ESPE Abstracts

Background: The rapidly increasing T1D incidence in European children suggests the recent emergence or extension of predisposing E factors, or the decrease of protective E factors acting during pregnancy, infancy or early childhood. E research has preferentially focused on specific candidate factors, such as hygiene hypothesis, enteroviruses, alimentation, in cohort or case-control studies. The risk of bias is a major concern in E studies.Objectives: To ...

Background: Bioavailability of peptide/protein – drugs is extremely low after oral administration due to their instability in the gastrointestinal tract or poor absorption.Objective and hypotheses: Oral delivery of growth hormone and somatostatin by adding extreme stable lipids.Method: A liposomal system based on a combination of standard lipids and membrane spanning tetraether lipids, which are extremely stable biomolecules. ...

Background: Age at menarche in girls varies widely between individuals, is a heritable trait and is associated with risks for adult obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and all-cause mortality.Objective and Hypotheses: The mechanisms that determine pubertal timing and underlie its links to later disease remain unclear.Method: We performed a genome-wide association study meta-analysis of genome-wide or den...

Background: Low birth weight, unfavourable intrauterine conditions, and post-natal catch-up growth are associated with a subsequent impact on growth, pubertal development, and metabolic disturbances later in life. Although the start of puberty is genetically determined it might be altered due to environmental influences.Objectives: In a longitudinal study (birth to final height) we observed growth and pubertal development of genetically identical twins b...

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is caused by autoimmunity against the pancreatic beta-cell. Although a significant number of T1DM patients develop further autoimmune disorders during lifetime, coexisting severe immunodysregulation is rare.Objective and hypotheses: Presuming autosomal-recessive inheritance in a complex immunodysregulation disorder including T1DM in two siblings born to consanguineous parents, we performed whole exome sequencin...

Background: Monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) deficiency is a rare genetic disease that leads to severe global developmental delay. Thyroid hormone (TH) profile is characterized by high T3 and low T4 levels, with normal or elevated TSH. Recent studies have shown that the chemical chaperone phenylbutyrate (PB) restored mutant MCT8 function and increased TH content in a patient-derived cell model, making it a potential treatment for MCT8 deficiency.<p cla...

Background: The easypodTM auto-injector is designed to make daily administration of recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) comfortable and easier to patients. EasypodTM device delivers pre-set doses of r-hGH (Saizen®) and stores a digital record of adherence to therapy that can be shared with healthcare providers for evaluation.Objective: To assess adherence to r-hGH therapy delivered via the easypodTM device in ea...

Background: Low birth-weight and unfavourable intrauterine conditions are associated with a subsequent impact on the endocrine system. Many studies reported hyperandrogenaemia and precocious adrenarche in children born small for gestational age (SGA). However, little information is available on steroid profiles in these subjects.Objective and Hypotheses: We followed genetically identical twins with intra-twin birth-weigh...

Background: Nutrient deprivation during early development has been associated with the predisposition to metabolic disorders in numerous epidemiological studies. Experiments with rodents also indicate a developmental plasticity of neuropsychological characteristics following alterations of early postnatal nutrition.Objective: Considering its interaction with metabolism and regulation of appetite and behavior, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) may represen...

Background: Macroprolactinomas in children below 10 years of age are rare. Usually prolactinomas respond well to dopamine agonists so that neurosurgical resection is rarely necessary. For non-responders to dopamine agonist therapy other extended treatment options have to be considered.Clinical case: We report a 14-year-old boy who presented at the age of 11 years with headaches for 5 years and progressive bilateral vision problems. The diagnosis of a mac...