Relationships between different nutritional anthropometric statuses and health-related fitness of South African primary school children

Background: A double burden of both under- and over-nutrition exists among South African children.

Aim: To describe associations between nutritional statuses and health-related fitness test performances.

Subjects and methods: Height and weight of 10 285 children (6–13 years; n?=?5604 boys and 4681 girls) were measured and used to calculate body mass index (BMI) and prevalence of overweight and obesity, stunting, wasting and underweight. Physical fitness scores for standing long jump, shuttle run, sit-and-reach, sit-up (EUROFIT) and cricket ball throw were assessed. Age- and gender-specific z-scores were calculated for these variables. Physical fitness for each nutritional status group was compared to children of normal weight.

Results: Compared to normal weight children, overweight and obese children scored lower on all fitness tests (p?p?=?.235) and sit-and-reach (p?=?.015). Stunted and underweight children performed poorer than normal weight children on most fitness tests (p?p?=?.829; underweight: p?=?.538) and shuttle run (underweight: p?=?.017). Performance of wasted children was not as highly compromised as other under-nourished groups, but they performed poorer on the cricket ball throw (p?Conclusions: When compared to normal weight children, both under- and over-nourished children performed poorer on some, but not all, health-related fitness tests.     

Involvement of IL-1β and IL-6 in antiarrhythmic properties of atorvastatin in ouabain-induced arrhythmia in rats

Purpose: Evidence show that statins possess wide beneficial cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory effects; therefore, in the present experiment, we investigated the antiarrhythmic properties of atorvastatin in ouabain-induced arrhythmia in isolated rat atria and the role of several inflammatory cytokines in this effect.

Materials and methods: Male rats were pretreated with either of atorvastatin (10?mg/kg) or vehicle, orally once daily for 6 weeks. After induction of anesthesia, we isolated the atria and after incubation with ouabain, time of onset of arrhythmia and asystole as well as atrial beating rate and contractile force were recorded. We also measured the atrial levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α after the injection of ouabain to animals.

Results: Pretreatment with atorvastatin significantly delayed the onset of arrhythmia and asystole compared with vehicle-treated group (p?p?p?p?>?.05). Injection of ouabain elevated the atrial levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, while pretreatment of animals with atorvastatin could reverse the ouabain-induced increase in atrial IL-1β and IL-6 (p?p?Conclusions: It is concluded that observed antiarrhythmic effects of atorvastatin might be attributed to modulation of some inflammatory cytokines, at least IL-1β and IL-6.     

Dasatinib prevent hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanism

Objectives: Dasatinib, a potent and broad-spectrum tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is approved for the treatment of imatinib-resistant chronic myelogenous leukemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of this agent against CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis and oxidative status.

Materials and methods: Experimental fibrosis was induced in Wistar male rats by 12 weeks of CCl₄ administration (i.p.). During the last 8 weeks of injection, rats were gavaged daily with Dasatinib (10?mg/kg). To evaluate anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of Dasatinib, histopathological examination of liver tissue was performed and serum ALT and AST activities, oxidant, antioxidant parameters and hepatic tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were examined. Moreover, transforming growth factor (TGF-β₁), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and TNF-α mRNA expressions were also evaluated by real time polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Dasatinib administration induced a significant reduction of ALT and AST activities (p?4 injected rats (p?1 and PDGF were increased due to CCl₄ intoxication (p?p?p?4 administration which was significantly attenuated by Dasatinib (p?Discussion and conclusion: Our findings indicate that Dasatinib can be cautiously an anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative agent in clinical setting.     

Dental age estimation in a group of Kenyan children using Willems’ method: a radiographic study

Background: Radiographic study of developing teeth provides a reliable indication of chronological age. In Kenya, dentists are often required to estimate age. However, there is a paucity of publications on the performance of dental age estimation methods.

Aim: To determine the accuracy of Willems’ method of dental age estimation.

Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study was done at The University of Nairobi Dental Hospital. Panoramic radiographs of children aged 3.00–16.99 years old were studied. Dental age was estimated according to Willems’ method and compared to chronological age and the difference compared to zero using a t-test.

