ESPE Abstracts

Background: Several years ago, we developed a recombinant cell bioassay to determine serum estrogenic bioactivity (EBA). In addition to its physiological interest, EBA could be a good marker of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) with estrogenic activity and thus would be useful in the field of environmental-related endocrine diseases.Aims and objectives: To characterise the type of substances that mediate estrogenic activity.Met...

Background: The oestrogenic activity of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) has been reported to be associated with premature thelarche (PT) and precocious puberty. Some years ago, we developed a recombinant cell bioassay to determine serum estrogenic bioactivity (EBA) that is useful in physiology, as well as in the field of the environmental-related endocrine diseases. We recently improved the assay with an evaluation of EBA before and after incubation with estrogen recepto...

Background: Young adult patients with childhood-onset GH deficiency (GHD) whose GH replacement therapy (GHRT) is discontinued exhibit negative metabolic and physiological effects, reversible through GHRT.Objective and hypotheses: To report the characteristics and 5-year GHRT in adults with childhood-onset GHD.Method: Analysis of the subgroup of adults with childhood-onset GHD included between March 2003 and October 2006 in KIMS. In...

Background: Androgen receptor (AR) gene mutations are the most frequent cause of 46,XY disorders of sex development and are associated with a variety of phenotypes, ranging from phenotypic women (complete androgen insensitivity syndrome) to milder degrees of undervirilization (partial and mild forms).Aims and objectives: To specify how a phenotype-genotype correlation can be refined by in vitro study based on the nature of amino acid substitutio...

Background: Pubertal gynecomastia is a common condition appearing in up to 65% of adolescent boys. However, if male breast development is over B3–B4 and lasts more than 2–3 years, persistent pubertal gynecomastia (PPG) may be the sign of serious endocrine disease and the source of considerable psychological discomfort.Objective and hypotheses: We investigated a cohort of 24 adolescents with PPG followed at the Pediatric Endocrinogy Unit over a ...

Background: Epidemiological evidence in Europe indicates the increasing prevalence of premature puberty, especially in girls. This may be attributed to in utero and early-life exposure to environmental estrogen-like compounds present in pesticides, plastics (bisphenol A, phtalates …) and beauty products.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of premature thelarche (PT) and central precocious puberty (C...

Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common cause of hirsutism and menstrual irregularity in adolescent girls and young women. It is often accompanied by obesity and insulin resistance and is associated to lifelong co-morbidities, including subfertility, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, pre-menopausal cancer, depression, low health-related Qol, and pregnancy and offspring complications. PCOS in adolescent girls is commonly driven by fat excess in subcutaneo...

Sex differentiation and development are complex processes reflecting the precise spatiotemporal expression of specific genes and interactions among gene products. In some instances, peripheral blood karyotype diverges from anticipated findings based on phenotypic features. Ascertaining for chromosomal mosaicism aids the shared decision-making discussions with families and other health care providers. We have investigated for sex chromosome mosaicism in 13 patients by using flu...

Background: Telomere length at birth is a major determinant of telomere length in late adulthood. However, the prenatal setting of telomere length is poorly understood. Individuals born large from non-diabetic mothers are at lower risk for later-life disorders than those born small, a feature of their longer health span being a higher lean mass that provides more muscle strength and that is already present in infancy.Objective, hypotheses & methods: ...

Background: Adolescents presenting with persistent gender dysphoria (GD) may undergo pubertal suspension via the use of GnRH analogues such as triptorelin (Gonapeptyl Depot) to allow further consideration of the dysphoria. Locally, a standard monthly dose of this drug is administered for an initial target duration of 12 months prior to re-assessment.Objective and hypotheses: The need to obtain full gonadotrophin and sex hormone suppression to ensure accu...