ESPE Abstracts

Background: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) affects one in 3000 children at birth. In 65% of cases, CH is due to thyroid dysgenesis (CHDT). For CHDT, there is a family component and therefore genetic. Over the past 20 years, disease-causing mutations in 10 genes have been implicated in CHDT cases (NKX2-1/TTF1, FOXE1/TTF2, NKX2-5, PAX8, GLIS3, NTN1/Netrin-1, JAG1, BOREALIN/CDCA8, TUBB1</...

Background: We found BOREALIN/CDCA8 mutations in patients with Congenital Hypothyroidism and Thyroid Dysgenesis, varying from asymmetric lobes to athyreosis (Carré et al. Hum Mol Genet 2017). Borealin is a major component of the Chromosomal Passenger Complex, an essential regulator of mitosis. We demonstrated a new feature of BOREALIN: involvement in the adhesion and the migration of the thyrocytes.<strong...

Background: Brain-Lung-Thyroid (BLT) syndrome (OMIM# 610978) is characterized by congenital hypothyroidism (CH), infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS), and benign hereditary chorea and is caused by thyroid transcription factor 1 (NKX2-1/TTF1) haploinsufficiency. The phenotype can be partial or complete and there is a large phenotypic variability.Objectives and hypotheses: Identify new genes in a selected group of patients presenting thyroi...

Background: Congenital hypothyroidism is primarily due to thyroid dysgenesis (TD). The genes implicated in TD, account for a small number of patients with monogenic forms, less than 5%. Borealin is a major component of the Chromosomal Passenger Complex, an essential regulator of mitosis.Objective and hypotheses: To understand the role of Borealin mutations found in patients with TD.Method: We performed whole exome sequencing (WES) ...

Background: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the most common neonatal endocrine disorder, with an incidence of 1:3000 neonates, and one of the most frequent preventable causes of mental retardation worldwide. Most (65%) cases of primary permanent CH are due to thyroid dysgenesis (TD). However, a genetic cause is identified in less than 5% of CH due to DT.Methods: We performed WES (Whole Exome Sequencing) for siblings with childhood-onset TD and we analy...

Background: The recent discovery that genetically-modified pancreatic alpha-cells can regenerate and convert into beta-like cells in vivo holds great promise for diabetes research. However, to eventually translate these findings to human, it is crucial to discover compounds with similar activities.Results: We recently identified GABA as an inducer of alpha-to-beta-like cell conversion in vivo. This conversion induces alpha-cell replacement mechanisms thr...

The presence of endometriosis, from minimal/mild disease up to the rASRM classification for endometriosis stages III and IV, has been described repeatedly in adolescent women. The complaints are common and elicit compassion, but rarely stimulate a thorough research of the cause. The clinical reality is that common complaints of dysmenorrhea or acyclic pelvic pain – even before the onset of menstruation – may hide a disease the severity of which is not reflected by th...

Recently our 24-hour culture has been identified as another lifestyle factor that can cause type 2 diabetes. Technological and societal advances such as electric lighting and digital screens – leading to light exposure that is too dim during the day and too bright during the evening –, shift work, time zone transfers, and round-the-clock food availability disrupt our intrinsic and evolutionarily preserved 24-hour rhythms resulting in a desynchronization between lig...

Background: The role of calcium in cardiovascular and metabolic risk is controversial.Objective and hypotheses: To examine the effect of highly mineralized natural water in lowering body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar and to assess health behaviour of the staff of a pediatric hospital.Method: Out of 650 pediatric hospital staff members, we examined 161 healthy subjects, aged 28–64 years, 77.5% women, two d...

Background: Disorders/Differences of Sex Development (DSD) is diagnosed in approximately one out of 4'500 newborns. Children born with DSD present with a very diverse phenotype and they and their families face considerable challenges, potentially including surgical intervention and gender assignment, as well as associated complications such as infertility and predisposition to gonadal tumors. Due to the lack of knowledge concerning the complete gene and pr...