ESPE Abstracts

Background: VRS-317, a novel fusion protein of rhGH, was safe and well tolerated in single dose studies of adults and children with growth harmone deficiency (GHD).Objectives: Conduct a 6-month study to determine the safety, tolerability, height velocity and IGF1 response in GHD children.Methods: 64 subjects were randomized into three arms to evaluate monthly, semi-monthly and weekly dosing.Results: At VRS-31...

Background: VRS-317, a novel fusion protein of rhGH exhibiting delayed clearance, serum half-life generally >100 h, and potential for once monthly dosing, was previously evaluated in a 6-month phase 1b/2a study of weekly, twice monthly or monthly dosing (5.0 mg/kg per month) in prepubertal GHD children (n=64).Objective and hypotheses: We evaluated whether increased VRS-317 dose from 12 to 18 months can offset the decrease in height velocitie...

Background: Thyroid hormones contribute to a wide range of physiological processes and health outcomes. Epigenetic regulation of thyroid development and function has been little explored. PAX8 (Paired Box 8) is a thyroid transcription factor implicated in thyroid gland development and differentiation. PAX8 gene methylation appears to be sensitive to the environment in early pregnancy.Methods and Findings: Using a recall-by-epige...

Background: Recurrent miscarriage (RM) is traditionally described as three or more consecutive pregnancy losses and remains a challenging condition, affecting 1-3% of couples trying to conceive. Although factors such as uterine abnormalities, maternal hypothyroidism and parental balanced translocations are associated with RM, in most situations the aetiology is unknown. The coexistence of RM and live births in many families suggests a potential association wit...

Background: Analysis of steroids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) defines a subject’s steroidal fingerprint. Here, we compare the steroidal fingerprints of obese children with or without liver disease to identify the ‘steroid metabolomic signature’ of childhood non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.Methods: Urinary samples of 85 children (43 girls) age 8.5–18.0 with obesity (BMI >97%) were quantified for 31 steroid meta...

Context: Analysis of steroids by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS) defines a subject’s ‘steroidal fingerprint’. Here, we clustered steroidal fingerprints to classify childhood obesity by ’steroid metabolomic signatures’.Methods: Urinary samples of 87 children (44 F) age 8.5–18.0 with obesity (BMI >97%) underwent solid phase extraction, enzymatic hydrolysis and derivatization. 31 steroids metabolites wer...

Aim of the Study: Cryptorchidism occurs more frequently in CF-children, and malformed epididymis was found more in cryptorchid boys with abrogated mini-puberty. Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) is transporter protein that acts as a chloride channel. Specifically, CFTR is associated with spermatogenesis and fertility.Patients and Methods: Testicular biopsies for histological and RNA analysis from...

Introduction: Propionic Acidaemia (PA), an organic acidaemia, is characterized by episodes of decompensation with severe metabolic acidosis and hyperammonaemia. PA is associated with low bone mineral density and osteoporosis. Hypocalcaemia is known to occur in 35-65% of decompensations, however the underlying pathophysiology remains unclear. PTH resistance has previously only been described in one case of hypocalcaemia in PA and we report the first use of ...

Background: Pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1b (PHP1b) is caused by epigenetic errors on the maternal GNAS allele at differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with exons A/B, XL, and NESP that lead to reduced production of Gαs transcripts most notably in the renal proximal tubule and thyroid follicular cells. Most PHP1b cases appear sporadically, few of which can be explained by paternal uniparental disomy involving chromosome 20q, leading to global methy...

Background: Graves’ disease therapy in young children may be challenging due to lack of therapy options. The safety of Radioiodine Ablation (RIA) has not been proven in children under age of 10 years. Propylthioracil (PTU) therapy has been linked to hepatic failure and became contraindicated in pediatrics.The case: A 6-year-old female was diagnosed with Graves ‘disease and treated with Methimazole (MTZ) and Propranolol. A few days after startin...