Results: Radiographs of 187 (47%) females and 214 (53%) males were analysed. Willems’ method significantly over-estimated the mean overall age by –0.24?±?1.17 years (p?p?=?.254); however, age in boys was significantly over-estimated by –0.37?±?1.14 years (p?Conclusions: Willem’s model over-estimated dental age slightly and the method performed better in estimating the age of girls compared to boys. The majority of the children had their age estimated within 1 year of their chronological age. This suggests that Willems’ method is suitable for estimating the ages of individual children in Kenya.     

Agmatine ameliorates acetic acid-induced colitis in rats: involvement of nitrergic system

Aim: The aim of the present study is to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of agmatine through the inhibition of iNOS enzyme in acetic acid-induced rat colitis.

Methods: Acute colitis was induced by administration of 2?mL of diluted acetic acid (4%) solution rectally. Two hours after colitis induction, animals were treated with normal saline, dexamethasone (2?mg/kg), agmatine (2, 5, 10?mg/kg), L-NAME (30?mg/kg), Aminoguanidine (20?mg/kg), agmatine (2?mg/kg) with L-NAME (30?mg/kg) and agmatine (2?mg/kg) with aminoguanidine (20?mg/kg) intraperitoneally and continued for 3 consecutive days. Assessment of macroscopic and microscopic damage was performed. MPO activity was evaluated by biochemical method. Furthermore, the tissue level of TNF-α was determined by ELISA and the expression level of iNOS protein was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Results: Dexamethasone (2?mg/kg) and agmatine (5, 10?mg/kg) and subeffective doses of agmatine (2?mg/kg) with aminoguanidine (20?mg/kg) improved macroscopic and microscopic damage compared to acetic acid group (p?<?.001). In addition, these drugs reduced the activity of MPO (p?<?.001) and the level of TNF-α (p?<?.001) in colon tissue compared to acetic acid group. Furthermore, they decreased acetic acid-induced expression of iNOS protein in colon tissue (p?<?.01, p?<?.001).

Conclusion: It is suggested that the anti-inflammatory activity of agmatine on acetic acid-induced rat colitis may involve the inhibition of iNOS enzyme.     

Diagnostic performance of Body Mass Index,Waist Circumference and the Waist-to-Height Ratio for identifying cardiometabolic risk in Scottish pre-adolescents

Background: Limited studies have examined the diagnostic performance of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) or waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) for identifying cardiometabolic risk (increased clustered glucose, triglycerides, mean arterial pressure and inv-HDL-cholesterol) in pre-adolescent youth.

Aim: To compare the utility of BMI, WC and WHtR as predictors of cardiometabolic risk (CMR) in Scottish pre-adolescent children.

Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 223 Scottish children (55.2% boys, mean age =8.4 years) was undertaken. BMI, WC and WHtR were used as exposure variables within multivariate logistic regression analysis and ROC analysis to examine the utility of these anthropometrical indices in identifying those at cardiometabolic risk.

Results: Individuals with an elevated WHtR, WC and BMI were 3.51 (95% CI?=?1.71–7.23; p?p =?.002) and 2.59 (95% CI?=?1.42–4.73; p?=?.002) times more likely to be at cardiometabolic risk, respectively. The areas under the curves [AUC] to identify children with cardiometabolic risk were significant and similar among anthropometric indices (AUC’s?=?0.60–0.65). When stratified by BMI, both WC and WHtR demonstrated a fair-to-good ability for identifying those at cardiometabolic risk (AUC?=?0.75–0.81).

Conclusions: Findings suggest that the combination of BMI with either WC or WHtR may provide an added benefit in the assessment of cardiometabolic risk amongst pre-adolescents.     

Association of FTO and IRX3 genetic variants to obesity risk in north India

Abstract

Objective: Validation of body adiposity index (BAI) in a paediatrics sample; and to develop, if necessary, a valid BAI for paediatrics (i.e. BAI_p).

Methods: A total of 1615 children (52% boys) aged 5–12 years underwent anthropometry. Their body composition was assessed using a foot-to-foot bioimpedance. The validity of BAI?=?(Hip circumference/Height^1.5)???18 was tested by combining correlation and agreement statistics. Then, the sample was split into two sub-samples for the construction of BAI_p. A regression was used to compute the prediction equation for BAI_p-based percentage of body fat (%BF).

