ESPE Abstracts

Background: DLK1 or PREF1 is an imprinted gene highly expressed from the paternal allele in embryonic tissues and placenta. It has been recently implicated in adipose tissue expansion and diabetes development. The human rs1802710 polymorphism (SNP) in DLK1 gene has been associated with early-onset extreme obesity but its role determining growth is unknown.Objective and hypotheses: To study the preferential paternal transmission...

Background: The diagnosis of GH deficiency in children is based on clinical, auxological, radiographic and biochemical criteria which include response to Pharmacological Estimulation Tests (PhT). It is well known that GH concentrations vary according to the assay method used. Currently in our population, the proposed cut-off value of serum GH PhT is 4.7 ng/ml measured by ICMA using the IRP 98/574.Objective and hypotheses: The aims of this study were to d...

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small non coding RNA molecules, key regulators of metabolic pathways. Obesity is characterised by many metabolic changes. NAFLD is seen as a complication of obesity. FOXO-1, key regulator in insulin signalling, has been shown to be implicated in NAFLD. We previously identified miRNAs regulators of the FOXO-1 gene.Objective and hypotheses: To assess in serum whether the regulation of miR-146a and miR-486-5p, FOXO1 gene re...

Background: Low bone mineral density (BMD) is found in up to 50% of adolescents and adults with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). High fracture risk has been described in adult PWS patients. This bone fragility could be due to inadequate gonadal hormones levels during pubertal development, and to relative growth hormone insufficiency during childhood and adolescence. However, the mechanism/s of low BMD in PWS have not been clarified.Objective and hypotheses: ...

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....

Background: The phenotypic spectrum of short stature homeobox-containing gene deficiency disorders (SHOX-D) ranges from non-specific short stature to Leri-Weill dyschondrosteosis. Current guidelines support rhGH in SHOX-D children, but long-term data are still lacking. Moreover, no correlation has been established yet between the severity of phenotype, including the response to rhGH, and the underlying SHOX pathogenic variant.Aims: To ev...

Introduction: It is known that excessive gestational weight gain can cause an adverse intrauterine environment and increase the risk of cardio-metabolic diseases in the offspring. Epigenetics could be one of the mechanisms involved in this regulation.Objective: We aimed to study the DNA methylation profile of umbilical cord tissue that is associated with gestational weight gain (GWG), and its relationship with cardio-met...

Background and Aims: Gestational obesity can cause metabolic programming in the offspring. Epigenetic modifications of DNA have been suggested as potential mechanisms underlying this programming. FRAT-1 is a gene involved in the WNT signaling pathway, which is an important regulator of adipose tissue development. The objective of this work was to study the methylation status of FRAT-1 in placentas of women with either normal weight or gestati...

Background: ROHHAD/ROHHADNET syndrome (rapid-onset obesity with hypothalamic dysfunction, central hypoventilation, autonomic dysregulation with or without neural tumor - NET) – has been reported in association with cerebral venous thrombosis events, as reported also in central hypoventilation syndrome. It is not clear whether thrombotic risk represents a cause or a consequence of hypoventilation and hypothalamic dysfunction. Aim of our study was to chara...

Six-year-old female, diagnosed with GH deficiency at another Center (H: -3.13SDS; H peak with clonidine 5.7ng/mL, with insulin 1.2ng/mL). Brain MRI at diagnosis: small pituitary gland, ectopic neurohypophysis, normal stalk, right internal carotid artery aplasia. At 10 years onset of polyuria-polydipsia syndrome (PPS) (4L/day–154ml/kg/die); mood disorders and ADHD diagnosis were also reported. A fluid deprivation test was performed, lasting 22 hours (pre: S-Osm 275mOsm/L,...