Circulating α4β7 Memory T Cells in Pediatric IBD Patients Express a Polyclonal T Cell Receptor Repertoire.

Background: The integrin α4β7 is highly expressed on activated T cells and is thought to direct homing of lymphocytes to the intestine. Since ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are characterized by mucosal oligoclonal T cells' expansion, we aimed to assess whether similar repertoire features are identified in circulating gut-specific memory T cells.

Methods: Memory CD3 T cells were isolated from blood samples of control subjects and patients with active UC or CD and then FACS-sorted into α4β7 and α4β7 populations.

Using weight-for-age percentiles to screen for overweight and obese children and adolescents.

There are relatively low rates of screening for overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in primary care. A simplified method for such screening is needed. The study objective was to examine if weight-for-age percentiles are sufficiently sensitive in identifying overweight and obesity in children and adolescents.