ESPE Abstracts

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...

Background: Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy–candidiasis–ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), is a rare inherited disease of childhood, caused by the mutation of the AIRE gene on chromosome 21. It is characterized by three main diseases: chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC), chronic hypoparathyroidism (HP), and Addison’s disease (AD), and can be associated with other autoimmune diseases and/or manifestations of ectodermal dystrophy.Case...

Background: Obesity-related insulin resistance is present in obese children and Matsuda index is a method proposed to evaluate insulin resistance, using data obtained from the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).Objective and hypotheses: To investigate whether the clinical indicators of family history of obesity and/or Type II diabetes, acanthosis nigricans, and increased waist circumference are associated with insulin resistance, as calculated by the Mat...

Background: Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) is a rare group of disorders characterised by end-organ resistance to parathyroid hormone (PTH), and possibly TSH, with or without features of Albright’s hereditary osteodystrophy.Case presentation: A 14-year-old boy presented with fatigue and spontaneous carpal spasms in association with a febrile viral infection. Past medical history was significant for an episode of asymptomatic hypocalcemia treated with...

Background: Non-compliance is a major issue for treatment failure in childhood obesity.Objective and hypotheses: To identify the barriers of adherence to weight management programs, of obese children and adolescents.Method: A descriptive, ongoing study based on phone recorded questionnaires with the use of information from the medical records. The study group consisted of 85 overweight and obese children and adolescents (M/F=46/39)...

Introduction: Down syndrome (DS) is a chromosomal disorder. Children with DS have different height and weight patterns compared to children without DS. The aim of our study was to compare anthropometric parameters (expressed in standard deviation score-SDS) of people with DS using charts for DS and population (P) charts.Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 114 patients with DS (64 girls), aged 4 months – 36 years (average age: 8.2 yea...

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has forced the authorities to impose a lockdown to minimize the risk of infection. This extreme and prolonged situation has caused changes in habits, dietary and glycemic control in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and Flash glucose monitoring (FGM) have allowed health care professionals to a remote control of the patients.Aim: The aim of the stu...

Background: Newborns admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) are exposed to multiple painful and stressful procedures. It is postulated that high pain exposure in the first weeks of life can have a long-lasting impact on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Assessment of the salivary cortisol (SC) is a useful method for non-invasive monitoring of baseline activity and stress response of HPA axis.Objective: An...

Background: Hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) is a life-threatening condition rarely seen in paediatrics. It is however becoming increasingly recognised with the growing incidence of childhood type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Objective and hypotheses: We present a child with Bardet–Biedel syndrome (BBS), with new-onset T2DM presenting in HHS, and discuss the dilemmas encountered in his management due to multiple co-morbidities, including renal ...