26 research outputs found
Hypovitaminosis D and cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents with severe obesity
Background/Objectives. Obesity is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors and with
Vitamin D deficiency. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between 25(OH)D
concentrations and cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents with severe obesity. Subjects/Methods.
A cross-sectional clinical assessment (body mass index, fat mass index, fat-free mass index,
waist-to-height ratio, and blood pressure) and metabolic study (triglycerides, total cholesterol,
HDL-C, LDL-C, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, leptin, calcium, phosphorous, calcidiol, and PTH) were
carried out in 236 adolescents diagnosed with severe obesity (BMI z-score > 3.0, 99th percentile), aged
10.2–15.8 years. The criteria of the US Endocrine Society were used for the definition of Vitamin D
status. Results. Subjects with Vitamin D deficiency had significantly elevated values (p < 0.05) for BMI
z-score, waist circumference, waist z-score, body fat percentage, fat mass index, systolic and diastolic
blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, insulin, HOMA-IR, leptin, and PTH than
subjects with normal Vitamin D status. There was a significant negative correlation (p < 0.05) of serum
25(OH)D levels with body fat percentage, FMI, systolic BP, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C,
glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, leptin, and PTH. Conclusions. Low Vitamin D levels in adolescents with
severe obesity were significantly associated with some cardiometabolic risk factors, including body
mass index, waist circumference, fat mass index, high blood pressure, impaired lipid profile, and
insulin resistance
Assessment of vitamin D status and parathyroid hormone during a combined intervention for the treatment of childhood obesity
Background: Obesity is associated with vitamin D deficiency. The aim of this work is to analyze the changes in vitamin
D status and PTH levels in a group of children with obesity receiving combined intervention program in order to get
BMI status reduction.
Methods: Longitudinal study in 119 children with obesity, aged 9.1–13.9 years, included in a 1-year combined dietarybehavioral-physical activity intervention. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, BMI and fat mass index) were
registered every 3 months and blood testing (calcium, phosphorous, 25(OH)D and PTH) were collected at the
beginning and after 12 months of follow-up. A control group was recruited (300 healthy children, aged 8.1–13.9 years).
The criteria of the US Endocrine Society were used for the definition of hypovitaminosis D.
Results: Vitamin D deficiency was significantly higher in obesity group (31.1 vs. 14%). There was negative correlation
between 25(OH)D and fat mass index (r = −0.361, p = 0.001). Patients with BMI reduction throughout combined
intervention were 52 (43.7%). There was a significant increase in the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in patients
without BMI reduction at the end of follow-up, but in those patients with BMI reduction there was no changes of
vitamin D status.
Conclusions: Obesity increases the prevalence of suboptimal vitamin D status, and a BMI status reduction in children
with obesity may be required to at least stabilize vitamin D status
Effects of the application of a prolonged combined intervention on body composition in adolescents with obesity
Background: The aim of this study is to describe the effects of a prolonged dietary-behavioral-physical activity
intervention (24 months) on body composition in a group of adolescents with obesity.
Methods: Longitudinal study in 196 individuals with obesity (86 boys and 110 girls) aged 10.1–14.9 years that
completed a prolonged combined intervention (24 months). Values for weight, height, skinfold thickness, waist
circumference, BMI, body fat, fat mass index (FMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI) were registered or calculated. A
good response to treatment was reported when a BMI z-score reduction of greater than or equal to 0.5 units of the
initial value occurred after 24 month of follow up.
Results: A good response after 24 months of follow-up reached 58.2% (n = 114). In boys with obesity and BMI status
improvement, weight z-score, BMI z-score, body fat, and FMI significantly decreased (p < 0.05). In girls with obesity and
BMI status improvement, weight z-score, BMI z-score, waist circumference, waist z-score, body fat and FMI significantly
decreased (p < 0.05). In both sexes the height and FFMI increased significantly (p < 0.05). The multiple logistic
regression analysis showed that girls and younger age were associated with BMI status improvement; concurrently, the
place of residence (urban or rural) and degree of obesity were not associated with BMI status improvement.
Conclusion: The application of long-term combined strategies in the treatment of childhood obesity seems to be
effective. As BMI decreases, a reduction in fat mass is also detected, with evident sexual dimorphism, in the absence of
changes in fat-free mass and, consequently, in longitudinal growing
Immunotoxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics in different hemocyte subpopulations of Mytilus galloprovincialis
Plastic represents 60-80% of litter in the ocean. Degradation of plastic to small fragments leads to the formation of microplastics (MPs <5mm) and nanoplastics (NPs <1 mu m). One of the most widely used and representative plastics found in the ocean is polystyrene (PS). Among marine organisms, the immune system of bivalves is recognized as suitable to assess nanomaterial toxicity. Hemocyte subpopulations [R1 (large granular cells), R2 (small semi-granular cells) and R3 (small agranular or hyaline cells)] of Mytilus galloprovincialis are specialized in particular tasks and functions. The authors propose to examine the effects of different sizes (50 nm, 100 nm and 1 mu m) PS NPs on the different immune cells of mussels when they were exposed to (1 and 10mg.L-1) of PS NPs. The most noteworthy results found in this work are: (i) 1 mu m PS NPs provoked higher immunological responses with respect to 50 and 100nm PS NPs, possibly related to the higher stability in size and shape in hemolymph serum, (ii) the R1 subpopulation was the most affected with respect to R2 and R3 concerning immunological responses and (iii) an increase in the release of toxic radicals, apoptotic signals, tracking of lysosomes and a decrease in phagocytic activity was found in R1
Assessment of the effects of nutrients and pollutants on coastal bacterioplankton by flow cytometry and SYTO-13 staining
15 pages, 4 figures, 1 tableThe specific nucleic acid fluorochrome SYT0-13 was used to assess changes in density and heterogeneity of marine bacteria! populations exposed to nutrients and common pollutants. Bacterial counts were determinad by flow cytometry calibrated using epifluorescence microscopy and image analysis. The results obtained by both methods were significantly correlated. Seawater samples from> >a coastal area of Barcelona were incubated for 30 days, after the addition of several pollutants (Hg and surfactants) and organic nutrients. The evolution of bacterioplankton abundance over time was similar in most cases. lt occurred in three phases: (1) a progressive increase in bacteria! density; (2) a subsequent decrease, and then (3) a fluctuating stationary phase. Variations in fluorescence and scatter signals showed changes in the populations of bacteria observad during the evolution of bacteria! abundance. Bacterioplankton growth or inhibition obtained after exposure to nutrients or toxic compounds can be rapidly and easily evaluated by this techniquePeer Reviewe
Changes in bacterial diversity and activity inn coastal waters as affected by eutrophication
info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe
Common variation in the CD36 (fatty acid translocase) gene is associated with left-ventricular mass.
AIMS: Genetic variation in the fatty acid translocase (CD36) gene has been shown in animal models to affect several risk factors for the development of left-ventricular hypertrophy, but this phenotype has not, thus far, been investigated in humans. We examined the relationship between common genetic polymorphisms in the CD36 gene and left-ventricular mass. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied a cohort of 255 families comprising 1425 individuals ascertained via a hypertensive proband. Seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms which together tagged common genetic variation in the CD36 gene were genotyped using a SEQUENOM MALDI-TOF instrument. There was evidence of association between the rs1761663 polymorphism in intron 1 of the CD36 gene and left-ventricular mass determined either by echocardiography (P=0.003, N=780) or electrocardiography (P=0.001, N=814). There was also association between rs1761663 genotype and body mass index (P<0.001, N=1354). Genotype was associated with between 2 and 8% differences in these phenotypes per allele. After adjustment for the effect of body mass index, there remained significant associations between genotype and left ventricular mass measured either by echo (P=0.017) or ECG (P=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Genotype at the rs1761663 polymorphism has independent effects both on body mass index and left-ventricular mass. Genes with such pleiotropic effects may be particularly attractive therapeutic targets for interventions to modify multiple risk factors for cardiovascular events