Appraisal of Clinical Care Practices for Child Obesity Treatment. Part I: Interventions.

The objective of this technical report is to provide clinicians with evidence-based, actionable information upon which to make assessment and treatment decisions for children and adolescents with obesity. In addition, this report will provide an evidence base to inform clinical practice guidelines for the management and treatment of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. To this end, the goal of this report was to identify all relevant studies to answer 2 overarching key questions: (KQ1) "What are clinically based, effective treatments for obesity?" and (KQ2) "What is the risk of comorbidities among children with obesity?" See Appendix 1 for the conceptual framework and a priori key questions.

Appraisal of Clinical Care Practices for Child Obesity Treatment. Part II: Comorbidities.

The objective of this technical report is to provide clinicians with actionable evidence-based information upon which to make treatment decisions. In addition, this report will provide an evidence base on which to inform clinical practice guidelines for the management and treatment of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. To this end, the goal of this report was to identify all relevant studies to answer 2 overarching key questions: (KQ1) "What are effective clinically based treatments for obesity?" and (KQ2) "What is the risk of comorbidities among children with obesity?" See Appendix 1 for the conceptual framework and a priori Key Questions.

Influence of vascular endothelial growth factor on neutrophil activation in asthmatics.

Introduction: Asthma is a complex syndrome associated with heterogeneity in the type of inflammation that modulates airway hyperresponsiveness and remodelling. Airway inflammation with neutrophils, cytokines like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and various gene polymorphisms might be relevant for asthma pathogenesis.

Aim: To investigate the expression of CD69 and CD11b markers on peripheral neutrophils after VEGF stimulation in asthmatics.

Key Predictors of Primary Care Providers' Self-Efficacy in Caring for Children with Overweight or Obesity.

Objective: Self-efficacy is a crucial factor in enabling pediatric primary care providers (PCPs) to deliver recommended care to children with overweight and obesity. This study, conducted with a large, national sample of PCPs, aimed to identify key factors, which may contribute to PCP self-efficacy for obesity-related care, from a list of previously reported barriers and facilitators.

Methods: A national random sample of American Academy of Pediatrics members was surveyed in 2017 (analytic n = 704).

Peripheral blood eosinophils priming and vascular endothelial growth factor stimulation in asthmatics.

Introduction: Asthma is a complex airway disease with heterogeneity in molecular pathways. Hypersecretion of many cytokines (e.g.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor as a Putative Biomarker of Depression in Asthmatics with Reversible Airway Narrowing.

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a pivotal role in process of angiogenesis in adults. If angiogenesis is not properly controlled, its deregulation may implicate it in various psychosomatic diseases states. The aim of our study was to reveal possible correlation between severity of depression in asthmatics with different degrees of airway narrowing and serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels.

Investigation of Repeatability of Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow Rate Measurements Under Baseline Conditions and After Administration of 0.05% Oxymetazoline.

Objectives: Peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) measurement is an inexpensive and user-friendly method to assess nasal patency. However, the repeatability of PNIF measurements, as well as the threshold value of a change in PNIF, which can be considered significant remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the repeatability of PNIF measurements and the change in PNIF after the administration of 0.

Vascular endothelial growth factor-activated basophils in asthmatics.

Introduction: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic cytokine and a potential stimulator of permeability and lung neovascularization in asthmatics. It also plays an important role in the development of airway remodelling and in activation of many cells, including basophils.

Aim: To reveal the possible role of VEGF in the activation of basophils in asthmatics - subgroups with and without irreversible bronchoconstriction.

US Pediatrician Practices on Early Nutrition, Feeding, and Growth.

Objective: Assess pediatrician practices around growth and nutrition for children under 2 years.

Design: 2017 cross-sectional survey of a national random sample of the American Academy of Pediatrics members.

Setting: US.

US Pediatrician Practices and Attitudes Concerning Childhood Obesity: 2006 and 2017.

Objective: To compare primary care pediatricians' practices and attitudes regarding obesity assessment, prevention, and treatment in children 2 years and older in 2006 and 2017.

Study Design: National, random samples of American Academy of Pediatrics members were surveyed in 2006, 2010, and 2017 on practices and attitudes regarding overweight and obesity (analytic n = 655, 592, and 558, respectively). Using logistic regression models (controlling for pediatrician and practice characteristics), we examined survey year with predicted values (PVs), including body mass index (BMI) assessment across 2006, 2010, and 2017 and practices and attitudes in 2006 and 2017.

Prevalence, risk factors and underdiagnosis of asthma in the general population aged over 60 years.

Introduction: Bronchial asthma is one of the frequent chronic diseases in elderly persons. Global data show that 6.5-17% of the elderly suffer from asthma.

VEGF serum concentration and irreversible bronchoconstriction in adult asthmatics.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic, heparin-binding glycoprotein playing an important role in the pathogenesis of many diseases and disorders, including asthma. It has been reported that increased VEGF serum concentration is a biomarker of neovascularization, which could suggest that higher VEGF expression may be relevant to asthmatics with airway remodeling and irreversible bronchoconstriction.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the possible association between VEGF serum concentration and irreversible bronchoconstriction in adult patients with a diagnosis of asthma.

