Diet and physical activity interventions do have effects on body composition and metabolic syndrome parameters in overweight and obese adolescents and their mothers

WOS: 000341414400008PubMed: 24217075To determine the effects of lifestyle intervention and diet on body composition, anthropometric measurements, and metabolic syndrome (MS) in obese and overweight adolescents and their mothers, a diet and lifestyle intervention program was administered for 16 weeks to 19 9-17-year-old (12.52 +/- 2.85 years) adolescents (female/male, 8/11) with a body mass index (BMI) value over the 90th percentile; hemoglobin (Hb) A1C, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein levels of the adolescents and anthropometric measurements of the mothers were compared. In some of the anthropometric values (body weight (BW), BMI, waist circumference (WC), skinfold thicknesses, body fat tissue, and lean tissue mass), a statistically significant difference was observed in pre-and post-application measurements (p0.05). MS was observed in 52.6% of the participants at baseline, and this rate was found as 15.8% based on the measurements carried out at week 16, which is a statistically significant decrease (p<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in pre-and post-study values of BW, BMI, body fat mass, basal metabolic rate, WC, hip circumference, hip/waist, and skinfold thickness in mothers. A 16-week diet and lifestyle intervention program for overweight and obese adolescents involving their mothers resulted in significant improvement in obesity and MS treatment

The Significance Of Western Blot In Primary Immunodeficiencies: Examples From Two Families

Introduction: Primary immunodeficiencies (PID) with extended clinical spectrum, evaluated in rare genetic disorders, are difficult to diagnose and treat. Utilization of the next generation sequencing more than 300 genes have been associated with PIDs and new genes are continued to be determined. Even though, variants identified by the next generation sequencing are described as pathogenic in silico, investigating their possible pathogenic roles by analysing protein expression is crucial in patients. Western blot method is an old and reliable method used in molecular biology to investigate the responses of intracellular and extracellular proteins to exogenous stimuli and evaluate protein expression as existing or lost, increased or decreased as well as determining cell-specific protein isoforms, and in particular truncated proteins responsible for occurrence of a disease. Material and Methods: In this study, STK4 and LRBA protein expressions were evaluated with western blot in three patients from two families having STK4 variants and one patient having LRBA variant from a family. Results: It was determined that protein expression was lost in patients. Conclusions: New variants were evaluated as pathogenic due to lose of protein expressions in patients.WoSScopu

Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha-308 G/A And Interleukin 1 Beta-511 C/T Gene Polymorphisms In Patients With Scarring Acne

Background Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder which may heal with scarring. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) are considered as the main responsible proinflammatory mediators of acne pathogenesis. Oversecretion of these cytokines was found to be associated with TNF alpha-308 G>A and IL-1 beta-511 C Aim To evaluate the association of TNF alpha-308 and IL-1 beta-511 gene polymorphisms with acne and postacne scarring susceptibility and acne severity. Methods Study subjects included 90 patients with acne vulgaris (31 males, 59 females; mean age: 19.6 +/- 3.7 years) and 30 healthy controls (11 males, 19 females; mean age: 19.2 +/- 5.1 years). Patients were sub-grouped on the basis of acne severity into mild, moderate, and severe acne groups and on the presence postacne scarring into scarring acne and nonscarring acne groups. Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained for performing real-time PCR analysis for detecting TNF alpha-308 and IL-1 beta-511 genotypic variants. Results Among patients, 21.7% (n = 26) had mild, 22.5% (n = 27) had moderate, 30.8% (n = 37) had severe, and 30% (n = 36) had scarring acne. Genotypic variants of TNF alpha-308 and IL-1 beta-511 did not statistically differ between acne patients and controls (P values: .245 and .466). When compared in terms of acne severity and the presence of postacne scarring, no statistical significance was observed regarding frequencies of genotypic variants related to the both TNF alpha-308 and IL-1 beta polymorphisms (P > .05). Conclusion TNF alpha-308 and IL-1 beta polymorphic variants are not associated with acne and postacne scarring susceptibility and acne severity.WoSScopu

The Association Between Vitamin D Levels And Infections In Patients With Primary Immunodeficiency

