ESPE Abstracts

Childhood obesity became a global plague: 9% of Italian children (17% of USA children) is obese and 21% is overweight. Nowadays only a small number of obese children undergoes genetic analysis, usually when obesity is associated with dysmorphic features. Our purpose was to identify genomic rearrangement causing obesity: we analyzed the DNA of 52 children by array-CGH (platform CytoScan-HD, Affymetrix). Patients included in our study were 29 males (55,8%) and 23...

Background: FGF21 is a metabolic and growth regulator.Aim: To investigate the role of FGF21 during growth in infancy.Methods: Cohort of 40 term (T) and 40 preterm (PT) newborns whose length and weight were evaluated prospectively at birth, 6 months, and 12 months. Blood samples for FGF21, IGF1, leptin, insulin and glucose were collected at 6 and 12 months. In addition, FGF21, I GF-I, leptin, and insulin were measured in cord blood ...

Introduction: Type 1 Arnold Chiari syndrome (extension of cerebellar tonsils into the foramen magnum without involving the brain stem) causes ataxia, dysphagia, headache, breathing problems… So far, an association between Arnold Chiari and autoimmune diseases has not yet been described in literature.Case 1 description: M.V., on term third born, spontaneous delivery, non complicated pregnancy, normal physical and psychological development stages. He...

Background: “Carney complex” is an autosomal dominant inheritance extremely rare genetic syndrome, usually determined by PRKAR1A (17q22-24) gene mutations. The clinical picture is characterized by speckled skin pigmentation; cardiac, cutaneous and mammary myxomas; schwannomas; endocrinopathies (acromegaly, Cushing syndrome due to primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease) and tumors of the endocrine glands.Case...

Background: Fetal growth is partly regulated by epigenetic factors, such as DNA methylation. Altered methylation status in placental genes relates to gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and prematurity. However, the epigenetic mechanisms underlying fetal growth restraint in uncomplicated pregnancies remain unknown.Objective and hypotheses: We aimed at identifying new candidate genes related to fetal growth, by assessing DNA methylation profiling in placen...

We report and discuss a case of a girl who at birth underwent surgery for Hirschsprung Disease (HD). To closely investigate her condition, we used a Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) panel to carry out a study of some of the genes known as being associated with congenital megacolon (PHOX-2B, RET, EDN3, GDNF, ASCL1 and BDNF). This analysis showed a maternally inherited heterozygous variant in the RET protooncogene (c.734T>A, p.Val245Glu), which is not described in the scienti...

Objective: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) increased oxidative stress and promote inflammation, resulting in the cellular damage, by interacting with their receptor (RAGE) on cell membrane. By contrast, the soluble receptor for AGE (sRAGE), that is proteolytically cleaved from cell surface receptor via matrix metalloproteinases, sequester RAGE ligands and act as a cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory agent. AGEs-RAGE/sRAGE interaction is deemed to play a role in the pat...

Background: Children born small for gestational age (SGA) are at increased risk of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes in adulthood, due to reprogramming of endocrine and metabolic functions. Dysregulation of specific miRNAs in response to genetic and environmental factors contribute to aberrant gene expression patterns underlying metabolic dysfunction.Objective and hypotheses: We aimed to identify miRNAs associated with increased risk of obesity ...

Background: Prolonged severe hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is a rare cause of pituitary hyperplasia (PH) in children. Loss of thyroxine negative feedback causes a TRH-dependent hyperplasia of pituitary thyrotroph cells resulting in adenohypophysis enlargement. A transdifferentiation of pituitary somatotroph cells into thyrotroph cells could explain growth failure in those patients. We report a case series of patients with growth impairment diagnosed...

Background: Central precocious puberty (CPP) results from premature activation of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, which leads to an increased release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). GnRH stimulates the development of secondary sexual features, rapid bone maturation and growth. GnRH agonists (GnRHa) represent the gold-standard therapy in CPP children and their use is responsible for pituitary GnRH receptors down-regulation, luteinizing hormone (L...