ESPE Abstracts

Responsiveness to recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment in Turner syndrome (TS) is highly variable. Previous research has characterised genetic variants associated with rhGH response but these only have a minor impact. The relationship of these genetic variants to the blood transcriptome is unknown. The aim of this analysis was to relate unsupervised baseline blood transcriptome and genetic data from TS patients to their phenotype, karyotype and responsiveness to r...

Background: In humans GRB10 negatively regulates GH and IGF1 signaling predominantly via altering phosphorylation of PI3K/mTOR/AKT and MEK/ERK pathways which relate to both growth and metabolic function. We have previously shown that Grb10 knockdown in Zebrafish results in overgrowth with an increase in length and head size. However the impact on weight in relation to length has not been assessed.Objective: To develop a model t...

The ‘Developmental Origins of Health and Disease’ (DOHaD) hypothesis encapsulates the relationship between pre- and perinatal exposures causing altered growth and the development of later life disease. Mediators of this relationship have not been fully defined. We have used zebrafish [ZF] (Danio rerio) as a potential model for DOHaD, modifying expression of grb10a, an adapter protein that interacts with the insulin and IGF receptors, to act as a negative r...

Background: Glucocorticoids play an important role in the developing fetus, the most important of which is lung maturation by increasing surfactant production and release. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) functioning changes throughout the fetal period, especially during the transition to extrauterine life. Given the importance of glucocorticoids in lung development and functioning, studying glucocorticoid sensitivity in this population would be helpful, especially in the preterm ...

Background and Aim: Achondroplasia is the most common skeletal dysplasia and is associated with serious complications such as foramen magnum stenosis (FMS). Current guidelines in Germany recommend polysomnography at 2-3 months and cranial imaging at 6-9 months of life in achondroplasia, whereas American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to evaluate every infant with achondroplasia for cranio-cervical junction risks via neurologic examination, polysomnography an...

Background: Prolactin is a peptide hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland. Hyperprolactinemia can be caused by stress, but pathological causes of hyperprolactinemia could be due hypothyroidism, medications or hypothalamic/pituitary tumors. It is important to differentiate between the causes of hyperprolactinemia. The best way to accomplish this is via a rest test. One way to accomplish this would be to measure prolactin levels as a part of a hormone ...

Background: For many patients with high-risk cancers, allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) is the only curative option. A major risk of SCT is acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD). About 50% of SCT patients develop aGVHD as a part of their course. Glucocorticoids are the mainstay of therapy in aGVHD patients. Of the patients that develop aGVHD, about 50% develop a steroid refractory/resistant form. These patients tend to require higher doses of steroids and many will requi...

Background: Educating patients and families on the management of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) has always been a challenge. Some endocrinologists educate patients and families with new onset Type 1 DM in the inpatient setting, while others have tried to do this process as an outpatient given the changes in the limits of inpatient coverage. Given the challenges in the education process, we must find new and innovative ways to educate patients and families efficiently in order t...

Background: Graft versus host disease (GVHD) is a complex disease resulting from donor T-cell recognition of a genetic disparate recipient, which is unable to reject donor cells after allogeneic transplant. Glucocorticoids (steroids) are the mainstay of acute GVHD therapy. Glucocorticoid resistance has been characterized in several inflammatory conditions including asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, erythematosus, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. Glucoc...

Background: Women with Turner syndrome (TS) are known to be at risk of osteoporosis and fracture. While childhood GH treatment is common in TS, the impact of this therapy on bone health has been poorly understood.Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of childhood GH-treatment on adult bone quality in TS women using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT).<p c...