Neck Circumference as a Simple Screening Measure for Identifying Egyptian Overweight and Obese Adults

Abstract Background: Neck circumference (NC) is a simple screening measure for identifying overweight and obesity

Is Neck Circumference an Indicator for Metabolic Complication of Childhood Obesity?

BACKGROUND: The possible role of neck circumference (NC) for screening childhood obesity and its complication is not well characterized.AIM: To assess NC and to explore its increase as risk factor with metabolic syndrome (MS) variables. METHODS: Cross sectional case-control study included 50 obese children (BMI ≥95th percentile) and 50 healthy (BMI 15th-‹85th percentile). All were subjected to clinical examination, measuring blood pressure (BP), body weight, height, NC, waist (WC) and hip (HC)., fasting blood glucose, insulin and lipid profile.  RESULTS: MS was detected among 52% of obese participants, but not among controls (0%). Clinical parameters and most of the laboratory values were higher in subjects with MS than in non-metabolic subjects, with statistical significance only in blood pressure and triglycerides. Among obese without MS, NC showed significantly positive correlations with age, weight, height, WC, HC and negative with LDL. While among Obese with MS, NC showed significantly positive correlations with age, weight, height, BMI-SDS, WC, HC and DBP.CONCLUSION: NC can be considered as a good indicator and predictor for obesity, especially central obesity. However, NC has no relation with lipid profile or fasting blood sugar

Neck Circumference as a Predictor of Adiposity among Healthy and Obese Children

BACKGROUND: Obesity, particularly in the upper part of body, is a major health problem. Because body mass index (BMI) does not adequately describe regional adiposity, other indices of body fatness are being explored.OBJECTIVES: To determine if neck circumference is a valid measure of adiposity (fat distribution) among group of Egyptian children.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This is a cross sectional study, included 50 obese subjects, aged 7 - 12 years recruited from Endocrine, obesity and Metabolism Pediatric Unit at Children Hospital, Cairo University and 50 healthy children, age and sex matched. All children were subjected to blood pressure assessment (systolic SBP and diastolic DBP), and anthropometric assessment (body weight, height, neck circumference (NC), waist (WC) and hip (HC) circumferences, and skin fold thicknesses at three sites: biceps, triceps and sub scapular. BMI [weight (kg)/height (m2)] was calculated.RESULTS: In healthy females, significant associations were detected between NC and SBP, DBP and all anthropometric measurements. However, in healthy males NC was not significantly associated with BMI, SBP and DBP. In the obese group; both sexes; insignificant association was found between NC and SBP, DBP, BMI and skinfold thickness. CONCLUSION: NC is related to fat distribution among normal healthy female children. However, this relation disappears with increasing adiposity. The results do not support the use of NC as a useful screening tool for childhood obesity

25-Hydroxy Vitamin D, Adiponectin Levels and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in a Sample of Obese Children

BACKGROUND: Association between vitamin D, adiponectin and obesity is a matter of debate, as they play important role in linking obesity with different cardio metabolic risk factors.AIM: Evaluation of association between metabolic risk factors with both adiponectin and 25-Hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH) D] levels and that between adiponectin and [25(OH) D] among obese Egyptian children.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This case-control cross sectional study consisted of 65 obese and 30 healthy children, aged 8-11 years. 25(OH) D, serum adiponectin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol were measured.RESULTS: The mean 25(OH)D and adiponectin levels in the obese were lower than that in control group (ð‘ƒ<0.000). 25(OH)D were inversely correlated with body mass index, triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. While adiponectin level were inversely correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. However, there is no relation between 25(OH) D and adiponectin levels among obese children and total sample.CONCLUSION: Inspite of strong association between vitamin D and adiponectin levels with metabolic risk factors and obesity, there is no relation between 25(OH)D and adiponectin levels. In obese children, There are significant negative correlations between 25(OH)D with lipid profile, and between adiponectin levels with blood pressure

The Interaction of Social, Physical and Nutritive Factors in Triggering Early Developmental Language Delay in a Sample of Egyptian Children

