ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are heterogeneous groups of irreversible adducts resulting from non-enzymatic glycation and glyoxidation of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acid. AGEs and its cell receptor RAGE have been involved in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Interaction of AGEs with RAGE results in an increased generation of oxygen radicals and increased expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Circulating soluble AGE rec...

Background: About 85–90% of children born small for gestational age (SGA) experience a catch-up growth that occurs mostly during the first year of life and results in a full stature recovery by the age of 2. The remaining 10–15% do not undergo compensatory growth, achieving - if untreated - an adult height approximately 20 cm below their peers.Objective: The aim of this prospective one-center study was to investigate the relation between bone m...

Background: Abnormalities of cervical spine have been described in association with pituitary anomalies in the context of malformative syndromes with midline defects. Several genes are involved in the control of pituitary gland development, differentiation and function. In particular, the presence of os odontoideum has been reported in one case of pituitary hypoplasia, associated with leg anomalies, renal dysplasia and no aberrations of the BMP4, BMP2 and PTX1 genes. In anothe...

Background: Childhood NT1 has been associated with endocrine disorders like obesity and precocious puberty. These comorbidities may challenge the diagnosis, require tailored treatments and call for a multidisciplinary approach.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the impact of type 1 narcolepsy (NT1) on anthropometric and endocrine features in childhood/adolescence, focusing on weight, pubertal development and growth, and their follow up in treated and ...

Background: Carnitine deficiency (CD) has been reported in children at time of type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis. By impairing free fatty acid ß-oxidation in liver, muscle mass and pancreatic ß cells, CD might impair glucose homeostasis and residual insulin secretion. We postulate that reversed of these FAO defects may help regenerate a healthier ß cell mass and increased the diabetes honeymoon duration.Objective: Evaluate the effects of car...

Background: Hematocolpos is a rare condition in young girls that can be caused by imperforated hymen or vaginal agenesis. It is usually diagnosed at early puberty with cyclic abdominal pain and amenorrhoea. Menarche is usually observed two years after the start of puberty; sometimes pre-menarcheal bleeding can occur, ranging from isolated premature menarche to spotting in course of puberty. In case of imperforated hymen or vaginal anomaly, a pre-menarcheal uterine bleeding can...

Background: Turner syndrome (TS) affects about one in 2500 liveborn females. It results from the loss of all or part of X-chromosome and has a variable phenotype. The classical form is characterised by short stature, skeletal abnormalities, lymphedema, renal and cardiac anomalies, webbed neck, peculiar neurocognitive profile and gonadal dysgenesis. While loss of up to 2/3 of the X chromosome short arm is compatible with normal fertility, chromosome deletions involving Xq are o...

Background: Following years of dietary and lifestyle intervention (DLI) as the only therapeutic option, reports of bariatric surgery are emerging in adolescents with morbid obesity. We present herein preliminary results of our 4-yr sleeve gastrectomy study.Objectives and hypotheses: To compare the effects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and intensive DLI in adolescents with morbid obesity (ie BMI >4 DS) and extremely active weight gain (i.e....

Background: Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) in pediatric age might have peculiar course and prognosis.Objective and hypotheses: To compare clinical, biochemical and ultrasound (US) features at diagnosis, histological grading and outcome in two groups of children and young adults with DTC.Method: Clinical, biochemical and imaging characteristics of 63 patients with DTC, diagnosed between 1999 and 2014 in our hospital, were retro...

Background: Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy-Candidiasis-Ectodermal-Distrophy (APECED) is a rare autosomal recessive disease, caused by mutations of AIRE gene on chromosome 21. It is characterized by three main diseases: chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC), chronic hypoparathyroidism (HP) and Addison’s disease (AD).Objective and hypotheses: In this paper we review the clinical phenotypes and the genotypes of pediatric Sicilian population affected b...