ESPE Abstracts

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder worldwide. Evidence suggests dysfunction of the fronto-subcortical pathways and the dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems, as well as dysregulation of the stress system, i.e., the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS).Objective and hypotheses: The aim of the study was to examine i) the diurn...

Background: Adrenal incidentalomas(AIs) are adrenal masses discovered occasionally by radiological evaluation in the absence of clinical features of adrenal disease. Clinical evaluation is important in patients with AIs. AIs are bilateral (10–15%); manifest as nonfunctioning cortical adenomas (70–80%), pheochromocytomas (1.1–11%), subclinical Cushing syndrome (5–20%), primary aldosteronism (1–2%), primary adrenocortical carcinomas (<5%) and metasta...

Background: In premature adrenarche (PA) children bone age (BA) may be greater than chronological age (CA), however final height is usually within target height (TH).Objective and hypotheses: Aim of the study was to evaluate the evolution of BA in girls with PA.Method: We studied retrospectively the files of 60 girls with PA followed in our unit. Anthropometric data and Tanner pubertal status were determined in each visit and BA wa...

Background: It has already been documented that selenium treatment has beneficial effects in adult patients with autoimmune thyroiditis, especially in those with a higher titer of antibodies and increased inflammatory disease activity.Objective and hypotheses: To investigate whether daily supplementation of organic selenium at a high dose (200 μg in the form of L-selenomethionine) has any effect on the titer of thyroid autoantibodies.<p class="a...

Background: A number of studies have previously described seasonality of birth in children with type 1 diabetes, thus suggesting that the autoimmune process may begin during fetal development. However, there is a lack of data regarding autoimmune thyroid disease in childhood.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of this study was to analyse the seasonal birth month pattern in young patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis and compare it with that of youth healthy...

Background: A positive association between osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has been recently reported. Additionally, there is evidence that OPG in obese adults participates in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases by promoting inflammation, which is known to be linked to insulin resistance (IR). There is few data regarding the relationship among obesity-IR-OPG, in youth.Objective and hypot...

Background: Childhood obesity predisposes to metabolic disorders. Low grade inflammation of adipose tissue (AT) associated with macrophage infiltration may lead to metabolic complications. Two macrophage activation states M1 (pro-inflammatory) and M2 (anti-inflammatory) exist in AT with surface markers CD40 (M1), CD206 (M2) and CD163 (M2). M1 polarization correlates with metabolic complications.Objective and hypotheses: To study the expression of CD40, C...

Background: Morbid childhood obesity predisposes to metabolic disorders such as diabetes type 2. In mice, heat-producing ‘brown-like’ (beige) adipocytes can suppress weight gain and metabolic disease through the action of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) localized in the mitochondria.Objective and hypotheses: To study the expression of UCP1 in the adipose tissue of lean&obese children and adolescents.Method: Paraffin embed...

Background: Adipose tissue (AT) in obesity is characterized by low grade inflammation. The apoptosis inhibitor of macrophages (AIM; also called CD5L) is incorporated into adipocytes leading to increased lipolysis. Excess AIM-dependent lipolysis induces adipose tissue macrophage recruitment. M1 (proinflammatory) macrophage infiltration, with surface marker CD40, correlates with metabolic complications.Objective and hypotheses: To study serum levels and AT...

Background: The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased dramatically in the last decades and accounts for a significant increase in morbidity and mortality in adulthood.Objective and hypotheses: To determine the prevalence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in overweight and obese children and adolescents.Method: 350 (n=350) children and adolescents (153 males (M), 197 females (F)) were recruited to ...