ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology

To read the full abstract: This Yearbook highlights prominent Paediatric Endocrinology-related papers published from June 2019 to May 2020. For the third year, we are online at http://www.espeyearbook.org/. Those who prefer to read a hard copy can purchase the 2020 and 2019 volumes via Amazon for a nominal fee. This was the year of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. Among the many arising changes, the timing of this publication has been delayed to coincide with the ESPE CONNECT online conference, where the chapters will be presented by their Associate Editors.

Highlights of this edition include: new genes for hypopituitarism, hyperphagic obesity, anorexia nervosa, and same-sex sexual behavior; and use of next generation DNA sequencing in short stature and in DSD. New treatments include: an anti-CD3 antibody to prevent T1DM; levoketoconazole in Cushing’s Syndrome; thyroid hormone receptor-β agonist in obesity-associated steatohepatitis; once-weekly GH for GHD; different treatment thresholds for neonatal hypoglycemia; time-restricted eating for the metabolic syndrome; as well as new agents for achondroplasia, Graves’ orbitopathy, and MTC8 deficiency; and new evidence on liraglutide in adolescents with obesity and children with T2DM, aromatase inhibitors for constitutional delay of growth and puberty, and effects of gender-affirming hormone therapies on mental and cardio-metabolic health.

We also highlight papers that describe: guidelines for management of T1DM during Ramadan fasting in children; how neonatal macrosomia interferes with newborn biochemical screening; arginine-stimulated copeptin measurements to diagnose diabetes insipidus; hyperthyroidism after radiotherapy for childhood cancer; corruption in global health; and the roles of dietary cereal, gluten and fibre, congenital infections and rotavirus infection on risk of T1DM.

More widely, the US FDA approved Rybelsus (semaglutide) to reduce blood glucose in adults with Type 2 diabetes; this is the first oral GLP-1 receptor protein treatment. While some countries have yet to assess its costeffectiveness, a WHO task force reported that drugs are expensive not due to lack of competition between pharmaceutical companies, but because of lack of competition in the regulatory drug approval process. They suggest reformation of the drug approval process by privatization and competition.

In our highlight on achievements 100 years ago: in October 1920, Frederick Banting gave a talk to his Physiology students at Western University, London, Ontario. He described his idea to ligate the pancreatic ducts in dogs until the acini degenerate to leave islets, and then isolate their secretions to relieve glycosuria. The next month, Banting met John Macleod, from the University of Toronto, and asked him to carry out this project. Despite little prior experience of this topic, Macleod accepted Banting’s request and was joined by Charles Best, then a student assistant. The rest is history.

We thank our thirteen Associate Editors and their coauthors who have done enormous work to identify, describe and comment on this year’s highlights. We thank Nicolas de Roux for his excellent contributions to the chapter on Neuroendocrinology ever since the Yearbook launched in 2004. We welcome Taneli Raivio who takes on this chapter.

We are grateful to ESPE for their continuing endorsement and support of the Yearbook series and to Bioscientifica for their highly professional production.

Ze’ev Hochberg (Haifa) and Ken Ong (Cambridge)

Editors

rprzeev@technion.ac.il

ken.ong@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk