Quantitative ultrasound fatty liver evaluation in a pediatric population: comparison with magnetic resonance imaging of liver proton density fat fraction.

Background: Biopsy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of hepatic steatosis, the leading cause of pediatric chronic liver disease; however, its costs call for less invasive methods.

Objective: This study examined the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) for the assessment of liver fat content in a pediatric population, using magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) as the reference standard.

Materials And Methods: We enrolled 36 patients.

Upregulated monocyte expression of PLIN2 is associated with early arterial injury in children with overweight/obesity.

Background And Aims: Perilipin 2 (PLIN2) regulates intracellular lipid metabolism in macrophages, and thus, plays a role in atherosclerosis. Aim of the study was to evaluate whether PLIN2 dysregulation is involved in the onset of preclinical atherosclerosis in children with overweight/obesity and to explore dysregulation mechanisms.

Methods: Sixty-three children with overweight/obesity and 21 normal weight children (controls) of the same age and sex were enrolled.

Elevated Serum Concentrations of Remnant Cholesterol Associate with Increased Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Children and Adolescents.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between remnant cholesterol and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), a surrogate marker for atherosclerosis, in children and adolescents.

Study Design: Anthropometric, laboratory, liver, and carotid ultrasonographic data were obtained from 767 youths (594, overweight/obese; 173, normal weight). Fasting remnant cholesterol was calculated from the standard lipid profile.

Carotid Extra-Media Thickness in Children: Relationships With Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Endothelial Function.

Emerging evidence suggests that structural adventitial modifications and perivascular adipose tissue (PAT) may have a role in early atherogenesis. In a cohort of children and adolescents, we explored (1) the association of carotid extra-media thickness (cEMT), an ultrasound measure whose main determinants are arterial adventitia and PAT, with obesity and its cardiometabolic complications; and (2) the interplay between cEMT and endothelial function. The study participants included 286 youths (age, 6-16 years; 154 boys, and 132 girls).