ESPE Abstracts

Background: Articular cartilage is closely related to epiphyseal growth plate cartilage with one major discriminant: while epiphyseal growth plate cartilage is transformed into bone by endochondral ossification, epiphyseal growth plate cartilage remains stable in a healthy situation. In contrast in diseases like osteoarthritis articular cartilage acquires characteristics of epiphyseal growth plate cartilage. The underlying molecular pathophysiology is largely unknown.<p cl...

Background: Mauriac Syndrome (MS) is currently an extremely rare complication in type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1). It is characterized by the triad: poor metabolic control, dwarfism and hepatomegaly. Other findings are elevated transaminases, dyslipidemia, cushingoid features and delayed puberty.Case: Male patient with DM1 since 5 years age. Coinciding with a family breakdown, from the age of 7 his metabolic control deteriorated significan...

Background: Newborn screening for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is based on the determination of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) on blood and its need is confirmed by the most recent guidelines on the subject. In Italy this screening is not mandatory, and its application is on a regional basis. Among its disadvantages, it is well known the high frequency of false-positives, in particular in premature babies and those born small for gestational age. Howev...

Background: Hyperthyroidism is rare in childhood and adolescence and Graves’ disease accounts for approximately 96% of pediatric cases of thyrotoxicosis.Case Report: A 12-year-old girl, with no relevant family or personal history, was examinated for a thyroid mass noticed a few days before. She also reported excessive sweating of the hands and mild psychomotor agitation. Clinical examination revealed, in addition to the right thyroid mass, other sig...

Homozygous mutation of Insulin receptor (INS-R) gene cause an extremely rare disease called Leprechaunism, and induce intrauterine growth restriction with poor postnatal growth, hyperinsulinemia, postprandial hyperglycaemia, pre-prandial hypoglycaemia, typical facies, lack of subcutaneous fat, thick skin, hypertrichosis, macrogenitosomia in males. The survival is severely compromised in these patients. Treatment with diazoxide could ameliorate glycaemic control, however these ...

Background: CNS tumors are the most frequent solid tumors in pediatric population. The IGF system of ligands and receptors are known to play an important role in both normal and neoplastic growth. Recently, we have shown that in paediatric gliomas, IGF-1R nuclear localization was significantly associated with both high grade tumours and increased risk of death, suggesting that nuclear IGF-1R localization may contribute to an aggressive behaviour of these tumours.<p class="...

Background: Exercise programs are related to the anabolic function of GH/IGF-I axis.Objective and hypotheses: To analyse IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and ALS serum concentrations in adolescent swimmers at different stages of training season, and compare them with physical performance and body composition.Method: Nine male athletes, aged 16–19 years, who trained regularly throughout the season, were studied. IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and ALS were recor...

Aim: To determine Sertoli cell function at diagnosis and after 3 months of chemotherapy.Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed including children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia, or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Serum levels of AMH were evaluated at diagnosis and after 3 months during chemotherapy. Results were analysed as standard deviation scores according to pubertal stage and expressed ...

Introduction: Improvements in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) have increased survival, with the consequent concern about the long-term effects that childhood chemotherapy may have on ovarian function. AMH constitutes an indirect, reliable biomarker of the ovarian reserve, useful for the assessment of cancer therapy-related ovarian damage.Aim: To evaluate small ovarian f...

Background: Gonadotropin releasing hormone analogs (GnRHa) are effective in improving adult height in children with precocious onset of puberty, rapid progression, and good growth potential. In last years, however, some transient metabolic complications have been described during the treatment without the reassurance of long-term data yet. The aim of our study is to clarify if body mass index (BMI) at diagnosis of idiopathic central precocious puberty (iCPP) c...