ESPE Abstracts

Background: Several studies have correlated Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART) including classic IVF and Intacytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) with epigenetic alterations in the offspring that could have long lasting unfavorable metabolic effects. Proteomics, a state-of-the-art technology used for the identification of early biomarkers of disease, has already been implemented in the search of success in ART but not yet for such markers evaluation in offspring of ART.</p...

Background: The low-dose short Synacthen test is a popular diagnostic test of adrenal insufficiency in children. It is employed by 82% of UK paediatric endocrinologists. Although various dosing strategies exist, 1 μg is most commonly employed, however none of the low-dose forms are commercially available. A BSPED survey revealed 14 different methods for diluting 250 μg/ml ampoules.Objective and hypotheses: Do various dilution strategies result ...

Background: Cell-mediated initiation of enchondral ossification is essential for growth plate maturation. The matrix mineralization inhibitors matrix Gla protein (MGP) and osteocalcin (OC) represent key regulators of matrix mineralization and are highly expressed in growth plate chondrocytes. Pharmacological or nutritional phylloquinone (K1) depletion is known to affect skeletal mineralization by reduced gamma-carboxilisation of MGP and OC. Constituents of mineral matrix such ...

Background: Difficulties in transition of adolescent Turner Syndrome (TS) patients to adult health care has been reported in many studies.Objective and hypotheses: We conducted a medical and psychological follow-up of adult patients with Turner Syndrome which had been treated at our tertiary pediatric endocrine centre.Method: We screened for expected comorbidities and provided a questionnaire asking for current medical care. Furthe...

Background: Upon excessive expansion, adipose tissue is infiltrated by macrophages and shows increased production of inflammatory cytokines. This chronic low grade inflammation of adipose tissue is involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. A supplementation with resveratrol can reverse the metabolic disturbances of human obesity, in part by mimicking the effects of caloric restriction.Objective and Hypotheses: We hypothesized that the beneficia...

Background: Progressive osseous heteroplasia (POH) is a rare condition characterized by extensive heterotopic ossification (HO) of connective tissues. Associations of HO and Albright hereditary dystrophy (AHO) lead to the identification of GNAS mutations to be causative for ectopic none formations. The highly imprinted GNAS locus is known to cause a broad spectrum of pathologic conditions, including pseudohypoparathyrodism (PHP), pseudoPHP AHO. While PHP is caused by maternal ...

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...

Introduction: Standard dose for GH deficient children is 0.025 mg/kg per day given subcutaneously once daily. Inborn panhypopituitarism is a special subset of GH deficiency. Its management is difficult because several hormones need to be replaced. We present three patients with perinatal onset panhypopituitarism.Case reports: Case 1 is a 7-year-old boy who had hypoglycaemic seizure with reanimation due to circulatory arrest shortly after birth. Panhypopi...

Background: Specific measurement of low serum/plasma concentrations of 17β-oestradiol (E2) is important in pre-pubertal and pubertal children in routine paediatric endocrinology. The role of oestrone (E1) and oestriol (E3) is not as comprehensively well understood in different pediatric endocrine disease states. We describe a method for high sensitivity analysis of estradiol (E2), oestrone (E1) and oestriol (E3) using LC-MS/MS.Objective and hypothes...