Effects of lifestyle intervention on IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and insulin resistance in children with obesity with or without metabolic-associated fatty liver disease.

Obesity is a strong predictor for metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), which has been associated with decreased insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). In obesity, weight loss increases growth hormone secretion, but this is not unequivocally associated with increases in serum IGF-1 and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3). We studied the changes in the IGF axis in relation to weight loss and improvement in insulin resistance in children with or without MALFD after 10 weeks of lifestyle intervention at a weight loss camp (WLC). We investigated 113 (66 females) Caucasian children with obesity, median age 12.4 (range 7.3-14.6) years, before and after 10 weeks of lifestyle intervention at a WLC. We investigated children who was either MAFLD positive (n = 54) or negative (n = 59) before and after WLC. Children with MAFLD had lower baseline IGF-1 (249 ± 112 vs 278 ± 107 µg/l, P = 0.048), whereas the IGF-1/IGFBP-3 molar ratio was similar to children without MAFLD (19.4 ± 6.6 vs. 21.8 ± 6.6%, P = 0.108). When all children were considered as one group, WLC decreased SDS-BMI and HOMA-IR (P < 0.001, both) and increased IGF-1 (264 ± 110 vs 285 ± 108 µg/l, P < 0.001) and the IGF/IGFBP-3 molar ratio (20.7 ± 6.7 vs 22.4 ± 6.1%, P < 0.001). When categorized according to liver status, IGF-1 increased significantly in children with MAFLD (P = 0.008) and tended to increase in children without MAFLD (P = 0.052).   Conclusions: Ten weeks of lifestyle intervention decreased insulin resistance and improved the IGF axis. We observed slight differences in the IGF axis in relation to MAFLD status. This suggests that the IGF axis is primarily influenced by insulin resistance rather than MAFLD status. What is New: • Weight loss decreases insulin resistance and subsequently increases the IGF axis in children with obesity. • Children with MAFLD had an aberration in the IGF axis compared to their MAFLD negative counter parts and the IGF axis was primarily influenced by the decreased BMI-SDS and insulin resistance, rather than MAFLD status. What is Known: • NAFLD has previously been associated with reduced serum IGF-1 concentrations. • Data on the impact of MAFLD and aberrations in the growth hormone and IGF axis and the effects of lifestyle interventions in children are limited.

Cryoablation of Renal Angiomyolipoma: An Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy.

BACKGROUND: Small series have reported that cryoablation (CA) is a safe and feasible minimally invasive nephron-sparing alternative for the treatment of renal angiomyolipomas (renal AMLs). The aim of the present study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of CA in patients with renal AML. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 19 renal AML lesions treated with CA at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, over a 5-year period. RESULTS: The treatment was performed as laparoscopy-assisted CA on 7 lesions, and in the remaining 12 lesions CA was performed as a percutaneous ultrasound-guided CA. The mean patient age was 46 years [interquartile range (IQR) 30] and the mean tumor volume was 50.1 cm3 (IQR 53.3). In all cases, the procedure was effectively conducted with no conversion to open surgery, and no major complications were experienced. The mean follow-up time was 25 months (IQR 13). Mean maximum tumor volume was reduced from 50.1 cm3 (IQR 53.3) to 12.2 cm3 (IQR 14.1), p = 0.05. No patients presented with retroperitoneal hemorrhage or recurrence during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Treating renal AMLs with CA appears to be a safe and effective nephron-sparing approach and could be a valuable alternative to other treatment modalities. The low complication rate, absence of retreatment and a good preservation of renal function might allow treatment of even subclinical renal AMLs to minimize the risk of potentially life-threatening hemorrhage.

