Vitamin D status is linked to biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial activation in obese children.

Objective: To examine vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, and serum calcium-phosphorus levels relationships to biomarkers of oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammation, and endothelial activation, potential contributors for vascular complications in obese children.

Study Design: Cross-sectional clinical study of 66 obese Caucasian children aged 7 to 14 years. Cardiovascular risk factors were assessed.

Interaction of cerebrovascular disease and contralateral carotid occlusion in prediction of shunt insertion during carotid endarterectomy.

Introduction: To assess the possible role and the interaction of cerebrovascular disease and vascular stenosis on the necessity of shunt insertion during carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

Material And Methods: Eighty consecutive patients undergoing CEA under regional anaesthesia were prospectively enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups depending on whether they were shunted or not.

A matter of fat: insulin resistance and oxidative stress.

Background: Obesity is linked to insulin resistance (IR), which can lead to type 2 diabetes mellitus. Oxidative stress present in early obesity may favor the progression to comorbid conditions.

Objective: To examine the relationship between oxidative stress biomarkers and the severity of IR in a group of obese children.

Oxidant mechanisms in childhood obesity: the link between inflammation and oxidative stress.

Evidence of obesity-induced oxidative stress in adults has emerged in the past several years, and similar evidence has been demonstrated in children more recently. The reactive species of oxygen or nitrogen can chemically alter all major classes of biomolecules by modifying their structure and function. Organisms have developed mechanisms to protect biomolecules from the deleterious effects of free radicals.

Hepatic lipomas and steatosis: an association beyond chance.

Objective: To determine if hepatic lipomas have a higher prevalence of liver steatosis than other benign hepatic lesions.

Materials And Methods: Ninety-two benign hepatic lesions were analyzed with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. There were 6 lipomas and 86 benign non-lipomatous lesions, including 55 hemangiomas, 23 focal nodular hyperplasias (FNH) and 8 adenomas.

Burning mouth syndrome: correlation of treatment to clinical variables of the disease.

Objective: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a complex disorder with a still uncertain etiopathogenesis. A number of treatments have been used in application to BMS, though without clearly successful results. The present study compares the improvement in BMS obtained as a result of different treatment modalities in relation to the clinical characteristics of the patients.

Clinico-therapeutic management of osteoradionecrosis: a literature review and update.

In the management of head and neck cancer, radiotherapy is usually a coadjuvant to surgery, or is applied on a palliative basis. The most important complication of such radiotherapy is osteoradionecrosis, which manifests as an area of exposed necrotic bone in the maxillae or mandible that fails to heal during at least three months. In most cases osteoradionecrosis gradually progresses, becoming more extensive and painful, and its late manifestations comprise infection and pathological fracture.

Polyamines are increased in obese children and are related to markers of oxidative/nitrosative stress and angiogenesis.

Context: Polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) are polycationic amines derived from arginine, which is the precursor of nitric oxide (NO). Due to the close relationship between the metabolism of polyamines and NO metabolism, the alteration in polyamine homeostasis can affect the NO bioavailability at the endothelium.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that childhood obesity is associated with a significant modification of blood polyamines and to investigate the presence of correlation between these molecules, circulating markers of oxidative and nitrosative stress, and endothelial dysfunction.

New factors of cardiometabolic risk in severely obese children: influence of pubertal status.

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the utility of new biochemical markers to assess cardiometabolic risk in severely obese children and adolescents. A total of 107 subjects aged 7 to 14 years, were clinically assessed and anthropometric measures and percentage of fat mass by single frequency bioimpedance analysis were recorded. Of these, 44 were non-overweight and 63 severely obese (body mass index Z-score>2.

Nitric oxide production is increased in severely obese children and related to markers of oxidative stress and inflammation.

Objective: Nitric oxide (NO) is the major endothelium-derived relaxing factor. The aim of the present study was to evaluate NO synthesis and metabolism in severely obese children with different degrees of metabolic risk and to ascertain their relation with the parameters of oxidative stress and inflammation.

Methods: The study involved 60 obese children evaluated with respect to metabolic risk factors (MRFs) (32<4 MRFs and 28 ≥ 4 MRFs) and 50 normal weight children between 7 and 14 years of age.

Clinical study of hemodynamic changes during extraction in controlled hypertensive patients.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the vasoconstrictor used in local anesthesia during dental extraction in controlled hypertensive patients.

Study Design: A prospective observational study was carried out in hypertensive patients (n=97) with a mean age of 60.45±9.

Cystatin C, cardiometabolic risk, and body composition in severely obese children.

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between cystatin C (CysC), cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs), and body composition in severely obese children. We evaluated 117 children aged 7-14 years old. Seventy-nine of these were severely obese (body mass index z-score ranging from 2.

Evaluation of bleeding risk and measurement methods in dental patients.

Objective: The present study explores bleeding manifestations in routine dental surgical procedures, evaluates the influence of antithrombotic drugs upon bleeding risk, and validates the efficiency of a clinical method for the measurement of bleeding.

Material And Method: A prospective observational study was made involving a cohort of 99 patients in the setting of normal clinical practice, with the added conduction of prior hematological tests including baseline hemostasis and platelet function, based on a new method (Multiplate System®). For evaluation of the bleeding manifestations, a clinical method was selected that evaluates bleeding on the basis of its duration and the hemostatic measures needed to resolve the problem.

Elevated advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) indicate metabolic risk in severely obese children.