BACKGROUND: Language acquisition and child development during the early years of life depend on multiple interacting factors. AIM: To explore potential factors that can impact language development in 2 groups of Egyptian children, one with normal language development and the second with delayed development. Also, to explore to what extent can the involvement of impaired motor development potentiate the risk of developmental language delay. METHODS: This cross-sectional case-control study involved Egyptian children belonging to the middle socioeconomic class between 18 and 36 months of age. Children were classified according to their performance on language domain of Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III) into two groups, infants with the average or above score (control group) and those having below-average scores (cases). Motor development was assessed on the same scale. Factors affecting language development were tested, including socio-demographic, obstetric, and maternal medical factors in addition to Infant Feeding Practices. RESULTS: The independent factors lowering the language scores were early introduction of complementary food, low family income, history of delivery problems, pregnancy-related diseases of the mother, and maternal education. Impaired motor development appears as a further highly significant risk factor to the previously mentioned factors CONCLUSION: In Egyptian children, delayed language development is severely affected by the interaction of medical, social and nutritional factors. Providing adequate maternal health care during pregnancy and childbirth, regular developmental monitoring at each child visit, and screening for such risk factors, can reduce size of the problem and promote child’s social and psychological development

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

The Effect of Gestational Age and Birth Weight on Serum Catalase Level as an Antioxidant Marker in Neonates

ABSTRACT Oxidative stress, the imbalance between the production of free radicals and anti-oxidants, results in irreversible cell damage. Birth implies a strong oxidative stress, for the rapid change from relatively hypoxic intra-uterine to the extra-uterine environment. Newborns are more susceptible to oxidative stress. Such oxidative environment; which increases in premature infants from birth before the 37th week of gestation, appears to involve an immaturity in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant mechanisms. Catalase which is a common antioxidant enzyme, found nearly in all living organisms that are exposed to oxygen and functions to catalyze the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. Estimating the effect of gestational age and birth weight on serum catalase activity level, as an antioxidant marker in neonates. Forty neonates (20 full term "FT: and 20 preterm "PT") classified into 4 groups: group I (n=10, FT-AGA), group II (n=10, FT-SGA), group III (n=10, PT-AGA) and group IV (n=10, PT-SGA). Forty umbilical cord blood samples were collected immediately after birth to assess serum catalase activity level by Spectrophotometric method. Mean serum catalase activity level was statistically significant higher in FT group when compared to PT group. In PT group, there was insignificant positive correlation between serum catalase activity level and gestational age and birth weight. In FT group, there was statistically insignificant positive correlation between serum catalase activity level and gestational age. Serum catalase activity level positively correlated with gestational age and birth weight in neonates. The maturation of antioxidant system increases along with increasing gestational age and birth weight

Is Neck Circumference an Indicator for Metabolic Complication of Childhood Obesity?

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Abstract BACKGROUND: The possible role of neck circumference (NC) for screening childhood obesity and its complication is not well characterized

Relationship between breast feeding duration and risk of overweight/obesity among Egyptian children

Background and aim: Breast feeding (BF); as risk factor for/or protective against childhood overweight/obesity; remains matter of debate. This study assesses relationship between BF duration, and development of overweight/obesity among Egyptian children, with respect for wide range of potentially confounding variables. Subjects and methods: Cross sectional-retrospective study included 154 children of both sexes; aged 6–18 years. Data was collected about child birth weight, breast feeding duration, and start of weaning, family size, parental ages, education, occupation and place of residence. Anthropometric measurements and body composition were conducted. Children were classified into 3 age groups (6–9, 9.1–12 and 12.1–18 years) and 4 groups according to BF duration (Never BF, BF for 6, 7–12, and more than 12 months). Results: Children who never BF were12.8%, while those BF for more than 12 months were 59.7%. Start of weaning was more common at 5–6 months of age (58.4%). Overweight/Obesity was detected among 30.5% of children. It was more prominent among children who BF for more than 12 months in ages 6–12 years (64.3% and 71.4%), while in those aged 12–18 years it was equivalent in those never BF (33.3%) and who BF for more than 12 months (38.9%). BF duration had insignificant correlations with parental education or occupation, or with any of the child's anthropometric measurements. Conclusion: Childhood overweight/obesity were less prominent among children who Bf for <12 months; However, there was no effect of breast feeding duration on any of the child anthropometric measures