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Dental and Medical Problems Jun 2024Dentofacial infection resulting from untreated dental caries or periodontal disease is a serious disease that can spread to deeper tissues of the face and neck.
BACKGROUND
Dentofacial infection resulting from untreated dental caries or periodontal disease is a serious disease that can spread to deeper tissues of the face and neck.
OBJECTIVES
The present study aimed to analyze the salivary cytokine profile and oxidative stress parameters as potential biomarkers of acute odontogenic infections in children.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The prospective study group (DI) consisted of 28 children aged 3-17 years with acute dentofacial infections, and the control group (CG) comprised 52 children aged 4-17 years with uncomplicated dental caries. The cytokine profile was analyzed using the Bio-Plex Pro™ Human Cytokine 27-plex kit. In addition, oxidative stress parameters, such as catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), manganese SOD (Mn-SOD), copper-zinc SOD (CuZn-SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), and malondialdehyde (MDA), in the saliva of children in both groups were compared.
RESULTS
The levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha (MIP-1α) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were significantly increased in children with dentofacial infections as compared to CG. In contrast, the levels of other pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-1 receptor agonist (IL-Ra), IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), and MIP-1β, did not show statistically significant differences between the 2 groups. Among the measured oxidative stress and antioxidative parameters, only CAT and GR were elevated in children with dentofacial infections as compared to controls.
CONCLUSIONS
IL-6, MIP-1α, TNF-α, CAT, and GR can serve as selective biomarkers of oral cavity inflammation in children. These biomarkers can be useful in identifying and monitoring the progress and treatment of bacterial infections resulting in dentofacial inflammation.
PubMed: 38895870
DOI: 10.17219/dmp/185733 -
Journal of the Endocrine Society May 2024Steatotic liver disease is common but overlooked in childhood obesity; diagnostic methods are invasive or expensive.
CONTEXT
Steatotic liver disease is common but overlooked in childhood obesity; diagnostic methods are invasive or expensive.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine the diagnostic accuracy of vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in adolescents with obesity and high risk for hepatosteatosis.
METHODS
Baseline data in 3 clinical trials enrolling adolescents with obesity were included (NCT03919929, NCT03717935, NCT04342390). Liver fat was assessed using MRI fat fraction and VCTE-based controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). Hepatosteatosis was defined as MRI fat fraction ≥5.0%. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) for CAP against MRI was calculated, and optimal CAP using the Youden index for hepatosteatosis diagnosis was determined.
RESULTS
Data from 82 adolescents (age 15.6 ± 1.4 years, body mass index 36.5 ± 5.9 kg/m, 81% female) were included. Fifty youth had hepatosteatosis by MRI (fat fraction 9.3% ; 95% CI 6.7, 14.0), and 32 participants did not have hepatosteatosis (fat fraction 3.1%; 95% CI 2.2, 3.9; < .001). The hepatosteatosis group had higher mean CAP compared with no hepatosteatosis (293 dB/m; 95% CI 267, 325 vs 267 dB/m; 95% CI 248, 282; = .0120). A CAP of 281 dB/m had the highest sensitivity (60%) and specificity (74%) with AUROC of 0.649 (95% CI 0.51-0.79; = .04) in the entire cohort. In a subset of participants with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a CAP of 306 dB/m had the highest sensitivity (78%) and specificity (52%) and AUROC of 0.678 (95% CI 0.45-0.90; = .108).
CONCLUSION
CAP of 281 dB/m has modest diagnostic performance for hepatosteatosis compared with MRI in youth with significant obesity. A higher CAP in youth with PCOS suggests that comorbidities might affect optimal CAP in hepatosteatosis diagnosis.
PubMed: 38895640
DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvae110 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024: The number of corneal transplants is rising, with the aim to treat a spectrum of diseases ranging from dystrophies to corneal opacities caused by trauma or chemical... (Review)
Review
: The number of corneal transplants is rising, with the aim to treat a spectrum of diseases ranging from dystrophies to corneal opacities caused by trauma or chemical burns. Refractive outcomes after this procedure are often impossible to predict and associated with high levels of astigmatism. However, there are many techniques that affect the reduction of astigmatism and improve the quality of life of patients. : The aim was to compare the improvement in postoperative visual acuity (logMAR) and amount of corneal astigmatism (Diopters) after corneal keratoplasty in patients who additionally underwent a surgical procedure, which affects the reduction in postoperative astigmatism, and to determine the most effective method. A thorough search was carried out across online electronic databases including PubMed, Embrase, Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science, using combinations containing the following phrases: postoperative astigmatism, post-keratoplasty astigmatism, anterior lamellar keratoplasty (ALK), deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK), posterior lamellar keratoplasty, endothelial keratoplasty (EK), penetrating keratoplasty (PK), corneal transplant, keratoplasty, refractive surgery, kerato-refractive surgery, laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), and femtosecond LASIK. This was to determine all English-language publications that discuss refractive operations for postoperative or post-keratoplasty astigmatism. These bibliographies were searched for English-language publications published between 2010 and 2023. We proceeded to review each detected record's reference list. Study characteristics such as study design, sample size, participant information, operations performed, and clinical outcomes were all extracted. The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (version 3.3.070, 2014) was used to perform the analysis. The threshold of 0.05 for -values was considered statistically significant. All effect sizes are reported as standardized differences (Std diff) in means with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and visualized graphically as forest plots. Publication bias is presented as a funnel plot of standard error by Std diff in means. Four methods were used to evaluate the heterogeneity among the studies: Q-value, I, chi-square (χ), and tau-squared. We included 21 studies that randomized 1539 eyes that underwent corneal transplantation surgery either by PKP, DALK, or DSEAK techniques. The results showed the most significant improvement in the visual acuity and significant decrease in the corneal astigmatism after laser surgery procedures, like femtosecond-assisted keratotomy after DALK and PKP and LASIK after DSEAK.
