Self-Harm and Suicide Attempts among High-Risk, Urban Youth in the U.S.: Shared and Unique Risk and Protective Factors

The extent to which self-harm and suicidal behavior overlap in community samples of vulnerable youth is not well known. Secondary analyses were conducted of the “linkages study” (N = 4,131), a cross-sectional survey of students enrolled in grades 7, 9, 11/12 in a high-risk community in the U.S. in 2004. Analyses were conducted to determine the risk and protective factors (i.e., academic grades, binge drinking, illicit drug use, weapon carrying, child maltreatment, social support, depression, impulsivity, self-efficacy, parental support, and parental monitoring) associated with both self-harm and suicide attempt. Findings show that 7.5% of participants reported both self-harm and suicide attempt, 2.2% of participants reported suicide attempt only, and 12.4% of participants reported self-harm only. Shared risk factors for co-occurring self-harm and suicide attempt include depression, binge drinking, weapon carrying, child maltreatment, and impulsivity. There were also important differences by sex, grade level, and race/ethnicity that should be considered for future research. The findings show that there is significant overlap in the modifiable risk factors associated with self-harm and suicide attempt that can be targeted for future research and prevention strategies

Slow down: Behavioural and physiological effects of reducing eating rate

Slowing eating rate appears to be an effective strategy for reducing food intake. This feasibility study investigated the effect of eating rate on post-meal responses using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), plasma gastrointestinal hormone concentrations, appetite ratings, memory for recent eating, and snack consumption. Twenty-one participants (mean age 23 years with healthy body mass index) were randomly assigned to consume a 600 kcal meal at either a “normal” or “slow” rate (6 vs. 24 min). Immediately afterwards, participants rated meal enjoyment and satisfaction. FMRI was performed 2-h post-meal during a memory task about the meal. Appetite, peptide YY, and ghrelin were measured at baseline and every 30 min for 3 h. Participants were given an ad-libitum snack three hours post-meal. Results were reported as effect sizes (Cohen’s d) due to the feasibility sample size. The normal rate group found the meal more enjoyable (effect size = 0.5) and satisfying (effect size = 0.6). Two hours post-meal, the slow rate group reported greater fullness (effect size = 0.7) and more accurate portion size memory (effect sizes = 0.4), with a linear relationship between time taken to make portion size decisions and the BOLD response in satiety and reward brain regions. Ghrelin suppression post-meal was greater in the slow rate group (effect size = 0.8). Three hours post-meal, the slow rate group consumed on average 25% less energy from snacks (effect size = 0.5). These data offer novel insights about mechanisms underlying how eating rate affects food intake and have implications for the design of effective weight-management interventions

Body composition by 2H dilution in Gambian infants:comparison with UK infants and evaluation of simple prediction methods

Gambian infants show growth faltering, but the underlying body composition is unknown. The present study aimed to compare body composition in Gambian and UK infants using H-2 dilution; and to evaluate accuracy of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and creatinine excretion for estimating lean mass (LM), using H-2 as the reference. Body composition was measured in thirty Gambian infants, aged 3-18 months. using (1) anthroporrietry, (2) H-2, (3) BIA (equation of Fjeld et at. Pediatr Res (1990), 27, 98-102) and (4) 5 h urinary creatinine excretion. Compared with UK reference data, Gambian infants were light, short and had reduced BMI and skinfolds. The subscapular skinfold standard deviation score (SIDS) was greater than the triceps SDS (P<0.01), indicating central fat preservation. Both LM and fat mass were reduced in Gambian infants, with or without adjustment for length. However, whereas the Gambia-UK difference in LM increased with age, that in fat mass decreased. Average creatinine excretion was similar to that expected (95.5 (SD 23.2) % recovery), but LM estimates showed unacceptable error in individuals. BIA using Fjeld's equation overestimated total body water and LM (P<0.001), hence a new equation was developed, with standard error of 0.47 kg LM. In conclusion, Gambian infants characterised by growth faltering had LM deficits that increased with age. However, adiposity increased with age, and showed indications of a more central distribution than in the reference infants. A new BIA equation for LM prediction is presented however, creatinine excretion is not recommended for LM estimation in this population

