ESPE Abstracts

Background: We recently identified loss-of-function mutations in makorin ring finger 3 (MKRN3) as a cause of familial central precocious puberty (CPP). Analysis of Mkrn3 expression in the arcuate nucleus of mice showed high expression levels in juvenile mice, with a marked reduction prior to puberty onset, suggesting that MKRN3 inhibits puberty initiation. The function of MKRN3 is not known but based on its amino acid sequence, it is predicted to act as an ubiquitin l...

Background: Heterozygous GHR gene variants were found in 5–8% of idiopathic short stature (ISS) children. Frequent polymorphisms within GHR coding regions, but not intronic SNPs, have been investigated in ISS.Objectives: To characterize GHR gene variants in ISS children, and to test their influence on height and the peripheral GH/IGF1/IGFBPs system.Methods: GHR gene (coding/intronic flanking...

Background: In Brazil there is a nutritional transition between child malnutrition and increasing prevalence of obesity.Objective and hypotheses: The study aims to identify the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children aged 5–18 years in five private and 15 public schools from city of Uberaba Brazil.Method: Anthropometric data, inventorys physical activities and socioeconomic aspects were evaluated from 1125 individuals...

Background: The beginning and evolution of physiological puberty may be occurring earlier, resulting in change in the age at which clinical investigation on precocious puberty must be conducted, as well as concerns regarding the possible deleterious effects of hormone exposure in a later stage of life.Objective and hypotheses: Assess age of beginning and evolution of puberty in boys and girls acknowledging the age of thelarche (T), menarche (M), period b...

Background: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, one of the most frequent autosome recessive disorders, is caused by defects in steroidogenic enzymes involved in the cortisol biosynthesis. Approximately 95% of cases are caused by a deficiency of the 21-hydroxylase enzyme. Its deficiency leads to androgen excess, consequently, to virilization and rapid somatic growth with accelerated skeletal maturation. Mutations in CYP21A2 are responsible for different forms of 21-hydroxylase defi...

Background: Previous studies evaluating bone quality and microarchitecture in X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH) have produced conflicting data.Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the bone mineral density (BMD) and microarchitecture in 36 XLH patients (13 children and 23 adults) with confirmed PHEX mutations compared to healthy controls.Method: The areal BMD (aBMD) at lumbar spine (L1-L4), femoral neck, total hip an...

Background: X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH) is caused by inactivating mutations in the phosphate-regulating gene with homologies to endopeptidases on the X chromosome (PHEX). In this group of patients, data about renal calcifying disorders are scarce.Objective and hypotheses: To determine the prevalence of nephrocalcinosis and nephrolithiasis and their risk factors in XLH patients.Method: 36 patients (15 children a...

Background: Growth spurt is a major event in central precocious puberty (CPP). GnRH analogue (GnRHa) therapy inhibits gonadal axis and decreases height velocity. However, serum IGF1 and IGFBP-3 remain high as before therapy. Reports on IGF type 1 receptor (IGF1R) in CPP are yet unavailable.Aim: To study IGF1R mRNA expression in girls with CPP before and during GnRHa therapy.Methods: 34 girls with CPP were studied. Sixteen of them (...

Background: Some IGFALS variants have been reported in more than one ALS-deficient family raising the question whether they originated from a single common ancestor allele (founder effect) or alternatively, as independent mutational events (hot spot). Since c.103dupG (p.E35Gfs*17) is located in a stretch of five consecutive guanine residues, where both G-duplication and deletion have been described in several families, we speculate that this region could be a hot spot...

Introduction: The MAMLD1 gene is expressed in fetal and adult testes. It contributes to the development and formation of the male external genitalia in late stages of fetal organogenesis (week 8-12) and to testosterone biosynthesis. The pathogenic genetic variants of this gene determine a significant reduction in plasma testosterone concentrations, although they are not undetectable. Its most common phenotypic manifestation is hypospadias, also described in patients with micro...