ESPE Abstracts

Background: Growth-and-differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) is a regulator of energy homeostasis, and is used as biomarker of several pathological states.Objectives: To assess longitudinally GDF15 concentrations in a cohort of infants born either appropriate- (AGA, n=70) or small-for-gestational-age (SGA, n=33), the latter known to be at increased risk for central adiposity and metabolic alteration...

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is an emerging disease in the pediatric population. The mechanisms responsible for the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in these patients are incompletely understood. Low serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels are associated with increased histologic severity of NAFLD. Growing evidence suggests that growth hormone (GH) and IGF-1 may have r...

Background: Silver Russell syndrome (SRS) is genetically heterogenous and around 30% of patients with clinical SRS have no genetic diagnosis. Mutations in HMGA2 have recently been identified causing growth failure and an SRS-like phenotype. Despite strong evidence of the crucial role of HMGA2 in growth across species, the mechanism of action of HMGA2 in human linear growth is unclear.Objective:...

Objectives: The homozygous GHR pseudoexon (6ψ) mutation leads to aberrant splicing of the GHR gene with clinical and biochemical heterogeneity. We investigated whether the phenotypic variability could be explained by transcript heterogeneity i.e. ratio of abnormal (6ψ GHR) to normal (WT GHR) transcripts and/or the presence of concurrent defects in other short stature (SS) genes.Methods: 6&#968...

Triple A syndrome (AAAS) is a rare, incurable, recessive disorder, characterised by achalasia, alacrima, adrenal failure and a neurodegenerative phenotype. The AAAS gene encodes ALADIN, is a nuclear pore complex (NPC) protein necessary for nuclear import of DNA protective molecules, important for redox homeostasis. ALADIN’s role is not fully characterised: its discovery at the centrosome and the endoplasmic reticulum suggests a role outside the NPC. To date, the ...

Background: Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), have been associated with insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in non-pregnant adults. By contrast, recent pilot studies of pregnant women found negative associations between phthalates and blood glucose, and a lack of association with BPA. No studies have examined gestational IR or secretion in relation to EDC exposure.Objective: To confirm these re...

Introduction: Lockdown measures following the COVID-19 pandemic are shown to have greatly affected lifestyle behaviours and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of children. The impact on children with severe obesity has not yet been described. Aim of this study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on eating behaviours, physical activity (PA), screen time, and HRQoL of children (including adolescents) with severe obesity....

Introduction: PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS) is a rare disease with dominant inheritance characterized by benign (hamartoma) and malignant tumors (breast, endometrium, thyroid). Mutations in the tumor suppressor gene phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) gene are responsible for the etiology.Objective: In this case report, we present an 11-year-old male who was being monitored due to follicular thyroid cancer, an...

Introduction: Gain-of-function mutations in KISS1 and KISS1R genes and loss-of-function mutations in the gene encoding the makorin RING-finger protein 3 (MKRN3) expressed only in the paternal allele are the most common genetic reasons of familial central precocious puberty (CPP).Aim: We report a case of familial CPP and a pathogen variant in the MKRN3 gene.<stron...

Aim: Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita type II is an autosomal dominant disease, characterized by multiple congenital contractures in the limbs without a primary neurological deficit. The most frequently observed clinical features are triangular face, palpebral fissures facing downwards, clarity in nasolabial folds, small mouth, high palate, adherent ear lobes, short stature, camptodactyly, ulnar deviations in the fingers, vertical talus and/or talipes equinovarus.<p clas...