The -2549 -2567 del18 Polymorphism in VEGF and Irreversible Bronchoconstriction in Asthmatics.

Background: While the importance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis of several diseases (eg, neoplasms) has been proven, its role in asthma, especially in terms of the potential associations between genetic variants of VEGF and airway remodeling, has received relatively little attention. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the possible connection between a genetic factor, ie, the polymorphism del/ins in the VEGF promoter region, and airway remodeling potential in asthmatics with and without irreversible bronchoconstriction.

Material And Methods: The study population comprised 82 patients with asthma (of whom 42 had irreversible bronchoconstriction) and a group of 40 controls.

The Impact of Sex and Age on the Prevalence of Clinically Relevant Sensitization and Asymptomatic Sensitization in the General Population.

The objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of sex and age on the prevalence of sensitization to inhalant allergens. The study was performed as a part of Polish Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases study, and data concerning citizens of Wroclaw were analyzed. The participants were divided into three age groups (6-7, 13-14, and 20-44 years) with a subdivision according to sex.

Are Graduating Pediatric Residents Prepared to Engage in Obesity Prevention and Treatment?

Background: Little information is available to gauge residents' perceived receipt of comprehensive training and preparedness to manage children with obesity in practice.

Methods: A national, random sample of 1000 graduating pediatric residents were surveyed in 2013 on childhood overweight/obesity and preparedness to prevent and treat obesity. A composite training measure was created by summing the number of areas (10 possible) where training on overweight/obesity was received.

Sex-related clinical aspects in insect venom anaphylaxis.

Experimental studies, epidemiological data, and clinical observations suggest that the gender factor is involved in the development and manifestation of IgE-dependent allergic diseases. We intend to answer the question if sex-related factors may play a role in Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA). In the majority of recent studies the frequency of HVA symptoms with respect to both LL and SYS reactions is similar for men and women, while proven sensitization to insect venom is less frequent in women.

9α,11β-PGF2, a Prostaglandin D2 Metabolite, as a Marker of Mast Cell Activation in Bee Venom-Allergic Patients.

Mast cell (MC) mediators, among them prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and 9α,11β-PGF2, PGD2's metabolite, play a key role in allergic reactions, including bee venom anaphylaxis (BVA). Assessment of these mediators has never been performed in BVA. The aim of the study was to assess the activation of MC during in vivo provocation with bee venom (BV) and to measure PGD2 and 9α,11β-PGF2 in the course of an allergen challenge.

The Prevalence of Allergic Diseases in Poland - the Results of the PMSEAD Study in Relation to Gender Differences.

Background: Males and females exhibit different susceptibility to allergic diseases.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate gender-related differences in the prevalence of allergic diseases in Poland.

Material And Methods: To evaluate this problem, data from the Polish Multicenter Study of the Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases (PMSEAD) was analyzed.

Farm to elementary school programming increases access to fruits and vegetables and increases their consumption among those with low intake.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of Wisconsin Farm to School (F2S) programs in increasing students' fruit and vegetable (FV) intake.

Design: Quasi-experimental baseline and follow-up assessments: knowledge and attitudes survey, food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and lunch tray photo observation.

Setting: Wisconsin elementary schools: 1 urban and 8 rural.

Fractioned exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)) is not a sufficiently reliable test for monitoring asthma in pregnancy.

It has been reported that fractioned exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) can be used for monitoring airway inflammation and for asthma management but conclusions drawn by different researchers are controversial. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of FENO assessment for monitoring asthma during pregnancy. We monitored 72 pregnant asthmatics aged 18-38years (Me=29 years) who underwent monthly investigations including: the level of asthma control according to GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma), the occurrence of exacerbations, ACT (Asthma Control Test), as well as FENO and spirometry measurements.

[The long-term variability of FeNO in pregnant asthmatic women with controlled asthma].

Introduction: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is considered as a useful, noninvasive marker of airway inflammation in asthma and allergic rhinitis. It has also been suggested that anti-inflammatory treatment guided by monitoring of exhaled NO could improve overall asthma control. However, long-term intra-subject variability of this parameter as well as the rate of its change, which can be clinically significant, have not been established yet.

[An attempt to estimate potentially useful parameters to evaluate the normal range of nasal peak inspiratory flow].

Introduction: Measurement of peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF, peak nasal inspiratory flow) seems to be a cheap and simple method to assess nasal patency. Unfortunately, due to the lack of reference values a single measurement does not take any information about the degree of nasal obstruction. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to establish parameters useful for estimating PNIF reference values.

[Exhaled nitric oxide in patients with esophagitis].

Introduction: Assessment of nitric oxide (NO) concentration in exhaled air is broadly used to monitor the airway inflammation in asthma. High level of NO are also observed in paranasal sinuses and gastrointestinal tract (GT). The intact esopahageal sphincters are responsible for maintain the NO within the GT.

Validation of basophil CD164 upregulation for pollen allergy diagnosis.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of allergen-induced basophil CD164 upregulation in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis caused by allergy to grass pollens. This study was performed in 24 patients with allergy to grass pollens, and in 25 healthy controls. The protocol for allergen-induced basophil CD164 upregulation consisted of whole blood samples processing and staining with anti-CCR3/anti-CD164 antibodies added to a buffer at the beginning of stimulation.