ESPE Abstracts

Background: Using genetic lineage tracing in the mouse pituitary, we previously revealed that SOX2 positive cells can act as stem cells in vivo and contribute to all hormone-secreting cell types during postnatal life. However, SOX2-expressing stem cells are not the sole source of new endocrine cells, instead they complement contribution from more committed cell types during organ homeostasis.Objective and hypotheses: We seek to determine key sig...

Background: SOX2 is an early developmental transcription factor implicated in pituitary development; heterozygous SOX2 mutations have been reported in patients with a severe ocular phenotype and hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (HH) with/without associated abnormalities. SOX2 physically interacts with β-catenin, a member of the Wnt-signalling pathway, via its carboxyl-terminus and it represses in vitroβ-catenin mediated activation.<p class="abstex...

Background: Several lines of evidence suggest that the adult pituitary contains a population of tissue-specific stem cells capable of differentiating into hormone-producing cells. Previously, we have shown that Sox2+ve cells are able to self-renew and differentiate in vitro, suggesting that this population of undifferentiated cells may contain stem cells in vivo. When targeted with oncogenic mutations adult stem cells can become cancer stem cells, able to self-renew and give r...

Background: Mouse studies have demonstrated the necessity of Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) for normal proliferation of Rathke’s pouch (RP) precursors. However, the possible function of SHH in pituitary cell specification remains to be assessed. Additionally, evidence suggests that SHH may be relevant in human adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP), a histologically benign, but clinically aggressive childhood tumour associated with high morbidity.Objective ...

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) is defined as an elevated serum concentration of TSH when serum free thyroxine (fT4) concentration is within its reference range. Impaired myocardial contractility in overt hypothyroidism and left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction in adults with SH as well as beneficial effects of thyroid hormone replacement on systolic and diastolic functions in adults with SH has been documented, however the presence of similar alte...

Introduction: Ceratonia siliqua L. (CS) is from the legumes (Fabaceae) family, and different forms such as carob extract and flour are preferred by parents because it is a natural sweetener and a source of vegetable carbohydrates. CS is rich in polyphenols and flavonoids. When we questioned histories of the cases of early puberty and puberty variants who applied to our clinic, we noticed long-term and regular use in some cases. We planned to experimen...

Introduction: In India, newborn screening (NBS) for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is not yet a national government policy. Preliminary information suggests neonatal TSH levels to be higher in expatriate Indian babies than those in European populations in developed countries.Objectives: To evaluate maternal urinary iodine and cord blood TSH in a subset of women participating in a postnatal NBS program for CH.Methods: Cord blood (CB...

Background: The recommended capillary TSH cut-off level for neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in the UK is 10 mIU/l. However several of the regional screening laboratories have adopted lower cut-off limits in order to increase detection sensitivity. There is now pressure to standardise the UK screening programme with universal adoption of the recommended cut-off. Scotland has been using a cut-off of 8 mIU/l since the adoption of AutoDELFIA TSH screening met...

Background: It has already been documented that selenium treatment has beneficial effects in adult patients with autoimmune thyroiditis, especially in those with a higher titer of antibodies and increased inflammatory disease activity.Objective and hypotheses: To investigate whether daily supplementation of organic selenium at a high dose (200 μg in the form of L-selenomethionine) has any effect on the titer of thyroid autoantibodies.<p class="a...

Objective: To determine the prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in children with dry bloodspot TSH (b-TSH) between 5 and 10 mIU/l in neonatal screening and evaluate their thyroid function evolution.Methods: Retrospective study of thyroid function in children born from 2003 to 2010 with b-TSH between 5 and 10 mIU/l who were put on treatment in the first two years of life due to serum TSH≥10 mIU/l. The prevalence of CH ...