ESPE Abstracts

Objective and hypotheses: We studied the prevalence of deficiency in the short stature homeobox containing gene (SHOX) in short-statured children and analysed clinical and radiological signs.Method: A total of 162 children aged 1–17 years (53% females, 67% prepubertal, median age 6.6 years, median height SDS −1.7) presenting with short stature between 2008 and 2014, were analysed for SHOX mutations by direct sequencing and multiplex ligation p...

Background: Elastargene 3C (E3C) is a cream specifically designed to improve lipoatrophy in patients with diabetes. It is made by many ingredients, among whom are elastin, arnica, collagen, caffeine, and L-carnitine.Objective and hypotheses: We started a 6-month, double-blind, randomized trial to test the efficacy of E3C in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) using insulin pump (CSII), in whom infusion set usually left little withe scars.<...

Introduction: Human growth is a multifactorial process involving genetic, hormonal, nutritional and environmental factors. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have shown that >400 genes are associated with adult height. African Baka Pygmies represent an isolated and well-confined small population with short stature of unknown etiology. In previous studies we reported an 8-fold reduced GH receptor gene expression and reduced serum levels of IGF-I and GHB...

Background: The human microbiota has emerged as an unexpected modulator of the immune system. The placenta, long thought to be sterile, harbors a unique microbiome and variations in their composition could be related to prevent pregnancy disorders.Objective and hypotheses: To profile the placental microbiota (microorganisms) and microbiome (collection of microbial genomes in an environment) in women with gestational diabetes (GDM) and study their relatio...

Background: Children born small for gestational age (SGA) are at increased risk of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes in adulthood, due to reprogramming of endocrine and metabolic functions. Dysregulation of specific miRNAs in response to genetic and environmental factors contribute to aberrant gene expression patterns underlying metabolic dysfunction.Objective and hypotheses: We aimed to identify miRNAs associated with increased risk of obesity ...

Background: Different studies have underlined the role of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B as markers of the ovarian function in paediatric and adolescent patients with Turner syndrome (TS).Objective and hypotheses: Our study aims to verify the role of AMH in a cohort of patients affected by TS.Method: We analysed 23 TS patients, aged 2–34 years, describing their auxological parameters and the pubertal developme...

Protein arginine methyltransferase 7 (PRMT7), a member of a family of enzymes that catalyse the transfer of methyl groups from S-adenosyl-L-methionine to nitrogen atoms on arginine residues, is involved in multiple biological processes, such as signal transduction, mRNA splicing, transcriptional control, DNA repair, and protein translocation. Currently, 12 patients with homozygous/compound heterozygous mutations in PRMT7 gene have been described defining the ...

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age, and is characterised by chronic inflammation and in most cases by insulin resistance besides ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenism. HMGB1 is a small protein with cytokine activity that can activate nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (Nf-kB), and signals through the Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGEs) and through the T...

Background: The French population of the SAGhE study showed an increased morbidity and mortality due to cerebrovascular disease in growth hormone (GH) treated subjects compared to the general population. Cerebrovascular health can be assessed using neuroimaging markers on MRI. One of the markers is white matter hyperintensity (WMH).Objective: To assess cerebrovascular health by scoring WMH on MRI in young adults born sma...

Background: Regular and frequent red blood cell transfusions have significantly increased the life expectancy of patients with β-thalassemia major (β-TM). However, when no appropriate chelation therapy is available, patients accumulate iron in the heart, liver, spleen, pancreas, and endocrine glands, leading to progressive organ dysfunction.Objective and hypotheses: To assess the correlation between cardiac and hepatic T2*MRI findings with the ...