ESPE Abstracts

Optogenetics represents a powerful new approach to modulate the activity of excitable cells in the body. Based upon the ability of specific wavelengths of light to activate newly discovered and engineered opsin-based receptors, optogenetics can be used to control the activity of cells with very high temporal resolution. Opsin-based receptors, most often channelrhodopsin (ChR), need to be expressed selectively in the cell type under investigation. This is achieved by generating...

Background: Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS) is an x-linked mental retardation syndrome characterized by severe psychomotor retardation and pathognomonic thyroid parameters. Defects in monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8), which facilitates thyroid hormone (TH) uptake and efflux across plasma membranes, have been linked to this disease. The incidence of undescended testes was reported to be 8% by Schwartz et al. On the other hand, we had the impression that cryptorchidism ...

Introduction: Allan–Herndon–Dudley syndrome is a rare X-linked inherited disorder characterized by, axial hypotonia, weakness, and severe intellectual disability1 Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome is caused by mutations in the SLC16A2 gene (also known as MCT8) This gene is located on the chromosome Xq13.2, mutations of the SLC16A2 gene lead to impaired making a protein that transports thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3) into nerve cells, for this re...

Introduction: Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS) is an X linked disorder – mutation of monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) gene. It leads to a severe psychomotor retardation, significant hypotonia of the skeletal muscles, spastic or dystonic quadriplegia. MCT-8 is responsible for the uptake of T3 by neurons of CNS. AHDS is characterized by increased T3 concentration, increased T3 / T4 ratio, TSH not depressed, even slightly elevated levels. Because of impossibility f...

Background: Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) (mainly secondary to 11p15 molecular disruption) and Temple syndrome (TS) (secondary to 14q32.2 molecular disruption) are imprinting disorders with very close phenotypic (prenatal and postnatal growth retardation, early feeding difficulties, early puberty) and molecular anomalies. Our objective was to describe the clinical overlap between SRS and TS and to extensively study the molecular aspects of patients with 14q32.2 molecular disru...

Background: AHDS is a devastating disease caused by defects in the thyroid hormone (TH) transporter MCT8. Endocrine expression is heralded by systemic hyperthyroidism with elevated serum T3, mildly increased TSH and decreased T4. However, the brain is hypothyroid, causing severe psychomotor retardation. Therapeutic attempts with PTU+levothyroxine or the T3-analogue DITPA could normalize TH derangements but without any neurological improvement. ...

Introduction: Empirical research studies suggest that continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS) are safe and could optimize neonatal hypoglycaemia management. However, they need to be tested within resource-limited, time-constrained clinical practice. CGMS was piloted in our Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in June 2017. Five key barriers to its effective implementation were identified: i) Lack of NICU staff confidence in device usage ii) Infant discomfort during...

Background: Hypercalcaemia in infants may reach extreme levels due to hyperparathyroidism, subcutaneous fat necrosis, or vitamin D intoxication. Normal values for p-parathyroid hormone and p-calcitriol prompt search for other causes.Methods: Hospital file evaluation, case report.Results: A 5½-months-old Caucasian girl of non-consanguineous healthy parents was referred due to w...

Introduction: Turner's syndrome (TS) is associated with several manifestations the most frequent being short stature and hypogonadism. Some authors (Nadeem, 2012; Bakalov, 2008) reported that individuals with TS have increased risk of fractures, but the etiology and mechanism of bone fragility have not been yet fully elucidated and may be exacerbated by hormonal factors (Cintron, 2017; Soucek, 2015). Bone densitometry (BD) through the emission of double en...

Background: Monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) is a specific transporter of triiodothyronine (T3). MCT8 gene mutations cause a rare X-linked disorder known as Allan–Herndon–Dudley syndrome, characterized by thyroid dysfunction (high T3, low T4, and normal/high TSH) and psychomotor retardation.Case report: A 4-year- and 9-month-old boy, who was already having L-T4 treatment fo...