Selection of Hormonal Reference Values for Undescended Testicle Case in 8-Year-Old Boy with Abnormal Chromosome

Establishing the diagnosis of undescended testicles requires appropriate hormonal laboratory reference values basedon age and gender. An 8-year-old boy with an undescended testicle, mental retardation, and stunting had a blood test thatwas carried out at the Clinical Pathology Laboratory, dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo (RSCM) Hospital on February 6, 2020, withtestosterone levels of 0.69 nmol/L (N male: 4.94-32.01 nmol/L) indicating decreased testosterone levels. The patient wasconsulted from urological surgery to pediatric endocrinology to determine the presence or rudiment of the patient'stesticles. Using the reference range of testosterone values assists clinicians in determining the diagnosis, monitoringtherapy, and prognosis of a disease. There are some testosterone reference values, which are currently available, includingCanadian Laboratory Initiative on Pediatric Reference Intervals Database (CALIPER) and the Tanner stage reference value.Later is more applicable because it is based on chronological age and secondary sexual development in assessing pubertydevelopment. A case of an 8-year-old boy with a clinical diagnosis of an undescended testicle, the laboratory test resultsshowed normal-low testosterone levels using the CALIPER and Tanner stage ranges according to the patient's age. Noincrease of testosterone levels after the second HCG stimulation test might be due to differences in the HCG administrationprotocol; therefore, the diagnosis of anorchia had not been established, and chromosome abnormalities of 46 XY, +6 Mar,17 dmin on chromosome analysis suggested the suspected syndrome. These findings were consistent with the suspicion ofprimary hypogonadism in children with suspected syndrome caused by bilateral cryptorchidism with a suspectedseminiferous tubular defect.

Successful treatment of pituitary gigantism

Pituitary gigantism is extremely rare, resulting from excessive secretion of growth hormone (GH) before fusion of epiphysial growth plates. We report a case of a 13-year-old boy, who presented with increased statural growth and headaches since the age of 10 years. On physical examination, his height was 180.7 cm (+3.3 SD) and Tanner stage V. Investigation revealed increased levels of serum age-adjusted and sex-adjusted insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and failure of GH suppression during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). MRI of the sellar region revealed a pituitary macroadenoma. He underwent transsphenoidal surgery and histopathological evaluation revealed mammosomatotropic adenoma. Three months after surgery, IGF-1 normalised, nadir GH during OGTT was less than 1 ng/mL and no residual tumour was found on the MRI. Genetic testing identified a mutation in the AIP gene. This case emphasises the importance of early diagnosis of gigantism, as treatment delay increases long-term morbidity.

Conservative treatment of a scoliosis patient after two heart surgeries in early childhood – A case report

Introduction: This is a case report of a juvenile female patient with scoliosis following two heart surgeries for congenital heart disease (CHD).Patient presentation, management and outcome: Initially, the premenarchial female was 9 years old and had a Tanner stage 2–3 with a single thoracic curve of 65° Cobb. Because of the high risk for progression, immediate brace treatment was proposed as the father declined surgery. The patient received intensive treatment according to the Schroth Best Practice® programme and a Gensingen Brace® designed for large thoracic curves. Over the 18 months following the initial visit, she received two additional braces. As a result, the progression of the main curve was prevented. The patient continues to maintain an improved cosmetic result and is currently at a Risser 2.Conclusion: Surgery performed for CHD in rare cases may lead to stiff spinal deformity as a consequence of that surgery. Progression of a severe and stiff curve was prevented during the most vulnerable phase of the pubertal growth spurt with an improved clinical result. Therefore, we assume that the patient may have a normal life in adulthood with minor restrictions only. Supported by pattern-specific high correction exercises and braces, these typical single thoracic curves can be re-compensated to a more balanced appearance, less prone to progression in adulthood.Clinical implications: Because of the relative high risks of spinal fusion and the long-term unknowns of such an intervention, high-impact conservative treatment should be implemented first before surgical correction is considered.

Association Between Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulphate Levels at 7 Years Old And Bone Mineral Density At 10 Years Old – a Prospective Cohort Study

We aimed to explore the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) at age 7 on areal bone mineral density (aBMD) at age 10, and to distinguish the direct and indirect effects (explained by sexual maturity and by aBMD at age 7), for each sex, after adjustment for body mass index z-score (BMI). In a subsample of 274 children (139 girls, 135 boys) from the Generation XXI cohort, aBMD was assessed with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan at age 7 and age 10. The increase in aBMD at age 10 for each 10 µg/dL increase in DHEAS levels at age 7 was estimated using path analysis. Both the direct and the indirect effects were calculated.In girls, higher DHEAS levels at age 7 were associated with higher aBMD at age 10. No direct effect was observed. The indirect effect via higher aBMD at age 7 explained 61% of the total effect, and the indirect effect via higher Tanner stage explained 21%. After adjustment for BMI, the total effect remained statistically significant, explained in 33% by the indirect effect of DHEAS on Tanner stage and Tanner stage on aBMD. In boys, no effect of DHEAS on aBMD was observed.Conclusion: An indirect effect of DHEAS at age 7 on aBMD at age 10 was found in girls, but not in boys, as higher DHEAS levels were associated with more advanced sexual maturity at age 10, and more advanced sexual maturity to higher aBMD. No direct effect of DHEAS on aBMD was observed.