PubMed: 38893017
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13113306 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Since the 1980s, there has been a global increase, decade by decade, in the rates of overweight and obesity among children, both in developed and developing countries...
Since the 1980s, there has been a global increase, decade by decade, in the rates of overweight and obesity among children, both in developed and developing countries [...].
Topics: Humans; Cardiovascular Diseases; Pediatric Obesity; Adolescent; Diet, Healthy; Child; Female; Male
PubMed: 38892673
DOI: 10.3390/nu16111740 -
Nutrients May 2024The prevalence of childhood obesity and its associated comorbidities is a growing global health problem that disproportionately affects populations in low- and... (Review)
Review
The prevalence of childhood obesity and its associated comorbidities is a growing global health problem that disproportionately affects populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and minority ethnicities in high-income countries (HICs). The increased childhood obesity disparities among populations reflect two concerns: one is HICs' ineffective intervention approaches in terms of lifestyle, nutrition and physical activity in minority populations, and the second is the virtually non-existent lifestyle obesity interventions in LMICs. This article provides guidelines on childhood obesity and its comorbidities in high-risk minority populations based on understanding the prevalence and effectiveness of preventative lifestyle interventions. First, we highlight how inadequate obesity screening by body mass index (BMI) can be resolved by using objective adiposity fat percentage measurements alongside anthropometric and physiological components, including lean tissue and bone density. National healthcare childhood obesity prevention initiatives should embed obesity cut-off points for minority ethnicities, especially Asian and South Asian ethnicities within UK and USA populations, whose obesity-related metabolic risks are often underestimated. Secondly, lifestyle interventions are underutilised in children and adolescents with obesity and its comorbidities, especially in minority ethnicity population groups. The overwhelming evidence on lifestyle interventions involving children with obesity comorbidities from ethnic minority populations shows that personalised physical activity and nutrition interventions are successful in reversing obesity and its secondary cardiometabolic disease risks, including those related to cardiorespiratory capacity, blood pressure and glucose/insulin levels. Interventions combining cultural contextualisation and better engagement with families are the most effective in high-risk paediatric minority populations but are non-uniform amongst different minority communities. A sustained preventative health impact can be achieved through the involvement of the community, with stakeholders comprising healthcare professionals, nutritionists, exercise science specialists and policy makers. Our guidelines for obesity assessment and primary and secondary prevention of childhood obesity and associated comorbidities in minority populations are fundamental to reducing global and local health disparities and improving quality of life.
Topics: Humans; Pediatric Obesity; Child; Prevalence; Life Style; Minority Groups; Comorbidity; Adolescent; Exercise; Body Mass Index; Risk Factors; Female; Male
PubMed: 38892662
DOI: 10.3390/nu16111730 -
Nutrients May 2024The onset of puberty, which is under the control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, is influenced by various factors, including obesity, which has been... (Review)
Review
The onset of puberty, which is under the control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, is influenced by various factors, including obesity, which has been associated with the earlier onset of puberty. Obesity-induced hypothalamic inflammation may cause premature activation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, resulting in the development of precocious or early puberty. Mechanisms involving phoenixin action and hypothalamic microglial cells are implicated. Furthermore, obesity induces structural and cellular brain alterations, disrupting metabolic regulation. Imaging studies reveal neuroinflammatory changes in obese individuals, impacting pubertal timing. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy enables the assessment of the brain's neurochemical composition by measuring key metabolites, highlighting potential pathways involved in neurological changes associated with obesity. In this article, we present evidence indicating a potential association among obesity, hypothalamic inflammation, and precocious puberty.
