ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Autoimmune thyroid diseases are multifactorial diseases with a genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. A potential role of the Fas apoptotic inhibitory molecule 2 (FAIM2) gene, the high-affinity alpha subunit (CD25) of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2RA) gene, the cytotoxic T cell antigen 4 (CTLA-4) gene polymorphisms on autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) in children has not been established equivocally yet.Objective: To estimate...

The contiguous gene deletion syndrome, CAH-X, was reported in an 8.5% of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) patients with a TNXA/TNXB chimera. This results in deletions of CYP21A2 gene, encoding 21-hydroxylase necessary for cortisol biosynthesis, and TNXB, encoding the extracellular matrix glycoprotein tenascin-X (TNX). There are three TNXA/TNXB chimeras (CH1, CH2, CH3) that differ in the junction site, resulting in TNXB haploinsu...

Aggrecan (ACAN) is the major proteoglycan in the articular cartilage, critical for the structure and function of growth plate cartilage.Case Report: 11-year-old (y) boy admitted at 1.8 y of chronological age (CA), due to poor growth rate Height (H): 76 cm (−2.75 SDS). Initial physical examination: mild dysmorphic features and prepubertal external genitalia (two scrotal testes, 1 cc volume each). Neurologic maturation was normal. Initial bo...

Background: Aromatase deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder produced by CYP19 gene mutations. 46XX affected patients presented with ambiguous genitalia leading to early identification. Most 46XY affected patients presented normal external genitalia and the condition often remains undiagnosed until late puberty. Information on pubertal development in affected boys is scarce since to the present date only two patients, younger than 4 years of age, without lo...

Background: Childhood obesity is one of the most prevalent and challenging health care concerns. In this context, insulin resistance (IR) is an important disorder with strong association with metabolic (type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolemia) and cardiovascular (hypertension, atherosclerosis) outcomes. Clinical trials have been showing Metformin as an effective drug on reducing the IR and BMI. However, there is little data on use of metformin in children....

Background: Childhood obesity is commonly associated with signs of endothelial dysfunction, characterized by impairment of insulin signaling and vascular NO availability. Recently both these features have been associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, however the role of ER stress in the mechanism/s leading to vascular dysfunction in childhood obesity remains still to be established.Objective and Hypotheses: To evaluate ER stress and insulin-sti...

Background: Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) is an important regulatory factor for the development and function of T regulatory cells (Tregs). Moreover it has been established that deficiency of the Foxp3 gene in Treg cells suppresses their regulatory function leading to the development of autoimmune diseases especially autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs).Objective and hypotheses: The aim of our study was to estimate the association of three polymorphism of FOXP3...

Background: During the 1st months of postnatal life serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in girls are lower than in boys. The mechanism of this sex difference is not known. It has been proposed that foetal or perinatal androgenic steroids have an effect on the control of LH secretion.Objective and hypotheses: To study the possible influence of high levels of androgens on serum gonadotropins during the 1st months of life in a cohort of nine 46,XX testicu...

Background: According to the World Health Organization, the social determinants of health, the conditions in which people are born, grow, live and work – significantly influences on health. The CAF Foundation, the Endocrinology Scientific Center and the Institute for Family Health under the Alfa-Endo Program studied prevalence of some social determinants in families of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.Objective and hypotheses: Investigate soci...

Background: Congenital growth hormone deficiency may be isolated (IGHD) or multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD). The Sonic Hedgehog signalling (SHH) pathway has an important role in the pituitary development and growth, acting early in ventral forebrain. The SHH signalling mediates its effects through three zinc fingers proteins (Gli1, Gli2 and Gli3), which lead to activation or repression of target genes. Several heterozygous GLI2 mutations have been reported in patie...