unit, King’s College Hospital, London, UK

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Subhash Yadav Department of Endocrinology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India

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Objective

We studied the temporal course of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) dysfunction in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods

Three hundred and two patients (median age 54 years (interquartile range (IQR) 42–64), 76% males) were recruited. The HPA axis was evaluated by morning cortisol and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) at admission (n = 232). Adrenal insufficiency (AI) during acute illness was defined using a morning cortisol <83 nmol/L. AI at 12 months follow-up was defined using a peak cortisol <406 nmol/L in the ACTH stimulation test (APST) (n = 90). Those with AI at 12 months were further assessed by APST every 6 months for recovery of hypoadrenalism.

Results

The median morning cortisol and ACTH levels during COVID-19 were 295 (IQR 133–460) nmol/L and 3.9 (0.8–6.9) pmol/L, respectively. AI was present in 33 (14%) patients; ACTH was elevated in three and low or inappropriately normal in the rest 30 patients. At 12 months, AI was seen in 13% (12/90) patients, with all cases being hypothalamic–pituitary in origin; five (42%) of them had not met the diagnostic criteria for AI during COVID-19. AI diagnosed at admission persisted at 12 months in seven patients and recovered in seven; the remaining 19 patients were lost to follow-up. The presence of AI at 12 months was independent of severity and steroid use during COVID-19. A morning cortisol <138 nmol/L during COVID-19 predicted the presence of AI at 12 months. All patients showed recovery of the HPA axis in the ensuing 12 months.

Conclusion

Central AI was common during acute COVID-19 and at 12 months of follow-up. AI can be late onset, developing after recovery from COVID-19, and was transient in nature.

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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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