ESPE Abstracts

2 siblings were referred for evaluation fo short stature and failure to thrive. Both were born of 3rd degree consanguinity, first and second in birth order. the first sibling was 2 1/2 year old at time of referral and had birthweight of 3.1 kg and had gross motor delay. Present height was 65 cm (SDS −6.2 S.D.)and weight was 6 kg (<3rd centile) Second sibling was 1.5 years old, with gross motor delay with height of 57 cm (SDS −6.5 S.D.</sma...

Introduction: Abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) is subdivided into two depots by the fascia of Scarpa. The deep SAT (dSAT) and superficial SAT (sSAT) are morphologically and metabolically distinct, with dSAT reportedly being more similar to visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in terms of elevating the risk for obesity-related complications. Conversely, sSAT appears to be more similar to lower-body SAT. The relationship between dSAT and metabolic disease ha...

The majority of patients with Variations of Sex Development (VSD) lack a genetic diagnosis. Patients that are born with atypical chromosomal, gonadal, or phenotypical sex, present a wide spectrum of phenotypes that are often associated with ambiguous genitalia, infertility as well as increased susceptibility to testicular or ovarian cancer. Many different genetic causes of VSD have been reported [2], but for more than 50% [3] of all VSD patients, the molecular cause of their c...

Background: Secretion of catecholamines by adipose tissue M2 macrophages was recently proposed as a molecular mechanism leading to activation of brown adipose tissue and heat generation in mice. However, published data are conflicting and it is not clear whether this pathway might play a role in humans. To shed light on this, we studied macrophage polarization in human white and brown adipose tissue and related it to thermogenic gene expression.Methods: ...

Background: Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS), ranging from complete (CAIS) to partial (PAIS) and to mild (MAIS) forms of androgen resistance, is caused by mutations in the X-linked AR gene that encodes the androgen receptor. Some cases, however, remain without a molecular genetic diagnosis that would confirm the diagnosis especially in cases that have phenotypic similarities with other 46,XY disorders of sex development.Objective and hypoth...

Background: The molecular diagnosis of McCune Albright syndrome (MAS) is difficult because the detection of somatic GNAS1 mutations is usually performed in blood, in which the fraction of mutated allele could be barely detectable. To improve the usual techniques (selective enrichment, either with nested PCR and enzymatic digestion or with use of peptide nucleic acid probes), and to avoid technical problems like contamination, a new approach using next generation seque...

Background: In the vast majority of cases, achondroplasia and hypochondroplasia are attributable to hotspot missense mutations in the FGFR3 gene. 96% of patients have a G(1138)A and 3% have a G(1138)C point mutation. We report on a family whose members have a deep intronic mutation that leads to a novel cryptic splicing variant of the FGFR3 gene, and via this pathway results in new pathogenicity manifesting as achondroplasia.Case...

Background: Studies in animal models revealed that brown and white adipocytes derive from different progenitor cells. Molecular characteristics of these cells have not been investigated in detail in humans.Objective and hypotheses: To identify novel markers of human brown adipocyte progenitor cells.Method: Progenitor cells from human paired deep neck and subcutaneous adipose tissue samples were obtained from n=12 subjects ...

Background: Polyuria and polydipsia must never be underestimated.Objective and hypotheses: A 7-year-old girl presented with polyuria, polydipsia and nocturia of 1 year duration, during which she underwent outpatient follow up with her general practitioner and urologist. No weight loss or other endocrine signs.Method: Polyuria was confirmed by water balance (120 ml/kg per 24 h), urinary osmolality (222 mmol/kg), plasma osmolality (2...

Introduction: Adrenal insufficiency (AI) leads to a diminished production of steroid hormones. AI is subdivided into a primary and a secondary form. In primary AI, the underlying defect affects the adrenal gland itself resulting in a low steroid production and an overproduction of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). On the contrary, the cause of secondary AI lies in the pituitary, leading to a reduced production of ACTH and consecutively to a reduced excretion of corticosteroi...