ESPE Abstracts

Background: Differentiating potentially malignant thyroid nodules among those undetermined by cytology avoid unnecessary surgical procedures. Aberrant DNA methylation is ubiquitous in human cancers, including thyroid tumors. Biomarkers based on methylation profiles have been successfully used to diagnose early stage malignancy in many human cancers.Objective and hypotheses: To determine the genome-wide promoter methylation status of cytologically indeter...

Background: Morbid childhood obesity predisposes to metabolic disorders such as diabetes type 2. In mice, heat-producing ‘brown-like’ (beige) adipocytes can suppress weight gain and metabolic disease through the action of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) localized in the mitochondria.Objective and hypotheses: To study the expression of UCP1 in the adipose tissue of lean&obese children and adolescents.Method: Paraffin embed...

Background: Turner syndrome (TS) is one of the most common genetic disorders in females and occurs in phenotypic females who are missing all or part of one sex chromosome. While the most common mosaic forms of the disorder are 45,X/46,XX and 45,X/46,Xiq, mosaicism for cells containing Y chromosome material is well documented.Objective and hypotheses: Owing to increased risk of gonadoblastoma (GB), current recommendations are for elective gonadectomy foll...

Background: Mosaic Turner syndrome (TSM) commonly occurs in the form of 45,X/46,XX and 45,X/46,Xiq, although mosaicism including the presence of a Y chromosome has been well documented. It is associated with increased risk of gonadoblastoma (GB).Objective and hypotheses: To date, there are only six reported cases of TSM with a trisomy 18 karyotype, and only two of these were phenotypically female with 45,X, 47,XY+18 karyotype.Metho...

Background: PHP is a rare heterogeneous genetic disorder causing parathyroid hormone (PTH) resistance. This condition is caused by deficiency of the α subunit of the protein Gs, encoded by GNAS gene. Clinical classification is based on presence or absence of Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO) and multiple or single hormone resistance, to PHP1a/1c and PHP1b respectively.Objective: To describe the clinical and practical management of a case of P...

Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) is a disease of rare frequency. There are five subtypes with each having different phenotypes and blood laboratory test results, which depend on gene mutation and hereditary styles. Among them, the most common type is PHP Ia which inherits maternal gene mutation and expresses Albright’s hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO) appearance, hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia and serum parathyroid hormone elevation. Another type, pseudo-pseudohypoparathyro...

Background: GH deficiency (GHD) occurs in one in 4000–one in 10 000 children, but can also be diagnosed in adults.1 GHD therapy typically requires injections over a period of years.2 Adherence to long-term GHT presents a challenge.Objective and hypotheses: This study describes the rates of adherence to GHT among patients with GHD.Method: Members who were continuously enrolled 6 months pre- and 12 months p...

Background: Recent guidelines recommend levothyroxine (LT4) monotherapy for all infants with congenital hypothyroidism (CH). However, up to one-third of patients have pituitary resistance to thyroid hormone and, to normalize their TSH, require supranormal circulating levels of T4. Liothyronine (T3) has been proposed as a supplemental therapy for such patients, but data demonstrating its use and efficacy are limited.Object...

Background: A greater number of male (M) vs female (F) patients are diagnosed with GH deficiency (GHD). M have larger birth weight (BW), length and head circumference (HC) compared to F; these characteristics could contribute to subtle cephalo-pelvic disproportion and mild head trauma possibly contributing to idiopathic GHD (IGHD) and multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies (MPHD).Objective: To determine birth characteristics including mode of delivery a...

Background: Monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) is a specific transporter of triiodothyronine (T3). MCT8 gene mutations cause a rare X-linked disorder known as Allan–Herndon–Dudley syndrome, characterized by thyroid dysfunction (high T3, low T4, and normal/high TSH) and psychomotor retardation.Case report: A 4-year- and 9-month-old boy, who was already having L-T4 treatment fo...