ESPE Abstracts

Infantile hepatic hemangiomas (IHH) particularly the diffuse subtype, can in severe cases be associated with hepatic and cardiac failure, compartment syndrome, and consumptive hypothyroidism. Early recognition and treatment of these pathologies is paramount in order to minimise the risk of longterm sequelae. Thyroid hormones are crucial for growth and neurodevelopment, with three to five IQ points lost for each month hypothyroidism remains untreated in the first year of life. ...

Background: Non Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the fourth most common malignancy in childhood. Chemotherapy constitutes the first line treatment and may cause several endocrine side effects (growth retardation, hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism, bone mass loss and rarely secondary malignancy). In total of 1–2% of children may harbour thyroid nodules. The most common risk factors are: irradiation, female sex, iodine deficiency, puberty and past medical history of thyroid disease....

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: Transcription activator-like effects nucleases (TALENs) have recently been developed as an efficient method for in vivo genome engineering. Zebrafish are becoming an increasingly popular model to study translational aspects in endocrinology. The redox cofactor ferredoxin (FDX1) is essential for mitochondrial cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes including those required for steroidogenesis. In vitro, FDX1 modifications influence the catalytic rate of ster...

Background: GH response is influenced by genetic polymorphisms, including the rs1024531 polymorphism (A/G) in the promoter region of GRB10, a negative regulator of signaling through the IGF1 receptor. Allele A is associated with borderline lower baseline IGF1 SDS and 1.5-fold higher response to GH compared to allele G in children with GHD (P=0.0006).Objective: To test functional impact of the rs1024531 polymorphism in an in vitro</e...

Background: The deciphering of the physiological importance of the GH secretagogue receptor (Ghsr), a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) depicted as the sole receptor of the pleiotropic hormone ghrelin, was initially compromised by the modest phenotype observed in Ghsr−/− animals. This lack of a robust response to total loss of Ghsr may result from developmental compensatory signals. Still, the description of rare mutations in the GHSR p...

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: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is cause of severe hypoglycaemia. Octreotide (somatostatin analogue), given as four times daily s.c. injections or via a pump, is used as second line treatment in diazoxide unresponsive CHI patients.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of our study was to evaluate the use of a long acting somatostatin analogue (Lanreotide) in patients with CHI.Method: Diffuse CHI patients above three years ...

Background: Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid closely related to the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) considered as the major source of energy during prolonged exercise. During fasting, when the liver switches to fatty acid oxidation, a rise in serum GH occurs concomitantly with the accumulation of BHB and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) acetate, propionate and butyrate. Interactions between GH, ketone body and SCFA during the metabolic adaptation to fasting are poor...

Background: There is limited evidence regarding the most appropriate method to investigate adrenal dysfunction in neonates. Our unit in Sheffield, UK measures a series of three serum cortisol levels to determine the need for a short synacthen test (SST). Other units use the SST as the first-line investigation in suspected adrenal insufficiency in neonates; however SST is more invasive with anaphylactic risk.Objective and hypotheses: To determine the prop...