ESPE Abstracts

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) 2 plays a fundamental role in prenatal growth and development. The IGF2 gene is imprinted, with the paternally inherited copy being active and the maternal copy being silenced in most tissues. During development, the expression of IGF2 is sexually dimorphic in some tissues and this is thought to be involved in the development of some sexually dimorphic features. For example, IGF2 expression is reported to be higher in the male brain co...

Background: Neonatal over-nutrition (NON) can increase the propensity to become overweight and develop associated metabolic disturbances in later life. Moreover, some of these long-term effects are sexually dimorphic.Objective and hypotheses: We aimed to determine how NON affects body weight (BW), body composition and triglyceride (TG) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) levels. We hypothesized that the effects would be both age and sex dependant.<...

Introduction: Obesity is known to associate with chronic systemic inflammation. However, hypothalamic inflammation also occurs in response to high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and is proposed to participate in central insulin/leptin resistance and the perpetuation of weight gain and systemic affectation. The weight gain and central responses to HFD differ between males and females. As hypothalamic glial cells are implicated in the central inflammatory response we hypothesize...

Background: Patients with 21-Hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) present increased levels of cytochrome P450 21-hydroxylase substrates, like progesterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone. Previous studies could show that these hormones are involved in the production of androgens via the backdoor pathway. As a second source of androgens, 11-oxyandrogens derived from the human adrenal glands are recognized as being major androgens. Specifically, 11-oxyandrogens ...

Background: Isolated growth hormone deficiency is the most common pituitary hormone deficiency, although the majority of cases are idiopathic. The presence of pituitary structural abnormalities may influence growth hormone (GH) deficiency severeness.Objective: Assess the effect of pituitary abnormalities in idiopathic isolated growth hormone deficiency (IIGHD).Methods: We analysed 65 children with IIGHD and pituitary magnetic resso...

Background: Human placenta exhibits a specific miRNA expression pattern. Some of these miRNAs are dysregulated in pregnancy disorders like preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and are potential biomarkers for these pathologies. No studies have been performed in maternal obesity.Objective and hypotheses: (1) Define the placental miRNA profile in pregnant women with: a) pre-pregnancy (preOB) or gestational obesity (gestOB), b) gestation...

Background: Besides surgery, radioactive iodine therapy (RAI) is an effective and safe option to treat children with hyperthyroidism from Graves disease (GD) who cannot achieve euthyroidism with antithyroid drugs.Objective and hypotheses: To present the experience of a Portuguese paediatric unit with the use of RAI in children with GD.Method: The authors performed a review of 7 cases of Graves disease of age under 18 years treated ...

Background: Few studies have focused on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with disorders of sex development (DSD).Objective and hypotheses: Our aim was to evaluate QoL in DSD patients with defined diagnoses followed until adulthood in a single tertiary centre.Method: Subjects: adult DSD patients (56 patients with 46,XX DSD – 49 with female social sex and seven with male social sex as well as 88 patients with 46,XY DSD &#15...

Introduction: The proopiomelanocortin is a polypeptide of many biologically active peptides involved in many key functions which have not yet been clarified. The mutation in the gene encoding this polypeptide is associated with a clinical trials characterized by early-onset obesity, terciary adrenal insufficiency, and alteration of pigmentation. Eight cases with known genetic mutation have been published.Case report: Newborn male 27 days old from North A...

Introduction: DSD patients present varied degrees of atypical genitalia. The social sex assignment and the surgery decisions must be proceeded by a multidisciplinary team approach with the family. Surgeries should be only performed by experienced surgeons. The current trend is the early correction, but some patients and non-governmental entities argue that the surgeries should be delayed until the patient’s consent.Objective...