ESPE Abstracts

Background: A variable prevalence of scoliosis has been reported in Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS). Clinical detection can be challenging. The role of GH therapy (GHT) in the onset and progression of scoliosis remains controversial as does the modality of screening.Objective and hypotheses: To define the prevalence of scoliosis in our PWS patients and analyse the role of age, gender, genotype, BMI, and GHT on its onset and severity.<p class="abstex...

Background: Distal chromosome 16 duplication syndrome, also known as 16q partial trisomy, is a very rare genetic disorder. Smaller chromosomal copy number variants (CNVs) within the 16q region create partial trisomies, which occur less frequently than full trisomy 16q. Trisomy 16q is generally associated with a multisystemic phenotype including intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), brain and cardiac defects, intellectual disability and an increased risk of b...

Short stature is diagnosed when height is significantly below the average of the general population for that person’s age and sex. To elucidate the factors that modify disease severity/penetrance in short stature, we have studied a three-generation family with SHOX deficiency. We have found that the retinoic acid degrading enzyme CYP26C1 is a modifier for SHOX deficiency phenotypes towards the more severe clinical manifestations (Leri-Weill dyschondrosteosis) and confirme...

Background: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by hyperphagia and abnormal behaviours towards food for both of which no approved treatment is available. Elevated plasma acylated ghrelin (AG) documented at all ages in PWS suggest that the ghrelin system may contribute to the pathophysiology of hyperphagia. Administration of unacylated ghrelin and 8-amino acid analog AZP-531 prevents AG-induced food consumption in animals and improves glucose co...

Introduction: Previous reports support the hypothesis of an age dependent derangement of the hypothalamus–pituitary axis occurring in PWS subjects. In this context, transition years represent an important phase of growth process when somatic development reaches its completion. In the general population, GH deficiency (GHD) during the transition phase is associated with deterioration of body composition, metabolic alterations and reduced bone mineral density. PWS subjects ...

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: According to international guidelines Prader-Willi children during GH treatment must be closely monitored by polysomnography, ENT evaluation and IGF1 levels.Objective and hypotheses: The study aims to determine whether the modulation of GH therapy in children and adolescents with Prader-Willi Syndrome with a specific decisional score (POI score; Salvatoni A., Horm Res Paediatr. 2012) changes and to what extent the results of the therapy.<...

Background: Osteocalcin plays a role in glucose metabolism in mice, but its relevance in human energetic metabolism is controversial. Few data are available on osteocalcin in pediatric patients with T1DM. The aim of our monocenter observational study was to evaluate the role of the main remodelling bone biomarkers in the regulation of glucose metabolism at the time of type 1 diabetes diagnosis and to evaluate their potential relationship with insulin sensitivi...

Introduction: Previous studies showed that non-obese children and adults with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) have a low frequency of metabolic syndrome (MetS), while obese ones have a frequency similar to that of non-PWS obese. It is known that individuals born small for gestational age (SGA) have a greater predisposition to the development of MetS. Recent neonatal percentiles of subjects with PWS (Salvatoni et al, Am J Med Genet Part A, 2019) documented...

Background: There is no effective adjuvant therapy for patients with advanced ACT. YAP1, a HIPPO pathway effector, interacts with Wtn\beta-catenin pathway and plays a crucial role in the maintenance of postnatal adrenal cortex and regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis in several tissues. We recently showed that overexpression of YAP1 associates with worse prognosis in our cohort of pediatric ACT (pACT).Aim: To analy...