Publications by authors named "Suzanna L Attia"

Childhood vitamin A deficiency leads to increased morbidity and mortality. Human milk is the only source of vitamin A for exclusively breastfed infants. Dried leaf powder (moringa) is a good food source of provitamin A and other carotenoids.

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Background: Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common cause of chronic hepatitis in adult and pediatric patients. Adolescents with severe MASLD can demonstrate a more aggressive disease phenotype as they more commonly develop liver fibrosis than BMI matched adults. Therefore, MASLD is the fastest growing indication for liver transplants in young adults.

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Background: Cardiometabolic risk factors (impaired fasting glucose, abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia) cluster in children, may predict adult disease burden, and are inadequately characterized in South American children.

Objectives: To quantify the burden of cardiometabolic risk factors in South American children (0-21 years) and identify knowledge gaps.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature via Virtual Health Library from 2000-2021 in any language.

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Background: Controversies in management of biliary atresia (BA) after hepatoportoenterostomy (HPE) lead to variable treatment protocols. We implemented standardized medical management after HPE, customizing the use of antibiotics and corticosteroids based on patient-specific factors.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis, 20 consecutive infants underwent HPE for BA and were compared to a historical cohort.

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Increased fructose intake from sugar-sweetened beverages and highly processed sweets is a well-recognized risk factor for the development of obesity and its complications. Fructose strongly supports lipogenesis on a normal chow diet by providing both, a substrate for lipid synthesis and activation of lipogenic transcription factors. However, the negative health consequences of dietary sugar are best observed with the concomitant intake of a HFD.

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Childhood undernutrition contributes to up to 45% of deaths in children under age 5. Moringa oleifera (moringa) leaves are nutrient dense and promote breastmilk production. We performed a systematic review assessing the impact of moringa leaf supplementation in humans and animals on the outcomes of iron, vitamin A status, the measures of growth, and/or breastmilk production.

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Background: An increasing number of clinical practice guidelines recommend screening children with obesity for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, there is limited evidence regarding what parameters should be used to initiate the screening.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether obesity class rather than age group can identify a higher percent of children at risk of NAFLD as assessed by abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT).

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Background: In middle-income countries, malnutrition concentrates in marginalized populations with a lack of effective preventive strategies.

Objective: Identify risk factors for undernutrition in a peri-urban Ecuadorian community of children aged 12 to 59 months.

Methods: Data from a cross-sectional survey in 2011 of children 1 to 5 years were analyzed including demographic data, medical history and examination, food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), anthropometric measurements, and blood for complete blood count, C-reactive protein, vitamin A, iron, and zinc levels.

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Background: The last two decades have seen a significant decrease in mortality for children <5 years of age in low and middle-income countries (LMICs); however, neonatal (age, 0-28 days) mortality has not decreased at the same rate. We assessed three neonatal nutritional interventions that have the potential of reducing morbidity and mortality during infancy in LMICs.

Objectives: To determine the efficacy and effectiveness of synthetic vitamin A, dextrose oral gel, and probiotic supplementation during the neonatal period.

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Purpose: Appalachian residents have higher cancer prevalence and invasive cancer incidence in almost all cancer types relative to non-Appalachian residents. Public health interventions have been carried out to increase preventive cancer screening participation. However, no studies have evaluated the effectiveness of existing interventions targeting cancer screening uptake in this high-risk population.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common and evolving condition that can progress to serious liver issues like cirrhosis and cancer, but there are no FDA-approved treatments yet, prompting active research in the area.
  • - Emerging pharmacotherapies are mainly focused on improving bile acid signaling, reducing insulin resistance, and enhancing lipid management in the liver, with several drugs currently undergoing clinical trials.
  • - Obeticholic acid has shown promise in phase III trials for reducing liver fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), while other treatments are being explored in ongoing trials, highlighting the importance of tailoring therapy to specific NAFLD patient subgroups.
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Malnutrition contributes to nearly half of all preventable deaths in children under the age of five. While the burden of disease is heaviest in Sub-Saharan Africa, South, and Southeast Asia, malnutrition in Latin America remains high, especially within indigenous communities. This study evaluates the prevalence of malnutrition and its relationship with access to healthcare resources within 172 indigenous Wayuú communities in La Guajira, Colombia.

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