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Introduction: Several studies have analyzed the association between the maximal growth hormone serum level obtained during a growth hormone stimulation test (GH-Max) and the body mass index standard deviation score (BMI-SDS). However, as sample sizes were quite small, our study aimed to analyze the association between GH-Max and BMI-SDS within a large cohort of 991 children. Further, we investigated other influencing factors, like test type, age, sex, puberty and preterm birth. Methods: Children with short stature (height < 10th percentile) received growth hormone stimulation tests with arginine or glucagon at the Department of Paediatric Endocrinology of the University of Leipzig Medical Center. The study population included a total of 1,438 tests (633 tests on girls, 805 tests on boys), with the majority consisting of prepubertal children (tests = 1,138). The mean age at testing was 7.74 years. Analyses were carried out on the entire cohort as well as stratified by test types. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses using linear mixed effect models to assess the effects on GH-Max. Results: GH-Max and BMI-SDS were significantly negatively associated with an effect size of ß = -1.10 (p < 0.001), independent from the test type. The GH-Max values were significantly (p < 0.001) higher for glucagon (mean value: 9.65 ng/ml) than those for arginine tests (mean value: 8.50 ng/ml). Age, sex, premature birth, and puberty were not significantly related to GH-Max values. Conclusion: We confirmed the negative association between GH-Max and weight status of short children found in previous studies. Therefore, considering BMI-SDS may be helpful in the assessment of growth hormone stimulation tests in short-statured children, but it should not be the determining factor for a treatment decision.

Several recent studies have documented an increased incidence of newly diagnosed type 1 Diabetes (T1D) cases in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic and a more severe presentation at diabetes onset. In this descriptive study, we present the experience of the Diabetes Centre of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism of the First Department of Pediatrics of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School at “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital in Athens, Greece, concerning new cases of T1D diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020- December 2021). Patients who had already been diagnosed with T1D and needed hospitalization due to poor control during the pandemic have been excluded from this study. Eighty- three children and adolescents with a mean age of 8,5 ± 4.02 years were admitted to the hospital due to newly diagnosed T1D during this 22 months’ period in comparison to 34 new cases in the previous year. All patients admitted during the pandemic with a new diagnosis of T1D, presented in their majority with DKA (Ph: 7.2) representing an increase of new severe cases in comparison to previous years (Ph 7.2 versus 7.3, p value: 0.021, in the previous year), [p-value: 0.027]. 49 cases presented with DKA, of which 24 were characterized moderate and 14 severe DKA (28.9% and 16,9%, respectively), while 5 patients newly diagnosed, needed to be admitted to the ICU to recover from severe acidosis. Whether a previous COVID- 19 infection could have been the triggering factor is not supported by the SARS-Cov2 specific antibodies analysis in our cohort of patients. As far as HbA1c is concerned there was no statistically significant difference between the pre COVID-19 year and the years of the pandemic (11.6% versus 11.9%, p- value: 0.461). Triglycerides values were significantly higher in patients with new onset T1D during COVID-19 years compared to those before the pandemic (p value= 0.032). Additionally, there is a statistically significant correlation between Ph and Triglycerides for the whole period 2020-2021 (p-value&lt;0.001), while this correlation is not significant for the year 2019. More large- scale studies are required to confirm these observations.

McCune–Albright syndrome (MAS) is a rare sporadic condition defined by the classic triad of fibrous dysplasia of bone, café au lait skin macules, and hyperfunctioning endocrinopathies. The molecular basis of MAS has been ascribed to the post-zygotic somatic gain-of-function mutations in the GNAS gene, which encodes the alpha subunit of G proteins, leading to constitutive activation of several G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs). The co-occurrence of two of the above-mentioned cardinal clinical manifestations sets the diagnosis at the clinical level. In this case report, we describe a 27-month-old girl who presented with gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty secondary to an estrogen-secreting ovarian cyst, a café au lait skin macule and growth hormone, and prolactin excess, and we provide an updated review of the scientific literature on the clinical features, diagnostic work-up, and therapeutic management of MAS.