PurposeCongenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the most common cause of preventable mental retardation. Recently, the detection of CH cases with eutopic thyroid gland has increased due to neonatal screening programs. In this study, we aimed to identify and evaluate predictive factors that could distinguish between permanent and transient CH in patients with eutopic thyroid gland.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 100 children diagnosed with CH and with eutopic thyroid gland. All subjects were treated with levothyroxine and underwent re-evaluation after 3 years of age.ResultsOf the 100 CH patients, 35 (35.0%) were diagnosed with permanent CH (PCH) and 65 (65.0%) were diagnosed with transient CH (TCH). The initial thyroid stimulating hormone levels were significantly lower in the TCH subjects than in PCH subjects. In addition, the mean doses of levothyroxine (µg/kg/day) at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year of treatment were significantly lower in subjects with TCH than in PCH subjects with eutopic thyroid gland. Based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the optimal cutoff dose of levothyroxine at 3 years of 2.76 µg/kg/day could predict TCH, and was associated with 87.3% sensitivity and 67.6% specificity, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.769.ConclusionThe levothyroxine dose requirement during treatment period has a predictive role in differentiating TCH from PCH in CH patients with eutopic thyroid gland.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the association between sodium intake and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Korean boys.MethodsA total of 1,738 boys aged 10–18 years were included in this study from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) during the years 2010–2013. Sodium intake was assessed using the urinary sodium excretion to urinary specific gravity ratio (U-Na to U-SG ratio).ResultsThe median U-Na to U-SG ratio was 133.27 mmol/L (interquartile range: 95.66–178.50 mmol/L). Significant positive associations were found between the U-Na to U-SG ratio and the TG (P = 0.001 for trend) and TG concentrations, and these concentrations were significantly higher in boys with a U-Na to U-SG ratio in the highest quartile compared with those with a ratio in the lowest (P = 0.001) and second (P = 0.033) quartiles, as demonstrated through analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) after adjustment for possible confounders, including age, BMI standard deviation score, ferritin, vitamin D, house income, smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, season, total intake, total energy intake, protein intake, fat intake, carbohydrate intake, and water intake. Significant inverse associations were found for the U-Na to U-SG ratio with the HDL-C (P = 0.033 for trend) and HDL-C levels, and these values were significantly lower in boys with a ratio in the highest quartile compared with those with a ratio in the second quartile (P = 0.020), as demonstrated through an ANCOVA. Although the trends did not reach statistical significance, a higher U-Na to U-SG ratio tended to be associated with higher SBP (P = 0.086 for trend), DBP (P = 0.063 for trend), and glucose levels (P = 0.099 for trend), as illustrated through ANCOVA. Boys with a ratio in the highest quartile exhibited a 1.73-fold increased risk for elevated TG (95% CI, 1.19–2.51) and a 2.66-fold increased risk for MetS (95% CI, 1.11–6.35) compared with those with a ratio in the lowest quartile, as demonstrated through multivariate logistic regression analyses after adjusting for confounders.ConclusionsOur results suggest that high sodium intake may be significantly independently associated with MetS in Korean boys aged 10–18 years.

BackgroundBrain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is routinely performed to identify brain lesions in girls with central precocious puberty (CPP). We aimed to investigate the prevalence and type of brain lesions among Korean girls with CPP and evaluate the need for routine brain MRI examinations.MethodsThis retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated data on 3,528 girls diagnosed with CPP from April 2003 to December 2016, and identified 317 girls who underwent sellar MRI. Exclusion criteria were patients with a known brain tumor or who did not undergo brain MRI due to refusal or the decision of the pediatric endocrinologist.ResultsNormal sellar MRI findings were observed in 291 of the 317 girls (91.8%). Incidental findings were observed in 26 girls (8.2%). None of the patients had pathological brain lesions.ConclusionThe prevalence of intracranial lesions among girls who were generally healthy and without neurological symptoms but diagnosed with CPP was lower than that previously reported. Furthermore, none of the identified lesions required treatment. It may be prudent to reconsider the routine use of brain MRI to screen all patients with CPP, especially if they are healthy and neurologically asymptomatic, and are girls aged 6–8 years.

Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is routinely performed to identify brain lesions in boys with central precocious puberty (CPP). We investigated the prevalence of CPP in Korean boys and the necessity for routine brain MRI examinations. This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2003 to December 2016 at a Korean university hospital. Among 151 boys who were diagnosed with CPP, the data of 138 boys who underwent sellar MRI were evaluated. The mean age of the study subjects was 9.51 ± 0.56 years (<8 years [n = 4] and ≥8 years [n = 134]). We excluded patients who had been previously diagnosed with brain tumors and those who did not undergo a sellar MRI because of refusal or the decision of the pediatric endocrinologist. The main outcome measure was the prevalence of intracranial lesions among boys with CPP. Normal sellar MRI findings were observed in 128 of the 138 boys (93%). Mild brain abnormalities were found in 10 boys (7%), while none of the patients had pathological brain lesions. The prevalence (7%) of intracranial lesions among boys who were healthy, did not have neurological symptoms, and were diagnosed with CPP was different from that previously reported. None of the identified lesions necessitated treatment. Although this was a single country study, we found that the previously reported prevalence of brain lesions in boys with CPP is much higher than the prevalence observed in Korea. This study suggests the need to globally reevaluate the prevalence of pathological brain lesions among male pediatric patients with CPP.

We observed that the use of an HbA1c level of 6.5% had a lower sensitivity for detecting T2DM than an HbA1c level of >6.2%.

Serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I) and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels can be used to monitor the safety of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy. In this study, we evaluated the changes in serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels during rhGH therapy as a marker of height outcome in prepubertal children. Totally, 705 prepubertal children with short stature were enrolled from the LG Growth Study Database. Data for three groups of subjects were obtained as follows: Idiopathic GH deficiency (IGHD; n = 486); idiopathic short stature (n = 66); small for gestational age (n = 153). Serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels at the baseline and after the 1st and 2nd year of rhGH therapy, as well as the Δheight standard deviation score (SDS), were obtained. Δheight SDS after the 1st and 2nd year of rhGH therapy had notably increased compared to that at the baseline for all three groups. IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels in all three groups were significantly increased compared to those at the baseline (p <0.001). Δheight SDS was positively correlated with ΔIGF-1 SDS after the 1st year of therapy, ΔIGFBP-3 SDS after the 2nd year of therapy in the IGHD group, and ΔIGF-I SDS and ΔIGFBP-3 SDS after the 2nd year of therapy (p < 0.05), regardless of whether the height at the baseline was a covariate. The increase in IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels during rhGH therapy was related to the growth response in children with IGHD. Therefore, it may be valuable to measure the change in serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels, especially the latter, during rhGH treatment to predict the growth response upon long-term treatment.

No association was found between the ERα gene polymorphisms and PT in girls. However, XbaI polymorphisms may contribute to early breast budding.

Background: Fever is a common cause of pediatric consultation in the emergency department. However, identifying the source of infection in many febrile infants is challenging because of insufficient presentation of signs and symptoms. Meningitis is a critical cause of fever in infants, and its diagnosis is confirmed invasively by lumbar puncture. This study aimed to evaluate potential laboratory markers for meningitis in febrile infants. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed infants aged <3 months who visited the emergency department of our hospital between May 2012 and May 2017 because of fever of unknown etiology. Clinical information and laboratory data were evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed. Results: In total, 145 febrile infants aged <3 months who underwent lumbar punctures were evaluated retrospectively. The mean C-reactive protein (CRP) level was significantly higher in the meningitis group than in the non-meningitis group, whereas the mean white blood cell count or absolute neutrophil count (ANC) did not significantly differ between groups. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for CRP was 0.779 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.701-0.858). The AUC for the leukocyte count was 0.455 (95% CI, 0.360-0.550) and that for ANC was 0.453 (95% CI, 0.359-0.547). The CRP cut-off value of 10 mg/L was optimal for identifying possible meningitis. Conclusion: CRP has an intrinsic predictive value for meningitis in febrile infants aged <3 months. Despite its invasiveness, a lumbar puncture may be recommended to diagnose meningitis in young, febrile infants with a CRP level >10 mg/L.