ESPE Abstracts

Background: Genome-wide association studies have identified more than 60 SNPs associated with BMI. Additional genetic variants, such as copy number variations (CNV), have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity. Recently, the highly polymorphic CNV in the salivary amylase (AMY1) gene has been associated with obesity risk in adults.Objective and hypothesis: To assess the potential association between AMY1 copy number and BMI ...

Background: However, no study has considered the effect of a supernumerary X chromosome on bone mineral status and bone metabolism.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate bone mineral status and metabolism in a cohort of patients with nonmosaic triple X syndrome.Method: Nineteen girls (median age 10.9, range 7.7–15.9 years) with nonmosaic triple X syndrome were cross-sectionally studied and compared to an age- and body-size-matc...

Background: Klinefelter syndrome (KS) has long-term consequences on bone health. However, studies regarding bone status and metabolism in childhood and adolescence are very rare.Objective and hypotheses: The purpose of our study was to evaluate bone status and metabolism in a cohort of KS children and adolescents.Method: This cross-sectional study involves 40 (mean age 13.7±3.8 years) KS children and adolescents and 80 age-mat...

Background: Childhood obesity is commonly associated with signs of endothelial dysfunction, characterized by impairment of insulin signaling and vascular NO availability. Recently both these features have been associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, however the role of ER stress in the mechanism/s leading to vascular dysfunction in childhood obesity remains still to be established.Objective and Hypotheses: To evaluate ER stress and insulin-sti...

Background: Injuries occur frequently in the obese young population even if they need to practice physical activity. The greatest part of Italian adolescents plays sports only at school.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between overweight and obesity, and the risk of injuries in adolescents during school physical activity.Method: This is a retrospective cohort study utilizing the ele...

It is known that almost 180 million children in the world have stunted growth. Most of these children live in eastern and central Africa and in South-central Asia. Among multiple factors causing stunted growth in the developing world, malnutrition is the most important one. On the other hand, reduced caloric intake is also a cause of poor statural growth in developed countries.Mammals, including humans, exposed to malnutrition experience poor bone growth...

Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-κB) is a group of seven transcription factors, including p65 (RelA), c-Rel, RelB, p50/p105 (NF-κB1), and p52/p100 (NF-κB2). Upon activation by a wide variety of stimuli, NF-κB translocates to the nucleus, where it modulates the expression of target genes involved in cell growth, survival, and death.Previous evidence indicates that NF-κB regulates bone growth and development. Mice deficient in both the N...

Background: FGF21 is a hormonal factor with powerful anti-diabetic and anti-obesity properties in adults\. Studies in rodent models indicated that hepatic FGF21 expression and blood FGF21 levels are strongly induced after birth in response to fat provided by milk ingestion. Moreover, preliminary data indicate that FGF21 is present in maternal milk.Objective and hypotheses: Our objective is to determine, using human samples and pre-clinical experimental m...

Background: The endocrine role of white adipose tissue (WAT), as a site of release of the so-called adipokines, has been recognized for long. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is the main site of adaptive thermogenesis in mammals, especially relevant in neonates and early infancy. The amount and activity of BAT are associated with a healthy metabolic profile and protection against obesity, type II diabetes and hyperlipidemia. This biological role of BAT is traditionally attributed to...

Hashimoto encephalopathy is an autoimmune encephalopathy predominantly diagnosed in the adult population. In the pediatric population, the mean age is determined to be 14 years, with the majority of adolescent females. The diagnosis of Hashimoto encephalopathy is clinical and based on the highly variable neuropsychiatric conditions, often affecting more than one area of the central nervous system, the detection of antiperoxidase or antithyroglobulin antibodies in serum, and on...