Pediatric obesity-related non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: waist-to-height ratio best anthropometrical predictor.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disorder in pediatric obesity. Our study aims to identify a predictive anthropometrical measure for NAFLD in obese children.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled children and adolescents with obesity.

Transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 167K allele improves renal function in children with obesity.

Background: The transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 (TM6SF2) E167K polymorphism influences estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in adults without diabetes and without obesity. We aimed exploring the impact of this polymorphism on eGFR in children with obesity with and without non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: We genotyped 531 children with obesity for TM6SF2 E167K polymorphism.

The rs72613567: TA Variant in the Hydroxysteroid 17-beta Dehydrogenase 13 Gene Reduces Liver Damage in Obese Children.

We first investigated in obese children the protective role of the hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 13 (HSD17B13) rs72613567:TA variant in liver damage. Six hundred eighty-five obese children were genotyped for HSD17B13, patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 (PNPLA3), transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 (TM6SF2), and membrane bound O-acyltransferase domain containing 7 (MBOAT7) polymorphisms and underwent anthropometrical, ultrasonographic, and biochemical evaluation. Indirect measurement of liver fibrosis (Pediatric NAFLD Fibrosis Index [PNFI]) was calculated.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and eGFR levels could be linked by the PNPLA3 I148M polymorphism in children with obesity.

Background: PNPLA3 I148M polymorphism has an effect on modulation of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in nonobese nondiabetic adults and in children with histologically confirmed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Objectives: The objective of the study is to explore the impact of PNPLA3 I148M polymorphism on eGFR in children with obesity with and without NAFLD.

Methods: We genotyped 591 patients with obesity for PNPLA3 I148M polymorphism.

Cleaning the genitalia with plain water improves accuracy of urine dipstick in childhood.

Unlabelled: We evaluated, both in toilet-trained and not-toilet-trained children, the impact of cleaning the genital area with plain water on the false positive rate at urine dipstick, and evaluated which factors could be associated to falsely positive findings. We prospectively enrolled 612 patients consecutively attending our nephro-urological outpatient clinic. Firstly, we performed urine dipsticks on urine samples collected from patients whose genital area had not been cleaned before.

Atopy as a risk factor for subclinical hypothyroidism development in children.

Background: Increased thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) serum concentration can be a marker of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) or transient hyperthyrotropinemia. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether high serum TSH concentrations in allergic children could represent true SCH or isolated and transient hyperthyrotropinemia.

Methods: We enrolled 620 allergic children (1.

Subclinical hypothyroidism in atopic South Italian children.

Aim: To verify if subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) could be associated to atopy in children.

Methods: Seven hundred and thirty-two Caucasian children from South Italy presenting symptoms of allergic disease were enrolled and submitted to atopy, obesity, chronic low grade inflammation, and SCH work up.

Results: Four hundred and forty-five out of 705 (63.

Skin disease and thyroid autoimmunity in atopic South Italian children.

Aim: To verify the prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity (TA) and the possible association between atopy and TA in children affected by skin disease.

Methods: Three hundred and twenty-four children consecutively referred due to skin disease symptoms to our Pediatric Department were enrolled. One hundred and eighty-seven were diagnosed with atopic dermatitis (AD), 95 with acute urticaria, 40 with chronic urticaria (CU), and 2 with alopecia areata (AA).

Helicobacter pylori immunization and atopic dermatitis in South Italian children.

Background: The epidemiological decrease of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection has been recently associated to the increase of several extra-intestinal allergic disorders.

Objective: We investigated the role of specific Hp IgG production in the development of IgE or not IgE mediated food allergy (FA) in children affected by atopic dermatitis (AD).

Methods: From January 2010 to July 2013, 290 South Italian children, aged between 26 and 142 months, were consecutively referred to the Pediatric Clinic of the Pediatric Department at Second University of Naples and were diagnosed as affected by AD.

MnSOD mimic compounds can counteract mechanical stress and islet beta cell apoptosis, although at appropriate concentration ranges.

Pancreatic islets are commonly isolated for research and transplantation without taking into consideration that they undergo mechanical or chemical stress during this process. In order to counteract both types of injuries, the compound AEOL10150, a novel MnSOD mimic, was added during isolation of islet at concentrations ranging from 18 to 100 microM. Mechanical or chemical stress-related pro-apoptotic signals were then studied.

An early but intense cytokine production within the islets may be predictive for type 1 diabetes occurrence in the Bio Breeding (BB) rat.

The Bio Breeding (BB) rat is a useful animal model of type 1 autoimmune diabetes. The aim of this study was to observe and follow the cytokine and antigenic expressions within the islets of Langerhans in young non-diabetic, in pre-diabetic hyperglycemic, and in overtly diabetic animals. BB rats were therefore checked at day 21 up to day 90 of life for blood glucose, insulin levels, degree of islet infiltration, expression of proinflammatory and protective cytokines and antibodies including CD4, CD8, CD25, LFA-1, and ICAM-1.

Effects of a vitamin D3 analog on diabetes in the bio breeding (BB) rat.

Non-hypercalcemic analogs of vitamin D(3) modulate the immune response through antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and activated T-cells. A large population-base case-control showed that vitamin D(3) intake significantly decreases the risk of type 1 diabetes development. The aim of this study was, therefore, to observe the in vivo effects of a vitamin D(3) analog administered to Bio Breeding (BB) rats.

Cytokine regulatory effects on alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor expression in NOD mouse islet endothelial cells.

Human microvascular islet endothelial cells (IEC) exhibit specific morphological and functional characteristics that differ from endothelia derived from other organs. One of these characteristics is the expression of alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor (Api). In this study, we observed its expression in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse IEC, in relation to the occurrence of type 1 diabetes and in response to cytokines, namely IL-1 beta and IL-10.