ESPE Abstracts

DICER1, a gene located on chromosome 14q32.13, encodes a protein ribonuclease (RNase) IIIb that plays a central regulatory role in miRNA processing. DICER1 syndrome has an autosomal dominant inheritance and predisposes affected individuals to a wide variety of tumors, both benign and malignant. We describe the case of a 6-year-old girl, carrier of a DICER1 germline mutation, and affected by a differentiated thyroid carcinoma. At the age of 6 a first thyroid ultrasound revealed...

Introduction: This study describes the experience of introducing Nao, a humanoid robot, into a Summer Camp for children with diabetes (August 2013, Misano Adriatico, Italy), with the aim to provide them a companion capable to support and motivate. Our goal was to investigate if, Nao’s interactions with children could positively affect the adherence to specific medical recommendations during their stay. Namely children were asked to fill in a specific nutritional diary. Th...

Background: Data regarding epidemiology and management of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) in Italian children with T1D at disease onset are lacking.Method: From 1/1/2012 to 31/12/2013 a survey on DKA was conducted in all paediatric Centres belonging to the Italian Society for Pediatric Diabetology and Endocrinology. DKA was defined according to the ISPAD criteria. The following data were collected: treatment according ISPAD protocol yes or not, type of rehyd...

At present no European recommendations for the management of pediatric thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) exist. Differences in clinical, molecular, and pathological characteristics between pediatric and adult DTC emphasize the need for specific recommendations for the pediatric population. An expert panel was instituted by the executive committee of the European Thyroid Association (ETA) including an international community of experts from a variety of...

Background: The detection of hyperglycemia on occasional evaluation raises the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM). Maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY), namely glucokinase deficiency, should be considered in cases of non-progressive hyperglycemia associated with a positive family history.Objective and hypotheses: We describe two unrelated cases of asymptomatic hyperglycemia where glucokinase mutations were detected.Method: ...

Background: Severe Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) defined as triglycerides (TG) in blood plasma higher than 1000 mg/dl is a rare condition in childhood. Its causes are classified as primary and secondary and among these last they include pharmacological causes. Steroids associated with some chemotherapy drugs, particularly asparaginase (Asp), are a combination with special risk.Objective and hypotheses: Describe the evolution of lipids profile in LLA patient...

Background: Neonatal diabetes (ND) is a rare monogenic form of diabetes presenting within the first six months of life. The most frequent causes include mutations in KCNJ11, ABCC8 and insulin genes, but up to 40% of patients remain without a molecular genetic diagnosis.Case presentation: Case 1: a female newborn of non-consanguineous parents, born at 35 weeks, SGA. She presented with hyperglycemia at second day of life...

Background: Pappalysins (PAPP-A, PAPP-A2) and stanniocalcins (STC-1, STC-2) are novel regulators of the GH-IGF axis, modulating IGF bioavailability through control of cleavage of IGFBPs and release of IGF from the ternary complex. Changes in the peripheral IGF system, including low IGF concentrations independently of GH secretion, have been reported in scenarios of malnutrition such as anorexia nervosa (AN). The role of pappalysins and stanniocalcins in the pa...

Background: Imprinted genes are known to regulate fetal growth and a ‘parental conflict’ model predicts that paternally and maternally expressed imprinted genes promote and inhibit fetal growth, respectively. GNAS is a complex imprinted locus with multiple oppositely imprinted gene products. Maternal, but not paternal, G(s)alpha mutations lead to obesity in pseudohypoparathyroidism type IA (PHPIA). However, the disorder rarely causes severe obesity in infancy as pred...

Introduction: Early-onset severe obesity (before five years of age) without intellectual deficit, dysmorphisms, or malformations raises the hypothesis of monogenic obesity. The leptin receptor (Lepr) pathway is essential for food intake regulation, energy expenditure, and body weight. Mutations in leptin and the Lepr have been shown to cause early-onset severe obesity in mice and humans.Objective: To report the clinical ...