Results: The initial BAI over-estimated the %BF of children by 49% (29.6?±?4.2% versus 19.8?±?6.8%; p?<?0.0001). The original methodology led to a BAI_p?=?(Hip circumference/Height^0.8) ? 38 in children. When compared to BAI, BAI_p showed both better correlation (r?=?0.57; p?<?0.01 versus r?=?0.74; p?<?0.0001) and agreement (ICC?=?0.34; [95% CI?=??0.19–0.65] versus ICC?=?0.83; [95% CI?=?0.81–0.84]). However, there were some systematic biases between the two values of %BF as exemplified by the large 95% limit of agreement [?9.1%; 8.8%] obtained.

Conclusion: BAI over-estimates the %BF in children. In contrast, BAI_p appears as a new index for children’s body fatness, with acceptable accuracy. In its current form, this index is valid only for large-scale studies.     

The epigenetic modification during the induction of Foxp3 with sodium butyrate

Context: CD4?+?CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) lymphocytes are critical for immune homeostasis. Foxp3 (Forkhead Box protein P3) is always considered as a marker of function and identities determination of Treg cells because of special occurring in Treg cell. People who lack Treg cells or have a low expression of Foxp3 gene will suffer fatal autoimmunity. Scientists are trying to use Treg cells as a treatment for autoimmune disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Our objective was to induce Foxp3?+?CD4+ T cells from naïve CD4?+?T cells isolated from C57 mice spleen in vitro using stimuli that include the short chain fatty acid sodium butyrate. Furthermore, to explore the relationship between Foxp3+ T cells induction and epigenetic modification, by observing the changes of Foxp3, Ezh2 (Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2) and phosphorylated Ezh2 in the induced Treg cells.

Materials and methods: The naïve CD4+ T cells were separated from C57 mice spleen by immunomagnetic separation. Anti-CD28, anti-CD3, IL-2, TGF-β1, and sodium butyrate were added with proper concentration to induce Foxp3 expression during 72?hours. Then, we observed the effect of GSK126 (Ezh2 inhibitor) on the induction within the same over 72?hours duration. Then, western blot and Q-PCR were used to see the changes in gene/protein expression of Foxp3, Ezh2, and phosphorylated Ezh2.

Results: According to our results, group 3 that received full stimulus had a significant higher level of Foxp3 and Ezh2 expression (p?p?p?p?p?p?Conclusion: In this study, we were able to transform CD4?+?T cells into CD4?+?Foxp3?+?T cell by using stimulus like antibodies (anti-CD28, anti-CD3) and cytokines (IL-2, TGF-β1). Sodium butyrate contributes to CD4?+?Foxp3?+?T cell induction in vitro and at an optimum concentration of 5?mM. Sodium butyrate promotes expression of Ezh2 and Fxop3 of T cells in vitro; in addition, to lowering relative expression of phosphorylated Ezh2 probably be influencing some pathways like PI3K-Akt. Epigenetic modification is also thought to take essential part into the upregulation of Foxp3 from naïve CD4?+?Tcells.     

Immunogenicity of branched polyethylene glycol modified interferon alpha

Aim: To assess the immunogenicity of Peginterferon alpha-2?b(Pegberon) and its effect on the efficacy and safety in phase III clinical trial, by comparing it with the control drug Pegasys.

Methods: 770 patients were recruited in total. 509 were treated with Pegberon plus ribavirin and 261 were treated with Pegasys plus ribavirin. After treatment of 12 and 24?weeks, plasma samples were collected from individual patients for detecting the anti-therapeutic antibodies (ATA) and hepatitis C RNA(HCV RNA), to evaluate the production of antibodies and their adverse effect on the efficacy and safety of the treatments. With data obtained from the treatments with Pegberon or Pegasys, gross comparison analysis was performed.

