Eating habits and carotenoid skin content among children based on their attendance at the school meals: A cross-sectional pilot study.

Objective: The promotion of a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean Diet (MD), among childhood is of a particular importance, since eating behaviors learned early in life have been shown to be maintained into adolescence and adulthood. The most efficient intervention in childhood is the active involvement of the schools.

Design: The aim of this study was to evaluate the adherence to the MD model and the skin carotenoid levels among children divided by their school lunch attendance.

Emphysematous pyelonephritis diagnosed by acute changes detected via computed tomography: A case report.

This is the first case report in which computed tomography (CT) images of a patient with emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) capture the time course of emphysema from onset to resolution through conservative treatment. To re-evaluate EPN, including refractory urinary tract infections, CT scans after 72 h might be helpful.

Finding the missing many: improving Tuberculosis care in Kajiado county through active case finding and community approaches.

Background: Tuberculosis related deaths remain a priority globally. Despite advancements in TB care, access to quality care remains inequitable to the disadvantage of those in rural and urban informal settlements. The Awareness, Traditions, and Innovation in combating Tuberculosis (ATI TB) project incorporated active case finding (ACF), use of GeneXpert technology and decentralized services to improve TB care in Kajiado County.

Burden of Pulmonary Rifampicin-Resistant Tuberculosis in Kajiado, Kenya: An Observational Study.

Background: Rifampicin resistance (RR) is a major challenge in the clinical management of tuberculosis (TB), but data on its prevalence are still sparse in many countries. Our study aimed at estimating the prevalence of RR-TB in Kajiado County, Kenya. Secondary objectives were to estimate the incidence of pulmonary TB in adults and the rate of HIV-TB coinfection.

Poor Health Related Quality of Life and Unhealthy Lifestyle Habits in Weight-Loss Treatment-Seeking Youth.

Obesity is associated with unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and poor Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL). The cumulative effect of lifestyle behaviors on HRQOL has been demonstrated in chronically ill adolescents, but not in adolescents with obesity. The present study aimed to assess the association between HRQOL and adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and/or low levels of physical activity (PA) in a large sample of outpatient adolescents with overweight or obesity seeking weight loss treatment.

Basic Verification of β-D Glucan in Leukocyte-Rich Plasma for the Diagnosis of Deep Mycosis.

Background: Currently, supplementary serological testing for β-D glucan (BDG) is often selected to diagnose deep mycosis in care covered by the health insurance in Japan. The Wako method used by our center has low sensitivity, and different studies have used different cut-off values due to factors that cause false positives and false negatives. One possible cause of false negatives is the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as the sample material.

Childhood Obesity and COVID-19 Lockdown: Remarks on Eating Habits of Patients Enrolled in a Food-Education Program.

Childhood obesity is a worldwide health emergency. In many cases, it is directly linked to inappropriate eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle. During lockdown aimed at containing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread, children have been forced to stay at home.

Antibody-mediated soluble CD14 stabilization prevents agitation-induced increases in presepsin levels in blood component specimens.

Presepsin is a 13-kDa N-terminal glycoprotein of CD14. Previously, agitation-induced increases in presepsin levels have been reported; however, the mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to reveal the mechanism of presepsin increase.

High uric acid, reduced glomerular filtration rate and non-alcoholic fatty liver in young people with obesity.

Objective: To evaluate the association between high uric acid (UA), reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in outpatient children and adolescents with overweight (OW) or obesity (OB).

Methods: Anthropometric, biochemical, hepatic ultrasound and eGFR data were available from 2565 young people with OW/OB (age 5-18 years). eGFR was calculated using the Schwartz's bedside formula and reduced eGFR (ReGFR) was defined by a value < 90 mL/min/1.

Oral glucose effectiveness and metabolic risk in obese children and adolescents.

Aim: To investigate whether GE is affected in children/adolescents with obesity and abnormalities of the metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Methods: Cross-sectional study of oral GE (oGE), insulin sensitivity and secretion (calculated on 5 time-points oral glucose tolerance test) and metabolic abnormalities in 1012 patients with overweight/obesity (aged 6.0-17.

Malnutrition, morbidity and infection in the informal settlements of Nairobi, Kenya: an epidemiological study.

Background: Malnutrition constitutes one of the major public health challenges throughout the developing world. Urban poverty and malnutrition have been on the rise, with an increased rate of morbidity. We herein explore the relationship between infections and nutritional status and the related association with hygienic conditions as risk of infection in children residing in the slums of Nairobi.

Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of pediatric obesity: consensus position statement of the Italian Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology and the Italian Society of Pediatrics.

The Italian Consensus Position Statement on Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Obesity in Children and Adolescents integrates and updates the previous guidelines to deliver an evidence based approach to the disease. The following areas were reviewed: (1) obesity definition and causes of secondary obesity; (2) physical and psychosocial comorbidities; (3) treatment and care settings; (4) prevention.The main novelties deriving from the Italian experience lie in the definition, screening of the cardiometabolic and hepatic risk factors and the endorsement of a staged approach to treatment.

Percentiles of serum uric acid and cardiometabolic abnormalities in obese Italian children and adolescents.

