ESPE Abstracts

Background: The endocrine role of white adipose tissue (WAT), as a site of release of the so-called adipokines, has been recognized for long. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is the main site of adaptive thermogenesis in mammals, especially relevant in neonates and early infancy. The amount and activity of BAT are associated with a healthy metabolic profile and protection against obesity, type II diabetes and hyperlipidemia. This biological role of BAT is traditionally attributed to...

Background: Achondroplasia (ACH) and hypochondroplasia (HCH) are the most common forms of chondrodysplasia. ACH is characterized by rhizomelic short stature, macrocephaly and lumber lordosis. Because HCH is clinically milder, HCH is often goes unrecognized in childhood but is diagnosed in adult life when disproportionate short stature becomes obvious.Objective: Although episodic reports showed the recombinant human GH (rhGH) treatment may improve short-t...

Among the many complications of type 1 diabetes (T1D), hypoglycemia is an acute concern for children with T1D and their families. Moreover, fear of hypoglycemia is a common barrier to achieving glucose targets. Numerous advances in care have been made since the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial was published in 1993 in which lower HbA1c was associated with increasing risk of severe hypoglycemia. More recent data indicate that lower HbA1c (7% ISPAD target) can be ach...

Glucocorticoids (cortisol in humans, corticosterone in rodents) are critical regulators of energy metabolism and immunity. Their secretion by the adrenal gland follows a circadian pattern, with serum concentrations peaking before the active phase (day in humans, night in rodents). Synthetic glucocorticoids are the most potent anti-inflammatory agents known, and are widely used therapeutically, with >1% of the UK population holding a prescription long-term. However, frequen...

Background: The arrangement of beta cells within islets of Langerhans produces a gain-of-function in insulin release through the generation of rhythmic activity patterns. A privileged role for individual beta cells in orchestrating these responses has long-been suspected, but not directly examined.Objective and hypotheses: Identify and characterize a rare subpopulation of beta cells tasked with pacemaking insulin release.Method: Op...

Conventional treatment for obesity, founded on the First Law of Thermodynamics, assumes that all calories are alike, and that to lose weight one must ultimately “eat less and move more.” However, this prescription rarely succeeds over the long term. Calorie restriction elicits predictable biological responses – including increased hunger and reduced energy expenditure – that oppose ongoing weight loss. Indeed, the prevailing Energy Balance Model offers ...

The mutation of the SHOX gene is a cause of short stature by varying frequency depending on the published work, but estimated at around 3-10 % of cases of short stature. The main diagnostic scheme for starting genetic testing is the Rappold score, which requires clinical and radiological criteria, under which this form of short stature is framed as a disharmonious. In our clinical experience, however, we also looked for mutations in the SHOX gene in patients with signs of ...

XY, 14 years old, was born at term, birth weight 4900 g, length 54 cm. No problems reported in the early years of life. Due to recurrent abdominal pain for several years associated with dyspepsia, at 13 years he performed blood tests, with evidence of hypocalcemia (6.1 mg/dl) and hyperphosphatemia (8.6 mg/dl). For this reason, he was admitted to our ward: the weight was Kg 67.1 (1.8 SDS), height 168 cm (1.5 SDS), pubertal stage 4, objective examination in the norm. The exams p...

Introduction: The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic encouraged a sedentary lifestyle and “covibesity” was reported. Concerns for consequences on anthropometric data, glycemic control, and lipid profile in subjects with type 1 diabetes (T1D) were raised.Objectives: Longitudinal and observational study aimed to investigate the 2-years effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on BMI, glycemic control, and lipid profile...

Introduction: Telemedicine was adopted during the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the follow-up of patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Because of its potential to reinforce self-management support outside health care settings it was used still after the lockdown.Objectives: Longitudinal and observational study aimed to investigate effectiveness of telemedicine in the follow-up of young people with T1D over the ...