ESPE Abstracts

Deletions at 16p11.2 have been reported to be associated with obesity, intellectual disability and various malformations. There are variations in phenotypes associated with deletions of different sizes in this region. Some deletions encompass the SH2B1 gene encoding an adaptor protein involved in leptin and insulin signalling which is believed to be causal for the early-onset obesity of these patients who in addition show a developmental delay (see patient 1). Deletio...

Background: Idiopathic ketotic hypoglycaemia (IKH) is an exclusion diagnosis and the most common cause of hypoglycaemia in childhood. Glycogen Storage disease (GSD) type IX comprises one quarter of all GSD’s. GSDIXa, encoded by PHKA2, is the most frequent subtype.Objective: To investigate whether IKH may be undiagnosed GSDIXa.Methods: Hospital file review and next generation sequence 29 gene GSD-panel.<p class="ab...

Background: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the most common endocrine disorder in neonates and is predominantly caused by developmental abnormalities known as thyroid dysgenesis (TD). Several transcription factors have been described in its aetiology, but defects in the known genes only account for a small proportion of cases.Methods: To identify novel genes involved in TD, we performed exome sequencing in 7 unrelated ...

Background: Preserving spermatogonial stem cell (SSCs) in Klinefelter syndrome (KS) adolescents by testicular tissue banking to safeguard their fertility potential is under debate. While diagnosis of KS is frequently made in late adolescence or young adulthood, when testicular fibrosis is already present, this strategy may be an option when associated with in vitro culture and maturation of SSC.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the attitude ...

Background and aim: Metformin is widely used in Type 2 diabetes, with increasing reports of a potential bone protective role. We investigated the role of AMPK in mediating the effects of metformin on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation to either osteoblasts or adipocytes.Methods: Confluent mouse MSCs (C3H10T1/2), wild type (WT) and AMPK knockout (KO) mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) were treated with metformin(500 μM), AMPK-activator A769662(...

Introduction: Monogenic obesity refers to a group of rare, early-onset forms of obesity and accounts for about 7% of patients with severe pediatric obesity. Recent reports demonstrate the emerging role of Src-homology-2 (SH2) B adaptor protein 1 (Sh2b1), an important component in the leptin-melanocortin pathway, as a key regulator of leptin and insulin signaling, with possible roles in the pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes. SH2B1 deletions are found to be a...

Context: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive inherited disease characterized by degeneration of anterior horn cells of the spinal cord and brainstem resulting in variable degrees of muscular atrophy and proximal muscle weakness. In December 2016, nusinersen was FDA-approved for the treatment of SMA in pediatric and adult patients. The introduction of this therapeutic modality has provided a platform for professional medical-care providers i...

Background: The polyethylene glycol (PEG) method, which utilizes the addition of PEG to precipitate immunoglobulin fractions in order to measure free thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), has been implemented as a tool for investigating incongruities in TSH measurement.Aim of the study: To investigate the practical application of PEG-TSH testing in pediatric scenarios with a discrepancy between elevated TSH and normal free ...

Background: Kinase suppressor of Ras 2 (KSR2) gene codes for a scaffold protein modulating intracellular pathways that involve MEK/BRAF cascade and AMPK signaling. KSR2 plays an important role in energy balance regulation, and KSR2 mutations were reported to be associated with obesity and insulin resistance in mice and humans. In transfected cells, several KSR2 mutations lead to impaired fatty acid oxidation, which improved under met...

Context: Synthetic corticosteroids are medications frequently prescribed for a wide range of medical indications. Various preparations differ in their biological effect, mode of administration, potency and duration of action. Comprehensive knowledge is essential in order to prescribe corticosteroids in an efficient yet safe manner.Objectives: To explore pediatricians' practices and attitudes regarding corticosteroid ...