ESPE Abstracts

Background and Aim: Gliomas are the most frequent solid tumors in pediatric population. The IGF system of ligands and receptors are known to play an important role in both normal and neoplastic growth. In a previous work we have reported the quantitation of some components of the IGFs system in SNC pediatric tumours (IGF-1, IGF-2, IGF-1R, IR), being IGF-2 expression the most variable among all the genes studied.Our aim w...

Introduction: In the last years, the prevalence of high blood pressure (HBP) has increased in children, contributing to raise the risk of future cardiovascular disease. It is known that family history, pregnancy characteristics and type of feeding in the first months of life are of great importance in the prevention of diseases in the offspring. In this study we aimed to investigate the association between early life risk factors and HBP in children and adolescents.<p clas...

Background: The side chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1) catalyzes the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone, the first rate-limiting step of steroidogenesis. CYP11A1 mutations are associate with primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) and, in 46,XY patients, Disorders of Sex Development (DSD). A total of 35 patients (27 families) are reported including 15 intermediate forms with delayed onset of PAI, variable degrees of DSD or normal male phenotype.<p class="abstext"...

Background: Aromatase deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder produced by CYP19 gene mutations. 46XX affected patients presented with ambiguous genitalia leading to early identification. Most 46XY affected patients presented normal external genitalia and the condition often remains undiagnosed until late puberty. Information on pubertal development in affected boys is scarce since to the present date only two patients, younger than 4 years of age, without lo...

Background: Vitamin D3 (25OHD) insufficiency is becoming a public health issue. Adequate 25OHD status during pregnancy may influence the health status of the offspring.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the levels of 25OHD during pregnancy (at 12 weeks) and at 4 years old, assessing seasonality, time of sun exposure, and intake.Method: Data were obtained from 485 pregnant mothers recruited in Asturias between 2004 and 2007 and t...

Background: During the 1st months of postnatal life serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in girls are lower than in boys. The mechanism of this sex difference is not known. It has been proposed that foetal or perinatal androgenic steroids have an effect on the control of LH secretion.Objective and hypotheses: To study the possible influence of high levels of androgens on serum gonadotropins during the 1st months of life in a cohort of nine 46,XX testicu...

Background: Humanin is a novel signaling peptide which has been showed, by in vitro and in vivo studies, to improve insulin sensitivity. As plasma humanin levels decrease during adulthood, particularly during aging, it has been proposed that the increment of insulin resistance in aging might be associated with lesser humanin plasma values.Objective and hypotheses: The physiological insulin resistance observed during puberty in normal ch...

Background: Congenital growth hormone deficiency may be isolated (IGHD) or multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD). The Sonic Hedgehog signalling (SHH) pathway has an important role in the pituitary development and growth, acting early in ventral forebrain. The SHH signalling mediates its effects through three zinc fingers proteins (Gli1, Gli2 and Gli3), which lead to activation or repression of target genes. Several heterozygous GLI2 mutations have been reported in patie...

GHD diagnosis in neonates and infants is a challenge owing to the fact that GH pharmacological stimulation tests (GHST) are not approved at this age. In a retrospective study, we found that a random GH<6.5 µg/L confirmed GHD diagnosis in neonates with clinical suspicion of GHD with high diagnostic accuracy (1). The accuracy of GH and its surrogates of action have not been set for infants with current standardized immunoassays.Objective</...

Introduction:The incidence of obesity increases unstoppably in all populations and at all ages, and with it, the associated metabolic morbidity and mortality. The promotion of physical activity and a healthy diet are the fundamental elements to alleviate this situation. The objective of this study is to determine the relationship of physical activity and eating patterns with body composition, the degree of adiposity and certain metabolic risk factors.<p cl...