Results: The incidence of treatment-induced neutralizing antibodies (NAb) of Pegberon group (0.7%, 3/454) was significantly lower than Pegasys group (5.0%,12/238)(p?p?=?.010), between baseline NAb positive (36.0%,9/25) and baseline NAb negative patients (76.4%,569/745)(p?p?=?.034). The incidence of potential immunogenicity-related adverse reactions (AR) showed no significant difference between Pegberon (55.6%,283/509) and Pegasys groups (53.6%,140/261)(p?=?.605) and the profiles of these AR were also similar between the two groups.

Conclusion: The incidence of treatment-induced Nab in Pegasys group was significantly higher than the Pegberon group. Baseline ATA, induced ATA and baseline NAb all affected the efficacy. The profiles of potential immunogenicity-related AR were similar between two drug groups, indicating the immunogenicity had no significant adverse effect on safety.     

Identification of discrepancy between CTLA4 expression and CTLA4 activation in gastric cancer

Objective: Recently, immune checkpoints blockers showed higher anti-tumor activity for advanced gastric cancer (GC). The purpose of the study is to find out predictive biomarkers related to anti-cytotoxic lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) therapy.

Materials and methods: Datasets of gene expression omnibus (GEO), the cancer genome atlas (TCGA), and gene set enrichment analysis (GESA) were extracted. Differential expression of CTLA4 between cancer tissues and normal mucosa, enrichment of WT (wild type) vs. CTLA4_KO (knockout) upregulated gene set and clinical significance were analyzed. The expression of CTLA4, CD3, and granzyme A (GZMA) were validated on 30 cases of Chinese GC. Microsatellite instability (MSI) marker MLH1 and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) marker EBER were examined on 30 cases of Chinese GC by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization.

Results: CTLA4 was upregulated in GC tissue relative to normal mucosa in datasets of GSE27342 (fold change?=?1.586, p?<?.001) and GSE63089 (fold change?=?1.365, p?<?.001). Increased CTLA4 expression was positively related to CTLA4 activation. EBV-associated GC (EBVaGC) and microsatellite instability GC (MSIGC) disclosed higher CTLA4 levels than other GCs. Genomic stability GC (GSGC) also showed higher enrichment score of CTLA4 activation. CTLA4 activation resulted in shorter overall survival in GC. The expression level of CTLA4 was well correlated to expression levels of GZMA (R?=?0.701, p?<?.001) and CD3 (R?=?0.750, p?<?.001).

Conclusions: Based on bioinformatics analysis, GSGC should be worth noticed as a potential GC subtypes responsive to anti-CTLA4 treatment.     

Facial affect recognition in autism,ADHD and typical development

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have been associated with facial affect recognition (FAR) alterations. Methods: This study examined accuracy and response times for general and specific FAR in whole face and eye-region stimuli. FAR was assessed in matched samples of children and adolescents with ASD (n?=?35), ADHD (n?=?32), and typical development (TD) (n?=?32) aged 8.6–15.9 years (M?=?11.6; SD?=?2.0). Results: Compared to TD, the ASD group performed less accurate and showed longer response times for general and specific FAR, mostly driven by problems in neutral and happy face identification. The ADHD group responded faster than the ASD group for global FAR. No differences between ADHD and TD were found. Attentional distractibility had a significant effect on FAR performance in ASD and ADHD. Conclusions: Findings confirm FAR alterations in ASD, but not ADHD, and endorse effects of attentional distractibility on FAR in ASD and ADHD. FAR and attention function training is clinically meaningful in ASD. Future studies should include control for visual attention and facial configuration skills, use naturalistic FAR material and also investigate implicit FAR.     

Effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on resolvin (RvE1)-mediated suppression of inflammation in a mouse model of asthma

Objective: ResolvinE1 (RvE1), an endogenous lipid mediator derived from omega 3 fatty acids contributes to resolution of allergic inflammatory responses. We investigated effects of RvE1 (R) and omega 3 fatty acids (O) on airway reactivity and inflammation using allergic mice.

Methods: Mice were divided into control (nonasthmatic; CON) and allergen sensitized-challenged (asthmatic; SEN) groups, and were sensitized i.p. on days 1, 6 with 0.2?μg ovalbumin (OVA) followed by 5% OVA aerosol challenges on days 11–13. RvE1 was administered i.p. postallergen challenge, while omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil) were administered via oral gavage once daily (days 1–13). Whole body plethysmography and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) studies were performed on day 14.

