Cardiovascular Risk in Pediatric Renal Transplant Recipients.

Background: The survival of pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients has improved in recent decades due to advances in dialysis and transplantation. However, cardiovascular disease (CVD) emerges as the main cause of mortality in patients with CKD.

Objectives: To estimate cardiovascular risk in children with CKD at least 1 year after kidney transplantation.

Oral contraceptives in adolescents: a retrospective population-based study on blood pressure and metabolic dysregulation.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the relationship between oral contraceptive use and blood pressure values and in a national cohort of women adolescents and to investigate the level of coexistence of the high blood pressure levels, dyslipidemia or insulin resistance.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study that evaluated data form 14,299 adolescents aged 14 to 17 years. Crude and race-and age-adjusted analyses were performed using Poisson regression to estimate the prevalence ratios.

Overexpression of miR-22-3p and miR-29c-3p in CFU-Hill colonies is related to senescence process among children with low birth weight.

Background: The current study mainly focused on provide further insights into the association of the miR-22-3p and miR-29c-3p expression in CFU-Hill colonies with birth weight and senescence process in children.

Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 61 children (32 boys, 29 girls). The CFU-Hill colonies number was evaluated in vitro by cell culture technique and senescence was detected by β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) assay.

Infrared Imaging of the Brain-Eyelid Thermal Tunnel: A Promising Method for Measuring Body Temperature in Afebrile Children.

(1) Infrared thermography of the inner canthus of the eye has emerged as a promising tool for temperature screening and fever diagnosis. Its non-invasive nature lends itself well to mass screening in diverse settings such as schools, public transport, and healthcare facilities. Swift and accurate temperature assessment plays a pivotal role in the early identification of potential fever cases, facilitating timely isolation, testing, and treatment, thereby mitigating the risk of disease transmission.

Topiramate treatment during the peripubertal period does not alter aortic endothelial function in female Wistar rats.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term adverse effects of blood pressure (BP), vascular endothelial function, and estrogen receptor (ERα and ERβ) modulation on endothelial function in female Wistar rats treated with topiramate (TPM), an antiepileptic drug, during the peripubertal period.

Materials And Methods: Female Wistar rats were treated with TPM (41 mg/kg) or water (CTR group) by gavage from postnatal day (PND) 28 to 50 (peripubertal phase). At the end of the treatment, the TPM and CTR rats were divided into two groups and evaluated after 24 h or from PND 85 (adulthood).

Birth weight and its relationship with endothelial function and pattern of endothelium-derived microparticles during childhood: New insight about early vascular damage.

Aims: To investigate whether a specific endothelium-derived microparticles (EMPs) phenotype could be associated with birth weight and microvascular endothelial function in children.

Materials And Methods: A total of 95 children aged 6-14 years were recruited. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure measurement, microvascular endothelial function testing, and biochemical profile analyses were performed.

High circulating levels of CD62E and CD31/Annexin V endothelium-derived microparticles in children with overweight/obesity: Evidence of early vascular damage.

Background: Obesity perturbs endothelium integrity, leading to endothelial activation, which predisposes the release of endothelium-derived microparticles (EMP). We measured the CD31/annexin V and CD62E EMP levels to improve our understanding of their contribution to endothelial damage in children with overweight/obesity.

Subject And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 107 children with normal weight and 35 children with overweight/obesity were evaluated.

Topiramate treatment in Wistar rats during childhood induces sex-specific vascular dysfunction in adulthood.

The present study determined whether treatment during childhood with topiramate (TPM), a new generation antiepileptic drug, results in altered aortic reactivity in adult male and female rats. We also sought to understand the role of endothelium-derived contractile factors in TPM-induced vascular dysfunction. Male and female Wistar rats were treated with TPM (41 mg/kg/day) or water (TPM vehicle) by gavage during childhood (postnatal day, 16-28).

Emerging evidence for the opposite role of circulating irisin levels and brown adipose tissue activity measured by infrared thermography in anthropometric and metabolic profile during childhood.

Irisin is an adipomyokine that increases browning of adipose tissue and thermogenesis, thereby protecting against obesity and insulin resistance. However, the correlation between irisin, brown adipose tissue (BAT), and childhood obesity, as well as its association with an increased risk of developing metabolic diseases, has not been completely elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the association between irisin levels and BAT activity measured by infrared thermography among children and verify their correlation with anthropometric and metabolic parameters.

Imbalance between the circulating endothelium-derived apoptotic microparticles and the endothelial colony-forming units of progenitor cells in patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography.

Purpose: The involvement of the circulating endothelium-derived microparticles (EMPs) and the endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) has been shown in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). The current study aimed to explore whether the Friesinger index is associated with the levels of the apoptotic CD144+/CD31+/annexin V+ ​EMPs and the number of endothelial colony-forming units of progenitor cells in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-seven patients with a median age of 62 years (range: 48-84 years) were enrolled.

High uric acid levels in overweight and obese children and their relationship with cardiometabolic risk factors: what is missing in this puzzle?

Objectives: The prevalence of hyperuricemia, a common disorder, has been increasing. Moreover, the association between obesity, serum uric acid levels, and cardiometabolic markers in children is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the inter-relationships between these factors in a sample of children aged 6-12 years.

Leptin and adiponectin concentrations in infants with low birth weight: relationship with maternal health and postnatal growth.

Health in pregnancy and infancy can affect the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases. We aimed to describe leptin and adiponectin concentrations in low birth weight (LBW) infants and identify possible associations with maternal nutritional status, adequacy for gestational age, nutritional recovery, and current dietary intake. A cross-sectional study with LBW infants (9-12 months) including maternal background and pre-pregnancy nutritional condition was performed.

Programmed Adult Kidney Disease: Importance of Fetal Environment.