Background: To investigate the association of serum uric acid (SUA) with cardiometabolic abnormalities in Caucasian overweight/obese children (<10 years of age) versus adolescents (≥10 years of age) by drawing age and gender specific percentiles of uric acid.

Methods: Cross-sectional evaluation of 1364 Caucasian overweight/obese patients (age 4.1-17.

The rehabilitation of children and adolescents with severe or medically complicated obesity: an ISPED expert opinion document.

Severe/medically complicated obesity in childhood, and particularly in adolescence, is a real disability that requires an intensive and continuous approach which should follow the procedures and schedule of rehabilitation medicine. Given the lack of a specific document focusing on children and adolescents, the Childhood Obesity Study Group set out to explore the available evidence for the treatment of severe or medically complicated obesity and to set standards tailored to the specific context of the Italian Health Service. Through a series of meetings and electronic communications, the writing committee (selected from members of the Study Group) selected the key issues, explored the literature and produced a draft document which was submitted to the other experts until the final synthesis was approved by the group.

NutricheQ Questionnaire assesses the risk of dietary imbalances in toddlers from 1 through 3 years of age.

Background: Although a nutrient-poor diet may affect children's growth, especially early in life, few tools to assess dietary imbalances in 1- to 3-year-old children have been developed.

Objectives: To investigate the accuracy and test-retest reliability of the NutricheQ Questionnaire in the identification of toddlers with the risk of inadequate intake of micro- and macronutrients in a sample of Italian toddlers.

Design: A 3-day weighed food record was performed, and results were compared with outcomes of the NutricheQ Questionnaire in 201 toddlers (training set: 1-3 years old).

Triglycerides-to-HDL cholesterol ratio as screening tool for impaired glucose tolerance in obese children and adolescents.

Aims: To identify metabolic phenotypes at increased risk of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in Italian overweight/obese children (n = 148, age 5-10 years) and adolescents (n = 531, age 10-17.9 year).

Methods: Phenotypes were defined as follows: obesity by the 95th cut-points of the Center for Disease Control body mass index reference standards, impaired fasting glucose (fasting plasma glucose ≥100 mg/dl), high circulating triglycerides (TG), TG/HDL cholesterol ≥2.

Reference ranges of HOMA-IR in normal-weight and obese young Caucasians.

Aims: Insulin resistance (IR) may develop very early in life being associated with occurrence of cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs). Aim of the present study was to identify in young Caucasians normative values of IR as estimated by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) and cutoffs diagnostic of CMRFs.

Methods: Anthropometrics and biochemical parameters were assessed in 2753 Caucasians (age 2-17.

Biomarkers of Alzheimer disease, insulin resistance, and obesity in childhood.

Objective: To answer the question of whether onset of insulin resistance (IR) early in life enhances the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer disease (AD), serum levels of 2 molecules that are likely associated with development of AD, the amyloid β-protein 42 (Aβ42) and presenilin 1 (PSEN1), were estimated in 101 preschoolers and 309 adolescents of various BMI.

Methods: Participants (215 boys; 48.8%) were normal weight (n = 176; 40%), overweight (n = 135; 30.

Obalon intragastric balloon in the treatment of paediatric obesity: a pilot study.

Background: Lifestyle interventions are often ineffective in the treatment of pediatric obesity. Weight loss devices have been introduced for the temporary nonsurgical treatment of morbid obesity.

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of Obalon Intragastric Balloon on weight loss and on metabolic and cardiovascular parameters in a pediatric population with severe obesity.

[Health consequences of obesity in children and adolescents].

Obesity in childhood is associated with the presence of complications that can undermine health immediately or in the long term. Several conditions, such as pulmonary or orthopedic complications are strictly associated with the severity of overweight, since they are directly associated to the mechanic stress of fat tissue on the airways or on the bones. Other conditions, such as metabolic or liver complications, although increasing with the extent of overweight, are associated with insulin resistance, which can be modulated by different other factors (ethnicity, genetics, fat distribution) and can occur in overweight children as well.

Vitamin D levels and liver histological alterations in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Objective: To investigate the association between plasma vitamin D (VD) levels and histological liver damage in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Subjects And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, carried out in a tertiary care center for obesity, 73 consecutive overweight and obese children with persistently elevated serum aminotransferase levels and diffusely hyperechogenic liver on ultrasonography were selected for liver biopsy. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis were histologically diagnosed using NAFLD Clinical Research Network (CRN) criteria.

Insulin sensitivity from preschool to school age in patients with severe obesity.

Background: Insulin sensitivity decreases at puberty transition, but little information has been provided on its earlier time-course. Aim of the present study was to describe the time-course of insulin sensitivity in severely obese children at the transition from preschool to school age.

Research Design And Methods: Retrospective study of a cohort of 47 severely obese [Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥99° percentile] preschoolers evaluated twice, once between 2 and 6 years of age, and once before age 8.

Cross-sectional exploration of maternal reports of food neophobia and pickiness in preschooler-mother dyads.

Objective: To investigate cross-sectional associations of food neophobia and pickiness in preschoolers and in their mothers with regard also to food consumption, proposal of new foods, feeding, and weaning modes.

Design: Matched child and maternal data collected by means of self-report questionnaires administered to mothers.

Setting: Kindergartens of the City of Rome Municipality, Italy.