ESPE Abstracts

Background: Kisspeptin (encoded by the KISS1 gene in humans), originally described as a puberty onset regulating neuropeptide, is involved in many homeostatic systems, including nutrition status, glucose homeostasis, locomotor activity, etc. Thus, in today’s obesity epidemic, kisspeptin is gaining increasing interest as a research target.Aim: To construct an updated interactome of genetic determinants of obesity, including the kisspeptin si...

Introduction: Body composition analysis is a painless, bloodless and highly informative method of assessing health indicators that can be used extensively in the pediatric population. This is particularly important granted that the prevalence of childhood obesity has been increasing at a fast pace worldwide. Increased adiposity in children and adolescents is an important issue for children’s growth and psychologic development. Assessing the psychosocial status of children...

Introduction: Increased adiposity has been associated with smoldering systemic inflammation and metabolic syndrome manifestations, leading to further morbidity by increasing the risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease in adults. Similar analyses have not been performed systematically in children and adolescents.Hypothesis: This study investigates the interrelations between body composition parameters and indices of inflammation and m...

Background: Translational research has provided evidence of autonomic nervous system (ANS) interactions with cytokines and gut hormones. In the gastrointestinal track, the crosstalk of the stimulated vagus nerve with immune cells enhances the cholinergic tone. In obesity, on the other hand, hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia induce ANS activation.Aim: To synthesize literature results exploring links among the autonomic nervous system, gut hormones, imm...

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder worldwide. Evidence suggests dysfunction of the fronto-subcortical pathways and the dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems, as well as dysregulation of the stress system, i.e., the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS).Objective and hypotheses: The aim of the study was to examine i) the diurn...

Background: The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis responds to several acute or chronic environmental stessors, including those of social stress.Objective and hypotheses: To assess the HPA axis acute response during mental stress and mobile phone call exposure in healthy adolescents through salivary cortisol measurements and to investigate the modulatory effect of baseline biochemical or low-inflammation markers during this response....

Background: After 50 years of hGH use for GH deficient (GHD) children the definition of the adequate hGH substitution dose and response remain uncertain.Objective and hypotheses: We hypothesized that subjects with GHD caused by congenital pituitary defects constitute an ideal model for defining substitution dose of hGH. Consequently, an appropriate study group was formed and pertinent long-term data were retrospectively analyzed.Me...

Background: Hypothalamic hamartomas (HH) are congenital morphogenetic defects frequently associated with central precocious puberty (CPP).Objective and hypotheses: Data on the outcome of girls with CPP due to HH are limited.Method: We report two patients with CPP caused by HH, one with normal fertility.Results: Patient 1, now aged 33 years, was examined at age 15 months (vaginal bleeding, breast and pubic hai...

Background: In recent years, studies have consistently demonstrated higher TSH concentrations in overweight/obese children and adults compared with normal weight individuals, whereas the levels of thyroid hormones in peripheral blood remain within normal range. This euthyroid hyperthyrotropinemia on the background of a worldwide increase in childhood obesity raises the question of whether subjects with this elevated TSH should be treated.Objective and hy...

Introduction: Familial hypercholesterolaemia(FH) is a genetic disorder affecting approximately 1 in 250 people, resulting in high levels of low-density lipoprotein Cholesterol(LDL-C), increasing the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease(CVD) at a younger age. Lipoprotein (a)(Lp(a)) is another risk factor for atherosclerosis, elevated in 20-25% of people and 90% genetically determined, only slightly reduced by diet, exercise and medication.<p clas...