Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus are expected to respond poorly to hepatitis B (HB) vaccination. In this study we tested this hypothesis for the standard vaccination schedule. Ninety-nine patients (age 10.8 +/- 3.5 years) were vaccinated against HB (10 pg/dose at 0, 1, and 6 months) using a vaccine containing no pre-S2 antigen (Engerix Bs). The sero-conversion and -protection rates after the completion of three doses, the relation of anti-HBs titers to clinical parameters, and comparison with those of healthy counterparts (51 children, aged 9.7 +/- 4.4 years) were analyzed. The vaccine used was pre-S2 antigen containing (Genhevac B) in 23 and Engerix B in 28; both types yielded a similar response. The geometric mean of the anti-HBs titer was 322.9 vs 1476.8 IU/l (non-significant), sero-convertion rate 96.9% vs 100%, and seroprotection rate 93.9% vs 99% in the diabetic and control groups, respectively. In the diabetic group, there was no correlation between anti-HBs titer and clinical characteristics except for age. We concluded that the standard vaccination schedule is less effective but still effective enough in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Approaches to diagnosis and treatment of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in children vary among countries and even among centers in the same country. This survey, aiming to facilitate the process of preparing the new consensus on GHD by the Turkish Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Society, was designed to evaluate the current practices in diagnosis and treatment of GHD in different centers in Turkey. A questionnaire covering relevant items for diagnosis and treatment of GHD was sent out to all pediatric endocrinology centers. Twenty-four centers returned the questionnaire. The most frequently used GH stimulation test was L-dopa, followed by clonidine. Eighteen centers used a GH cut-off value of 10 ng/mL for the diagnosis of GHD; this value was 7 ng/mL in 4 centers and 5 ng/mL in 2 centers. The most frequently used assay was immunochemiluminescence for determination of GH, insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 concentrations. Sex steroid priming in both sexes was used by 19 centers. The most frequently used starting dose of recombinant human GH (rhGH) in prepubertal children was 0.025-0.030 mg/kg/day and 0.030-0.035 mg/kg/day in pubertal children. Growth velocity was used in the evaluation for growth response to rhGH therapy in all centers. Anthropometric measurements of patients every 3-6 months, fasting blood glucose, bone age and thyroid panel evaluation were used by all centers at follow-up. Main indications for cessation of therapy were decreased height velocity and advanced bone age. Fourteen centers used combined treatment (rhGH and gonadotropin-releasing analogues) to increase final height. Although conformity was found among centers in Turkey in current practice, it is very important to update guideline statements and to modify, if needed, the approach to GHD over time in accordance with new evidence-based clinical studies.

Reconfirming the diagnosis of childhood onset growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in young adults is necessary to demonstrate the need for continuation of GH therapy. This nationally-based study was planned to establish GH status during adulthood in childhood-onset GH deficient patients and to evaluate factors that would predict persistency of the GHD. In this multicenter study, 70 GH deficient patients who had reached final height were evaluated after completion of GH treatment. Fifty-two patients (74%) had isolated GHD and 18 patients (26%) had multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD). Patients who had reached final height and the pubertal Tanner stage 5 were reevaluated for GH status. After at least 6 weeks of cessation of GH treatment, patients were retested with insulin induced hypoglycemia. GHD was found to be transient in 64.3% of all patients. Of the isolated GH deficient patients 82.7% had transient GHD, whereas 88.9% of the MPHD patients showed persistent GHD. Comparison of isolated GH deficient and multiple hormone deficient patients indicated higher peak GH, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels in isolated GH deficient patients. No parameter was significantly different in the transiently and persistently GH deficient patients with respect to gender. Although specificity of IGF-I value of less than -2 SD showing persistency of GHD was lower than the specificity of IGFBP-3 value of less than -2 SD (65.7% vs 84%), negative predictive values were similar for the two parameters (85.2% and 84%, respectively). Most of the cases of childhood onset GHD are idiopathic and the GHD is transient. In patients with MPHD, GHD is generally permanent. Low IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels are supporting findings to show persistency of the GHD.

Objective: To assess the incidence of type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in children under 18 years of age in the northwest region of Turkey during 2013-2015. Methods: All newly diagnosed T1DM cases were recorded prospectively during 2013-2015. Total, as well as gender and age group specific (0-4, 5-9. 10-14 and 15-17 age) mean incidences per 100,000 per year were calculated. Results: There were 1,773 patients diagnosed during 2013-2015 (588 cases in 2013, 592 cases in 2014, 593 cases in 2015). Of these, 862 (48.6 %) were girls and 911 (51.4%)were boys. The mean age at diagnosis was 9.2 +/- 4.2 years and it was not significantly different between girls (9.0 +/- 4.1 years) and boys (9.4 +/- 4.4 years) (p = 0.052). The crude mean incidence was 8.99/100.000 confidence interval (CI) (95% CI: 8.58-9.42). Although mean incidence was similar between boys [8.98/100.000 (CI: 8.40 to 9.58)] and girls [9.01/100.000 (CI: 8.42 to 9.63)], there was male predominance in all groups except for 5-9 year age group. The standardized mean incidence was 9.02/100.000 according to the World Health Organization standard population. The mean incidence for the 0-4, 5-9, 10-14 and 15-17 age groups was 6.13, 11.68, 11.7 and 5.04/1 00.000 respectively. The incidence of T1DM was similar over the course of three years (p = 0.95). A significant increase in the proportion of cases diagnosed was observed in the autumn-winter seasons. Conclusion: The northwest region of Turkey experienced an intermediate incidence of T1DM over the period of the study.