Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: To examine different methods of analysing bone health and body composition in children and examine the relationships between these methods.Method: In a LREC approved cross-sectional study, DXA was used to assess bone mineral content (BMC) (at total body (TB), lumbar spine (LS), femur (F) and femoral neck (FN)), cross-sectional moment of inertia (CSMI) at the proximal femur and body composition (defined as Lean mass (LM) and Fat mass (FM)) in 6...

Abnormal growth patterns are commonly observed in children suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases. These disorders are associated with the increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which inhibit growth plate chondrocyte dynamics. Ceramide, a sphingosine-based lipid second messenger, mediates many of the actions of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Ceramide inhibits IGF-1 signalling and induces apoptosis in numerous cell types. This study determined the effects of C2-...

Background: Recent studies show that Infliximab (IFX), an antibody against tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), may improve growth in children with Crohn’s disease (CD). These studies have not adequately addressed the concomitant factors such as medication, nutrition and puberty that may also improve growth.Methods: Retrospective study of 22 children (13 M) with CD, median age at start of IFX 13.2 years (7.4, 16.1) with auxology at 6 months be...

Background: Children receiving chemotherapy for ALL may be susceptible to fractures and avascular necrosis (AVN).Aim: To determine the incidence and risk factors for bone-related morbidity in children on ALL chemotherapy.Patients and methods: The medical records of all (n, 186, male: 122) children presenting with ALL between 1997 and 2007 and treated with ALL97/01or UKALL 2003 at one centre were studied. Bone morbidity was d...

Background: Growth retardation and pubertal delay is frequently encountered in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). There are currently no published data on sitting height (SH), subischial leg length (SILL)and growth rates in relation to pubertal status in these children.Objective: To assess skeletal disproportion and growth rates in children with IBD.Methods: Retrospective study of 40 children (32M):35 Crohn’s dise...

Background: Recent studies show that infliximab (IFX), an antibody against tumour necrosis factorα (TNFα), may improve growth in children with Crohn’s disease (CD). These studies have not adequately addressed the concomitant factors such as medication, nutrition and puberty that may also improve growth.Methods: Retrospective study of 22 children (13M) with CD, median age at start of IFX 13.2 years (7.4, 16.1) with auxology at 6 months befo...

Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is produced by the ovarian granulosa cells in immature follicles from around week 36 of gestation to the menopause. Expression is highest in pre-antral and early antral follicles. AMH has a generally inhibitory effect on early follicle development and possibly on the responsiveness of growing follicles to FSH. Serum AMH is markedly elevated in women with PCOS and increased concentrations have also been reported in the healthy prepubertal daughters ...

Introduction: AMH is produced by the sertoli cells in the testes and is responsible for the regression of the Mullerian structures in the male fetus. It is also produced by the granulosa cells of the ovaries in females to a lesser degree. Serum AMH measurements may be important for detecting testicular tissue and monitoring ovarian activity. The objective of this study was to establish a cross-sectional reference range for AMH in UK children.Method: Seru...

Disorders of sex development (DSD) are a collection of rare congenital conditions with diverse features and pathophysiology. Patients usually present at birth with atypical genitalia or with delayed puberty in adolescence. Biochemical and cytogenetic investigations may provide guidance on the underlying cause, however molecular genetic analysis is usually required to provide a definitive diagnosis and allows for personalised management of the patient. The current diagnostic se...

Introduction: There is a need to understand testicular development in adolescents with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).Objective: To evaluate testicular development and function in DMD over 12 months.Methods: All data are presented as median(range). 23 boys aged 12.4 years (10.0, 16.8) with a bone age delay of 0.9 years (−2.4, 7.1) had physical and biochemical assessment of puberty at Month 0(M0) and Month 12(M12) and divid...