Published papers

CONTEXT: Congenital isolated TSH deficiency (i-TSHD) is a rare form of congenital hypothyroidism. Five genes (IGSF1, IRS4, TBL1X, TRHR, and TSHB) responsible for the disease have been identified, although their relative frequencies and hypothalamic/pituitary unit phenotypes have remained to be clarified. OBJECTIVES: To define the relative frequencies and hypothalamic/pituitary unit phenotypes of congenital i-TSHD resulting from single gene mutations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirteen Japanese patients (11 boys and 2 girls) with congenital i-TSHD were enrolled. IGSF1, IRS4, TBL1X, TRHR, and TSHB were sequenced. For a TBL1X mutation (p.Asn382del), its pathogenicity was verified in vitro. For a literature review, published clinical data derived from 74 patients with congenital i-TSHD resulting from single-gene mutations were retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS: Genetic screening of the 13 study subjects revealed six mutation-carrying patients (46%), including five hemizygous IGSF1 mutation carriers and one hemizygous TBL1X mutation carrier. Among the six mutation carriers, one had intellectual disability and the other one had obesity, but the remaining four did not show nonendocrine phenotypes. Loss of function of the TBL1X mutation (p.Asn382del) was confirmed in vitro. The literature review demonstrated etiology-specific relationship between serum prolactin (PRL) levels and TRH-stimulated TSH levels with some degree of overlap. CONCLUSIONS: The mutation screening study covering the five causative genes of congenital i-TSHD was performed, showing that the IGSF1 defect was the leading genetic cause of the disease. Assessing relationships between serum PRL levels and TRH-stimulated TSH levels would contribute to predict the etiologies of congenital i-TSHD.

Mutations in transcription factors genes, which are well regulated spatially and temporally in the pituitary gland, result in congenital hypopituitarism (CH) in humans. The prevalence of CH attributable to transcription factor mutations appears to be rare and varies among populations. This study aimed to define the prevalence of CH in terms of nine CH-associated genes among Japanese patients. We enrolled 91 Japanese CH patients for DNA sequencing of POU1F1, PROP1, HESX1, LHX3, LHX4, SOX2, SOX3, OTX2, and GLI2. Additionally, gene copy numbers for POU1F1, PROP1, HESX1, LHX3, and LHX4 were examined by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. The gene regulatory properties of mutant LHX4 proteins were characterized in vitro. We identified two novel heterozygous LHX4 mutations, namely c.249-1G>A, p.V75I, and one common POU1F1 mutation, p.R271W. The patient harboring the c.249-1G>A mutation exhibited isolated growth hormone deficiency at diagnosis and a gradual loss of ACTH, whereas the patient with the p.V75I mutation exhibited multiple pituitary hormone deficiency. In vitro experiments showed that both LHX4 mutations were associated with an impairment of the transactivation capacities of POU1F1 and alpha GSU, without any dominant-negative effects. The total mutation prevalence in Japanese CH patients was 3.3%. This study is the first to describe, a gradual loss of ACTH in a patient carrying an LHX4 mutation. Careful monitoring of hypothalamic-pituitary -adrenal function is recommended for CH patients with LHX4 mutations.

Mutations in DUOXA2, encoding dual oxidase maturation factor 2, is a rare genetic cause of congenital hypothyroidism. Only four biallelic DUOXA2 mutation carriers have been described to date. This study was conducted to report the clinical and genetic findings of a DUOXA2 mutation-carrying family, and to review the previously reported cases. The proband was a 4-year-old girl, who was diagnosed as having congenital hypothyroidism in the frame of newborn screening. She had a high serum TSH level (138 mU/L) and a low free T4 level (0.4 ng/dL). Ultrasonography revealed goiter. She was immediately treated with levothyroxine. At age 3 years, reevaluation of her thyroid function showed a slightly elevated serum TSH level (11.0 mU/L) with normal free T4 level. Screening of the eleven congenital hypothyroidism-related genes demonstrated a previously reported nonsense DUOXA2 mutation (p.Tyr138*) in the homozygous state. Unexpectedly, we also found that the elder brother of the proband, who had no significant past medical history, had the identical homozygous mutation. Using expression experiments with HEK293 cells, we confirmed that p. Tyr138* was a loss-of-function mutation. In the literature, clinical courses of three patients were described, showing characteristic age-dependent improvement of the thyroid function. In conclusion, The proband showed comparable clinical phenotype to previously reported cases, while her brother was unaffected. The phenotypic spectrum of DUOXA2 mutations could be broader than currently accepted.