Topics: Humans; Pediatric Obesity; Hypothalamus; Child; Puberty, Precocious; Puberty; Inflammation; Female; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Male; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System
PubMed: 38892653
DOI: 10.3390/nu16111720 -
Nutrients May 2024Obesity is an emerging threat and a current challenge for children and adolescents worldwide. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the relationship between the...
Obesity is an emerging threat and a current challenge for children and adolescents worldwide. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the relationship between the Dietary Antioxidant Index (DAI) and the weight status of students in early adolescence. A sample of 1580 students aged 10-12 years from 47 primary schools in Greece were enrolled. Anthropometric characteristics were assessed, and calculation of the Body Mass Index (BMI) was used to categorize students into two weight-status groups. Dietary habits and physical activity were evaluated using a self-completed questionnaire, and the DAI was calculated through derived micronutrients' content, along with energy, macro-, and micro-nutrient intake. Crude and adjusted regression analysis showed a significant inverse association of the DAI and body weight status (Odds Ratio (OR): 0.719, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.576; 0.897, and adjusted Odds Ration (aOR): 0.667, 95% CI: 0.489; 0.907). An antioxidant diet seems to play a protective role against increased body weight among students in early adolescence. Thus, dietary patterns rich in antioxidants should be promoted to facilitate healthy habits early in life, and to fight the obesity threat.
Topics: Humans; Male; Child; Female; Antioxidants; Greece; Students; Body Mass Index; Diet; Body Weight; Feeding Behavior; Schools; Pediatric Obesity; Exercise; Cross-Sectional Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 38892600
DOI: 10.3390/nu16111667 -
Nutrients May 2024This study examined whey protein's impact on insulin resistance in a high-fat diet-induced pediatric obesity mouse model. Pregnant mice were fed high-fat diets, and male...
This study examined whey protein's impact on insulin resistance in a high-fat diet-induced pediatric obesity mouse model. Pregnant mice were fed high-fat diets, and male pups continued this diet until 8 weeks old, then were split into high-fat, whey, and casein diet groups. At 12 weeks old, their body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood insulin level (IRI), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), liver lipid metabolism gene expression, and liver metabolites were compared. The whey group showed significantly lower body weight than the casein group at 12 weeks old ( = 0.034). FBG was lower in the whey group compared to the high-fat diet group ( < 0.01) and casein group ( = 0.058); IRI and HOMA-IR were reduced in the whey group compared to the casein group ( = 0.02, < 0.01, < 0.01, respectively). The levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and hormone-sensitive lipase were upregulated in the whey group compared to the casein group ( < 0.01, = 0.03). Metabolomic analysis revealed that the levels of taurine and glycine, both known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, were upregulated in the whey group in the liver tissue ( < 0.01, < 0.01). The intake of whey protein was found to improve insulin resistance in a high-fat diet-induced pediatric obesity mouse model.
Topics: Animals; Whey Proteins; Insulin Resistance; Diet, High-Fat; Male; Mice; Disease Models, Animal; Pediatric Obesity; Liver; Female; Blood Glucose; Insulin; Lipid Metabolism; Pregnancy; Mice, Inbred C57BL
PubMed: 38892554
DOI: 10.3390/nu16111622 -
Pediatric Obesity Jun 2024This study aimed to examine the associations between breastfeeding duration and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adolescents and to further investigate the role of birth...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to examine the associations between breastfeeding duration and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adolescents and to further investigate the role of birth weight for gestational age (GA) on these associations.
METHODS
A total of 10 275 participants aged 7 to 18 years were included applying multistage cluster random sampling from a Chinese national survey. Birth weight was classified into small for GA (SGA), appropriate for GA (AGA) and large for GA (LGA). Information was collected through a self-administered questionnaire, physical examination and blood biochemical examination. Multivariable linear regression, logistic regression models, restricted cubic spline models were applied to assess the relationships of breastfeeding duration and MetS with different birth weight for GA.
RESULTS
The prevalence of non-breastfeeding, 0-5, 6-12 and >12 months groups were 16.2%, 23.1%, 42.5% and 18.2%, and the prevalence of SGA and LGA was 11.9% and 12.7%, respectively. Prolonged breastfeeding duration was associated with higher odds of MetS (β: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.13), WC (β: 3.49, 95% CI: 2.82, 4.16) and SBP (β: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.80, 2.89). SGA and prolonged breastfeeding synergistically increased MetS risks, but LGA appeared to offset the adverse effects of prolonged breastfeeding.
CONCLUSION
Prolonged breastfeeding may increase children's MetS risks. SGA synergies with prolonged breastfeeding increased MetS burden in children and adolescents, while LGA mitigated the risks. This reminds us that intensive attention should be paid to both early birth weight and subsequent living environment for children and adolescents' lifelong health.
PubMed: 38890760
DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.13145 -
JAMA Network Open Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Child; Body Mass Index; Pediatric Obesity; Female; Male; Practice Guidelines as Topic
PubMed: 38888929
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.18201