Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Therapy with recombinant GH (rhGH) allows GH-deficient children (GHD) to reach an adequate adult stature. Previous studies have reported a significant rise in serum insulin levels during GH therapy. It has been demonstrated that insulin resistance is a risk factor for the development of DMT2, atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia and hypertension.Subjects and methods: Aim of our study was to evaluate changes in insulin sensitivity in a group of GHD...

Physiological role of acylated ghrelin (AG), unacylated ghrelin (UAG) and obestatin is poorly understood especially in childhood. To understand their biological implications in obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS), we measured AG, UAG, obestatin, at fasting and every 60′ during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in 60 prepubertal (PP–OB; 32) and pubertal (P-OB; 28) children. Paediatric IDF 2007 criteria was used to identifying MS. In PP-OB group, 20 (62.5%) children ...

ContextGenetic obesity, including syndromic and non-syndromic forms, represent a minority of cases but gene dysregulations make their management particularly difficult. Among them, Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a multisystem human genomic imprinting disorder characterized by overgrowth, macroglossia, abdominal wall defects, hemi hyperplasia, enlarged abdominal organs, and an increased risk of embryonal tumours. The syndrome is caused by genet...

Introduction: CBG is the main transport protein for glucocorticoids in blood. CBG gene is a member of the serine protease inhibitor family, located at chromosome 14q32. Inherited CBG deficiency (MIM 611489) is a rarely recessive disorder, and the phenotype associated includes low cortisol levels, presence of normal ACTH levels, hypotension and fatigue, although the exact pathophysiological mechanisms involved remain uncertain. We identified a family with a complex phe...

Introduction: The association between vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and metabolic parameters is not confirmed in some population studies. 25(OH)D concentration in blood is influenced by seasons and this covariate may explain some discordant results. The first aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency in a population of obesity children (2–18 years) living in the North of Italy (latitude, 45°27′n) with respect to the season. The...

Introduction: Generously supported by IPSEN)-->In children, GH secretion is considered sufficient when at least one value is >20 ng/ml at the GHRH + arginine (ARG) test. Because GH typically peaks at 45 min, we evaluated whether peak occurrence at one specific time is predictive of clinical outcomes in short stature children who are GH sufficient.Subjects and methods: Children who performed a GHRH plus ARG ...

TSH receptor (TSHR) is a G-protein-coupled seven-transmembrane domain receptor located in the basolateral membrane of thyroid follicular cells. The activated receptor couples to two major signal transductions pathways: the Gs/adenylate cyclase and the Gq/11/phospholipase C signalling. Many loss of function mutations have been identified in this gene leading to a wide spectrum of thyroid abnormalities, ranging from hyperthyrotropinemia and TSH resistance to severe hypothyroidis...

Introduction: Three peptides, acylated ghrelin (AG), unacylated ghrelin (UAG) and obestatin are derived from a common prohormone, preproghrelin by posttranslational processing, originating from endocrine cells in the stomach. Circulating ghrelin levels are decreased in obese subjects and increased by fasting and in patients with anorexia nervosa, but the physiological role of the three peptides is poorly understood in particular in childhood.Aim: In orde...

Background: The increase of global childhood obesity has led to an increase of associated co-morbidities also at a young age. The pro-inflammatory state and insulin resistance are two master regulators of several complications, including hypertension and pre-diabetes frequently connected in a complex cross-talk.Aim: To evaluate the relationship between glucose alterations and blood pressure and the pathogenetic involvement of the renin-aldosterone system...

Background: The relationship between composition and function of microbiota, obesity and nutrition has been increasingly studied and is still a challenge.Aims: To test whether in a group of 12 pediatric patients with obesity the treatment with a structured hospital and in-home Mediterranean Diet intervention had an impact on gut microbiota composition, function, and metabolite production, including Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs).M...