ESPE Abstracts

Background: Several years ago, we developed a recombinant cell bioassay to determine serum estrogenic bioactivity (EBA). In addition to its physiological interest, EBA could be a good marker of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) with estrogenic activity and thus would be useful in the field of environmental-related endocrine diseases.Aims and objectives: To characterise the type of substances that mediate estrogenic activity.Met...

Background: The oestrogenic activity of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) has been reported to be associated with premature thelarche (PT) and precocious puberty. Some years ago, we developed a recombinant cell bioassay to determine serum estrogenic bioactivity (EBA) that is useful in physiology, as well as in the field of the environmental-related endocrine diseases. We recently improved the assay with an evaluation of EBA before and after incubation with estrogen recepto...

Background: Young adult patients with childhood-onset GH deficiency (GHD) whose GH replacement therapy (GHRT) is discontinued exhibit negative metabolic and physiological effects, reversible through GHRT.Objective and hypotheses: To report the characteristics and 5-year GHRT in adults with childhood-onset GHD.Method: Analysis of the subgroup of adults with childhood-onset GHD included between March 2003 and October 2006 in KIMS. In...

Background: Androgen receptor (AR) gene mutations are the most frequent cause of 46,XY disorders of sex development and are associated with a variety of phenotypes, ranging from phenotypic women (complete androgen insensitivity syndrome) to milder degrees of undervirilization (partial and mild forms).Aims and objectives: To specify how a phenotype-genotype correlation can be refined by in vitro study based on the nature of amino acid substitutio...

Background: Pubertal gynecomastia is a common condition appearing in up to 65% of adolescent boys. However, if male breast development is over B3–B4 and lasts more than 2–3 years, persistent pubertal gynecomastia (PPG) may be the sign of serious endocrine disease and the source of considerable psychological discomfort.Objective and hypotheses: We investigated a cohort of 24 adolescents with PPG followed at the Pediatric Endocrinogy Unit over a ...

Background: Epidemiological evidence in Europe indicates the increasing prevalence of premature puberty, especially in girls. This may be attributed to in utero and early-life exposure to environmental estrogen-like compounds present in pesticides, plastics (bisphenol A, phtalates …) and beauty products.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of premature thelarche (PT) and central precocious puberty (C...

Background: Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is an inborn error of metabolism affecting the catabolism of essential amino acids: valine, isoleucine, methionine, and threonine. A great problem in these children is that of a growth abnormality with progressive slowing of the statural growth rate, in contrast with a normal or even accelerated weight gain. These abnormalities are accompanied by bone demineralization and muscle hypotonia.Objective and hypotheses:...

Background: In humans, activating mutations in the PRKAR1A gene cause acrodysostosis1 (ACRDYS1). Two striking features of this rare developmental and skeletal disorder are renal resistance to PTH and chondrodysplasia resulting from the constitutive inhibition of PTHR1/Gsa/AC/cAMP/PKA signaling caused by the PRKAR1A mutations.Objective and hypotheses: Document the consequences of the germline expression of a PRKAR1A mutation causing a dominant repression ...

Background: H2O2 produced in large quantities in the thyroid may play a role in the pathogenesis of thyroid nodules and cancer. In vitro, moderate amounts of H2O2 are able to cause similar DNA damage compared to irradiation and even to induce RET/PTC rearrangements.Objective and hypotheses: We compared the defence mechanisms against H2O2 and irradiation in human thyrocytes, T-cell...

Background: H2O2 produced in large quantities in the thyroid may play a role in the pathogenesis of thyroid nodules and cancer. In vitro, moderate amounts of H2O2 are able to cause similar DNA damage compared to irradiation and even to induce RET/PTC rearrangements.Objective and hypotheses: We compared the defence mechanisms against H2O2 and irradiation in human thyrocytes, T-cell...