ESPE Abstracts

Background: Mutations in more than 20 genes are described to cause monogenic diabetes. Nevertheless, numerous families with diabetes of unknown ethology and suspected genetic defect have no molecular diagnosis. This not only impedes our understanding of disease mechanisms but also prevents from predicting the clinical course of the patients and applying the pathogenesis-oriented treatment.Objective: To identify novel gene(s), causing monogenic adolescent...

Background: Thyroid function in preterm infants is often altered for various reasons. LBW or VLBW newborns frequently present a particular form of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) characterized by low FT4 and delayed TSH elevation. The incidence of this disease is 1:250 for VLBW babies and 1:1589 for LBW newborns. In this condition, neonatal screening based solely on TSH can miss the diagnosis, therefore some screening programs have proposed to repeat the screening te...

Background: Pancreas aplasia (PA) and neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) syndrome is a rare disease that usually presents in the 1st months of life.Objective and hypotheses: We aimed to characterize molecular genetic defects in a cohort of six NDM/PA patients with up-to-date unknown pathogenesis with optimum genetic testing.Method: As part of our ESPE-RU-project ‘Understanding the molecular basis of diabetes mellitus associated ...

Background: Over the years special screening procedures for preterm and twin babies (re-screening at 2–4 weeks of life) have been adopted by many screening laboratories worldwide. However, no extensive studies have been performed to verify how many co-twins with negative test at first screening (3–5 days) become positive at re-screening, and the utility of a long-term follow-up also in co-twin with negative test at screening and re-screening.Ob...

Background: The 5α-reductase-2 (5R2) deficiency is a rare 46, XY disorder of sex differentiation caused by mutations in the 5R2 gene. Diagnostic and clinical management is not well definite.Aims and objectives: To describe relevant features of 5R2 deficiency in a large sample.Methods: Retrospective records of persons with 5R2 deficiency were reviewed and clinical, endocrinological, genetic data analysed....

Protein arginine methyltransferase 7 (PRMT7), a member of a family of enzymes that catalyse the transfer of methyl groups from S-adenosyl-L-methionine to nitrogen atoms on arginine residues, is involved in multiple biological processes, such as signal transduction, mRNA splicing, transcriptional control, DNA repair, and protein translocation. Currently, 12 patients with homozygous/compound heterozygous mutations in PRMT7 gene have been described defining the ...

Background: epidemiological studies reported an increased incidence of central precocious puberty (CPP) during the last year compared to previous year. Confinement measures and consequent daily routine modifications applied to contain coronavirus infectious disease-19 (COVID-19) contagion have been proposed as a cause of this phenomenon. Our study aims in investigating changes in CPP rates in a tertiary paediatric endocrinology outpatient clinic of South Italy...

Background: ROHHAD (rapid-onset obesity with hypoventilation, hypothalamic dysfunction, autonomic dysregulation) syndrome is a rare and underdiagnosed disease with high mortality rate. When a neural crest tumor (NET) is detected (56% of patients) the acronym used is ROHHADNET.Aim: To analyze the relationship between clinical variables, hypothalamic-pituitary disorders, DXA parameters and neural tumors, in ROHHADNET patie...

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age, and is characterised by chronic inflammation and in most cases by insulin resistance besides ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenism. HMGB1 is a small protein with cytokine activity that can activate nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (Nf-kB), and signals through the Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGEs) and through the T...

Introduction: X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is a rare hereditary condition caused by mutation in the gene encoding the phosphate-regulating endopeptidase homolog, X-linked (PHEX). It is characterized by altered phosphate homeostasis with persistent hypophosphatemia and hyperphosphaturia resulting in deficient skeletal mineralization, rickets, bone deformity, growth failure, dental problems, joint pain and impairment.Case Prese...