ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: A low oxygen and/or nutrient supply to the fetus, resulting in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), can affect gonadal development of the offspring and have a potential impact on fertility. Epidemiological studies on subjects born small for gestational age (SGA), as a surrogate measure of IUGR, have reported contradictory results. Data derived from animal models of placental insufficiency are limited.Objective and hypotheses: To investig...

Background: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the site where proteins are folded in the cell. Metabolic stress alters ER homeostasis and activates the unfolded protein response (UPR), which contributes to the development of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.Objective and hypotheses: To longitudinally evaluate liver UPR and its functional consequences in an animal model of IUGR followed from birth to adulthood.Method: On day 19 ...

Background: Fetuin A is a hepatokine known as a natural inhibitor of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase and is associated with insulin resistance and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Studies on adults provided conflicting results regarding the link between fetuin A and the severity of liver damage in NAFLD. Data on children are limited.Objective: To investigate the relationship between fetuin A, metabolic parameters, and NAFLD in obese childre...

Background: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the site where proteins are folded. Perturbation of ER homeostasis activates a set of ER-to-nucleus signaling reactions known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). Metabolic stress causes UPR activation which contributes to the development of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. As UPR can be activated by nutrient and oxygen starvation, we postulated that intrauterine growth restriction may trigger UPR signaling and thereby con...

Background: The influence of intrauterine life on long term health is supported by a wealth of epidemiological and experimental studies. A low oxygen and/or nutrient supply to the fetus, resulting in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), may affect gonadal development of the offspring, with a potential impact on fertility. Data derived from animal models of placental insufficiency are very limited.Objective and hypotheses: To investigate the effects of...

The mutation of the SHOX gene is a cause of short stature by varying frequency depending on the published work, but estimated at around 3-10 % of cases of short stature. The main diagnostic scheme for starting genetic testing is the Rappold score, which requires clinical and radiological criteria, under which this form of short stature is framed as a disharmonious. In our clinical experience, however, we also looked for mutations in the SHOX gene in patients with signs of ...

Background: Neonatal hypocalcemia is a common disorder, occurring more often in premature, low birth weight and asphyxiated infants, as in infants born to mothers with diabetes. Nevertheless its aetiology is heterogeneous ranging from iatrogenic, idiopathic and inherited metabolic abnormalities. Among these, Autosomal Dominant Hypocalcemia (ADH) is a rare syndrome characterized by the presence of inappropriately low concentration of circulating parathyroid hor...

The majority of treated obese children fail the goals set in the medium-long term or do not show themselves up at the short term follow up. These results, which do not improve even with the proliferation of facilities aimed to the treatment of obesity and of its complications, pose serious questions on how to make the best use of scarce resources available by the National health system. We have visited, between 2013 and 2015, 378 seriously obese children (>2 DS from nation...

Background: Hypothyroidism is a common problem during childhood generally due to autoimmune thyroid disease. It can also occur in case of severe loss of serum proteins, as well as in the case presented. The most accepted practice in the treatment of hypothyroidism consists in the oral administration of LT4. Many conditions may affect the absorption of LT4.Case presentation: We report an original case of LT4 malabsorption ...

Background: Hypothalamic obesity (HO), due to midline congenital malformations, genetic diseases or hypothalamo-hypophysis tumours, is severe and difficult to treat. Patients are scarcely compliant to diet and physical activity, for disabilities often affecting them. Drugs have been rarely employed.Objective and hypotheses: Aim of the study was to treat hypopituitaric children and adolescents affected by severe HO with a multidisciplinary approach includ...