ESPE Abstracts

Objectives: To evaluate the potential diagnostic role and sensitivity of T2-weighted DRIVE sequence in pituitary stalk (PS) identification and measurements in patients with hypothalamic-pituitary disorders. The degree of agreement and reliability between standard pre- and post-contrast T1-weighted images and T2-DRIVE will be tested in a large group of patients with pituitary dysfunction.Design: We searched for pituitary MRI reports using ‘T2-DRIVE&#...

Background: Leptin is considered to play an important role in the development of hypertension in obesity. The excessive synthesis of aldosterone contributes to the development and progression of metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunctions. Leptin is a newly described regulator of aldosterone synthesis that acts directly on adrenal glomerulosa cells to increase CYP11B2 expression and enhance aldosterone production in human adrenal cells lines and in animal models.<p class="ab...

Background: A portion of 160 kb on Xp21.2 is defined as dosage sensitive sex reversal, including NR0B1, which is considered the most likely candidate gene involved in XY gonadal dysgenesis if overexpressed. The excess of NR0B1 gene product seems to disturb testicular development by down regulating NR5A1, WT1, and SOX9. Xp duplication causes insufficient SRY expression leading to testis development failure. However, NR0B1 si...

Introduction: This study describes the experience of introducing Nao, a humanoid robot, into a Summer Camp for children with diabetes (August 2013, Misano Adriatico, Italy), with the aim to provide them a companion capable to support and motivate. Our goal was to investigate if, Nao’s interactions with children could positively affect the adherence to specific medical recommendations during their stay. Namely children were asked to fill in a specific nutritional diary. Th...

Background: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) has been linked to papillary cancer in adults but not in children and adolescents. Moreover, there is no agreement on the more appropriate frequency of thyroid ultrasound (TS) in the follow-up of children with HT.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of the study was to investigate the incidence of thyroid nodules and of thyroid cancer in a large group of children and adolescents (567) with HT followed-up for a m...

Background: The replacement therapy with levo-thyroxine (LT4) in congenital hypothyroidism (CH) aims to ensure normal growth and neuropsychological development. Few data are available about the appropriate dose during childhood and early adolescence.Objective and hypotheses: i) To evaluate LT4/kg per day requirement from diagnosis until 12 years of age; ii) to assess any differences in relation to the different etiology of CH as concern...

Background: Data regarding epidemiology and management of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) in Italian children with T1D at disease onset are lacking.Method: From 1/1/2012 to 31/12/2013 a survey on DKA was conducted in all paediatric Centres belonging to the Italian Society for Pediatric Diabetology and Endocrinology. DKA was defined according to the ISPAD criteria. The following data were collected: treatment according ISPAD protocol yes or not, type of rehyd...

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and alterations may manifest as early as in adolescence. Increased physical activity and reduced sedentary behavior reduce the risk of CVD development in general adult populations, but knowledge is limited on their associations with early markers of CVD risk in pediatric T1D.Objective: Estimate associations of physical activity and sedent...

Introduction: Achondroplasia is caused by a pathogenic mutation in the FGFR3 gene, leading to impaired endochondral bone growth and multiple medical complications. Vosoritide, a modified recombinant human C-type natriuretic peptide (rhCNP), was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in August 2021 for treating genetically confirmed achondroplasia in patients aged ≥2 years until closure of epiphyses. Acorn is the first treatment-based registry for a...

Background: Infants with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) exhibit stunted growth. However, little is known about the role of genes expressed from the imprinted PWS domain in healthy infants. This study aimed to analyze the relative gene expression of the SNURF-SNRPN/UBE3A cluster in the imprinted PWS domain in umbilical cord tissue, and its potential association with prenatal and postnatal growth in apparently healthy infants.Methods:...