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Peralta M, Lizcano F. Endocrine Disruptors and Metabolic Changes: Impact on Puberty Control. Endocr Pract 2024; 30:384-397. [PMID: 38185329 DOI: 10.1016/j.eprac.2024.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the significant impact of environmental chemicals on disease development, focusing on their role in developing metabolic and endocrine diseases. The objective is to understand how these chemicals contribute to the increasing prevalence of precocious puberty, considering various factors, including epigenetic changes, lifestyle, and emotional disturbances. METHODS The study employs a comprehensive review of descriptive observational studies in both human and animal models to identify a degree of causality between exposure to environmental chemicals and disease development, specifically focusing on endocrine disruption. Due to ethical constraints, direct causation studies in human subjects are not feasible; therefore, the research relies on accumulated observational data. RESULTS Puberty is a crucial life period with marked physiological and psychological changes. The age at which sexual characteristics develop is changing in many regions. The findings indicate a correlation between exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and the early onset of puberty. These chemicals have been shown to interfere with normal hormonal processes, particularly during critical developmental stages such as adolescence. The research also highlights the interaction of these chemical exposures with other factors, including nutritional history, social and lifestyle changes, and emotional stress, which together contribute to the prevalence of precocious puberty. CONCLUSION Environmental chemicals significantly contribute to the development of certain metabolic and endocrine diseases, particularly in the rising incidence of precocious puberty. Although the evidence is mainly observational, it adequately justifies regulatory actions to reduce exposure risks. Furthermore, these findings highlight the urgent need for more research on the epigenetic effects of these chemicals and their wider impact on human health, especially during vital developmental periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Peralta
- Center of Biomedical Investigation Universidad de La Sabana, CIBUS, Chía, Colombia
| | - Fernando Lizcano
- Center of Biomedical Investigation Universidad de La Sabana, CIBUS, Chía, Colombia; Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Fundación CardioInfantil-Instituto de Cardiología, Bogotá, Colombia.
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Lorenzon B, Burlo F, Barbi L, Tamaro G, Tornese G. Fifteen-minute consultation: The approach to the child with precocious puberty. Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed 2024:edpract-2023-326217. [PMID: 38514136 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2023-326217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Precocious puberty has traditionally been defined as the onset of secondary sexual characteristics occurring before age 8 years in girls and 9 years in boys. This earlier onset of puberty may have significant physical and psychological consequences if left untreated. Moreover, it should be excluded that pubertal signs are not secondary to malignancies, other organic aetiologies or associated syndromic phenotypes. Initial assessment involves a thorough medical history and physical examination; a hand and wrist X-ray to determine bone age, and hormonal tests might be indicated to confirm the diagnosis and to determine the origin of hormonal production. Treatment options depend on the underlying cause. Given the complexity of the differential diagnosis, this article aims to familiarise clinicians with the different steps that can be taken when precocious puberty is suspected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Lorenzon
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Francesca Burlo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Ludovica Barbi
- FHML, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Gianluca Tornese
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- IRCCS Materno Infantile Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy
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Correa Brito L, Keselman A, Villegas F, Scaglia P, Esnaola Azcoiti M, Castro S, Sanguineti N, Izquierdo A, Maier M, Bergadá I, Arberas C, Rey RA, Ropelato MG. Case report: Novel SIN3A loss-of-function variant as causative for hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in Witteveen-Kolk syndrome. Front Genet 2024; 15:1354715. [PMID: 38528912 PMCID: PMC10961356 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1354715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Pubertal delay can be due to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH), which may occur in association with anosmia or hyposmia and is known as Kallmann syndrome (OMIM #308700). Recently, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism has been suggested to overlap with Witteveen-Kolk syndrome (WITKOS, OMIM #613406) associated with 15q24 microdeletions encompassing SIN3A. Whether hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is due to haploinsufficiency of SIN3A or any of the other eight genes present in 15q24 is not known. We report the case of a female patient with delayed puberty associated with intellectual disability, behavior problems, dysmorphic facial features, and short stature, at the age of 14 years. Clinical, laboratory, and imaging assessments confirmed the diagnosis of Kallmann syndrome. Whole-exome sequencing identified a novel heterozygous frameshift variant, NM_001145358.2:c.3045_3046dup, NP_001138830.1:p.(Ile1016Argfs*6) in SIN3A, classified as pathogenic according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG/AMP) criteria. Reverse phenotyping led to the clinical diagnosis of WITKOS. No other variant was found in the 96 genes potentially related to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The analysis of the other contiguous seven genes to SIN3A in 15q24 did not reveal any clinically relevant variant. In conclusion, these findings point to SIN3A as the gene in 15q24 related to the reproductive phenotype in patients with overlapping WITKOS and Kallmann syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lourdes Correa Brito
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE), CONICET—FEI—División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana Keselman
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE), CONICET—FEI—División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Florencia Villegas
- Sección Genética Médica, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paula Scaglia
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE), CONICET—FEI—División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Unidad de Medicina Traslacional, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Esnaola Azcoiti
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE), CONICET—FEI—División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Unidad de Medicina Traslacional, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sebastián Castro
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE), CONICET—FEI—División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nora Sanguineti
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE), CONICET—FEI—División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustín Izquierdo
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE), CONICET—FEI—División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Unidad de Medicina Traslacional, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marianela Maier
- Sección Genética Médica, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ignacio Bergadá
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE), CONICET—FEI—División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudia Arberas
- Sección Genética Médica, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rodolfo A. Rey
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE), CONICET—FEI—División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Unidad de Medicina Traslacional, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Histología, Embriología y Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Gabriela Ropelato
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE), CONICET—FEI—División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Unidad de Medicina Traslacional, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Giannakopoulos A, Chrysis D. Reversibility of disturbed pituitary function in pediatric conditions with psychological stressors: implications for clinical practice. Hormones (Athens) 2024:10.1007/s42000-024-00536-z. [PMID: 38421589 DOI: 10.1007/s42000-024-00536-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The complex communication network between the central nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary axis forms the basis of endocrine functional plasticity, which facilitates adaptation to changing internal and external conditions, but also makes it vulnerable to the negative effects of stressful psychological factors. Herein, clinical conditions such as functional hypothalamic amenorrhea, eating disorders, growth faltering, post-traumatic stress disorder, and pubertal disorders that may emerge during childhood or adolescence, their origin possibly including psychological stressors, are analyzed regarding their genetic susceptibility and reversibility of endocrine function. A discussion on the optimization of therapeutic management defined by managing stress and maximizing the degree and rate of reversibility follows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aristeidis Giannakopoulos
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical School of Patras, University Hospital, Rio, 26504, Patras, Greece.