Background And Aims: The assessment of oxidative stress may aid in the identification of subsequent metabolic risk in obese children. The objective of this study was to determine whether the plasma level of advanced oxidation protein products, analyzed with a recently proposed modified assay that involves a delipidation step (mAOPPs), was related to metabolic risk factors (MRFs) in severely obese children.

Methods And Results: The plasma levels of mAOPPs were determined by spectrophotometry in 54 severely obese and 44 healthy children.

Oxidative markers in children with severe obesity following low-calorie diets supplemented with mandarin juice.

Aim:  To evaluate the effect of supplementing a hypocaloric diet with mandarin juice, a food with a high content of antioxidants (vitamin C, flavonoids and carotenoids), on biomarkers of oxidant/antioxidant status of severe obese children.

Methods:  Forty obese children were randomized into two groups pair-wise in a 4-week controlled intervention study. Both groups followed a hypocaloric diet.

Oral and dental health of non-institutionalized elderly people in Spain.

With aging of the populations, the oral health and hygiene of elderly people has become an important public health issue. In this cross-sectional study we investigated the prevalence of tooth decay and other periodontal diseases in a representative cohort of 480 non-institutionalized adults ≥65 years from the province of Valencia, Spain. Using a World Health Organization standard for an adult oral survey methodology, we obtained data on remnant teeth with the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index, a Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPTIN), attachment loss, and temporo-mandibular articulation (TMA) status.

Testosterone levels in males with type 2 diabetes and their relationship with cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease.

Introduction: One of the factors involved in type 2 diabetes in males is a reduction in levels of testosterone, which has been shown to predict resistance to insulin and the development of cardiovascular diseases.

Aim: To assess the levels of testosterone in patients with type 2 diabetes and to evaluate their relationship with cardiovascular risk factors, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and silent myocardial ischemia (SMI).

Methods: Total testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin were measured and free and bioavailable testosterones were calculated using Vermeulen's formula.

Smoking, an additional risk factor in elder women with primary open-angle glaucoma.

Purpose: Smoking is a serious public health problem worldwide. Some authors refer to it as the "silent epidemic of the 20th century." It constitutes an important risk factor for ocular pathologies such as age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), diabetic retinopathy, and neuropathy because the toxic effects of tobacco play a key role in the deterioration of eye tissue.

Bispectral index variations in patients with neurological deficits during awake carotid endarterectomy.

Background And Objective: The bispectral index (BIS) is derived from the EEG and therefore may be useful to diagnose intraoperative cerebral ischaemia. This study was undertaken to investigate BIS changes in awake patients with and without neurological deficits during carotid endarterectomy under regional anaesthesia.

Methods: Seventy consecutive carotid endarterectomies under regional anaesthesia were divided into two surgical groups: patients with and patients without neurological deficits.

Bispectral index changes in carotid surgery.

Background: Intraoperative monitoring of cerebral ischemia with shunting during carotid endarterectomy (CEA) remains controversial. Our objective was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of BIS changes during carotid clamping in relation to shunted patients in awake CEA.

Methods: Eighty CEAs under cervical block were included.

Oxidant/antioxidant status in obese children compared to pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) mellitus and obesity are recognized risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). A common mechanism underlying an increased risk for endothelial dysfunction in these two metabolic diseases is oxidative stress.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the oxidant/antioxidant defense systems in children affected with T1D or obesity in order to determine the importance of oxidative stress before the emergence of complications.

Is obesity associated with oxidative stress in children?

Objective: We evaluated the presence of oxidative stress in obese children without co-morbidities.

Methods: The study population included 68 children (30 girls, 38 boys), between 6 and 14 years of age. The levels of markers of oxidative damage (malondialdehyde [MDA], and plasma carbonyl groups [CG]) and measures of antioxidant defense, such as the enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and low molecular scavengers (erythrocyte-reduced glutathione [GSH], alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene) were determined.

Antioxidant status modifications by topical administration of dorzolamide in primary open-angle glaucoma.

Purpose: This study deals with the role of the topical administration of dorzolamide eyedrops on the oxidative/antioxidant status of aqueous humor in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).

Methods: A case-control study including 130 patients distributed into three groups was carried out: 1) patients with POAG without dorzolamide instillation administration (GG; n=34); 2) patients with POAG with dorzolamide (DG; n=36); and 3) subjects with cataracts (comparative group, CG; n=60). Oxidative activity was measured in the aqueous humor by malondialdehyde determination by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay.

Oral sodium phosphates solution versus polyethylene glycol for colon cleansing prior to radiological assessment.

A clean bowel environment is essential prior to radiological assessment of the colon. The objectives were to determine patient compliance and acceptability, physician satisfaction, overall clinical effectiveness and tolerability with the use of oral sodium phosphates (Fosfosoda) and polyethylene glycol solutions as bowel cleansing agents in a relatively large cohort of Spanish patients requiring radiologic examination of the colon. This was an observational survey involving 592 patients (> or =18 years and approximately 60% women) who received Fosfosoda or polyethylene glycol solutions according to data sheet instructions.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease: relationship to different clinical variables.

Objective: This study is designed to evaluate the frequency of periodontal disease in a group of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and how this relates with diabetes metabolic control, duration of diabetes, and presence of diabetic complications.

Methods: A comparison was made of periodontal parameters (plaque index, bleeding index, pocket depth and attachment loss) in a group of diabetic patients (n=90) versus a group of non-diabetics (n=90). Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate relationship between periodontal parameters and degree of metabolic control, the duration of the disease, and the appearance of complications.