ESPE Abstracts

Background: The low-dose short Synacthen test is a popular diagnostic test of adrenal insufficiency in children. It is employed by 82% of UK paediatric endocrinologists. Although various dosing strategies exist, 1 μg is most commonly employed, however none of the low-dose forms are commercially available. A BSPED survey revealed 14 different methods for diluting 250 μg/ml ampoules.Objective and hypotheses: Do various dilution strategies result ...

Background: In the vast majority of cases, achondroplasia and hypochondroplasia are attributable to hotspot missense mutations in the FGFR3 gene. 96% of patients have a G(1138)A and 3% have a G(1138)C point mutation. We report on a family whose members have a deep intronic mutation that leads to a novel cryptic splicing variant of the FGFR3 gene, and via this pathway results in new pathogenicity manifesting as achondroplasia.Case...

In this study, we conducted a clinical, genetic, and molecular profiling of a Han Chinese family with evident of matrilineally-inherited obesity. Obesity was evident in 2/6 matrilineal relatives in a single generation of this family (of 3 available generations). When the mitochondrial DNA of these individuals was sequences and a pedigree analysis was performed, we were able to identify a novel homoplasmic mutation of the mitochondrial tRNAGly gene (10029A>G) in t...

Background: Alterations in DNA methylation status of specific genetic loci may affect gene expression, thus leading to autoimmunopathies.Objective and hypotheses: This study aimed to investigate possible differences in DNA methylation pattern between type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) youngsters and healthy controls.Method: Ten T1DM participants and 10 age-/gender-matched controls were enrolled. DNA was extracted from white blood cell...

Objective: Low birth weight and prematurity are linked to various behavioural outcomes. In addition, preterm (PT) infants show altered maturation of pituitary–gonadal axis, as demonstrated by its pronounced transient activation during the first postnatal months. Given that gonadal steroid hormones shape the basic processes of neural and behavioural sexual differentiation these elevated sex steroids in premature infants might affect the developing brain and alter subsequen...

Introduction: Complex and ordered intracellular signal pathways play a significant role in sex determination in mammals, mediating the balance of gonadal development. A major pathway involved in the regulation of the male development is mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. To date, mutations of MAP3K1 gene have been found to account for approximately 15%-20% of 46, XY gonadal dysgenesis (46, XY GD)....

Background: Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid closely related to the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) considered as the major source of energy during prolonged exercise. During fasting, when the liver switches to fatty acid oxidation, a rise in serum GH occurs concomitantly with the accumulation of BHB and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) acetate, propionate and butyrate. Interactions between GH, ketone body and SCFA during the metabolic adaptation to fasting are poor...

Background: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) comprises a group of autosomal recessive disorders caused by defects in one of the several adrenal steroidogenic enzymes. 80–95% of CAH are due to mutations in CYP21A2 gene encoding 21 hydroxylase. Its residual activity defines the clinical form. Except deletions and large gene conversions, nine pseudogene-derived mutations are responsible for 95% of all CAH alleles. The mutational distribution varies between diffe...

Although Endocrinologists have focused for decades on circulating concentrations of cortisol, arguably the important concentrations are those within tissues which are available at corticosteroid receptors. Tissue concentrations are influenced by plasma proteins binding cortisol, by physicochemical characteristics of the steroid, by active transport across cell membranes, and by steroid metabolism within target tissues. Many of these factors vary between individuals, and within...

Objective: Fear of hypoglycemia interferes frequently with metabolic control of type 1 diabetes especially in patients under 5 years of age who are at high risk of hypoglycemia and low metabolic control. Medtronic Minimed 640 G insulin pump with Smart Guard technology (suspension of insulin perfusion in predictive hypoglycemia situations) appears to be an adequate system for these patients by reducing the risk of hypoglycemia.Research design and methods:...