ESPE Abstracts

MOPD is known to be caused by homozygous loss-of-function mutations in a specific gene, PCNT. Both intra- and interfamilial clinical variability (even for the same variant) have been frequently observed, which makes it difficult to infer a genotype–phenotype correlation. Pericentrin (PCTN) is a structural protein expressed in the centrosome that plays a fundamental role in anchoring protein complexes, regulating mitotic cycle and thus cell proliferation. High levels of m...

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...

Introduction: Familial non-autoimmune autosomal dominant hyperthyroidism (FNAH) is a rare cause of childhood hyperthyroidism caused by an activating variant of the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) gene. This disorder may occur as a result of an autosomal dominant inheritance or sporadically through de novo variation. The severity of hyperthyroid symptoms is variable and phenotype differences have been described in subjects harbouring the same mutati...

Background: Many studies have shown that GH therapy can increase final height in children born SGA. Adult height and growth velocity can be improved in these subjects even if there is not a deficiency of endogenous GH (GHD).Objective and hypotheses: We aimed to analyze growth response after 1 year of GH treatment in children born SGA without GH deficiency.Method: Ten patients (six M, four F) born SGA (according to Gagliardi et ...

Background: Over the years special screening procedures for preterm and twin babies (re-screening at 2–4 weeks of life) have been adopted by many screening laboratories worldwide. However, no extensive studies have been performed to verify how many co-twins with negative test at first screening (3–5 days) become positive at re-screening, and the utility of a long-term follow-up also in co-twin with negative test at screening and re-screening.Ob...

Protein arginine methyltransferase 7 (PRMT7), a member of a family of enzymes that catalyse the transfer of methyl groups from S-adenosyl-L-methionine to nitrogen atoms on arginine residues, is involved in multiple biological processes, such as signal transduction, mRNA splicing, transcriptional control, DNA repair, and protein translocation. Currently, 12 patients with homozygous/compound heterozygous mutations in PRMT7 gene have been described defining the ...

Introduction: Genetic factors play an important role in determining individual susceptibility to weight gain and obesity. In the last few years, several genetic variants have been identified as monogenic forms of obesity. Among them, Leptin (LEP) and its receptor on hypothalamic neurons (LEPR) are key players in the regulation of body weight, food intake and energy homeostasis. Pathogenic variants in the LEPR gene cause severe childhood-onset obesity with an a...

Noonan syndrome (NS) is an autosomal dominant, variably expressed, multisystem disorder with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 1000–2500. In 2001, PTPN11 was the first gene associated to Noonan syndrome; now, at least 20 other genes have been discovered especially in the RAS–MAPK signalling pathway. More recently, missense mutations in RIT1 have been reported as causative of NS. A six-years female patient was referred to our Hospital for short stature (<-2 sds) an...

DICER1, a gene located on chromosome 14q32.13, encodes a protein ribonuclease (RNase) IIIb that plays a central regulatory role in miRNA processing. DICER1 syndrome has an autosomal dominant inheritance and predisposes affected individuals to a wide variety of tumors, both benign and malignant. We describe the case of a 6-year-old girl, carrier of a DICER1 germline mutation, and affected by a differentiated thyroid carcinoma. At the age of 6 a first thyroid ultrasound revealed...

Background: The deciphering of the physiological importance of the GH secretagogue receptor (Ghsr), a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) depicted as the sole receptor of the pleiotropic hormone ghrelin, was initially compromised by the modest phenotype observed in Ghsr−/− animals. This lack of a robust response to total loss of Ghsr may result from developmental compensatory signals. Still, the description of rare mutations in the GHSR p...