Association between umbilical cord leptin and weight gain according to feeding type in the early postnatal period, a brief report

Antecedentes. La ganancia de peso en la infancia depende del estado nutricional in utero y el crecimiento posnatal, así como de las prácticas de alimentación, cultura, accesibilidad a los alimentos y el nivel educativo de los padres. Objetivo. Evaluar la relación de los niveles de leptina del cordón umbilical y la influencia del tipo de alimentación (seno materno vs. fórmula) en la ganancia de peso a los tres meses de vida en recién nacidos sanos. Material y métodos. Noventa y nueve recién nacidos a término (masculinos, n = 48; femenino, n = 51) fueron incluidos en dos grupos de acuerdo con el tipo de alimentación: alimentados al seno materno (n = 49) y alimentados con fórmula (n = 50). La leptina fue medida de la sangre obtenida de la vena del cordón umbilical. Resultados. Las concentraciones de leptina del cordón umbilical y la ganancia de peso a los tres meses tuvieron una correlación inversa en lactantes alimentados con fórmula (r = -0.294, P = 0.038), estos hallazgos no fueron reflejados en lactantes alimentados al seno materno (r = -0.212, P = 0.144). Conclusiones. En esta cohorte mexicana de alimentación al seno materno, los niveles de leptina en el cordón umbilical fueron un predictor significativo de la ganancia de peso en infantes alimentados con fórmulaBackground. Weight gain in infancy depends on in utero nutritional status, with postnatal growth also dependent on feeding practices, culture, food accessibility and parents’ education. Objective. To evaluate the relationship between umbilical cord blood leptin levels and feeding mode (breast-fed vs. formula) on weight gain at three months of life. Material and methods. Ninety-nine full-term newborns (male, n = 48; female, n = 51) were included in two groups according to feeding type: breast-fed (n = 49) and formula-fed (n = 50). Leptin was measured in blood obtained from the umbilical cord vein. Results. Umbilical cord leptin levels and weight gain at three months had a significant inverse correlation in formula-fed infants (r = -0.294, P = 0.038). This finding was not reflected in breast-fed infants (r = -0.212, P = 0.144). Conclusions. In our Mexican breastfeeding cohort, umbilical cord leptin levels were a significant predictor of weight gain in formula-fed infantsThis work was supported by grants from the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León through the Scientific and Technological Research Support Program (PAICYT) (SA1463-06)

Efecto de la administración semanal de ácido fólico sobre los valores sanguíneos The effect of weekly administration of folic acid on folic blood levels

OBJETIVO: Evaluar el efecto de la administración de 5 mg por semana de ácido fólico sobre los valores sanguíneos. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio de comparación concurrente realizado en zonas urbanas y rurales del estado de Nuevo León, México, en 1998, a 74 mujeres, 39 de ellas con antecedente de un producto con defecto de cierre del tubo neural y 35 sin dicho antecedente. La muestra sólo incluyó a mujeres que parieron durante 1997. Las mujeres recibieron 5 mg de ácido fólico por semana durante tres meses. El AF sanguíneo fue determinado por radioinmunoanálisis (RIA), al inicio y una semana después de la última tableta. Se calcularon promedios y desviaciones estándar. RESULTADOS: El 90% de las mujeres aumentó significativamente los valores sanguíneos. El ácido fólico intraeritrocitario se incrementó de 150.49 ± 31.17 ng/ml a 184.21 ± 35.53 ng/ml (phttp://www.insp.mx/salud/index.htmlOBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of weekly administration of 5 mg. folic acid (FA) intake on folic acid blood levels. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This concurrent comparative study was conducted in 1998, in urban and rural areas of Nuevo Leon State, Mexico. The study population consisted of 74 women who delivered a child during 1997, 39 of whom had a child with a neural tube defect. Women were given 5 mg. of folic acid, weekly for 3 months. Blood levels of folic acid were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) at baseline, and a week after taking the last folic acid dose. Data are presented as means and standard deviations. RESULTS: Ninety per cent of the women had significantly increased folic acid intraerythrocytary blood levels. Red cell folate increased from 150.49 ± 31.17 ng/ml to 184.21 ± 35.53 ng/ml (phttp://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html</a

Metabolic syndrome prevalence among Northern Mexican adult population.

Dietary habits in the Mexican population have changed dramatically over the last few years, which are reflected in increased overweight and obesity prevalence. The aim was to examine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and associated risk factors in Northern Mexican adults aged ≥ 16 years.The study was a population-based cross-sectional nutritional survey carried out in the State of Nuevo León, Mexico. The study included a sub-sample of 1,200 subjects aged 16 and over who took part in the State Survey of Nutrition and Health-Nuevo León 2011/2012. Anthropometric measurements, physical activity, blood pressure and fasting blood tests for biochemical analysis were obtained from all subjects. The prevalence of MetS in Mexican adults aged ≥ 16 years was 54.8%, reaching 73.8% in obese subjects. This prevalence was higher in women (60.4%) than in men (48.9%) and increased with age in both genders. Multivariate analyses showed no evident relation between MetS components and the level of physical activity.Obese adults, mainly women, are particularly at risk of developing MetS, with the associated implications for their health. The increasing prevalence of MetS highlights the need for developing strategies for its early detection and prevention

Serum lipid levels and dyslipidaemia prevalence among 2-10 year-old Northern Mexican children.

