ESPE Abstracts

Aim: Few data are currently available on the reliability of the different anthropometric, instrumental and biochemical indexes in recognizing the presence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in severe childhood obesity. The objective of our study was to find out a simple and accurate index to use in deciding whether to initiate a search for MetS in this at-risk population.Patients and Methods: A retrospective study based on...

Objective: There is no agreement about which index of adiposity and/or body composition is the most accurate in identifying the metabolic syndrome (METS). The aim of our study was to compare the accuracy of the different indexes in order to recognize the most reliable.Study Design: We evaluated 1332 obese children and adolescents (778 females and 554 males), aged 14.4 ± 1.8 yrs., Body Mass Index (BMI) standard devia...

Background: Growth hormone (GH) has been shown to reduce insulin sensitivity in Turner girls, however a compensatory increase of insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells usually occurs, probably stimulated by GH itself. Oral disposition index (ODI) express the capacity of beta cells to adapt to insulin sensitivity.Objective and hypotheses: To study longitudinally the insulin sensitivity (HOMA-S), the insulin secretion (IGI) and the ODI in a group of gi...

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism is a common finding in Down syndrome (DS) patients and transition towards overt hypothyroidism can occur, but there are no predictor factors to identify patients that will need replacement therapy later in life.Objective and hypotheses: This is a retrospective cohort study on a population of DS paediatric patients. This study was designed to evaluate possible early predictive features of hypothyroidism development.<...

Background: Several studies have examined the relationship between type 1 diabetes and bone mass, which reported contradictory data on BMD, bone remodelling markers, and bone quality. Nevertheless an incresead prevalence of osteopenia was observed among patients with duration of disease of >6 years.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of the study was to investigate the potential negative impact of type 1 diabetes on bone status in a group of children w...

Background: GH has been shown to influence glucose homeostasis through a negative effect on insulin sensitivity followed by a compensatory increase of insulin secretion. However it has been recently reported, in animals and in humans, that GH might stimulate insulin secretion also through a direct effect on the growth and on the function of the pancreatic β cell.Objective and hypotheses: To study longitudinally the insulin sensitivity (HOMA-S), the ...

Background: Several studies have examined the relationship between type 1 diabetes and bone mass, which reported contradictory data on BMD, bone remodelling markers and bone quality. Nevertheless an incresead prevalence of osteopenia was observed among patients with duration of disease of >6 years.Objective and hypotheses: The aim of the study was to investigate the potential negative impact of type 1 diabetes on bone status in a group of children wi...

Background: Mild TSH elevations are frequently observed in obese patients, in the absence of any detectable thyroid disease.Aims and objective: To evaluate possible causes for the raised TSH levels and to verify possible biochemical and clinical consequences of this condition.Methods: We evaluated 779 (325 males/454 females) obese children, chronological age 14.38±2.56 (range 5.25 to 18.50), height SDS 0.27±1.04 (range &#...

Background: Although the transition from the pre-pubertal condition to puberty occurs physiologically within a bounded age range, recent data indicate a central role for epigenetics in the regulation of several genes that could mediate an alteration of pubertal onset. Moreover, changes occurring during this developmental stage have often been associated with susceptibility to a wide range of diseases in later life. To identify changes in DNA methylation profil...

Background: Obesity in childhood and adolescence is often associated with dyslipidemia, hypertension, insulin resistance, inflammation, and disturbances in adipocytokine secretion, which lead to endothelial dysfunction and the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.Aim: To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) among obese children and adolescents attending our out-patient childhood obesity cl...