Background: Insulin resistance has evolved as an important metabolic alteration in obese children especially during adolescence. Emerging data suggest that insulin resistance in obesity play the key role in the pathogenesis of hypertension, dyslipidemia, impaired glucose tolerance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the insulin resistance status of Bangladeshi obese adolescents in hospital settings. Methods: It was a cross sectional study done in children, aged 10 to 16 years, attending the paediatric endocrine clinic, paediatric outpatient and paediatric inpatient department, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka over a period of 15 months. Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA- IR) value was obtained from fasting insulin & fasting blood glucose level to assess insulin resistance in obese and normal weight children. Results: Among obese adolescents, 78.8% were insulin resistant in comparison to16% in non-obese adolescent. Mean HOMA-IR level of obese group were significantly higher than non-obese group (4.46±1.82 Vs 1.98±1.26, p<0.001). Insulin resistance was observed in 73.8% and 84.2% among grade 1 obese and grade 2 obese adolescents respectively. HOMA-IR showed positive correlation with BMI and waist circumference. Insulin resistance showed significant association with central obesity, puberty and acanthosis nigricans (AN). Conclusion: In this study, insulin resistance was observed in higher frequency among obese adolescents than normal weight adolescents. Obese adolescents with central obesity, acanthosis nigricans and puberty are at increased risk of insulin resistance. Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2021; 47(2): 212-218

<p class="Abstract">Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare genetic disease in which symptoms of aging are manifested at an early age. In the present report, we describe a 9 months old female child presented with a history of progressive coarsening of skin, failure to thrive and irregular bumps over thighs, buttocks and lower limbs for the last 7½ months. In the course of time, she developed alopecia, hyperpigmented spots over the abdomen with thickening and a typical facial profile of HGPS including micrognathia, absent ear lobules, prominent eyes, loss of eyelashes, eyebrows and a bluish hue over the nose.</p>

Background: Frequent blood transfusions have been associated with serum iron overload, which may result in hypothyroidism and other endocrine abnormalities in transfusion dependent thalassemic patients. Thyroid dysfunction has been reported in a number of studies on these pts. The aim of the study is to assess the thyroid function status among the transfusion dependent thalassemic children.Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted in the department of transfusion medicine, department of Pediatric hematology and oncology and department of hematology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib medical university (BSMMU), Dhaka for a period of 18 months. A total number of 86 children with transfusion dependent thalassemia who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were studied. Demographic data as well as history of blood transfusion and chelation therapy were collected. Thyroid function and iron load status were evaluated by measuring serum FT4, TSH and ferritin levels.Results: Out of 86 thalassemia patients, euthyroid patients were 77 (89.5%) and hypothyroid patients were 9 (10.5%). Eight (9.3%) patients were compensated and 1 (1.2%) was uncompensated hypothyroidism. Statistically significant association was found between number of blood transfusion and serum ferritin level (≥2000 ng/ml) with development of hypothyroidism in thalassemic patients. Mean ferritin level was higher in hypothyroid (4797.8±2027.4 ng/ml) group than in euthyroid (3628.8±2448.5 ng/ml) groups.Conclusions: Frequency of hypothyroidism was 10.5% (compensated 9.3% and uncompensated 1.2%). Number of blood transfusion and ferritin level were found significantly associated with the development of hypothyroidism in thalassemic patients.