Growth Hormone With Aromatase Inhibitor May Improve Height in CYP11B1 Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

With an estimated prevalence of 1 in 100 000 births, 11β-hydroxylase abstract deficiency is the second most common form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and is caused by mutations in CYP11B1. Clinical features include virilization, early gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty, hypertension, and reduced stature. The current mainstay of management is with glucocorticoids to replace deficient steroids and to minimize adrenal sex hormone overproduction, thus preventing virilization and optimizing growth. We report a patient with CAH who had been suboptimally treated and presented to us at 6 years of age with precocious puberty, hypertension, tall stature, advanced bone age, and a predicted final height of 150 cm. Hormonal profiles and genetic analysis confirmed a diagnosis of 11β-hydroxylase deficiency. In addition to glucocorticoid replacement, the patient was commenced on growth hormone and a third-generation aromatase inhibitor, anastrozole, in an attempt to optimize his growth. After the initiation of this treatment, the patient’s growth rate improved significantly and bone age advancement slowed. The patient reached a final height of 177.5 cm (0.81 SD score), 11.5 cm above his mid-parental height. This patient is only the second reported case of the use of an aromatase inhibitor in combination with growth hormone to optimize height in 11β-hydroxylase-deficient CAH. This novel treatment proved to be highly efficacious, with no adverse effects. It may therefore provide a promising option to promote growth in exceptional circumstances in individuals with 11β-hydroxylase deficiency presenting late with advanced skeletal maturation and consequent short stature

Growth Hormone With Aromatase Inhibitor May Improve Height in CYP11B1 Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

With an estimated prevalence of 1 in 100 000 births, 11β-hydroxylase abstract deficiency is the second most common form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and is caused by mutations in CYP11B1. Clinical features include virilization, early gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty, hypertension, and reduced stature. The current mainstay of management is with glucocorticoids to replace deficient steroids and to minimize adrenal sex hormone overproduction, thus preventing virilization and optimizing growth. We report a patient with CAH who had been suboptimally treated and presented to us at 6 years of age with precocious puberty, hypertension, tall stature, advanced bone age, and a predicted final height of 150 cm. Hormonal profiles and genetic analysis confirmed a diagnosis of 11β-hydroxylase deficiency. In addition to glucocorticoid replacement, the patient was commenced on growth hormone and a third-generation aromatase inhibitor, anastrozole, in an attempt to optimize his growth. After the initiation of this treatment, the patient’s growth rate improved significantly and bone age advancement slowed. The patient reached a final height of 177.5 cm (0.81 SD score), 11.5 cm above his mid-parental height. This patient is only the second reported case of the use of an aromatase inhibitor in combination with growth hormone to optimize height in 11β-hydroxylase-deficient CAH. This novel treatment proved to be highly efficacious, with no adverse effects. It may therefore provide a promising option to promote growth in exceptional circumstances in individuals with 11β-hydroxylase deficiency presenting late with advanced skeletal maturation and consequent short stature

Rituximab therapy in ROHHAD(NET) syndrome

Objectives: rapid-onset obesity with hypoventilation, hypothalamic dysfunction, autonomic dysregulation, and neural-crest tumour (ROHHAD(NET)) is a rare syndrome presenting in early childhood associated with high morbidity and mortality. There is no specific diagnostic biomarker and diagnosis is based on clinical features. An autoimmune origin has been postulated.Case presentation: management is largely supportive. We report a case of a five-year old female who presented in respiratory arrest after 6-months of rapid weight gain. She had central hypoventilation, central diabetes insipidus, growth hormone deficiency and hyperprolactinaemia. She displayed elevated interleukin-6 levels on cytokine serology which normalised after rituximab treatment. After rituximab treatment, her weight reduced significantly from greatly above the 99.6th to the 50th centile in 12 months.Conclusions: this response possibly reflects an underlying, immune-inflammatory pathology driving excess adiposity in this condition. Potentially, other aspects of ROHHAD(NET) may be mediated through autoimmune dysregulation in which case rituximab may provide benefits for prognosis and survival.</p