ESPE Abstracts

Indels are highly abundant in human genomes and have contributed massively to genome evolution. However, the role of indels and their underlined mechanisms of mutagenesis in Mendelian disorders still needs to be appreciated. To explore the contribution of indels in a monogenic disorder, we analyzed all indels already described in the AR gene, including three novel indels found in our cohort. We analyzed the indel distribution through the AR coding region, compared wit...

Introduction and Aims: Autosomal dominant hypocalcemia or type V Bartter syndrome is characterized by hypocalcemia, low parathyroid hormone (PTH), and calciuria, which marks its prognosis due to the risk of nephrocalcinosis. It is caused by activating mutations in the calcium-sensing receptor (CASR) gene (3q21.1), which is expressed in the parathyroid and renal tubules, causing salt and potassium loss, due to the inhibition of the ROMK and NKCC2 channels. We s...

Introduction: 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis (GD) represents a heterogeneous group of disorders/differences of sex development (DSD) characterized by abnormal gonadal development leading to a wide phenotypic spectrum. Variable degrees of external genitalia undervirilization are observed, ranging from micropenis to female-like genitalia and partially or fully-developed Mullerian derivatives.Case Report: A 6 years-old boy follow...

Introduction: No consensus on vitamin D (VitD) deficiency screening in children and adolescents exists.Aim: To evaluate a sample of patients in whom VitD dosing was performed and determine the rationale for this assessment.Methods: Retrospective, longitudinal study of pediatric patients, from a Portuguese tertiary hospital, who had at least two 25(OH)D level blood sampling between ...

Introduction: Overgrowth syndromes comprise an heterogeneous group of rare disorders characterized by generalized or segmental excessive growth commonly associated with additional features, such as developmental delay, visceromegaly and macrocephaly. They may present with inherent health concerns and, in some instances, an increased risk of tumor development requiring prompt diagnosis and appropriate referral.Objective: ...

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) is one of the treatments to promote weight loss in children with obesity. The WHO advices to perform moderate to vigorous (MV) PA during 60-min daily. It is necessary to measure the effect of increasing PA and the adherence to therapy.Aims: To evaluate PA using accelerometry at the onset and after 8 weeks of treatment with nutritional intervention and increase in PA.Patients, material and method...

Background: Neonatal hypocalcemia is defined when the total calcium levels are under 8 mg/dl (Ionic Ca < 1.1 mmol/l) in the full-term newborn, and under 7 mg/dl (Ionic Ca < 1 mmol/l) in the preterm. The fetus entirely depends on the maternal contributions of 25-OH-vitamin D, whose levels are directly correlated with diet and solar exposure. The largest transfer in calcium and vitamin D occurs in the third trimester of gestation, so prematurity is an important risk fact...

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: Hypothalamic obesity (HyOb) is a disease characterized by weight gain resistant to lifestyle changes and dietary restriction. The main clinical findings are hyperfagia and decline of satiety, high levels of insulin and an increase of adipogenesis. The major problem for these patients is that conventional treatments, either medical or surgical are not succesful and have variable results.Objective and hypotheses: We aim to describe the natural ...

Background: Glucocorticoids play an important role in the developing fetus; the most important of which is lung maturation by increasing surfactant production and release. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) functioning changes throughout the fetal period, especially during the transition to extrauterine life. Given the importance of glucocorticoids in lung development and functioning, studying glucocorticoid sensitivity (GS) in this population would be helpful, especially in the pre...