Results: RvE1 attenuated airway responsiveness to methacholine (48?mg/ml) in treated asthmatic mice vs. nontreated (150?±?27.88% in SEN vs. 54?±?7.52% in SEN?+?R, p?<?.05). No difference was observed with omega-3 supplementation (115?±?19.28% in SEN?+?O) or treatment with both RvE1 and omega 3 fatty acids (39?±?12.37% in SEN?+?R?+?O vs. 54?±?7.52% in SEN?+?R). Differential BAL cell analysis showed that RvE1 decreased eosinophils and neutrophils in SEN mice (p?<?.005) while no difference was observed with omega-3 fatty acids. SEN?+?R?+?O group had similar results as RvE1 treated mice, suggesting that only RvE1 attenuated inflammation.

Conclusions: RvE1 attenuated airway responsiveness and inflammation in asthmatic mice. Omega-3 fatty acids, although a precursor for RvE1 formation, had no additive effects on RvE1 decreases in airway inflammation and airway reactivity. Our data suggests that omega-3 supplementation has little effect on airway inflammation and reactivity in our model of asthma.     

Body composition estimation using skinfolds in children with and without health conditions affecting growth and body composition

Background: Body composition prediction equations using skinfolds are useful alternatives to advanced techniques, but their utility across diverse paediatric populations is unknown.

Aim: To evaluate published and new prediction equations across diverse samples of children with health conditions affecting growth and body composition.

Subjects and methods: Anthropometric and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) body composition measures were obtained in children with Down syndrome (n?=?59), Crohn disease (n?=?128), steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (n?=?67) and a healthy reference group (n?=?835). Published body composition equations were evaluated. New equations were developed for ages 3–21 years using the healthy reference sample and validated in other groups and national survey data.

Results: Fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM) and percentage body fat (%BF) from published equations were highly correlated with DXA-derived measures (r?=?0.71–0.98), but with poor agreement (mean difference = 2.4?kg, ?1.9?kg and 6.3% for FM, FFM and %BF). New equations produced similar correlations (r?=?0.85–1.0) with improved agreement for the reference group (0.2?kg, 0.4?kg and 0.0% for FM, FFM and %BF, respectively) and in sub-groups.

Conclusions: New body composition prediction equations show excellent agreement with DXA and improve body composition estimation in healthy children and those with selected conditions affecting growth.     

Comparison between body mass index and a body shape index with adiponectin/leptin ratio and markers of glucose metabolism among adolescents

Background: Besides body mass index (BMI), new parameters have been developed to classify individual body shape.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between BMI, waist circumference (WC), a body shape index (ABSI) and ABSI-adolescents among adolescents and verify which would better predict lower adiponectin/leptin (A/L) ratio and disturbances on glucose metabolism.

Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study with 197 Brazilian adolescents of 14–18?years. Serum leptin, adiponectin, glucose and insulin were measured. A/L ratio, ABSI, ABSI-adolescents, BMI, homeostasis model assessment estimates of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and β-cell function (HOMA-β) and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) were calculated.

Results: ABSI-adolescents positively correlated with WC (r?=?0.83, p?r?=?0.66, p?r?=?0.95, p?p?r?=??0.63, p?p?r?=??0.75; HOMA-IR: r?=?0.76; HOMA-β: r?=?0.77; insulin: r?=?0.79). Associations were confirmed by linear regression analysis, adjusted for sex and age.

Conclusions: ABSI-adolescents, but not ABSI, was related to A/L ratio and to markers of glucose metabolism, but not more strongly than BMI and WC.     

Curcumin reduces the expression of interleukin 1β and the production of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha by M1 macrophages from patients with Behcet's disease

Objective: Behcet's disease (BD) is an auto-inflammatory disorder. Curcumin as a bio-active agent has anti-inflammatory properties. Effects of curcumin on the pathogenesis of BD are still not clear. In this study, we investigated the effect of curcumin on the inflammatory cytokines expression and production in M1 macrophages from BD patients compared with healthy controls.

