ESPE Abstracts

Background: GNAS gene is a complex imprinted locus, resulting in the expression of at least four transcripts (XL, NESP55, A/B and Gsα) characterized by their specific exon 1 and common exons 2-13. While Gαs is biallelically expressed in most tissues, XL is only expressed from the paternal allele. Maternally inherited, loss-of-function mutations affecting those GNAS exons that ...

Background: Human placenta exhibits a specific miRNA expression pattern. Some of these miRNAs are dysregulated in pregnancy disorders like preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and are potential biomarkers for these pathologies. No studies have been performed in maternal obesity.Objective and hypotheses: (1) Define the placental miRNA profile in pregnant women with: a) pre-pregnancy (preOB) or gestational obesity (gestOB), b) gestation...

Background: Animal studies suggest a role of vitamin D in fetal lung development although not studied in preterm animals.Objective and hypotheses: We tested the hypothesis that vitamin D depletion does not aggravate respiratory insufficiency in preterm rat offspring. Furthermore, the effects of vitamin D depletion on growth and lung surfactant were investigated.Method: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned low vitamin D...

Background: Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH) is one of the common causes of hypoglycaemia in infants and children. It can cause severe brain injury in children if not treated promptly. Diazoxide is first-line treatment for HH. Glucagon infusion is used in the management of children with HH. However it is unclear what dose of glucagon should be used in children.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of intraven...

Background: Congenital Hyperinsulinism (CHI) is the commonest cause of refractory hypoglycaemia in infants.Objective and hypotheses: CHI is a rare disorder with varied clinical manifestations, genotype often with poor outcome. This study describes the clinical profile, molecular characterisation, response to therapy and short term outcome in children with CHI presenting to Paediatric Endocrinology Division, B.J. Wadia Hospital for Children, Mumbai.<p...

Background: Congenital Hyperinsulinism in Infancy (CHI) is characterised by inappropriate insulin release. We currently attribute hypoglycaemia to β-cell dysfunction because of defects in the ion channel genes ABCC8 or KCNJ11. However, the CHI pancreas is also associated with inappropriate expression of foetal-like transcription factors and enhanced cell proliferation.Hypothesis: As the CHI pancreas bears similarities to the foetal pancreas, we hypo...

Background: Fetal growth is the fastest of all periods of growth in human life, mainly due to cellular hypertrophy and proliferation. It was recently discovered that the metabolic and mitogenic effects of Insulin are mediated by two Insulin Receptors (IR) isoforms, IR-A and IR-B. High expression of IR-A indicates proliferation and differentiation whereas IR-B indicates metabolic dominance.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of the study was to examin the e...

Background: The human microbiota has emerged as an unexpected modulator of the immune system. The placenta, long thought to be sterile, harbors a unique microbiome and variations in their composition could be related to prevent pregnancy disorders.Objective and hypotheses: To profile the placental microbiota (microorganisms) and microbiome (collection of microbial genomes in an environment) in women with gestational diabetes (GDM) and study their relatio...