Context: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons originate outside the central nervous system in the olfactory placode and migrate into the central nervous system, becoming integral components of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Failure of this migration can lead to idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH)/Kallmann syndrome (KS). We have previously shown that CCDC141 knockdown leads to impaired migration of GnRH neurons but not of olfactory receptor neurons. Objective: The aim of this study was to further describe the phenotype and prevalence of CCDC141 mutations in IHH/KS. Design: Using autozygosity mapping, candidate gene screening, whole-exome sequencing, and Sanger sequencing, those individuals carrying deleterious CDCD141 variants and their phenotypes were determined in a cohort of 120 IHH/KS families. Patients and Interventions: No interventions were made. Results: Our studies revealed nine affected individuals from four independent families in which IHH/KS is associated with inactivating CCDC141 variants, revealing a prevalence of 3.3%. Affected individuals (with the exception of those from family 1 who concomitantly have FEZF1 mutations) have normal olfactory function and anatomically normal olfactory bulbs. Four affected individuals show evidence of clinical reversibility. In three of the families, there was at least one more potentially deleterious variant in other known puberty genes with evidence of allelic heterogeneity within respective pedigrees. Conclusions: These studies confirm that inactivating CCDC141 variants cause normosmic IHH but not KS. This is consistent with our previous in vitro experiments showing exclusively impaired embryonic migration of GnRH neurons upon CCDC141 knockdown. These studies expand the clinical and genetic spectrum of IHH and also attest to the complexity of phenotype and genotype in IHH.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic is a global health problem with high morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate patients who were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes during the pandemic and evaluate the effect of the pandemic on the clinical findings of these patients by comparing them with findings from a year prior. Methods: Patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus between 2019 and 2021 were separated into two groups: Patients diagnosed prepandemic and those diagnosed during the pandemic. Results: The number of newly diagnosed diabetes cases increased from 46 in the prepandemic period to 74 in the pandemic period. The number of cases diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in the clinic increased from 58.7 to 91.9%. We found that moderate and severe DKA rates from 18.5 and 14.8% to 23.5 and 22.1%, respectively. Besides, the average HbA1c was higher, while the average bicarbonate was lower in cases diagnosed during the pandemic period compared to the prepandemic period (p=0.048 and p<0.001, respectively). We found that celiac autoantibody positivity antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti GAD) positivity, and islet cell antibodies (ICA), ICA and anti GAD positivity coexistence were higher (p=0.045, p=0.008, and p=0.007, respectively) among the patients diagnosed during the pandemic. Conclusions: We observed an increase in the number of patients newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus, an increase in autoantibody positivity, and higher rates and severity of DKA during the COVID-19 pandemic period compared to the prepandemic period.

Introduction: Mutations of the human GNRH1 gene are an extremely rare cause of normosmic idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (nIHH), with only 6 mutations so far described. Patients: As part of a larger study, families with IHH were screened for mutations in genes known to be associated with IHH. In family 1, a 15-year and 9-month-old boy first presented during infancy with micropenis and bilateral cryptorchidism. His pubic and axillary hair is at stage 4 and 2, respectively. His testes are 1 ml bilaterally, and his stretched penile length is 3.6 cm. In family 2, a 19-year and 2-month-old man was referred because of absence of secondary sexual characteristics. His 13-year and 8-month-old sister did not have any breast development. Results: In 3 patients from 2 independent families we identified GNRH1 mutations. In the proband from family 1, a homozygous 1-base deletion (c.87delA) leading to a frameshift mutation (p.G29GfsX12) was identified. In family 2, the affected siblings had a novel homozygous mutation of c.G92A leading to p.R31H. Conclusion: Both mutations in these families are located in the region encoding the decapeptide and in the loci where the mutations have been described before. Therefore, these areas can be considered as mutational hot spots, indicating priority for routine diagnostic gene mutation analysis.

What initiates the pubertal process in humans and other mammals is still unknown. We hypothesized that gene(s) taking roles in triggering human puberty may be identified by studying a cohort of idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH). A cohort of IHH cases was studied based on autozygosity mapping coupled with whole exome sequencing. Our studies revealed three independent families in which IHH/delayed puberty is associated with inactivating SRA1 variants. SRA1 was the first gene to be identified to function through its protein as well as noncoding functional ribonucleic acid products. These products act as co-regulators of nuclear receptors including sex steroid receptors as well as SF-1 and LRH-1, the master regulators of steroidogenesis. Functional studies with a mutant SRA1 construct showed a reduced co-activation of ligand-dependent activity of the estrogen receptor alpha, as assessed by luciferase reporter assay in HeLa cells. Our findings strongly suggest that SRA1 gene function is required for initiation of puberty in humans. Furthermore, SRA1 with its alternative products and functionality may provide a potential explanation for the versatility and complexity of the pubertal process.

Aim: To describe the Turkish generalized lipodystrophy (GL) cohort with the frequency of each complication and the death rate during the period of the follow‐up. Methods: This study reports on 72 patients with GL (47 families) registered at different centres in Turkey that cover all regions of the country. The mean ± SD follow‐up was 86 ± 78 months. Results: The Kaplan–Meier estimate of the median time to diagnosis of diabetes and/or prediabetes was 16 years. Hyperglycaemia was not controlled in 37 of 45 patients (82.2%) with diabetes. Hypertriglyceridaemia developed in 65 patients (90.3%). The Kaplan–Meier estimate of the median time to diagnosis of hypertriglyceridaemia was 14 years. Hypertriglyceridaemia was severe (≥ 500 mg/dl) in 38 patients (52.8%). Seven (9.7%) patients suffered from pancreatitis. The Kaplan–Meier estimate of the median time to diagnosis of hepatic steatosis was 15 years. Liver disease progressed to cirrhosis in nine patients (12.5%). Liver disease was more severe in congenital lipodystrophy type 2 (CGL2). Proteinuric chronic kidney disease (CKD) developed in 32 patients (44.4%) and cardiac disease in 23 patients (31.9%). Kaplan–Meier estimates of the median time to diagnosis of CKD and cardiac disease were 25 and 45 years, respectively. Females appeared to have a more severe metabolic disease, with an earlier onset of metabolic abnormalities. Ten patients died during the follow‐up period. Causes of death were end‐stage renal disease, sepsis (because of recurrent intestinal perforations, coronavirus disease, diabetic foot infection and following coronary artery bypass graft surgery), myocardial infarction, heart failure because of dilated cardiomyopathy, stroke, liver complications and angiosarcoma. Conclusions: Standard treatment approaches have only a limited impact and do not prevent the development of severe metabolic abnormalities and early onset of organ complications in GL.