ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Maternal perinatal mental disorders (PMDs) are associated with developmental and behavioral problems in the offspring, probably mediated by the programming of the limbic-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (LHPA) axis. Increased or decreased cortisol concentrations during pregnancy and the perinatal period have been associated with alterations in the stress responses of the offspring and with child behavioral problems; however, such associations remain unclear.<p ...

Background and aim: Epidemiologic observations suggest that women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) often suffer from menstrual cycle disorders. There may also be a negative association between the age of onset of T1DM and the age of menarche. Delayed menarche, in turn, may be associated with increased risk for diabetic complications. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate pathologic manifestations of reproductive function in young women with T1DM and their ...

Background: Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) constitutes a genetically and clinically heterogeneous type of Monogenic Diabetes (MD). It is characterized by early onset, autosomal dominant inheritance and a defect in β cell insulin secretion. To date 14 different MODY subtypes have been reported each one with a distinct genetic aetiology. However four are the most common subtypes, namely MODY 1 (HNF4A), MODY2 (GCK), MODY3 (HNF1A), MODY...

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that decreased 25-hydroxyvitamin [25(OH)D] concentrations are associated with components of the metabolic syndrome.Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on metabolic syndrome parameters in obese children and adolescents.Patients and methods: Two hundred thirty two (n=232) obese children and adolescents aged [mean ±S....

Background: The ability to respond to stress constitutes a defensive protective mechanism; both inadequate and excessive responses may be detrimental.Objective and hypotheses: To investigate the effect of increased body weight on the hormonal response to stress in children. Scheduled surgical procedures include two stressful parts, a psychological one (anticipation of operation) and a biological one (surgical stress per se) and were chosen as a study mod...

Background: Obesity has been associated with perturbations of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). Scalp hair cortisol has been recognized as a reliable index of long-term cortisol concentrations.Objective and hypotheses: Aim of this study was to compare indices of HPA axis and SNS activities, such as, respectively, the salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase diurnal patterns, and their relations i...

Background: There are studies supporting the seasonality of diabetes according to date of diagnosis and date of birth, with most T1D children being diagnosed in fall and winter and most of them been born in the same period. That is in concordance with previously published data from 1978 to 2008 in our country.Objective and hypotheses: To assess whether there is a seasonal variation of diabetes onset according to date of diagnosis and date of birth of inc...

Background: Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) in newly diagnosed children with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) has been associated in previous studies with several factors, such as age or season of diagnosis.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of age, gender, birth order and seasonality in DKA occurrence in newly diagnosed T1D pediatric patients.Method: Data of children aged 0–14 years newly diagnos...

Background: Obesity in childhood and adolescence represents a major health problem of our century and accounts for a significant increase in morbidity and mortality in adulthood. In Greece, more than 35% of children and adolescents are currently overweight or obese.Objective and hypotheses: To develop a National e-Health System for General Pediatricians and General Practitioners for the prevention and management of overweight and obesity. Specific aims i...

Background: Obesity in childhood and adolescence represents a major health problem of our century, and accounts for a significant increase in morbidity and mortality in adulthood. In addition to the increased consumption of calories and lack of exercise, accumulating evidence suggests that childhood obesity is strongly associated with prolonged and excessive activation of the stress system.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of our study was to assess the ...