Endocrine Abstracts

Obesity is linked to an increased risk of 13 different cancers in adulthood. The environment supporting this increased risk is multi-factorial but includes metabolic dysregulation, chronic inflammation and the loss of the anti-tumour activity of cells such natural killer (NK) cells. We present data which shows that this pro-cancer environment starts early in children with obesity, potentially increasing their risk of future disease. We investigated a cohort of 50 children with...

Introduction: De Morsier described an association between optic nerve hypoplasia and an absent septum pellucidum in 1956, termed septo-optic dysplasia. SOD is a common cause of multiple pituitary hormone deficiency in children. Clinical features can evolve. Genetic mutations in regulators of pituitary development have been suggested.Aims: To determine associated endocrinopathies, ophthalmological and radiological findings in an Irish paediatric cohort of...

Abstract: Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally. At least 2.8 million people die each year as a result of being overweight or obese, the biggest burden being obesity-related diseases. Glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1) targeted therapies show the greatest potential for intervention and are approved as weight loss agents. However not all patients respond to GLP-1 therapy. Understanding the mechanisms of bodyweight regulation and their role in GLP-1 responders vs. non-r...

Background: Childhood obesity now represents a major public health concern. Being obese in childhood appears to increase the risk of severe obesity in adulthood. Obesity is associated with co-morbid conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Underpinning obesity is a state of chronic sterile inflammation. Recently the invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell, an innate T cell was shown to act as a metabolic regulator and altered by obesity both in adults and ...

There is strong epidemiological data linking obesity to an increased risk of various cancers. It is associated with immune dysregulation and chronic low grade inflammation, however little is known about its impact on anti-tumour immunity. Whether childhood obesity is an independent risk factor for future malignancy is not fully established. We hypothesized that alterations in key immune anti-tumour mechanisms begin prior to adulthood in paediatric obesity.<p class="abstext...

Background: Although the association between obesity, chronic low-grade inflammation and immune dysregulation is well described in adults, there is a paucity of literature regarding this in children. We hypothesized that childhood obesity is associated with significant immune dysregulation.Methods: Expression of cytokines and microRNAs (miR) involved in the pathogenesis of metabolic disease were assessed in 49 participants aged 6–18 years. Invariant...

A previously healthy 12 year old girl presented to the emergency department with loss of consciousness and increased work of breathing. She was unwell for 3 days prior to presentation with vomiting and lethargy. There was a 3 week history of polydipsia and weight loss. On assessment, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was 7/15, pupils size 3, equal but poorly responsive. She was hypertensive BP 140/70 mmHg, HR 113 bpm, and capillary refill time 5 seconds. There was left arm decorticate ...