The increase in overweight and obese children may be linked to increased rates of dyslipidaemia. The aim was to assess the prevalence of dyslipidaemia and associated risk factors among the Northern Mexican child population.Four hundred and fifty-one subjects aged between 2 and 10 (47.5% girls) took part in the Nuevo León State Survey of Nutrition and Health 2011-2012. According to the 2011 Expert Panel on Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents, serum lipid levels (mg/dL) were categorized into three subgroups (acceptable, borderline-high/low or high/low) as follows: TChol: acceptable <170, borderline-high 170-199, high ≥200; LDL-chol: acceptable <110, borderline-high 110-129, high ≥130; non-HDL-chol: acceptable <120, borderline-high 120-144, high ≥145; HDL-chol: acceptable >45, borderline-low 40-45, low <40; and TG: acceptable <75, borderline-high 75-99, high ≥100 in ≤9 year-old children, and acceptable <90, borderline-high 90-129, and high ≥130 in 10 year-old children. The overall prevalence of borderline-high + high TG, non-HDL-chol, TChol, and LDL-chol was 63.0%, 44.1%, 43.5%, and 29.9%, respectively. The overall prevalence of borderline-low + low HDL-chol was 46.3%. The overall frequency of dyslipidaemia was 54.3%. Thirteen children (2.9%) had all five symptoms of dyslipidaemia. The most common dyslipidaemia was high TG in combination (26.2%) and in isolation (10.6%).Half of the children had at least one abnormal lipid concentration. A high TG level was the most frequent dyslipidaemia. Obesity was associated with the occurrence of at least one abnormal lipid level. These findings emphasize the need to pay further attention to the prevention of cardiovascular disease and obesity from an early age

Algorithm for Screening of Adrenal Function in Stable Patients with Cirrhosis

Introduction and aims: Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is common in patients with cirrhosis. We aimed to assess the presence of AI in stable patients with cirrhosis using the gold-standard insulin tolerance test (ITT) and to propose an algorithm for screening AI in these patients. Material and methods: We studied 40 stable patients with cirrhosis. We determined the basal total (BTC) and peak cortisol (PTC) levels. Using the ITT, we defined AI as a serum PTC 9 or MELD >12). Conclusion: An algorithm including the use of BTC and the severity of liver disease may be a useful and simple method for assessing adrenal function in stable patients with cirrhosis

Relation between Liver Transaminases and Dyslipidaemia among 2-10 y.o. Northern Mexican Children

<div><p>Background and Aims</p><p>The increase in overweight and obese children may be linked to increased rates of liver damage and dyslipidaemia. This study aimed to explore the associations of liver biomarkers with overweight/obesity and dyslipidaemia in Mexican children.</p><p>Methods</p><p>The study was a population-based cross-sectional nutritional survey carried out in the State of Nuevo León, Mexico. The study included a 414 subjects aged between 2 and 10 years old (47.8% girls) who took part in the State Survey of Nutrition and Health–Nuevo León 2011/2012. Associations between alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ALT/AST ratio, and major components of serum lipid profile were assessed.</p><p>Results</p><p>Children with high ALT (defined as ≥P₇₅) showed higher prevalence of dyslipidaemia than their counterparts, with high prevalence of high TChol (<i>P</i> = 0.053), non-HDL-chol, TG, and low HDL-chol. Children with an AST/ALT ≥T3 ratio were 0.43-times (95% CI: 0.25–0.74) and 0.27-times (95% CI: 0.17–0.44) low likely to be overweight/obese and to have dyslipidaemia than those with an AST/ALT </p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Our results pose the need for further investigation on whether AST/ALT may be useful as screening test in the assessment of children with cardiometabolic risk.</p></div

Plasma cytokine levels imbalance in cirrhotic patients with impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus. A prospective study

Aims. To define if there is an imbalance in plasma levels of proinflammatory, fibrogenic and antifibrogenic cytokines in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or diabetes mellitus (DM).Material and methods. We randomly selected 54 out of 100 patients with LC who had normal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels. Three groups were formed based on an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results: 18 patients were normal, 18 had IGT, and 18 had DM. Plasma levels of cytokines were measured: TNF-α, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNF-R1), leptin, TGF-β1, and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Also, fasting plasma insulin (FPI) levels were determined and HOMa2-IR was calculated. Results were compared with those of a control group of 18 patients without liver disease nor DM. Intergroup comparison was performed using non parametric tests.Results. Significantly higher sTNF-R1 and lower TGF-β1 were found in patients with IGT and DM compared to controls. Leptin, HGF, and TNF-α levels showed no significant differences. According to Child-Pugh classification all cytokines levels were impaired in groups B or C as compared to group A. Positive correlations between sTNF-R1 and HOMA2-IR and between leptin and HOMA2-IR were found.Conclusions. IGT and DM were associated with abnormalities of sTNF-R1 and TGF-β1 compared to non cirrhotic controls. Among cirrhotic patients impairment of all cytokines were more marked in advanced liver disease. Finally, sTNF-R1and leptin correlated with IR. These findings suggest that IGT and DM may be causally implicated with liver inflammation process

Flow-chart for population recruitment.

<p>Flow-chart for population recruitment.</p

Characteristics of children with ALT above or below the P₇₅¹^,².

<p>Characteristics of children with ALT above or below the P₇₅<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0155994#t002fn002" target="_blank">¹</a>^,<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0155994#t002fn003" target="_blank">²</a>.</p

Patterns of isolated and combined dyslipidaemias among Northern Mexican children¹.

<p>Abbreviations: TChol, total cholesterol; LDL-chol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HDL-chol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; non-HDL-chol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; TG, tryglicerides.</p><p>¹Values are <i>n</i> (%).</p><p>²Considering one factor.</p><p>³Considering 2 or more factors.</p><p>Patterns of isolated and combined dyslipidaemias among Northern Mexican children<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0119877#t004fn002" target="_blank">¹</a>.</p