ESPE Abstracts

Background: CNS tumors are the most frequent solid tumors in pediatric population. The IGF system of ligands and receptors are known to play an important role in both normal and neoplastic growth. Recently, we have shown that in paediatric gliomas, IGF-1R nuclear localization was significantly associated with both high grade tumours and increased risk of death, suggesting that nuclear IGF-1R localization may contribute to an aggressive behaviour of these tumours.<p class="...

Background: PHA1 is a rare inherited disease characterized by resistance to aldosterone action and distinguished in two forms: the autosomal dominant renal form caused by mutations of the NR3C2 gene (MR) and the autosomal recessive systemic form caused by mutations of the subunit genes SCNN1A, SCNN1B, SCNN1G of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). The classic phenotype of the autosomal recessive form of PHA1 is usually severe, lifelong, and expressed with mu...

Introduction: Pediatricians are becoming key figures for gender dysphoric persons, as the number of children seeking information or treatment for gender dysphoria rises. Puberty suppression and affirming approach, have been shown to improve both psychological functioning and physical outcome. However, recent data show that most children referred were too old to receive this treatment. One barrier that can preclude appropriate care is pediatricians’ attitudes towards trans...

Background: Prolonged poor dietary habits can result in hypothalamic inflammation and gliosis with more recent studies suggest that other brain areas may also be affected. Western or high fat diet intake has been associated with increased cognitive impairment and aberrant feeding behavior, with males and females being differentially affected. The hippocampus participates in both of these functions. Saturated free fatty acids can induce astrocyte inflammation and this could pot...

The conspicuous increase in the incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the Western world after World War II cannot be explained solely by genetic factors but suggests that this rise must be due to crucial interactions between predisposing genes and environmental changes. Three parallel phenomena in early childhood – the dynamic development of the immune system, the maturation of the gut microbiome and the appearance of the first T1D-associated autoantibodies – imply...

Neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) is a hyperglycemic status usually diagnosed before first 6 months of life, which is caused by monogenic mutations. INS gene mutation is the second most common cause of permanent NDM, causing misfolding of proinsulin and accumulation in the endoplasmic reticulum, leading to apoptosis of the pancreatic beta cells. We report a case of NDM in a 2-month-old girl with a novel heterozygous mutation of the INS gene, and functional studies to confirm th...

Background: Severe Ovarian Dysgenesis (OD), a rare heterogeneous XX disorder of Sex Development presents clinically with primary amenorrhea, hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism and infertility. The genetic basis of OD remains unknown in 70% of cases. To identify novel causes of OD, we study patients in which known genes have been excluded.Methods: Whole-exome-sequencing was performed in a 14.5y old Ashkenazi Jewish, non-cons...

Background: IGF1R is a keystone of foetal growth regulation by mediating the effects of both IGF-I and IGF-II. Recently the first clinical cohort of patients carrying an IGF1R defect has been reported from which a clinical score was established for diagnosis. Since no external validation of this score is available we assessed it in a large cohort of patients with identified IGF1R defects. Furthermore we aim at setting-up a functional test to ...

Background: Studying patients with rare Mendelian diabetes has highlighted molecular mechanisms regulating β-cell pathophysiology. Previous, experimental studies have shown that Class IIa histone deacetylases (HDAC4, 5, 7, and 9) modulate mammalian pancreatic endocrine cell differentiation, function and finally glucose homeostasis.Methods: We performed exome sequencing in one adolescent boy with non-autoimmune di...

Introduction: The Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in development of the forebrain and pituitary. Mutations in SHH signaling related genes are well known to be the cause of Holoprosencephaly (HPE), which results from developmental field defect or impaired midline cleavage of the embryonic forebrain, and is frequently associated with hypopituitarism. This study aimed to define the prevalence of congenital hypopituitarism (CH) in terms...