| | - Dionisios Chrysis
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical School of Patras, University Hospital, Rio, 26504, Patras, Greece
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Hoskyns RB, Howard SR. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of central precocious puberty; a narrative review. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2024; 37:102-109. [PMID: 38097507 DOI: 10.1515/jpem-2023-0507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Central precocious puberty (CPP) is the premature activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis, resulting in the early development of secondary sexual characteristics. CPP classically occurs before the age of 8 years in girls and 9 years in boys. The aetiology of this precocious onset of puberty is governed by complex mechanistic interactions between genetic and environmental factors. The rates of CPP have been documented to have been rising before the COVID-19 pandemic; despite this, the incidence of CPP has increased exponentially since the start of the pandemic. There are multiple theories potentially explaining this change in incidence of CPP over COVID-19. These include the direct effect of SARS-coV-2 infection, increasing body mass index of adolescents over sequential lockdowns, changes in sleep patterns, increased use of electronic devices and levels of stress, and additionally potential earlier detection of signs of CPP by parents and carers. Whilst there is evidence from observational cohorts, case studies and animal models for each of these factors, it is difficult to definitively prove which has had the greatest impact due to the mainly retrospective nature of the human research that has been conducted. Moreover, studies set in diverse settings with varying population make comparison complex. Additionally, each country responded differently to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns varied between locations, hence the effect of lockdown was not equal or universal. Despite this, similar trends have been identified, with various lifestyle changes that occurred over the pandemic being potentially influential factors on the development of CPP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca B Hoskyns
- Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, QMUL, London, UK
| | - Sasha R Howard
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, QMUL, London, UK
- Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Royal London Children's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
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Pepe G, Coco R, Corica D, Di Rosa G, Bossowski F, Skorupska M, Aversa T, Stagi S, Wasniewska M. Prevalence of Endocrinopathies in a Cohort of Patients with Rett Syndrome: A Two-Center Observational Study. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:287. [PMID: 38540345 PMCID: PMC10970698 DOI: 10.3390/genes15030287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Systematic data on endocrinopathies in Rett syndrome (RTT) patients remain limited and inconclusive. The aim of this retrospective observational two-center study was to assess the prevalence of endocrinopathies in a pediatric population of RTT patients. A total of 51 Caucasian patients (47 girls, 4 boys) with a genetically confirmed diagnosis of RTT were enrolled (mean age 9.65 ± 5.9 years). The patients were referred from the Rett Center of two Italian Hospitals for endocrinological evaluation. All the study population underwent clinical and auxological assessments and hormonal workups. MeCP2 mutations were detected in 38 cases (74.5%), CDKL5 deletions in 11 (21.6%), and FOXG1 mutations in 2 (3.9%). Overall, 40 patients were treated with anti-seizure medications. The most frequent endocrinological finding was short stature (47%), followed by menstrual cycle abnormalities (46.2%), weight disorders (45.1%), low bone mineral density (19.6%), hyperprolactinemia (13.7%) and thyroid disorders (9.8%). In the entire study population, endocrinopathies were significantly more frequent in patients with MeCP2 mutations (p = 0.0005), and epilepsy was more frequent in CDKL5 deletions (p = 0.02). In conclusion, our data highlighted that endocrinopathies are not rare in RTT, especially in patients with MeCP2 deletions. Therefore, in the context of a multidisciplinary approach, endocrinological evaluation should be recommended for RTT patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Pepe
- Pediatric Unit, Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy; (G.P.); (R.C.); (D.C.); (F.B.); (M.S.); (T.A.)
| | - Roberto Coco
- Pediatric Unit, Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy; (G.P.); (R.C.); (D.C.); (F.B.); (M.S.); (T.A.)
| | - Domenico Corica
- Pediatric Unit, Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy; (G.P.); (R.C.); (D.C.); (F.B.); (M.S.); (T.A.)
| | - Gabriella Di Rosa
- Child Neuropsychiatric Unit, Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, 98128 Messina, Italy;
| | - Filip Bossowski
- Pediatric Unit, Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy; (G.P.); (R.C.); (D.C.); (F.B.); (M.S.); (T.A.)
| | - Magdalena Skorupska
- Pediatric Unit, Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy; (G.P.); (R.C.); (D.C.); (F.B.); (M.S.); (T.A.)
| | - Tommaso Aversa
- Pediatric Unit, Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy; (G.P.); (R.C.); (D.C.); (F.B.); (M.S.); (T.A.)
| | - Stefano Stagi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy;
- Meyer Children Hospital IRCCS, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Malgorzata Wasniewska
- Pediatric Unit, Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy; (G.P.); (R.C.); (D.C.); (F.B.); (M.S.); (T.A.)
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Balasubramanian R. Behind the scenes: epigenetic mechanisms rule the roost in pubertal timing. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2023; 11:526-527. [PMID: 37385289 DOI: 10.1016/s2213-8587(23)00167-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ravikumar Balasubramanian
- The Harvard Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Reproductive Medicine and Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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