ESPE Abstracts

Background: CNS tumours are the most frequent solid tumours in children. In pediatric gliomas, IGF1R nuclear localization was significantly associated with both high grade tumours and increased risk of death and contributed to the aggressive phenotype of glioblastoma by increasing motility and metabolism of tumour cells rather than increasing its proliferation. For children chemotherapy after surgical resection is the mainstay of therapy. However, the best reg...

Background: Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid closely related to the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) considered as the major source of energy during prolonged exercise. During fasting, when the liver switches to fatty acid oxidation, a rise in serum GH occurs concomitantly with the accumulation of BHB and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) acetate, propionate and butyrate. Interactions between GH, ketone body and SCFA during the metabolic adaptation to fasting are poor...

Background: In Romania (latitude 48°15’N to 43°40’N), vitamin D supplementation is a common practice mostly in 0–2 year old infants. No published information is available regarding vitamin D status in Romanian children.Objective and hypotheses: We aimed to evaluate the seasonal and age variation of vitamin D status in a large Romanian pediatric patient population.Method: 1 395 individuals, 0–18years, f...

Background: Homozygous aggrecan (ACAN) mutations have been described in a few skeletal dysplasias whilst more recently, heterozygous ACAN mutations have been reported in few families presenting with idiopathic short stature with advanced bone maturation and premature growth cessation.Case presentation: We describe two novel heterozygous ACAN stop mutations, detected using a skeletal dysplasia NGS panel and confirmed by Sanger sequencing...

Introduction: Cortisol homeostasis dysregulation has been associated to essential hypertension in adults. Higher levels of cortisol have been described in preterm-born individuals, who have also a higher risk of hypertension at younger ages. Several enzymes modulate peripheric cortisol metabolism. The 11b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11b-HSD) type 2 metabolizes cortisol into cortisone, preventing mineralocorticoid receptors’ activation by cortisol. The i...

Background: Biochemical ratios of precursor-to-product urinary steroid metabolites have been proposed as surrogate markers of steroidogenic enzyme activity to aid the differential diagnosis of inborn disorders of steroidogenesis. Using ratios rather than total amounts facilitates analysis of single spot urine samples, more convenient than 24-h urine collections for young children. Previous studies examining the utility of these biochemical ratios have been lim...

Background: Paediatric bone marrow transplantation (BMT) can lead to endocrine dysfunctions due to common pre-procedure protocols involving chemo and radiotherapy.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the prevalence and time-of-onset of endocrine dysfunctions after BMT in children and adolescents.Method: A retrospective cohort-study design was performed. The inclusion criteria were: age range less than 18 years old at the time of t...

Objectives: To describe the auditory phenotype and dynamics of hearing thresholds in patients with Turner Syndrome (TS).Patients and Methods: Cross-section study evaluating the hearing thresholds in 246 TS patients (age range 4-44 yrs). Patients were divided into three age groups: Group 1 (79 TS, age range 4.0-12.9 yrs); Group 2 (109 TS, age range 13.0-25.9 yrs,) and Group 3 (66 TS, age range 26.0-44.9 yrs,). Pure tone a...

Objectives: To investigate prognostic markers (age, initial hearing level, karyotype, chronic hormonal therapies, and presence/absence of a mid-frequency dip influence) for hearing loss (HL) in Turner syndrome (TS).Design: Longitudinal cross-sectional and retrospective study.Study Population: 61 TS females (age range 4 - 45 yrs), diagnosed by cytogenetic analysis (49,2% monosom...

Background: ROHHADNET syndrome affects children with normal development until 2–4 years of age.Objective and hypotheses: Aim of this study was to evaluate a possible role of autoimmunity in this disorder. In spite of a suspicion for genetic etiology, disease-associated genetic variations have not been identified. A paraneoplastic/autoimmune etiology has been suggested mainly because of the association with neural crest tumors....