ESPE Abstracts

Background: The rs72613567:TA variant in the hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 13 (HSD17B13) gene has been associated with decreased risk of liver damage.Aims: To investigate the association between the HSD17B13 rs72613567:TA variant and both hepatic steatosis and biochemical markers of liver damage in obese children and to evaluate its potential effect in NAFLD genetic predisposition.<p...

Introduction: Lysosomal Acid Lipase Deficiency (LAL-D) is a rare and systemic condition, secondary to LIPA gene mutations, responsible for lysosomal accumulation of cholesterol esters and triglycerides. Clinical manifestations are heterogeneous in terms of age of onset, severity and biochemical and radiological findings. Dyslipidemia, hepatomegaly and hepatosteatosis with hypertransaminasemia are the most common features. There is significant evidence of incre...

Background: Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD; MIM 119600) is a rare congenital autosomal dominant skeletal dysplasia characterized by hypoplastic or aplastic clavicles, late closure of the fontanelles, open skull sutures, dental anomalies, moderately short stature and a variety of other skeletal features. CCD is caused by mutations, deletions or duplications in the runt-related transcription factor 2 gene (RUNX2), which encodes for a protein essential for osteoblast differentiatio...

Background: AAAS is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by adrenal insufficiency, alacrimia, achalasia and neurological symptoms. The disease-causing AAAS gene encodes for the ALADIN nuclear pore protein.Case presentation: Case 1: A girl (born to unrelated parents) presented at age 3.9 years with fatigue and hyperpigmented skin. Clinical examination was normal, clumsy gait was noted. Endocrine studies confirmed adrenal insufficiency (F=9 mg/ml,...

Background: X-Linked Adrenoleucodystrophy (X-ALD) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterised by impaired peroxisomal beta-oxidation of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA; ≧C22) which is reduced to about 30% of control levels. Consequently, there is an accumulation of VLCFA in plasma and tissues, including the white matter of the brain, the spinal cord and adrenal cortex. It is caused by mutation in the ABCD1 gene encoding a peroxisomal transmembrane protein (ALD...

Background: Isolated hypocortisolism due to ACTH deficiency is a rare condition that can be caused by mutations in the gene encoding pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC). POMC is the precursor to bioactive peptides (ACTH, β-endorphin, and α-β-γ-MSH). Mutations that inactive POMC typically result in secondary adrenal insufficiency, severe obesity and red hair; fewer than 50 affected individuals have been reported in the literature.Case presenta...

Background: A close association has been reported between obesity and renal damage in adults, but evidence in childhood is still limited.Methods: We retrospectively studied 396 children and adolescents with obesity. Clinical, biochemical, and instrumental evaluations were performed. Patients were stratified according to the metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) phenotypes. Kidney d...

Objectives: Increased central and peripheral sensitivity to thyroid hormones seems to be associated with an increased risk of developing prediabetes in adulthood. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the severity of obesity, the presence of glyco-metabolic alterations, and tissue sensitivity to thyroid hormones in prepubertal euthyroid children with simple obesity.Methods: Eighty prepubert...

Objective: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) increased oxidative stress and promote inflammation, resulting in the cellular damage, by interacting with their receptor (RAGE) on cell membrane. By contrast, the soluble receptor for AGE (sRAGE), that is proteolytically cleaved from cell surface receptor via matrix metalloproteinases, sequester RAGE ligands and act as a cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory agent. AGEs-RAGE/sRAGE interaction is deemed to play a role in the pat...

Background: Thyroid hormones (TH) play multiple effects on glucose metabolism. Some recent studies carried out in adult patients suggested an association between altered sensitivity to TH and type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. No studies are currently available on the presence of altered sensitivity to the action of TH in youths with prediabetes.Objective: To evaluate the relationship between sensitivity t...