The Barker hypothesis strongly supported the influence of fetal environment on the development of chronic diseases in later life. Multiple experimental and human studies have identified that the deleterious effect of fetal programming commonly leads to alterations in renal development. The interplay between environmental insults and fetal genome can induce epigenetic changes and lead to alterations in the expression of renal phenotype.

Hyperlipidic diet affects body composition and induces anxiety-like behaviour in intrauterine growth-restricted adult mice.

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? What is the effect in male and female offspring of a protein-deficient diet producing intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in maternal mice on morphometric, metabolic and behavioural parameters before and after a challenge with a fat diet? What is the main finding and its importance? Male and female mice presented different growth trajectories after birth. IUGR favoured increased adiposity in male mice, and high-fat diet-induced anxiety-like behaviour in female mice.

Abstract: As there is sexual dimorphism in the response to maternal manipulations, we aimed to analyse the effects of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in both sexes on morphometric, metabolic and behavioural parameters throughout postnatal development, and after challenge with a hyperlipidic diet.

Is low birth weight an additional risk factor for hypertension in paediatric patients after kidney transplantation?

Hypertension (HTN) remains a common complication after kidney transplantation among paediatric patients. Although low birth weight (LBW) has been implicated as an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, its effect on transplantation patients has not yet been addressed. It is essential to determine whether children with LBW who undergo transplantation are more likely to develop post-transplantation HTN.

Detrimental Impact of Low Birth Weight on Circulating Number and Functional Capacity of Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Healthy Children: Role of Angiogenic Factors.

Objective: To provide a comprehensive assessment of the relationship of birth weight with both endothelial progenitor cell function and angiogenic factors in children.

Study Design: Anthropometric measures, biochemical profile, endothelial progenitor cell number, endothelial progenitor cell colony-forming units, vascular endothelial growth factor-A, and nitric oxide plasma levels of 58 children aged 7-11 years were determined.

Results: A positive correlation was observed between birth weight and circulating endothelial progenitor cell number (r= 0.

Tonin Overexpression in Mice Diminishes Sympathetic Autonomic Modulation and Alters Angiotensin Type 1 Receptor Response.

Tonin, a serine-protease that forms Angiotensin II (AngII) from angiotensinogen, is increased in failing human heart samples. Increased blood pressure (BP) and decreased heart rate (HR) variabilities are associated with higher risk of cardiovascular morbidity. Losartan has been used to reduce hypertension and, therefore, lowers the risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events.

Beneficial Impact of Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity Program on Circulating Number and Functional Capacity of Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Children: The Crucial Role of Nitric Oxide and VEGF-A.

Purpose: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) appear to interact with physical training. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the relationship of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with both angiogenic factors and EPC function in healthy children.

Methods: Forty children (22 boys and 18 girls) aged 7 to 11 years participated in a 10-week MVPA program (duration: 45 min; intensity: 75%-85% of heart rate reserve; frequency: 4 sessions/wk).

Implication of galanin gene rs948854 polymorphism in depressive symptoms in adolescents.

Genetic, social, and environmental conditions contribute to the development of depression, but the pathophysiological mechanisms are still unclear. Data accumulated in recent years provide significant evidence for a direct role of galanin (GAL). This study aimed to investigate the relation between SNPs in the galaninergic system and depressive symptoms in adolescents.

Birth Weight and Its Relationship with the Cardiac Autonomic Balance in Healthy Children.

Several studies indicate that the fetal environment plays a significant role in the development of cardiometabolic disease later in life. However, a few studies present conflicting data about the correlation between birth weight and the impairment of cardiac autonomic modulation. The purpose of the present study was to provide further knowledge to elucidate this contradictory relationship.

Serum Endocan Levels Associated with Hypertension and Loss of Renal Function in Pediatric Patients after Two Years from Renal Transplant.

Endocan is an important biomarker of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction that increases in association with several chronic diseases. Few published data have described the role of endocan in pediatric renal transplant (RT) patients. We evaluated the endocan concentrations in 62 children who underwent renal transplantation and assessed their relationships with the patients' blood pressure and loss of renal function.

The antioxidant effects of green tea reduces blood pressure and sympathoexcitation in an experimental model of hypertension.

Background: Oxidative stress is a key mediator in the maintenance of sympathoexcitation and hypertension in human and experimental models. Green tea is widely known to be potent antioxidant.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effects of green tea in a model of hypertension.

Body mass index, adipokines and insulin resistance in asthmatic children and adolescents.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the body mass index, insulin resistance, levels of adipokines and inflammatory markers in Brazilian asthmatic children and adolescents and to investigate their possible association with the severity and control of asthma.

Methods: Cross-sectional study (n = 92; age: 3-18 years). Assessed data: Body weight and height, used to calculate the body mass index (BMIZ) and height-for-age (HAZ).

Influence of aerobic training on the reduced vasoconstriction to angiotensin II in rats exposed to intrauterine growth restriction: possible role of oxidative stress and AT2 receptor of angiotensin II.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with impaired vascular function, which contributes to the increased incidence of chronic disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether aerobic training improves AngII-induced vasoconstriction in IUGR rats. Moreover, we assess the role of superoxide dismutase (SOD) isoforms and NADPH oxidase-derived superoxide anions in this improvement.

Modification of epigenetic patterns in low birth weight children: importance of hypomethylation of the ACE gene promoter.

There is a growing body of evidence that epigenetic alterations are involved in the pathological mechanisms of many chronic disorders linked to fetal programming. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) appears as one candidate gene that brings new insights into the epigenetic control and later development of diseases. In this view, we have postulated that epigenetic modifications in the ACE gene might show different interactions between birth weight (BW), blood pressure levels, plasma ACE activity and ACE I/D polymorphism.