ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology

Brief summary: In this study, 10 145 children of 1–8 years of age, selected from a prospective systematic cohort study and stratified according to HLA-risk categories for type-1-diabetes (T1D), underwent a combined evaluation of pancreatic autoimmunity, glucose metabolism and anthropometry at different timeframes. Diagnosis of T1D occurred in 131/10,145 children (1.3%). Faster height growth, both before and after age 3 years, was significantly associated with the appearan...

In Brief: This phase 1 study in healthy adults assessed the safety and feasibility of transcon-CNP, a novel prodrug that releases native C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP). The novel drug was well tolerated and CNP remained in systemic circulation for >7 days following a single dose.Commentary: Achondroplasia is caused by autosomal activating mutation in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 gene (FGFR3) resulting in constitutive receptor ac...

Brief summary: A four centre prospective longitudinal study of 315 transgender and non-binary adolescents in the USA showed improvement in gender congruence and appearance and some reduction of depression and anxiety (but not in birth-registered males) after 2 years of gender affirming hormone (GAH) treatment.The race is on to provide clear evidence to support hormonal intervention for transgender adolescents. This longitudinal study employed a number of...

Brief summary: This literature review summarized the recent advances in our understanding of the GnRH system throughout life and its implication in the brain development beyond its conventional role in reproductive control.During embryonic development GnRH neurons migrate from the olfactory placode to the hypothalamus, where they control the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonadal axis (1,2). But many GnRH neurons migrate to other brain regions, such as...

Brief summary: This study investigates the effect of long-acting synthetic glucocorticoids on circadian rhythmicity and hippocampal functionGlucocorticoids exert their effects by binding to glucocorticoid receptors (GRs), which regulate up to ~20% of the genome via both direct (by binding to glucocorticoid responsive elements in promoter regions) and indirect mechanisms (by interacting with bound transcription factors and epigenetic modifiers) (1...

Brief summary: In this double-blind, randomized clinical trial conducted in 6 US centres, 88 children and adolescents (aged 7–17 years) with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes (T1D) were randomized to either once-daily oral verapamil or placebo, within 1 month from diagnosis. Treatment with verapamil led to better stimulated C-peptide secretion at 52 weeks post-diagnosis, with levels 30% higher compared to placebo.Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker...

Brief summary: This randomized, controlled study in healthy-weight individuals examined the effect of a daily high-fat/high-sugar (HF/HS) intervention over 8 weeks on fat and sugar preference, alterations of brain response to food and sensory associative learning. It addressed the question, whether the association between obesity and altered brain function is pre-existing, is secondary to obesity or is attributed to western diet.Current models of obesity...

Brief summary: This longitudinal study aimed to determine if hyperinsulinemia and postprandial glucose levels could predict obesity progression in n=591 children and adolescents with obesity. The authors found no association between hyperinsulinemia, insulin secretion, low postprandial glucose levels, and an increase in obesity over a 2–4-year period.According to the carbohydrate-insulin model (1), diets with a high glycemic load (GL) promote weight...

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020;105:3203–3214. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa443. PMID: 32652002The authors performed a large genome-wide association study (GWAS) to assess the role of common genetic variants in the response to GH therapy. A total of 614 children treated with GH were included: 276 with idiopathic GHD, 297 with ISS, and 41 born SGA. The findings implicate some novel mechanisms...

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Mar 25:dgab190. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgab190. PMID: 33765130. https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article-abstract/106/7/e2557/6188450?redirectedFrom=fulltextIn brief: This multicentre cohort study explores the frequency, long-term outcomes and potential p...