Introduction: Vitamin D is a hormone responsible in the regulation of immune response. This study was designed to assess the relationship of vitamin D deficiency on the development of infections in patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID). Materials and Methods: A total of 39 patients (M/F: 23/16) and 39 age-and sex-matched healthy controls (M/F: 23/16) were enrolled in the study. We measured the frequency of infections and serum vitamin D levels in winter and summer seasons. Results: The median age of the patient and control groups were 15.0 (Interquartile range: 7.5-26.0) years and 14.0 (9.0-25.0) years, respectively (P=0.810). Winter and summer vitamin D levels were similar both in patient and control groups (p=0.492 for winter, p=0.503 for summer). Number of the patients with low serum vitamin D levels and with infections were higher in winter than in summer. Auroimmune and inflammatory diseases (AID) were predominantly observed in patients with low winter vitamin D levels and in common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) group. Patients with CVID had lower serum vitamin D levels both in summer (p=0.048) and in winter (p=0.008). Conclusions: In this study, we showed the seasonal variation of serum vitamin D in patients with PID. There was also increased frequency of CVID and AID in those patients with low vitamin D levels. In addition, vitamin D might be given in winter to the patients with PID to rake infections and autoimmune disorders under control.WoSScopu

Light and Scanning Electron Microscopic Structure of the Pecten Oculi in the Common Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

This study was carried out to investigate the structural properties of pecten oculi in the common barn owl (Tyto alba) by light and electron microscope. Fourteen eyeballs from seven owls were studied. The pecten oculi was located postero-anteriorly in the retina layer where the optic nerve enters the eye. The pecten oculi that was dark brown and pleated type consisted of 7 (n=4) or 8 (n=10) vascularised pectineal pleats. Histologically, there were numerous vessels of different size and melanocytes in the area of the pleats. Melanocytes were more frequently observed in the periphery of the pecten oculi's pleats. Scanning electron microscopy showed hyalocytes on the surface of the pecten oculi. The results of the study indicated that the pecten oculi of the common barn owl was morphologically similar to that of other nocturnal birds

Does Employing a Flowchart Improve the Diagnostic Performance of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Left Ventricular Noncompaction?

Background: To test the hypothesis that making a diagnosis of left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) using a noncompacted-to-compacted (NC/C) myocardium ratio > 2.3 would yield significant errors, and also to test a diagnostic flowchart in patients who undergo CMRI and have clinical and echocardiographic findings suggesting LVNC could improve the diagnosis of LVNC

Clinical And Genetic Features Of Il12R Beta 1 Deficiency: Single Center Experience Of 18 Patients

Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease (MSMD) is characterized by infections with weakly virulent mycobacteria (BCG and environmental mycobacteria), M. tuberculosis, Salmonella, candida and some other intracellular microorganisms. Nine different genetic defects have been defined to cause MSMD and IL-12R beta 1 deficiency is the most common form. We present here the clinical and genetic features of 18 patients with IL12R beta 1 deficiency diagnosed by surface expression of IL-12R beta 1 and Sanger's sequencing. Seventeen patients showed classical presentation (infections with BCG, salmonella and candida) while one patient experienced recurrent leishmaniasis. In all patients the percentage of activated lymphocytes with surface expression of IL12R beta 1 was <1% indicating that it is an effective method for the screening of these patients. Three recurrent mutations were responsible for 85% of our families. Prognosis was good in patients, in whom specific antimicrobial therapy was given before dissemination occurs, as well as prophylactic antimicrobial treatment when needed and IFN-gamma therapy for severe infectious episodes.WoSScopu

Defective Pneumococcal Antibody Response In Patients With Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infections

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common pathogen responsible for pulmonary infections and the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with particularly B cell immunodeficiencies. Antibody production is the principal protective immune response against S. pneumoniae and measurement of the production of antipolysaccharide antibodies is important in the evaluation of B cell deficiencies. We quantified serotype-specific immunoglobulin G antibodies against seven common pneumococcal serotypes before and three weeks after unconjugated vaccine in 416 patients with recurrent respiratory tract infections; fifty-five (13%) of whom showed impaired antibody response. We could evaluate 41 of these 55 patients for their particular clinical features. Specific antibody deficiency, was diagnosed in 10 of these patients, common variable immunodeficiency in 18, ataxia telangiectasia in 10 and other antibody deficiencies in 7 (transient hypogammaglobulinemia in 4, IgG subclass deficiency in 1, partial and selective IgA deficiency in 1) patients. Evaluation of the antibody response to polysaccharide antigens should be considered early on in patients with recurrent respiratory infections and required particularly for the diagnosis of specific antibody deficiency and the decision of the appropriate treatment approaches.WoSScopu