ESPE Abstracts

Iodide (I−) transport defect (ITD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by the inability of the thyroid follicular cell to actively accumulate iodide. Active I− accumulation is mediated by the Na+/I− symporter (NIS), an integral plasma membrane glycoprotein located on the basolateral surface of thyrocytes. The diagnostic criteria for ITD include a variable degree of hypothyroidism and goiter, low to absent thyr...

Background: Gliomas are the most common subgroup of CNS tumours in children. Histologic grading is a means of predicting the biological behavior of these tumours and survival is strongly correlated with tumour gradation. The IGF system of ligands and receptors are known to play an important role in both normal and neoplastic growth. Recently, nuclear translocation of the type 1 IGF1R has been demonstrated in tumour tissues. Although the IGF1R expression has been described in C...

Background: Adipose tissue is an important endocrine organ. Its secretion profile is robustly changed in the context of obesity fueling the development of comorbidities such as insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus type 2, and atherosclerosis. We have recently shown that the adipose tissue expression of the death ligand TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand TRAIL and its receptors is upregulated in obesity.Objective and Hypotheses: In this project, we in...

Background: The aim of this study was to examine plasma visfatin levels in pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Visfatin, a novel adipokine, is predominantly secreted by visceral adipose tissue and seems to have insulin-mimetic effects. It has not been studied in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) yet.Objectives: We studied 124 subjects; 62 patients with T1D: 31 girls, mean age 13.7±3.7 years; mean duration of diabetes 5.9...

Background: Obesity is tightly associated with adipose tissue inflammation. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) has been identified as a key player in this inflammatory process and has been linked to the development of obesity-associated insulin resistance. Our group studies the involvement of TNF superfamily members in obesity-induced alterations in adipose tissue.Objective and hypotheses: Here, we aimed to identify the effects of the TNF superfamil...

Background: Leptin is suggested to be a permissive factor in the onset of puberty by signaling at the level of the hypothalamus to indicate adequate energy stores. Overweight female rats due to increased neonatal nutrition have been shown to develop puberty before normal weight rats.Objective and hypothesis: We hypothesized that this permissive effect may be due not only to increased leptin levels, but also to increased hypothalamic sensitivity to this h...

Background: In the last decade, an increase in the incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) has been observed worldwide, as well as an increase in the incidence of allergies in childhood. Both diseases are characterized by an imbalance between Th1- and Th2 cells. Autoimmune disorders are considered to be associated with a Th1 immune response while allergic diseases with a Th2 response. However, studies conducted to find a correlation between T1D and atopic diseases are hete...

Background: Germline mutations in SDHB gene are associated with the familial paraganglioma (PGL) syndrome that carries the highest malignant potential. Although penetrance is lower than initially described, lack of effective treatments for metastatic PGLs makes screening essential for early tumour detection, surgical removal and improved outcome. However, no consensus exists in relation to timing and mode of screening.Objective: To assess publis...

Background: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a disorder characterised by dysregulation of insulin secretion that leads to severe hypoglycaemia in neonates and infants. The focal form of CHI is caused by an autosomal recessive mutation in the genes ABCC8 or KCNJ11 inherited from the father and a second somatic event in the affected islet of Langerhans.Objective: We report molecular genetic examination of focal pancreatic lesions of patients receiving t...

Background: microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small (18–25 nucleotides), non-coding RNA molecules. They play an important role in the regulation of gene expression by either suppressing translation of genes or inducing their mRNA degradation. Several miRNA species are expressed in adipose tissue and involved in adipocyte function.Objective and hypotheses: Obesity leads to the infiltration of macrophages into adipose tissue causing local inflammation...