Kallmann Syndrome and X-linked Ichthyosis Caused by Translocation Between Chromosomes X and Y: A Case Report

Background: Xp22.3 region is characterized by low frequency of interspersed repeats and low GC content. Several clinically important genes including ANOS1 (KAL1) reside in this region. This gene was first identified due to translocation between chromosomes X and Y in a patient with Kallmann syndrome. Case Presentation: A 20 year old male presented with complaints of delayed secondary sexual characteristics, impaired sense of smell, and poor scholastic performance. On examination, he had short stature (151 cm; <3rd centile). His sexual maturity corresponded to Tanner stage 3. Stretched penile length was 3.6 cm (<3rd centile). Right testis was undescended with low left testicular volume (12 ml). There was mild ichthyosis over abdomen and back. He had hyposmia, hoarse voice, and synkinesia. Investigations were suggestive of hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. Karyotype revealed an extra chromosomal material on p arm of chromosome X (46,Xp+,Y). On cytogenetic microarray, deletion of 8.3 Mb on Xp22.33 region and duplication of 12.8 Mb on Yq11.22 region were identified. The breakpoint on X chromosome resulted in deletion of exons 7-14 of ANOS1 gene and complete STS, NLGN4X, ARSL (ARSE), SHOX, and VCX genes. Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with Kallmann syndrome should receive careful clinical evaluation to detect presence of a contiguous gene syndrome.

Central Precocious Puberty in a Three-Year-Old Girl

Precocious puberty is defined as the onset of secondary sexual characteristics before 8 years of age in girls and 9 years in boys. Central Precocious Puberty (CPP) is caused by early activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Laboratory test of LH, FSH, and Estradiol is recommended for monitoring suppressive effects from GnRHa therapy in the early three months and every six months. This study aimed to report a case of CPP in a 3-year and 3-month-old girl. A 3-year and 3-month-old girl went to the hospital with vaginal bleeding (menstruation), breast development, and pubic and axilla hair for 7-month-old. Physical examination found moderately ill with obesity, body weight 20 kg, height 98 cm. Tanner stage was A2M3P2, café au lait was found in the left forehead with size 7x3.5 cm. In March 2015 before GnRHa therapy, LH, FSH and Estradiol level increased with levels of 4.32 mlU/mL, 6.01 mlU/mL, and 67 pg/mL, and after 3 months of the treatment was 0.87 mlU/mL, 2.51 mlU/mL and <20 pg/mL. Pelvic ultrasonography showed suggestive precocious puberty, bone age 5-year and 9-month (Greulich and Pyle), CT-Scan of the brain showed hypothalamic tumor suspected hypothalamic hamartoma. This patient was treated with a GnRHa injection every 4 weeks. Leuprorelin is a synthetic non-peptide analogue of natural GnRH. The diagnosis was based on medical history, physical examination, laboratory, and radiological findings. The prognosis of the patient was good.

Precocious puberty in Korean girls with and without exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in toy slime: a comparative analysis

Background Toy slime is popular in Korea, and in parallel, pre-pubertal girls visit hospitals for early pubertal signs. Thus far, numerous studies have investigated the association of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) with precocious puberty (PP). However, there is a lack of studies on the clinical manifestations and sex hormones. We aimed to investigate early pubertal development in Korean girls with or without a history of toy slime exposure and determine changes in bone age, Tanner stage, and sex hormones. Methods In this study, 140 girls underwent stimulation tests at Kyungpook National University Children’s Hospital Endocrinology Department, during January 2018 and December 2020. Patients were divided into two groups for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test and frequency of exposure to toy slime (EDCs). GnRH stimulation test was conducted after an intravenous injection of 100 µg of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone. Slime exposure was defined as Slime ≥ 3 times/week for ≥ 3 months. Results History of slime exposure was found in 14 of 58 and 65 of 82 patients in the central PP (CPP) and non-CPP groups, respectively. Slime-exposed patients had advanced bone age, although their Tanner stage was low. Patients with a history of toy slime exposure were 5.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with non-CPP than patients without slime exposure (p < 0.05). Conclusions Exposure to toy slime in prepubertal girls may be associated with rapid clinical advancement of pubertal development and bone age, and the patients appear more likely to be diagnosed with non-CPP.

The concordance between ultrasonographic stage of breast and Tanner stage of breast for overweight and obese girls: a school population-based study

Objectives In this study, we evaluated the concordance between the ultrasonographic stage of breast (US B) and Tanner stage of breast (TS B) for overweight and obese girls based on a school population study. Methods We conducted multistage, stratified cluster, and random-proportional sampling and ultimately included 221 girls (aged 6–10 years). Results This study revealed that the concordance was poor (accuracy=0.19 (95% confidence interval: 0.14, 0.25)) between US B and TS B among the 221 participants. When our subjects were stratified by weight, we observed a weak association between US B and TS B in the thin/normal weight group (r=0.34, p=0.001) but not in the overweight (r=0.097, p=0.38) or obese groups (r=–0.19, p=0.206), and as the body mass index (BMI) z-score increased, the overestimation ratio of TS B increased. US B manifested a positive correlation with breast bud diameter (BD) (r=0.885, p<0.001), follicle-stimulating hormone (r=0.235, p=0.009), and luteinizing hormone (r=0.192, p=0.037), but this was not the case with TS B. Conclusions As the BMI z-score increased, the correlation between the two methods declined, and the overestimation ratio of TS B increased. US B is an objective and quantitative method used to evaluate breast development, and whether BD might replace US B as a routine diagnostic method to evaluate breast development in clinical practice needs to be confirmed in larger-sample studies.