ESPE Abstracts

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a multifaceted and debilitating illness characterized by self-induced starvation, persistent anxiety about weight gain, preoccupation with body image, and maladaptive food choices. It is characterized by the disruption in homeostatic energy balance mechanisms and the persistence of homeostatic hunger is overridden by dysfunctional self-regulatory and reward pathways that drive food aversion and severely restrict food intake. Epidemiological studies hav...

Background: Human milk is considered the most advantageous source of nourishment for infants. Although there is a growing body of evidence showing that human milk feeding fosters early neurodevelopment, the underlying process is still not completely known. Indeed, clinical and animal research has linked human milk to enhanced myelination in the infant's central nervous system, however, access to human oligodendrocytes and neurons in the early stages of develop...

As marijuana use during adolescence has been increasing, the need to understand the effects of its long-term use becomes crucial. Previous research suggested that marijuana consumption during adolescence increases the risk of developing mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety. Ghrelin is a peptide produced primarily in the gut and is important for feeding behavior. Ghrelin and its receptor, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) play important...