Background/Aim: To evaluate the accuracy of the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulation test in children with micropenis in predicting later Leydig cell function. Methods: We conducted a retrospective investigation of testosterone response to a 3-day hCG test (3,000 IU/m(2)/day) in prepuberty to indicate the need for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in adolescence. Results: Fifty Japanese boys (range, 0.8-15.4 years of age; median, 8.9) with micropenis were enrolled. Thirty-four spontaneously developed puberty and preserved the ability of testosterone production (group 1), while 16 did not develop any pubertal signs without HRT (group 2). Serum testosterone levels after the hCG test (post-hCG T) in group 2 (range, <0.05-1.1 ng/ml; median, 0.24) were significantly lower than in group 1 (range, 0.5-8.7 ng/ml; median, 2.4; p < 0.0001). Based on true positives who required continuous HRT, the area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve for post-hCG T was 0.983 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.90-1.00]. The post-hCG T cut-off level corresponding to the Youden index was 1.1 ng/ml (95% CI, 1.0-1.1), with a sensitivity of 100.0% (95% CI, 79.4-100.0) and a specificity of 94.1% (95% CI, 80.3-99.3). Conclusions: The hCG test in prepubertal children with micropenis can be useful for predicting Leydig cell function in pubertal or postpubertal adolescents. The post-hCG T cutoff level of 1.1 ng/ml is recommended to screen for those who will likely require HRT for pubertal development. (C) 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel

Context: C-type natriuretic peptide-natriuretic peptide receptor B (NPR-B) signaling is critical for endochondral ossification, which is responsible for longitudinal growth in limbs and vertebrae. Biallelic NPR2 mutations cause acromesomelic dysplasia, type Maroteaux, which is bone dysplasia characterized by severe short stature and short limbs. A monoallelic NPR2 mutation has been suggested to mildly impair long bone growth. Objective: The goal of this study was to identify and characterize NPR2 mutations among Japanese patients with short stature. Subjects and Methods: We enrolled 101 unrelated Japanese patients with short stature. NPR2 and NPPC were sequenced, and the identified variants were characterized in vitro. Results: In two subjects, we identified two novel heterozygous NPR2 mutations (R110C and Q417E) causing a loss of C-type natriuretic peptide-dependent cGMP generation capacities and having dominant-negative effects. R110C was defective in trafficking from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus. In contrast, Q417E showed clear cell surface expression. Conclusions: We identified heterozygous NPR2 mutations in 2% of Japanese patients with short stature. Our in vitro findings indicate that NPR2 mutations have a dominant negative effect, and their dominant-negative mechanisms vary corresponding to the molecular pathogenesis of the mutations.

This study evaluated influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) among children in Japan during the 2024/25 season, when A(H1N1)pdm09 predominated and live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) was introduced for the first time. Using a test-negative design, febrile children aged 6 months to 15 years were enrolled from 16 hospitals and 2 clinics. Among 1351 participants, LAIV coverage was low (1.2 %), limiting its VE assessment. In contrast, inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) coverage was 35 %. The adjusted VE of IIV against influenza A was 73 % (95 % CI: 57-83 %) in inpatients and 57 % (24-75 %) in outpatients. VE was significant in younger age groups. A two-dose regimen provided no additional benefit. The effectiveness observed was consistent with previous seasons and global estimates. While the effectiveness of LAIV was unevaluable due to low coverage, IIV remained effective, supporting its continued use in pediatric populations. LAIV effectiveness should be re-evaluated if coverage increases.

