ESPE Abstracts

Background: Though the genes and signalling pathways involved in sexual development have only been partially elucidated, it is known that their disruption can result in disorders of sexual development (DSD). XX ovarian dysgenesis (XX-OD) is a rare, genetically heterogeneous disorder characterized by underdeveloped and dysfunctional ovaries. We previously identified a novel missense mutation in Nucleoporin107 (Nup107, c.1339G>A, p.D447N), an essential compo...

Background: NKX2-2 gene mutation (reported in 3 cases worldwide) cause severe IUGR and neonatal diabetes. Beta-cells of the mice Nkx2-2 (−/−) model were recently shown to convert into cells producing the appetite-promoting peptide ghrelin. Classically, ghrelin secretion is stimulated during fast and suppressed by nutrients or glucose ingestion in all age groups. In obese children this ghrelin suppression reaches a minimum of 60% of base...

Background: 5-alpha-reductase-2 (5α-RD2) deficiency is an autosomal recessive 46,XY disorder of sexual development, characterized by undervirilized prepubertal males with ambiguous genitalia. The pubertal rise in testosterone and 5α-RD1 isoenzyme activity causes virilization, often resulting in gender assignment change. Early precise diagnosis which anticipate adult function is critical for treatment and gender assignment.Objective and hypothes...

Background: Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT) gene mutations have been recently shown to cause familial glucocorticoid deficiency (FGD), by decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification in adrenocortical cells. Affected infants present within the first few months with isolated glucocorticoid deficiency.Objective and Hypotheses: To study the genetic etiology of four cases presenting uniquely with neonatal addisonian crisis (both min...

Background: Wolfram syndrome type 2 (WFS2) characterized by childhood GI ulcers/ bleeding, diabetes, and neurodegeneration with optic atrophy and hearing loss was recently elucidated as caused by CISD2/NAF-1 gene mutation. NAF-1 suppression in cells results in intra-mitochondrial accumulation of iron, increased ROS generation and consequently increased cellular apoptosis. So far only two mutations in four families were reported.Objective: Elucidate the c...

Generalized lipodystrophy (GLD) is characterized by near total loss of subcutaneous fat, leading to low concentrations of leptin. Complications of GLD are heterogenous, including severe insulin resistance, diabetes, hypertriglyceridemia, pancreatitis, liver, kidney, and heart disease, and reproductive dysfunction. Leptin replacement therapy using metreleptin improves many of these metabolic abnormalities. A lipodystrophy severity score (LDS) has been developed to quantify dise...

Background: Temple syndrome (TS14) is an imprinting disorder caused by maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 14 (UPD(14)mat), paternal deletion of 14q32 or an isolated methylation defect of MEG3-DMR. TS14 is characterised by pre- and postnatal growth retardation, hypotonia and feeding difficulties, obesity during childhood and adolescence, short stature, and precocious puberty.Method: This is a comparison of phenotyp...

Background and Objectives: In recent years, a growing number of studies investigated the profile of serum metabolomics in health and disease. These studies have led to the discovery of novel biological biomarkers and causative agents for a variety of medical conditions. Here, we focused on profiling serum metabolites of children diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency (GHD).Methods: We conducted a prospective study and ...

Metreleptin is a leptin analog used to treat metabolic complications of lipodystrophy, a set of rare disorders characterized by generalized (GL) or regional (PL) deficiency of adipose tissue, resulting in insulin resistance, diabetes, dyslipidemia, steatohepatitis, and reproductive dysfunction. Metreleptin increases fertility, particularly in GL; spontaneous pregnancy without metreleptin was reported in only 4 patients with GL. Risks of metreleptin suggested by rodent studies ...

Background: Radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy has become the preferred treatment for Graves’ disease in children. Its use has found favour due to the risk of adverse effects in medical management and the invasiveness of thyroidectomy. Side effects of RAI in adults are well-documented and include dry mouth, sore throat, and neck pain. With its relatively recent application to paediatric patients, there is not a complete understanding of adverse effects in the paediatric pop...