PurposeThe incidence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) has increased in several countries. Lower cut-off in screening programs have led to an increase in the proportion of transient hypothyroidism (TH) cases diagnosed, leading to debate on the associated clinical and economic impact. This study aimed to identify factors that would allow discrimination between TH and permanent CH (PH) in patients with a eutopic thyroid gland.MethodsSixty-six patients with CH from 3 different hospitals were studied: 26 cases of TH, and 40 cases of PH. Laboratory findings and clinical parameters were analysed in 56 patients with eutopic thyroid gland.ResultsInitial serum thyroid stimulating hormone levels and L-thyroxine dose at 12 and 24 months of age were significantly higher in PH than TH patients with a eutopic thyroid gland. The area under the curve for the 12-month and 24-month dose for the prediction of TH in eutopic CH was 0.799 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.678-0.919; P<0.001) and 0.925 (95% CI, 0.837-1.000; P<0.001), respectively. The optimum 12-month and 24-month dose in predicting TH is 3.25 µg/kg (12-month: sensitivity, 87.1%; specificity, 68.0%; 24-month: sensitivity 93.5%, specificity 88%).ConclusionInfants with CH requiring lower L-thyroxine doses (<3.25 µg/kg) are likely to have TH, and thus might be re-evaluated at 12 months or 24 months rather than 3 years of age.

In children and adolescents with GD, TPO Ab positivity and high T3 levels could act as predictive factors for the presence of GO.

PurposeWe aimed to investigate serum lipid profiles and glycemic control in adolescents and young adults with type 1diabetes mellitus (T1DM).MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 29 Korean young adults and adolescents with T1DM. The median age was 17 years (range, 10-25 years) and 18 (62.1%) were female. We compared the lipid profiles of patients with dyslipidemia and those without dyslipidemia. Correlations between glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipid profiles (total cholesterol [TC], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], and triglyceride [TG]) were determined by linear regression analysis.ResultsOf the 29 patients with T1DM, 11 (37.9%) were classified as having dyslipidemia due to the following lipid abnormality: TC≥200 mg/dL in 8 patients, LDL-C≥130 mg/dL in 4 patients, TG≥150 mg/dL in 2 patients, and HDL-C≤35 mg/dL in 2 patients. Compared to patients without dyslipidemia, patients with dyslipidemia were more likely to have higher values of HbA1c (median, 10.6%; range, 7.5%-12.3% vs. median, 8.0%; range, 6.6%-10.0%; P=0.002) and a higher body mass index z score (median, 0.7; range, -0.57 to 2.6 vs. median, -0.4; range, -2.5 to 2.2; P=0.02). HbA1c levels were positively correlated with TC (P=0.03, R2=0.156) and TG (P=0.005, R2=0.261).ConclusionA substantial proportion of adolescents and young adults with T1DM had dyslipidemia. We found a correlation between poor glycemic control and poor lipid profiles in those patients.

PurposeTo analyze the correlation between serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and obesity indices including body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP), total fat mass (FM), truncal fat mass (TFM), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in Korean adolescents.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study based on data derived from the 2010-2011 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES). Subjects were Korean adolescents aged 10-18 years (871 total; 475 boys and 396 girls) who participated in KNHANES.ResultsIn both sexes, BMI, FM, TFM, WC, and WHtR were higher when ALT levels were in the 4th quartile. In boys, there was a significant positive correlation between ALT level and BMI, BFP, FM, TFM, WC, and WHtR (r=0.55, P<0.0001 for BMI; r=0.52, P<0.0001 for BFP; r=0.58, P<0.0001 for FM; r=0.61, P<0.0001 for TFM; and r=0.56, P<0.0001 for WC; r=0.62, P<0.0001 for WHtR), and the correlation coefficient was higher than that in girls.ConclusionOur results suggest a significant positive association between serum ALT level and obesity indices in male adolescents.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of physical fitness and obesity with metabolic risk factors in children and adolescents.MethodsThis cohort study was conducted in Chungju city, South Korea. Total 843 subjects were enrolled, including 193 elementary school 4th grade male (E4M), 189 elementary school 4th grade female (E4F) and 461 male-middle school students (M1M). The subjects were also classified into 2 groups by body mass index; normal weight (NW) group and overweight included obesity (OW/OB) group. Physical fitness was measured by shuttle run (cardiorespiratory fitness, CRF), sit and reach (flexibility), handgrip strength (muscular strength) and stand long jump (agility).ResultsThe prevalence of OW/OB was respectively 33.7% (65 of 193) among E4M, 28.6% (54 of 189) among E4F, and 28.0% (129 of 461) among M1M. Hematocrit, white blood cell, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher, while high-density lipoprotein were lower in the OW/OB group than in the NW group. The OW/OB group presented significantly lower CRF (P<0.01) and lower agility, but higher muscular strength compared with NW group. CRF was negatively correlated with obesity indices and metabolic risk factors. After adjustments for potential confounders, odds ratios for 4th–5th grade CRF of OW/OB compared NW in the E4M, E4F, M1M, were 7.38 (95 % CI, 3.24–16.83), 4.10 (95% CI, 1.83–9.18), 16.06 (95% CI, 8.23–31.00) (P<0.01).ConclusionOur study has shown that CRF has negative correlation with OW/OB in children and adolescents of Chungju city. We suggest that improvement of CRF through regular physical activity would be an important method for reducing the metabolic risks of childhood obesity.