ESPE Abstracts

Background: Birth weight (BW) is often used as a proxy for gestational age (GA) by studies on preterm birth. Recent data indicate that the terms very-low-birth-weight (VLBW; BW <1500 g) and very preterm (VP; GA <32 weeks) birth are not equivalent with regard to perinatal outcomes and postnatal growth up until final height. It is unknown whether the differences between these terms could be extended to long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.Objectiv...

Background: Exercise programs are related to the anabolic function of GH/IGF-I axis.Objective and hypotheses: To analyse IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and ALS serum concentrations in adolescent swimmers at different stages of training season, and compare them with physical performance and body composition.Method: Nine male athletes, aged 16–19 years, who trained regularly throughout the season, were studied. IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and ALS were recor...

Background: OPKO Biologics is developing MOD-4023, a long-acting growth hormone (GH), intended for weekly dosing for the treatment of idiopathic GH deficiency in children. At ESPE2015, we presented pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD, based on IGF-1) models for weekly MOD-4023 administration in children aged 3–11 years. Those models were based on data collected during the ‘PKPD period’ (the second steady state dose of MOD-4023) and monthly values during...

Background: Survivors of childhood brain tumors (SCBT) are an emerging group that have premature mortality and morbidities that can negatively impact their quality of life and lifespan. Cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes are important causes of premature mortality in survivors, yet one of the major determinants of cardiometabolic risk i.e. visceral adiposity has not been determined in this group.Objective and hypotheses: This study is comparing...

Background: Genetic defects in the insulin receptor (INSR) are rare. Precise prevalence is unknown and significant clinical heterogeneity exists. Over 120 allelic variants have been described to date, spread throughout the receptor, and few geographical founder effects have been described. In this case series we identify a novel missense mutation in the tyrosine kinase domain of the INSR in three independently ascertained Irish families.Objective and Hyp...

Background: A high proliferative status of thyroid follicular cells and goiter were observed in mutants mice with Pten−/− or Dream overexpression. In humans, patients with Cowden disease have goiters or other thyroid abnormalities associated with germ-line PTEN mutations.Objective and Hypotheses: The aim of this study was to investigate the tissue expression of PTEN and DREAM, as well as germ-line ...

Background: Decreased bone density using DXA is reported in mixed cohorts of testosterone treated and testosterone naïve men with Klinefelter syndrome (KS). Bone mass and body composition in men with congenital anorchia (CA) have never been previously reported.Objective and hypotheses: Men with KS and CA treated with testosterone from adolescence have normal bone mass and body composition.Method: Whole-body DXA and tibial (66%...

Background: Vertebral fractures (VF) are recognised as an important aspect of bone health in children and adolescents, yet most of them are not clinically apparent. The clinical utility of vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for vertebral morphometry has not been evaluated in the paediatric population.Method: VFA was performed independently by two non-radiologist observers in 110 patients (52M/58F) as part of ...

Background: Differentiating potentially malignant thyroid nodules among those undetermined by cytology avoid unnecessary surgical procedures. Aberrant DNA methylation is ubiquitous in human cancers, including thyroid tumors. Biomarkers based on methylation profiles have been successfully used to diagnose early stage malignancy in many human cancers.Objective and hypotheses: To determine the genome-wide promoter methylation status of cytologically indeter...

Background: rhGH therapy may improve linear growth in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Poor bone health and abnormal body composition are recognised complications in paediatric IBD.Objective and hypotheses: To investigate the effects of rhGH on bone health and body composition.Method: Sub-analysis of 13 children with IBD (12CD; 1UC) in a randomized controlled trial. Either rhGH (0.067 mg/kg per day) as daily s.c. inj...