ESPE Abstracts

Objectives: Several different pathogenic mechanisms may converge on a final common pathway to produce the phenotype of delayed pubertal timing. In our cohort of patients with familial self-limited delayed puberty (DP) we have demonstrated mutations in IGSF10 leading to mis-regulation of the embryonic migration of GnRH neurons (Howard et al, EMBO MM 2016). We aimed to discover novel genetic mutations in pathways regulating GnRH neuronal migration and developme...

Introduction: Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a complex hypothalamic disorder, causing hypotonia, intellectual disability (ID), pituitary hormone deficiencies and hyperphagia. Up to 4% of young patients with PWS die unexpectedly, every year. The mean age of reported deaths in PWS is 29.5 years; 20% of deaths even occur below age 18 years. Mortality data show that more than 50% of deaths are of cardio-pulmonary origin. Morbid obesity, diabetes and hypertension are strong risk fa...

Introduction: Very little is known about the development of the immune system during puberty. Autoimmune diseases, like juvenile onset systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE), have an unexplained female bias and a higher incidence after puberty. IFN alpha (IFNα) is a potent antiviral cytokine, and jSLE has a strong IFNα transcriptional signature. Toll like receptors 7 and 9 (TLR7/9) sense viral RNA and DNA respectively, and trigger plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) to p...

Introduction: There are well described sex differences in the immune system. It has been shown in both innate and adaptive immunity that females have a more robust response than males. Various autoimmune diseases have a strong sex bias towards females. It is the accepted dogma that oestrogen in females relates to an increased risk of autoimmunity, but evidence to this end is scarce. Interferon alpha (IFNα) is a potent anti-viral innate cytokine, and many autoimmune diseas...

Background: Low birth weight is associated with increased cardio-metabolic diseases in adulthood. Specific circulating miRNA seem to be predictive of cardio-metabolic risk.Objective: Our aim was to investigate the circulating levels of mir-122, mir-16, mir-126, and mir-486 in a cohort of SGA and AGA subjects, evaluated longitudinally in childhood and early adulthood.Method: Anthropometric and biochemical-metabolic evaluations were ...

Background: Basal levels of androgens, in particular 17-OHprogesterone (17OHP), are widely debated as predictors of non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCCAH) among patients with precocious pubarche (PP). So many authors suggested the execution of ACTH stimulation test in all children with PP. The aim of our study was to identify clinical and biochemical predictors of NCCAH in children with PP.Methods: We conducted a prospective study of 92 pat...

Purpose: Modified ketogenic diet (MKD) is one treatment option for intractable epilepsy and metabolic conditions such as glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome (GLUT1-DS) and pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) deficiency. MKD is a less restrictive diet than the classical ketogenic diet (KD) and thus more tolerable. Childhood is an important period for bone acquisition. Some studies indicate a negative effect on bone mass during KD treatment, probably as a consequence...

Background: Type 1 Diabetes is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) gene polymorphism and The interferon induced helicase domain 1 (IFIH1) gene are known to be associated with T1DM, but have not been established in a Caucasian children population yet. The interleukin 13 (IL13) gene polymorphisms impact on the development of Type 1 DM in children has not been reported yet.Objective and hypotheses: To e...

Introduction: The selection of the insulin catheter length for pump T1D users is based mainly on age and though different sites for insertion have been suggested, it is not clear what the ideal site is according to each person’s body type and subcutaneous fat.Aid: Aid of the study is to identify the proper sites for insulin catheter insertion according to subcutaneous fat and anthropometric characteristics.Methods: Study group...

The neurodevelopmental consequences of neonatal hypoglycaemia are sparsely studied. We included neonates with blood glucose <1.7 mmol/L, but no severe perinatal risk factors, in a follow-up with blinded Wechsler’s Intelligence Scale for Children-IV (WISC-IV), Movement ABC-2 tests and child behaviour checklist (CBCL). Neurodevelopmental impairment was defined as psychomotor retardation, blindness, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, WISC-IV score <70, or Movement ABC-2 <...