ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Growth hormone (GH) is essential for stimulating growth and cell proliferation through its effects on metabolism, cartilage and bone growth. We have conducted initial studies to find new biomarkers for GH deficiency and early treatment response, focusing on miRNAs expressed in both sexes. We aimed at investigating sex-specific differences in circulating miRNAs at baseline and after 3 months on GH treatment in a cohort of prepubertal children with...

Context: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) is the most common chronic liver disease. Recent data showed that MASLD is a common condition also in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and it is independently associated with an increased risk of diabetic complications.Aims: To examine the prevalence of MASLD and its association with glycemic control metrics in children and adolescents with T1D.<p...

Background and aim: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is produced and expressed in several tissues but mainly in the liver and adipose tissue, where it has endocrine and paracrine functions. Several experimental studies reported that FGF21 decreases lipogenesis, triggers beta oxidation of fatty acids, reduces hepatic ER stress and VLDL release and reduces fasting and postprandial triacylglycerols (TG). Consistently, several phase 2 trials with FGF21-agonists...

Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder among women and is characterised by chronic low-grade inflammation, ovulatory dysfunction, hyperandrogenism, and often by insulin-resistance. However, little is really known on insulin/IGF signalling in PCOS ovaries. This study aim ed to investigate the amount of Insulin (IR) and IGF-I receptor type I (IGF-IR1) and their intracellular mediators in granulosa cells from PCOS women with r...

Background: PCOS is characterised by chronic low-grade inflammation, ovulatory dysfunction, hyperandrogenism, and insulin-resistance. The IGFsystem includes IGF-I, -II and seven IGFBPs, which regulate IGFbioavailability. Chronic inflammation modifies the IGF system that regulates ovarian function and glucose metabolism. HMGB1 is related with both inflammation and insulin sensitivity;we previously described increased HMGB1 FF in PCOS. This study aim ed to inves...

Background and aim: Congenital growth hormone deficiency (cGHD) is a rare but life-threatening condition whose diagnosis is challenging in the absence of reliable reference values, both in healthy neonates and in preterm ones. We recently estimated GH reference interval in 1036 healthy, at-term newborns (HN) form dried blood spot samples using a previously validated analytical method.Aim: of this study is to provide valu...

Background: Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is a rare condition caused by an inadequate production of glucocorticoids. Preliminary data in adults suggest that AI could be associated with an increased susceptibility to infections; moreover, AI patients are at risk to develop a severe course of infectious diseases and to experience a life-threatening adrenal crisis. The aim of our study is to evaluate the severity and the outcome of COVID-19 in pediatric AI patients ...

Background: Severe congenital growth hormone deficiency (cGHD) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. Even though random growth hormone (GH) can confirm cGHD during the first week of life, the diagnosis remains extremely challenging in the absence of reliable reference values in healthy neonates and thus of a best diagnostic cut-off.Aims: First, to provide solid reference values for GH concentrations in te...

Introduction: Sulfation is required for the metabolism of numerous compounds, including proteoglycans, steroid hormones, neurotransmitters, toxic chemicals, and drugs like acetaminophen. The sulfate transporter SLC13A1 is responsible for the intestinal absorption and the renal reabsorption of inorganic sulfate, but loss-of-function mutations in this gene have never been described in man. Here, we describe a male with a biallelic loss-of-function variant, i.e.,...

Background: At present few data have clearly showed an increased frequency of idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) in females during the COVID-19 pandemic. The role of environmental factors is not fully understood and various hypotheses have been formulated.Aims of the study: To evaluate retrospectively the incidence of newly diagnosed CPP and other pubertal disorders (Premature thelarche, early puberty, fast pube...