Effect of a 10-week weight loss camp on fatty liver disease and insulin sensitivity in obese Danish children.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Childhood nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) associated with insulin resistance and obesity is a growing problem and increases the risk of cirrhosis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular complications. We examined the effects of a 10-week "weight loss camp" residency in obese children on the prevalence and degree of NAFLD and insulin sensitivity with 12-month follow-up. METHODS: At the camp, 117 obese white children (body mass index 28.0 ±â€Š3.6  kg/m, age 12.1 ±â€Š1.3 years) exercised moderately for 1 hour/day and restricted their energy intake to induce weight loss. NAFLD was diagnosed and graded using ultrasound and transaminasemia. Insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance were assessed using homeostasis model assessment and oral glucose tolerance test. We performed anthropometric measurements and determined body composition using bioimpedance. Data were collected from 71 of 117 children at entry, after the 10 weeks at the camp, and 12 months after the camp ended. RESULTS: The children showed an average weight loss of 7.1 ±â€Š2.7  kg during the camp. At baseline, 43% had ultrasonographic liver steatosis, 50% elevated transaminases (>25  IU/L), and reduced insulin sensitivity. These abnormalities were mutually related and improved significantly during the camp (P ≤ 0.05). Liver fat improvement was sustained at 12 months. At the 12-month follow-up, 17 of 71 (24%) children maintained the body weight. CONCLUSIONS: This short-term diet and exercise program induced weight loss, markedly improved all aspects of the threatening condition of NAFLD, and reduced insulin sensitivity in childhood obesity; 24% of the children maintained weight loss at least until the 12-month follow-up.

Single-centre review of radiologically guided percutaneous nephrostomy using "mixed" technique: success and complication rates.

AIM: A review of complication and success rates of the "mixed" technique in percutaneous nephrostomy using both the Seldinger and one-step techniques in dilated and non-dilated systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 500 percutaneous nephrostomies in dilated an non-dilated systems in 353 patients from 2006 to 2007 (208 males (range 19-95 years), 127 females (range 27-91 years) and 21 children (range 3 months-16 years: 6 females, 15 males)). Percutaneous nephrostomy was considered successful if catheter was placed in renal pelvis and drained urine spontaneously. Successful percutaneous nephrostomies were classified as primary (renal system drained instantly) or postponed (drainage achieved within 24h after initial failure). Number of complications was registered. RESULTS: All of the 500 nephrostomies were successful within 24h (96.2% primary; 3.8% postponed). The success rate of primary nephrostomy in dilated and non-dilated systems was 98.2% and 82%, respectively. Major complications occurred in 0.45% and minor complications in 14.2%. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous nephrostomy using the "mixed" technique is very successful in dilated systems, is not superior to other PCN techniques in non-dilated systems and has a very low rate of major complications.

Prostate cancer: to scan or not to scan for lymph node involvement?

OBJECTIVE: When diagnosing lymph node involvement in prostate cancer (PC), the available imaging techniques are considered to be of doubtful value but are still in common use in many institutions because of a lack of better alternatives. To help us choose between methods while we wait for improvements in technologies, we evaluated the performance of ultrasonography (US), CT and MRI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of all PC patients who were potential candidates for a surgical staging procedure prior to treatment with intent to cure at Skejby Sygehus, Denmark between 1996 and 2004. In total, 227 patients met our inclusion criteria and 149 were examined with US, 80 with MRI and 71 with CT. The performance of the three modalities was analysed. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients (22%) had lymph node metastases (pN1) and only 12 of these cases (24%) were detected by imaging. US identified all 12 pN1 patients, MRI five and CT did not identify any. Moreover, US missed 28 patients with pN1 metastases, MRI 18 and CT 13. Consequently, US, MRI and CT had sensitivities of 0.3, 0.22 and 0, respectively, while all three modalities had a specificity of 1. The 12 patients identified by imaging had clinically advanced and pathologically aggressive cancers. CONCLUSIONS: Available imaging techniques showed moderate to very low sensitivity. US proved superior to MRI and CT, but should only be applied in high-risk patients. In particular, CT can be considered unsuitable for diagnosing pelvic lymph node metastases in PC.