ESPE Abstracts

Background: VRS-317, a novel fusion protein of rhGH, was safe and well tolerated in single dose studies of adults and children with growth harmone deficiency (GHD).Objectives: Conduct a 6-month study to determine the safety, tolerability, height velocity and IGF1 response in GHD children.Methods: 64 subjects were randomized into three arms to evaluate monthly, semi-monthly and weekly dosing.Results: At VRS-31...

Abstract: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CH) is the most frequent cause of persistent hypoglycemia in the newborn. Octreotide, a long-acting somatostatin analogue (SSA), is a second line treatment for diazoxide unresponsive CH patients. Although it has been found to be a safe and effective treatment, long-term benefits and side effects have not been thoroughly evaluated. Furthermore, some authors have emphasized that exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is a common ...

Introduction: The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) is a G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) and plays a pivotal role in the central regulation of body weight in the hypothalamus. In the context of the leptin-melanocortin signaling pathway, the MC4R is activated by the endogenous ligands a- and b-MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone). This leads to the feeling of satiety and to a reduction in food intake. Mutations within the genes leptin, leptin receptor (LEPR), pr...

Background: Nowadays, childhood obesity is one of the biggest health emergencies in the developed countries. Obesity leads to multiple metabolic disorders. Thyroid function has been often described as altered in obese children. However, it is not clear whether the thyroid dysfunction is the cause or the consequence of the fat excess.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of the current study was to examine the thyroid function and to assess the frequency of t...

Introduction: An activating mutations in the ABCC8 gene cause both transient and permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus (DM) or MODY 12. In relation to the variant in the ABCC8 gene, patients may also present with either neonatal hyperinsulinism and/or DM later in life. Besides, the same variant can cause different phenotypic features among family members. Response to the sulfonylurea treatment may vary between patients.<...

Introduction: Heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the glucokinase (GCK) gene cause MODY 2. Conversely, homozygous loss-of-function mutations in the same gene give rise to permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus (DM). Previously, two patients diagnosed with DM in adolescence and had homozygous GCK mutations were reported. Variants in these patients have been shown to exhibit inactivated kinetics that are indistinguishable from neonatal ons...

Introduction: Early-onset severe obesity (before five years of age) without intellectual deficit, dysmorphisms, or malformations raises the hypothesis of monogenic obesity. The leptin receptor (Lepr) pathway is essential for food intake regulation, energy expenditure, and body weight. Mutations in leptin and the Lepr have been shown to cause early-onset severe obesity in mice and humans.Objective: To report the clinical ...

Introduction: Protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22) is a well-established genetic locus of type 1 diabetes (T1D). The aim of the present study is to compare the methylation level of PTPN22 between children and adolescents of Greek origin with T1D and healthy controls.Patients and Methods: Twenty T1D participants and 20 age-/gender-matched healthy youngsters were enrolled. DNA was extracted from white blood cells, the...

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that decreased 25-hydroxyvitamin [25(OH)D] concentrations are associated with components of the metabolic syndrome.Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on metabolic syndrome parameters in obese children and adolescents.Patients and methods: Two hundred thirty two (n=232) obese children and adolescents aged [mean ±S....

Background: Chronic hemolytic anemias may compromise growth through multiple mechanisms. To date, no data exist on growth and body composition (BC; bone, muscle and fat mass) of children and adolescents with chronic hemolysis.Purpose: To evaluate growth and BC of patients with thalassemia intermedia (not on regular transfusions; thal-intermedia), alpha-thalassemia and congenital spherocytosis....