Deformational plagiocephaly (DP), a distortion of a baby’s head shape due to sleeping position, can cause ear malposition, facial asymmetry, and malocclusion. Helmet therapy only surfaced as a recommended treatment in severe cases. However, the number of patients who have grown up with severe deformities without treatment has increased. It is unclear whether these deformities spontaneously resolve during growth. This study investigated the incidence of examining cranial deformities in patients seeking facial contour surgery. Patients presenting with facial asymmetry, jaw deformity, or other facial concerns were included. Complaints were categorized as malar asymmetry, lateral malar protrusion, or anterior malar protrusion. DP was classified using the Argenta system based on cone-beam CT images. Among patients with malar asymmetry (n = 32), Type IV deformities were most frequent (84.4%), followed by Type I (12.5%) and Type II (3.1%). Anterior protrusions (n = 19) comprised Type I (47.4%), Type II (42.1%), and Type IV (10.5%), whereas lateral protrusions (n = 47) included Type II (51.1%), Type I (40.4%), and Type IV (6.4%). Type IV malar asymmetry was significantly prevalent (P < 0.05). Severe untreated craniofacial deformities may persist by impacting facial structures including the cheeks and jaw. These findings suggest that untreated severe DP in infancy can cause residual facial deformities, thereby highlighting the importance of early intervention to avoid severe distortion.

MIRAGE syndrome is characterized by myelodysplasia, infection, restriction of growth, adrenal hypoplasia, genital phenotypes, and enteropathy. This report describes heat stroke and rhabdomyolysis caused by anhidrosis as a symptom of MIRAGE syndrome in a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) female neonate born at 32 weeks of gestation (birth weight, 911 g [-3.8 SD]). She developed severe temperature instability with anhidrosis, growth failure, mild developmental delay, hypothyroidism, and intractable enteropathy. On day 156, her temperature reached 42.0°C; her fever persisted for 2 h with prolonged irritability. Her serum creatine kinase level increased to a peak value of 12,716 (normal range, 43-321) IU/L. The clinical feature was diagnosed as rhabdomyolysis caused by heat stroke, which resulted from physical exertion with anhidrosis. Her SAMD9 variant was c.2945G>A, p. (Arg982His). Neonatologists should be aware of MIRAGE syndrome as a differential diagnosis of SGA with temperature instability.

Background: More than 40 years have passed since the introduction of newborn screening (NBS) for congenital hypothyroidism (CH), and many early diagnosed patients have reached adulthood. Their thyroid morphology and function have been little studied. This cross-sectional, observational study was conducted to characterize the thyroid morphology and function of adult CH patients diagnosed in the framework of NBS for CH. Methods: A total of 103 adult CH patients born after 1979 were enrolled at Ito Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, and were classified into Goiter, Normal gland, and Dysgenesis groups based on ultrasonographic findings. For 60 patients, genetic analysis was performed. Thyroid function test results and the proportion of patients with thyroid nodules were compared among the three groups and between 56 female CH patients and 168 non-CH women matched for thyrotropin levels. Results: A significantly low serum free triiodothyronine/free thyroxine ratio (0.22) was observed in the Dysgenesis group. Thyroid nodules were detected in 14.3% (8/56) of female CH patients, more frequently than in non-CH women. Thyroid nodules were detected most frequently in the Goiter group (71%, 10/14). Genetic defects were identified in 89% (8/9) of patients belonging to the Goiter group, including thyroglobulin defect (33%, 3/9), thyroid peroxidase defect (33%, 3/9), and dual oxidase 2 defect (22%, 2/9). Conclusions: Our results suggest that adults with thyroid dysgenesis on levothyroxine replacement therapy have relative triiodothyronine deficiency. Most adults with goitrous CH have genetic dyshormonogenesis. They are at high risk of developing thyroid nodules. Our findings support the current guideline recommendation that CH patients with dyshormonogenesis should undergo periodic thyroid ultrasonography.

Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) is a rare disorder that causes gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) deficiency and sexual immaturity. CHH may accompany an abnormal sense of smell (Kallmann syndrome, KS) or no such manifestation (normosmic-CHH). This unusual combination of manifestations is explained by the fact that GnRH neurons originate in the olfactory placode and migrate to the forebrain during embryogenesis. We describe the case of a 31-year-old man with normosmic-CHH, who also had obesity, type 2 diabetes and intellectual disability. He was noticed to have sexual immaturity (small testes with no pubic hair) at age 20 years, when diabetic ketoacidosis developed. Basal and GnRH-stimulated levels of LH (1.0→12.0 IU/L) and FSH (1.9→6.1 IU/L) were detectable but low. The results of the T&T olfactometer and the Alinamin test were definitely normal, with an anatomically normal olfactory system on MRI. Sequencing of 22 CHH-related genes was performed, and compound heterozygous PROKR2 variants were identified: one was a previously known loss-of-function variant (p.Trp178Ser) and the other was a nonsense variant (p.Trp212*). Through a literature review, we found 22 patients (including our patient) with CHH due to biallelic PROKR2 variants, which led us to recognize that most of the patients (86%) were diagnosed with KS. Clinical observations in this study indicate that, even though they have CHH, biallelic PROKR2 variant carriers may have a normal olfactory system as well as presumably normal migration of GnRH neurons. This suggests that the PROK2-PROKR2 pathway affects the function of GnRH neurons after their migration.

Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) is caused by mutations in the androgen receptor gene. Patients with this syndrome have a 46,XY karyotype, male gonads, and normal female external genitalia. While the pre-pubertal risk of developing gonadal tumors is low in these patients, it increases with age. Most gonadal tumors arise from germ cells; stromal cell tumors are uncommon. Herein, we report a CAIS patient with a feminizing Sertoli cell tumor. The patient presented at 8 yr of age with breast enlargement and growth acceleration, concomitant with elevated serum estradiol levels and suppressed serum gonadotropin levels; these findings were inconsistent with CAIS. The patient underwent gonadectomy at 10 yr of age, and histology demonstrated presence of a non-malignant Sertoli cell tumor in the right gonad. We conclude that this is the first reported case of CAIS with accelerated onset of puberty resulting from a Sertoli cell tumor.

DNA polymerase epsilon (Pol ε), a component of the core replisome, is involved in DNA replication. Although genetic defects of Pol ε have been reported to cause immunodeficiency syndromes, its role in haematopoiesis remains unknown. Here, we identified compound heterozygous variants (p.[Asp1131fs];[Thr1891del]) in POLE, encoding Pol ε catalytic subunit A (POLE1), in siblings with a syndromic form of severe congenital transfusion-dependent anaemia. In contrast to Diamond-Blackfan anaemia, marked reticulocytopenia or marked erythroid hypoplasia was not found. Their bone marrow aspirates during infancy revealed erythroid dysplasia with strongly positive TP53 in immunostaining. Repetitive examinations demonstrated trilineage myelodysplasia within 2 years from birth. They had short stature and facial dysmorphism. HEK293 cell-based expression experiments and analyses of patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) disclosed a reduced mRNA level of Asp1131fs-POLE1 and defective nuclear translocation of Thr1891del-POLE1. Analysis of iPSCs showed compensatory mRNA upregulation of the other replisome components and increase of the TP53 protein, both suggesting dysfunction of the replisome. We created Pole-knockout medaka fish and found that heterozygous fishes were viable, but with decreased RBCs. Our observations expand the phenotypic spectrum of the Pol ε defect in humans, additionally providing unique evidence linking Pol ε to haematopoiesis.

