ESPE Abstracts

Background: A 33-year-old woman with a history of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), surgically treated aged 4, presented for prenatal screening at 20 weeks gestation. Ultrasound examination identified that the female foetus had a 3-cm adrenal lesion. She had a positive family history for multiple-endocrine-neoplasia-type 2/MEN2 (paternal grandmother) and her father’s cousin was diagnosed with ACC and Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) at 30 year old. Calcitonin, PTH and cathecholam...

Introduction: Genetic alterations within the cAMP/PKA pathway, including the genes GNAS, PDE11A, PDE8, PRKAR1A/B, and PRKACA, result in a spectrum of adrenocortical disorders. To date, somatic PRKACA variants and germline PRKACA copy number gain have been associated with the development of cortisol-secreting adrenocortical adenomas and bilateral adrenal hyperplasia, respectively. While variants within the PRKAR1A ge...

Background: What initiates pubertal process in humans and other mammals has remained elusive.Objective and hypotheses: We hypothesize that gene(s), whose products trigger the GnRH pulse generator to restart ticking at the usual time of puberty, can be identified via autozygosity mapping together with whole exome sequencing in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (IHH).Method: We studied a cohort IHH cases. Functi...

Background/hypothesis: Congenital hyperinsulinism in infancy (CHI) mainly arises from mutations in ATP-sensitive potassium channel genes. However, the expression pattern of defects can be markedly diverse. In diffuse CHI (CHI-D) all islet cells express gene defects, whereas patients with focal CHI (CHI-F) only express defects in a localised region of islet cells due to loss of a maternally-imprinted locus. Here, we examined the properties of a novel population of CHI islet cel...

Background: Obesity during childhood and adolescence can be accompanied by serious long-term adverse health and longevity outcomes. With increased use of bariatric surgery to treat obesity in these patients, diverse guidelines have been published, most of which exclude children aged younger than 14 years. Few reports describe laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in children and adolescents, delay in determining its safety and effectiveness and develop guidance regarding its use.</p...

Background: Bisphenol A (BPA), a plastic byproduct, is a known endocrine disruptor and is types of cancers, such as prostate and ovaries, and some other health conditions, for instance diabetes and obesity. It has direct effect on reproductive system through its strong oestrogen agonist activity.Objective and hypotheses: BPA has a strong oestrogen agonist activity. And oestrogen antagonize cellular activity of growth hormone (GH), however, the effect of ...

Background: Tall stature is defined as height >02 S.D. above the population mean. The most common cause is normal familial tall stature, but some cases are pathological and require special attention.Observations: We report four clinical cases corresponding to four diagnostic categories. We describe the diagnostic approach and difficulties encountered through these cases.Case 1: A boy aged 25 months was referred f...

Background: An increased prevalence of extra-thyroidal congenital malformations in infants with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is well established. However, accurate estimation of prevalence figures requires careful distinction between permanent and transient CH. Moreover, the mechanisms resulting in congenital malformations are not well understood.Study aim: To estimate the prevalence of cardiac, extra-cardiac and/or sy...

Background: The Scottish Paediatric Endocrine Managed Clinical Network is committed to providing equity of care and education across Scotland. A key role is the education of health care professionals and how this is delivered. An extensive survey using a Learning Needs Analysis Tool was completed to ascertain learning needs and their delivery across Scotland. This highlighted the desire to have online learning available to health professionals.Objective:...

Background: Micronutrients play a fundamental role not only in general health, but also in treatment and protection of various diseases. Selenium and iron are two of the five major elements, aside from vitamins, detected as anti-oxidant agents, widely used with the aim of preventing diseases.Objective and hypotheses: The purpose of this study is to evaluate serum levels of selenium and ferritin in acute infections of childhood.Meth...