ESPE Abstracts

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 ...

Background: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) is a complex molecule involved in lipid and glucose metabolism. FGF-21 shares biochemical pathways and sites of action with thyroid hormones. Current data correlate FGF-21 levels to thyroid function. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible associations among FGF-21 levels, resting metabolic rate (RMR), lipidemic profile and L-thyroxin replacement therapy treatment in children and adolescents wit...

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) hits about 1:300 with rising incidence affecting increasingly younger children. Population screening at ages 2-6yrs with T1D associated autoantibodies (T1Ab) has been recently proven sensitive. While potential treatments to prevent or delay T1D are currently in development, a population based cost-effective preventive strategy is still lacking. Hence, 2000IU cholecalciferol daily in a large birth cohort study published in 2001 reduced by 80% the risk of T...

Introduction: Familial hypercholesterolaemia(FH) is a genetic disorder affecting approximately 1 in 250 people, resulting in high levels of low-density lipoprotein Cholesterol(LDL-C), increasing the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease(CVD) at a younger age. Lipoprotein (a)(Lp(a)) is another risk factor for atherosclerosis, elevated in 20-25% of people and 90% genetically determined, only slightly reduced by diet, exercise and medication.<p clas...

Objectives: Age at menarche depends on genetic, environmental, epigenetic and other factors. Studies have shown that aspects of perinatal history, including birth weight, mode of delivery (caesarian section or vaginal delivery) and gestational week at birth influence the onset of puberty. The purpose of this study was to record the age at menarche in a sample of Greek girls and to correlate it with their perinatal history, the mothers’ age at menarche, t...

Background: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency is a rare pediatric disorder. The classic form occurs in 1:15,000 births worldwide. Osteogenesis imperfecta is a rare bone disease occurring in 1 in 15,000 to 20,000 births. Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) is of the commonest food allergies in early life. Our case presents the co existence of the abovementioned entities in a patient.Case report:</str...