The purpose of this study was to investigate the peripheral concentrations of leptin and neuropeptides taking part in the melanocortin pathway in hypothalamic obesity (HO) associated with craniopharyngioma (CP) and to find a peripheral marker for diagnosis. Methods: Thirty-one patients (52% girls; median age 16 years) with CP were enrolled in the study group. They were grouped as CP with obesity (CP obesity , n = 17) and CP without obesity (CP nonobesity , n = 14). Two control groups without CP consisted of 27 children with obesity (OC) (55% girls; median age 13.8 years) and 25 children without obesity (normal control [NC]) (72% girls; median age 14.5 years). Obesity was defined as BMI percentile ≥ 95%. Fasting serum concentrations of leptin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) were measured in the groups. Results: Leptin and BDNF concentrations were correlated with BMI SD score (SDS) in controls (OC + NC) and CP. However, there was no correlation between α-MSH and BMI-SDS in CP or control groups. After adjusting for age, sex, and BMI-SDS, α-MSH was found to be significantly higher in CP obesity than in other groups, whereas leptin and BDNF were comparable among the four groups. Conclusions: Serum BDNF, just like leptin, increased with BMI, regardless of hypothalamic damage. On the contrary, α-MSH concentration was significantly high in HO, designating a potential biomarker for HO in CP.

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Objective: Governments have enforced restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019, which has affected lifestyle and psychosocial well-being. The aim of this study is to examine the psychosocial dimensions of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus and lifestyle changes in the face of the pandemic. Materials and Methods: Sixty school-aged children with type 1 diabetes mellitus were included to evaluate socioeconomic status, lifestyle changes, and psychological state after a 3-month school closure, using a questionnaire as well as scales in children and mothers [Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (short-form), Revised Child Anxiety-Depression Scale (parent-version), The Perceived Stress Scale in Children] via a Google ® Form. The effect of pre-pandemic glycemic control on lifestyle and factors affecting HbA1c change were also investigated. Results: The percentage of mothers having scale scores above the cutoff in terms of stress, anxiety, and depression were 18.3%, 23.3%, and 33.3%, respectively. Mother’s and children’s anxiety, depression, and stress scores were positively correlated. Employed mothers had higher depression scores. Paternal unemployment increased the anxiety of the mothers. Seventy-eight percent (n = 46) of the mothers thought that diabetes in their children increased the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 infection, and children of these mothers had higher depression, anxiety, and stress scores( P = .01, P < .01, P < .01). The majority of participants were adversely affected by coronavirus disease 2019 in terms of daily routines and dietary compliance. Patients with poor-controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus deteriorated more in terms of diet compliance ( P = .01). Conclusion: Coronavirus disease 2019 affects the psychosocial dimensions in the family of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. The psychosocial impact is reflected within the family and may affect diabetic control. Thus, it should be handled within the context of family. The provision of proper information and guidance to parents may be crucial to alleviate the psychosocial burden on the family during the pandemic.