ESPE Abstracts

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are most relevant for morbidity and mortality in obese patients. Because metabolic complications already start in childhood obesity one may expect an early manifestation of cardiovascular disease in this group as young adults. In adults fetuin A was shown to promote adipocyte inflammation and metabolic syndrome and subsequently vascular damage.Objective and hypotheses: We evaluated the role of fetuin A in the vascular ...

Background: Cystic fibrosis is associated with abnormal lipid metabolism and this anormality is commonly characterized by low cholesterol and hypertriglyceridemia. The increasing in life expectancy of cystic fibrosis patients has enhancing the interest for prevent the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases like dyslipidemias.Objective and hypotheses: Determine whether concentrations of cholesterol and triacylglycerol are related to nutritional status a...

Background: Several studies have investigated the effects of GH replacement therapy (GHRT) on thyroid function in children with GH deficiency (GHD) leading to contrasting results. Indeed, GHRT has been reported to affect the peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones, to alter TSH secretion by pituitary and to unmask secondary hypothyroidism.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate long-term effects of GHRT on thyroid function in a large cohort of GHD childr...

Background: GH deficiency (GHD) in adults has been consistently associated with increased adiposity and decreased lean mass. Data in childhood are still scanty and the most appropriate tools to assess body composition in these children remain to be established.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the effects of GHD and GH replacement therapy (GHRT) on body composition in GHD children and make a comparison between DXA and anthropometric measures in evalu...

Background: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by 21-hydroxylase deficiency in 95% of all cases. This disorder is related to the mutation of CYP21A2 gene that is located in a multiallelic complex called RCCX module showing tandem copy number variation. Molecular genetic analysis of genes located in such region is frequently difficult but the accurate diagnosis of patients suspected with CAH requires a complex molecular analysis.<...

Background: Recent studies demonstrate that children with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) may develop visceral adiposity and insulin-resistance. Data on adipocytokines are scanty and contradictory.Objective: To evaluate leptin and adiponectin concentrations in CAH adolescents and investigate their correlation with glucocorticoids and hormonal and metabolic profile.Methods: Leptin, adiponectin, insulin and HOMA were evaluated i...

Background: GH transduction defect (GHTD) is characterised by severe short stature and impaired STAT3 phosphorylation, which is overcome by simultaneous induction of GHTD fibroblasts with 200 ng/ml GH and short interference mRNA CIS (GH200/siRNA) or with 1 000 ng/ml GH (GH1000) and is clinically expressed with ‘catch-up’ growth after rhGH treatment.Objective and hypotheses: The involvement of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the succe...

Background: epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates cell growth and differentiation through its receptor EGFR. Cross-talking between the GH and EGF signaling pathways is important for normal cellular development. GH transduction defect (GHTD), a clinical disorder characterized by impaired STAT3 phosphorylation due to excessive GHR degradation, is caused by over-expression of the E3 ubiquitin ligase, CIS.Induction of GHTD fibroblasts with 200 ng/ml hGH (GH200) and silencing mR...

Background: Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (aFABP) regulates intracellular transport of fatty acids and seems to be involved in the pathogenesis of the Metabolic Syndrome. aFABP overproduction leads to increased cholesterol and triglyceride accumulation and to higher expression of pro-inflammatory genes. In adults aFABP seems to promote insulin resistance and atherosclerosis, and aFABP levels are significantly higher in obese compared to lean subjects. Fat mass, lipid ma...

Background: Congenital primary hypothyreoidism occurs in about 1 of 3 600 life births and is usually detected with newborn screening. Early levothyroxine treatment is the prerequisite for normal psychomotor development of affected children. However, patients suffering from congenital central hypothyroidism are missed by the screening procedure, which may lead to delayed diagnosis and therapy. In very rare cases central hypothyroidism is caused by isolated TSH deficiency due to...