ESPE Abstracts

Background: Mutations in the nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT) gene are a rare cause of primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI), as well as cardiomyopathies and functional impairment of the gonads.Objective: Despite the description of different NNT mutations in homozygosis and compound heterozygosis in PAI patients, it remains to be clarified to which extent the function and expression of the m...

Introduction: Debate still exists about the safety of long-term use of prednisone (P) versus hydrocortisone (HC) for treating children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia -21OH D (CAH).Aim: To investigate the linear growth and weigh gain as well as metabolic component in children with CAH who were treated with either HC or P since early infancy for 5 years or more.Methods: Data of ...

Objectives: Thiamine responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome (TRMA) is characterized by the clinical triad of megaloblastic anemia, non-immune diabetes mellitus and sensorineural deafness. It is a very rare autosomal recessive disease with an increased frequency in consanguineous marriages and isolated communities. The syndrome is due to intracellular thiamine deficiency which is the result of a defective high affinity low performance thiamine transporter pro...

Background: Based on growth screening rules, severe short stature (i.e. height SDS less than -3), at the age of more than 3 years, warrants diagnostic evaluation in specialized health care. In the absence of apparent underlying cause, targeted and eventually untargeted genetic studies have been proposed. However, the etiology of short stature at the severe end of the spectrum is poorly characterized.Methods: We ...

Introduction: Male puberty is initiated by endocrine signaling in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis whereby follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) enable testicular maturation and synthesis of testosterone. Recent publications have eluded to overnutrition and obesity as relevant factors that may accelerate the timing of puberty. Attainment of testicular volume (TV) 4 ml measured by Prader orchidometer remains the definition of male puber...

Background: Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a common autosomal dominant disorder of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism characterised by elevated levels of plasma LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), accelerated atherosclerosis and premature cardiovascular disease (CVD). In the Gulf Co-operation Council states, CVD is often diagnosed at a younger age and is the leading cause of mortality. As such, early genetic diagnosis and treatment of FH is important for ri...

Background: Treatment with GH of children born SGA allows an increase in growth velocity (GV) and improves adult height. Increased insulin resistance has been described in these patients, which reverts after interrupting GH administration. However, long-term metabolic consequences are not clearly established.Objective and hypotheses: Describe insulin resistance (HOMA-IR index) and auxological development (GV and height) in SGA children treated with GH fo...

Background and aim: Metformin is widely used in Type 2 diabetes, with increasing reports of a potential bone protective role. We investigated the role of AMPK in mediating the effects of metformin on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation to either osteoblasts or adipocytes.Methods: Confluent mouse MSCs (C3H10T1/2), wild type (WT) and AMPK knockout (KO) mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) were treated with metformin(500 μM), AMPK-activator A769662(...

Background: Consultations for infantile hypercalcaemia have increased at Sydney Children’s Hospital since guidelines for vitamin D3 supplementation during pregnancy were introduced in 2006. Recent nationwide shortages of low-calcium formula (LCF) suggest this problem may be widespread.Aim: To determine if infantile hypercalcaemia is occurring more commonly, identify potential aetiologies and clinical significance.Me...

Background: Using ultrasound to examine the glandular breast tissue is a promising method for staging pubertal breast development. However, breast ultrasound for this purpose has not been explored in a large sample of healthy girls in different developmental stages, and normative data have been unavailable.Objective: To present novel pubertal references for breast ultrasound stages, Tanner breast (B) and pubic hair (PH) ...