Complete deficiency of thyroxin-binding globulin (TBG-CD) is not commonly associated with clinical symptoms, and little is known about thyroid tumors associated with TBG-CD. We present a case report of an asymptomatic follicular adenoma that spontaneously shrank in a patient with TBG-CD. A previously healthy 13-yr-old male presented with a diffusely swollen thyroid gland. Thyroid function tests revealed low total thyroxin and TBG concentrations, indicating a TBG deficiency. Ultrasonography revealed a mildly swollen thyroid gland with a nodule (14 × 12 × 19 mm) in the left lobe. Genetic analysis of peripheral blood revealed a previously reported SERPINA7 variant, which resulted in complete loss of TBG function. The nodule was identified as a follicular adenoma using fine-needle aspiration. Subsequently, the adenoma shrank without treatment. This pubertal case suggests that careful observation with ultrasonography is warranted for follicular adenoma in patients with TBG deficiency and that treatment may not be required.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of age and season on menstrual cycle length and basal body temperature (BBT). We also examined the effects of climate on cycle length and BBT, taking into account Japanese geographic and social characteristics. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data from 6 million menstrual cycles entered into a smartphone application from 310,000 females from 2016 to 2017. Only those who entered more than 10 cycles in 2 years were included. Generalized estimation equations were used to adjust for confounding factors and for within-person correlations of multiple records. Multiple regression analysis was conducted, with age, external average temperature, precipitation amount, and sunshine hours as confounding factors. RESULTS: The mean menstrual cycle length increased from age 15-23 years, subsequently decreased up to age 45 years, and then increased again. Average follicular phase body temperature showed no significant age-dependent changes, but luteal phase body temperature gradually increased up to 29 years and then stabilized and started to decrease after age 42 years. A significant association between external temperature and body temperature (follicular and luteal phase) was observed, though menstrual cycle length did not show such an association. CONCLUSION: These results, derived from data self-entered into a smartphone application, revealed underrecognized age-dependent and seasonal changes in menstrual cycle length and BBT, which will contribute to a better understanding of female reproductive health in the modern world.

Hypopituitarism could have been overlooked so far in the patients with 9q subtelomere deletion syndrome (9qSTDS); thus, further investigations or reevaluation of clinical information, especially hormonal evaluations, are warranted to determine whether hypopituitarism is a rare or relatively common presentation in patients with 9qSTDS.

Our current understanding of the phenotypic consequences and the molecular basis of germline complex chromosomal rearrangements remains fragmentary. Here, we report the clinical and molecular characteristics of 2 women with germline complex X-chromosomal rearrangements. Patient 1 presented with nonsyndromic ovarian dysfunction and hyperthyroidism; patient 2 exhibited various Turner syndromeassociated symptoms including ovarian dysfunction, short stature, and autoimmune hypothyroidism. The genomic abnormalities of the patients were characterized by arraybased comparative genomic hybridization, high-resolution karyotyping, microsatellite genotyping, X-inactivation analysis, and bisulfite sequencing. Patient 1 carried a rearrangement of unknown parental origin with a 46, X, der(X)(pter -> p22.1:: p11.23 -> q24:: q21.3 -> q24:: p11.4 -> pter) karyotype, indicative of a catastrophic chromosomal reconstruction due to chromothripsis/chromoanasynthesis. Patient 2 had a paternally derived isochromosome with a 46, X, der(X)(pter. p22.31:: q22.1 -> q10:: q10 -> q22.1:: p22.31 -> pter) karyotype, which likely resulted from 2 independent, sequential events. Both patients showed completely skewed X inactivation. CpG sites at Xp22.3 were hypermethylated in patient 2. The results indicate that germline complex X-chromosomal rearrangements underlie nonsyndromic ovarian dysfunction and Turner syndrome. Disease-causative mechanisms of these rearrangements likely include aberrant DNA methylation, in addition to X-chromosomal mispairing and haplo-insufficiency of genes escaping X inactivation. Notably, our data imply that germline complex X-chromosomal rearrangements are created through both chromothripsis/chromoanasynthesis-dependent and - independent processes. (C) 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel