Different alterations of glomerular filtration rate and their association with uric acid in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes or with overweight/obesity

GFR alterations were different between youths with T1D and with OW/OB. Higher uric acid, older age, and puberty were related to lower GFR values in OW/OB children. Longitudinal studies will determine if low GFR is consequence of a rapid GFR decline in pediatric patients with OW/OB. Keywords: children; diabetes; hyperfiltration; obesity; renal disease; uric acid

Bias in protein and potassium intake collected with 24-h recalls (EPIC-Soft) is rather comparable across European populations

Purpose: We investigated whether group-level bias of a 24-h recall estimate of protein and potassium intake, as compared to biomarkers, varied across European centers and whether this was influenced by characteristics of individuals or centers. Methods: The combined data from EFCOVAL and EPIC studies included 14 centers from 9 countries (n = 1,841). Dietary data were collected using a computerized 24-h recall (EPIC-Soft). Nitrogen and potassium in 24-h urine collections were used as reference method. Multilevel linear regression analysis was performed, including individual-level (e.g., BMI) and center-level (e.g., food pattern index) variables. Results: For protein intake, no between-center variation in bias was observed in men while it was 5.7% in women. For potassium intake, the between-center variation in bias was 8.9% in men and null in women. BMI was an important factor influencing the biases across centers (p <0.01 in all analyses). In addition, mode of administration (p = 0.06 in women) and day of the week (p = 0.03 in men and p = 0.06 in women) may have influenced the bias in protein intake across centers. After inclusion of these individual variables, between-center variation in bias in protein intake disappeared for women, whereas for potassium, it increased slightly in men (to 9.5%). Center-level variables did not influence the results. Conclusion: The results suggest that group-level bias in protein and potassium (for women) collected with 24-h recalls does not vary across centers and to a certain extent varies for potassium in men. BMI and study design aspects, rather than center-level characteristics, affected the biases across center

Association of glomerular hyperfiltration with serum chemokine levels and metabolic features in prepubertal children with overweight/obesity

Background and aims Glomerular hyperfiltration (GH) is proposed as one of the earliest events in obesity (OB)-associated renal disease. Children with GH and type-1 diabetes showed increased chemokine levels. Chemokine associations with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and metabolic features in prepubertal children with overweight (OW)/OB are unknown. Methods and results Cross-sectional study. 75 prepubertal children (aged: 9.0 ± 1.7 years) with OW/OB were studied. Clinical and metabolic characteristics (including non-esterified fatty acids, NEFA) and GFR (combined Zappitelli equation) were assessed. GH was defined as GFR >135 ml/min.1.73 m2. Serum levels of regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES)/CCL5, interleukin-8 (IL-8)/CXCL8 and monokine-induced by interferon-γ (MIG)/CXCL9 were measured by ELISA. Age- and sex-adjusted correlations and differences were tested. 48% of the cohort was female and 13% were OW, 54% OB and 33% severe OB. Prepubertal children with GH showed lower z-BMI (−12%), NEFA (−26%) and uric acid (−22%) than those without GH (all p 0.05). Adjusted correlations were significant for RANTES and z-BMI (r = 0.26; p < 0.05) and for MIG with z-BMI (r = −0.26; p < 0.05) and with NEFA (r = 0.27; p < 0.05). Conclusion GH was not associated with higher chemokine levels in prepubertal children with OW/OB. Decreased rather than elevated GFR values were correlated with obesity and worse metabolic profiles. Chemokines levels in children with severe OB suggest a regulation of the immune response. Follow-up studies are needed to address the clinical implications of these findings. Keywords ObesityChildrenChemokinesHyperfiltrationRenal diseas

Contenido de minerales en algunas especies forrajeras presentes en el pastizal natural de un sistema silvopastoril en el bajo delta del Río Paraná

We analyzed the content of phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), total ash (Cen) and insoluble ash (Insol), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in forage species growing wild in silvopastoral system of the Lower Delta of the Parana River after planting forest. 10 plants were harvested from the following species: Glyceria multiflora (Cebadilla de agua), Deyeuxia viridiflavescens (Pasto plateado), Melilotus officinalis (Trébol de olor amarillo), Phalaris angusta (Alpistillo), Lolium multiflorum (Ray gras), Lathyrus pubescens (Arvejilla), Vicia gramínea (Vicia) y Leersia hexandra (Arrocillo). They were dried, incinerated and ashes dissolved in acid. Mineral determinations were performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) and colorimetry. Mineral contents in the species studied here were lower than values informed previously of forage species of temperate weather and, in some cases, mineral requirements for cattle.Se realizó el análisis del contenido de fósforo (P), calcio (Ca), magnesio (Mg), hierro (Fe), cobre (Cu), zinc (Zn) y cenizas totales (Cen) e insolubles (Insol), en especies forrajeras que crecen naturalmente en el sistema silvopastoril del Bajo Delta del Río Paraná,  luego de la plantación forestal. Se cosecharon 10 plantas de cada una de las siguientesespecies: Glyceria multiflora (Cebadilla de agua), Deyeuxia viridiflavescens (Pasto plateado), Melilotus officinalis (Trébol de olor amarillo), Phalaris angusta (Alpistillo), Lolium multiflorum (Ray gras), Lathyrus pubescens (Arvejilla), Vicia gramínea (Vicia) y Leersia hexandra (Arrocillo). Se secaron y calcinaron, resuspendiendo las cenizas en ácido. Las determinaciones de minerales se realizaron por espectrofotometría de absorción atómica (EAA) y colorimetría. Las concentraciones determinadas fueron inferiores a las informadas para forrajeras de clima templado y, en algunos casos, a los requerimientos establecidos para ganado bovino

Organic consumer choices for nutrient labels on dried strawberries among different health attitude segments in Norway, Romania, and Turkey

Consumer interest towards healthy food is driving the growth of the organic food market because consumers perceive organic food products to improve their personal health. Berries have well-known health benefits and show increasing market shares in European markets. This manuscript investigates for the first time how health attitudes relate to organic consumers&rsquo; choices for nutrient labels of organic dried strawberry products. We conducted an online survey with 614 consumers from Norway, Romania, and Turkey. All participants consumed and liked strawberries and purchased organic food at least once a month. Participants filled out attitudinal questionnaires and conducted an experimental choice task featuring paired images of packaged organic dried strawberries varying in nutrients content label and other factors. The pooled sample was split into three groups of varying health attitudes for profiling and choice analysis. The results show that broad variations exist in health attitudes among Norwegian, Romanian, and Turkish organic consumers. A non-linear effect of health attitude is revealed, where a moderate health attitude is more strongly associated with the selection of products with increased nutrients content than either a low or a high health attitude. The results highlight the complexity in targeting nutrition labels to organic consumers. Finally, implications and suggestions for organic food operators are discussed along with future research avenues

Beta-band intermuscular coherence:A novel biomarker of upper motor neuron dysfunction in motor neuron disease

In motor neuron disease, the focus of therapy is to prevent or slow neuronal degeneration with neuroprotective pharmacological agents; early diagnosis and treatment are thus essential. Incorporation of needle electromyographic evidence of lower motor neuron degeneration into diagnostic criteria has undoubtedly advanced diagnosis, but even earlier diagnosis might be possible by including tests of subclinical upper motor neuron disease. We hypothesized that beta-band (15-30Hz) intermuscular coherence could be used as an electrophysiological marker of upper motor neuron integrity in such patients. We measured intermuscular coherence in eight patients who conformed to established diagnostic criteria for primary lateral sclerosis and six patients with progressive muscular atrophy, together with 16 age-matched controls. In the primary lateral sclerosis variant of motor neuron disease, there is selective destruction of motor cortical layer V pyramidal neurons and degeneration of the corticospinal tract, without involvement of anterior horn cells. In progressive muscular atrophy, there is selective degeneration of anterior horn cells but a normal corticospinal tract. All patients with primary lateral sclerosis had abnormal motor-evoked potentials as assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation, whereas these were similar to controls in progressive muscular atrophy. Upper and lower limb intermuscular coherence was measured during a precision grip and an ankle dorsiflexion task, respectively. Significant beta-band coherence was observed in all control subjects and all patients with progressive muscular atrophy tested, but not in the patients with primary lateral sclerosis. We conclude that intermuscular coherence in the 15-30Hz range is dependent on an intact corticospinal tract but persists in the face of selective anterior horn cell destruction. Based on the distributions of coherence values measured from patients with primary lateral sclerosis and control subjects, we estimated the likelihood that a given measurement reflects corticospinal tract degeneration. Therefore, intermuscular coherence has potential as a quantitative test of subclinical upper motor neuron involvement in motor neuron disease

Divergence of gut permeability and mucosal immune gene expression in two gluten-associated conditions: celiac disease and gluten sensitivity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy triggered by the ingestion of gluten. Gluten-sensitive individuals (GS) cannot tolerate gluten and may develop gastrointestinal symptoms similar to those in CD, but the overall clinical picture is generally less severe and is not accompanied by the concurrence of tissue transglutaminase autoantibodies or autoimmune comorbidities. By studying and comparing mucosal expression of genes associated with intestinal barrier function, as well as innate and adaptive immunity in CD compared with GS, we sought to better understand the similarities and differences between these two gluten-associated disorders.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>CD, GS and healthy, gluten-tolerant individuals were enrolled in this study. Intestinal permeability was evaluated using a lactulose and mannitol probe, and mucosal biopsy specimens were collected to study the expression of genes involved in barrier function and immunity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Unlike CD, GS is not associated with increased intestinal permeability. In fact, this was significantly reduced in GS compared with controls (<it>P </it>= 0.0308), paralleled by significantly increased expression of claudin (CLDN) 4 (<it>P </it>= 0.0286). Relative to controls, adaptive immunity markers interleukin (IL)-6 (<it>P </it>= 0.0124) and IL-21 (<it>P </it>= 0.0572) were expressed at higher levels in CD but not in GS, while expression of the innate immunity marker Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 was increased in GS but not in CD (<it>P </it>= 0.0295). Finally, expression of the T-regulatory cell marker FOXP3 was significantly reduced in GS relative to controls (<it>P </it>= 0.0325) and CD patients (<it>P </it>= 0.0293).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study shows that the two gluten-associated disorders, CD and GS, are different clinical entities, and it contributes to the characterization of GS as a condition associated with prevalent gluten-induced activation of innate, rather than adaptive, immune responses in the absence of detectable changes in mucosal barrier function.</p