Methods: Monocytes were collected from 10 healthy controls and 20 active BD patients, differentiated to macrophages by macrophage-colony stimulating factor for 7?d. Macrophages were then treated with interferon gamma, lipopolysaccharide, and curcumin (10 or 30?µg/ml) for 24?h. Analysis of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 mRNA expression and protein production was performed using SYBR Green qPCR and ELISA method.

Results: Treatment with 30?µg/ml curcumin significantly down-regulated mRNA expression of IL-1β (p?<?.05) and protein production of IL-6 (p?p?p?Conclusions: We demonstrated that curcumin can inhibit the expression and production of inflammatory cytokines in M1 macrophages from BD patients. Our results suggest that curcumin can modulate inflammatory signaling more specifically in macrophages from BD patients than healthy macrophages.     

Soluble PD1 levels are increased with disease activity in paediatric onset autoimmune hepatitis and inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Introduction: Immune mediated liver diseases entail a broad category which are associated with increased morbidity and mortality amongst the paediatric population. Programmed Death 1 (PD1) is an inhibitory receptor mainly expressed by T cells, and when activated shed into plasma as soluble PD1(sPD1). The AIM of this study was to evaluate sPD1 levels in plasma of paediatric patients with Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH), Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), AIH and PSC overlap, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) alone, and concurrent PSC/IBD and AIH/IBD in order to identify a biomarker to response or predict relapse verses remission.

Methods: Plasma samples were collected from 41 paediatric patients. AIH patients were further categorized into active, incomplete responders and responders, based on response to standard therapy. sPD1 levels were measured and compared between PSC, PSC/AIH, IBD alone, PSC/IBD and AIH/IBD patients and between active AIH, incomplete responders and responders. Flow cytometry was performed to further analyze CD45RA+, CD3CD4, CD8, CCR7, CXCR3, CD38 and PD1.

Results: In the AIH group, those with active disease demonstrated a significantly higher sPD1 levels in comparison to responders (*p?>?.001). However, the incomplete responders didn’t show a reduction in sPD1 in comparison to active AIH and patients with IBD alone. Interestingly, patients with PSC showed significantly lower level of sPD1 compared to active AIH (*p?<?.002), whereas, patients with PSC in conjunction with AIH (*p?<?.006) or IBD (*p?<?.02) demonstrated a significant increase in sPD1. In addition, we have observed increased levels of circulating CD4 and CD8 bound PD1 in active AIH but not in PSC or responders suggesting T cells activation. CD4+ PD1 double positive cells demonstrated increased expression of CXCR3. Thus, suggesting the activation of PD1?+?T cells is mediating through CXCR3 in Autoimmune hepatitis.

Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that sPD1 levels correlate with active disease state of AIH and IBD. sPD1 levels did not correlate with PSC. However, PSC in conjunction with AIH or IBD showed higher levels of sPD1. This suggests that T cell activation plays a critical role in active AIH and IBD but not in PSC. Soluble PDI levels could be used as a clinical biomarker to assess response in patients with AIH and for prospectively monitoring PSC patients for development of IBD or AIH.     

Association of maternal menarcheal age with anthropometric dimensions and blood pressure in children from Greater Bilbao

Abstract

Background: Earlier menarche has been related to shorter height and greater obesity-related anthropometric dimensions and blood pressure in women. Boys and girls with earlier maternal menarcheal age (MMA) have shown greater height and body mass index (BMI) in childhood.

Aim: To analyse associations of menarcheal age with their own and their children’s anthropometric dimensions and blood pressure.

Subjects and methods: The sample consisted of 493 women and their children (aged 2–19 years) from Greater Bilbao (Basque Country, Spain). For both generations there is information on 19 anthropometric dimensions, blood pressure and socio-demographic characteristics. Linear regressions adjusted for different covariates were used to analyse the associations.

Results: Menarcheal age in women showed the greatest positive associations with iliospinal height and ectomorphy and negative associations with BMI, sum of six skin-folds, endomorphy and mesomorphy. Boys with earlier MMA had greater body heights and breadths, particularly iliospinal height and biacromial breadth (0.10?z-score/year; p?<?0.05). In girls, earlier MMA predicted greater sitting height, biepicondylar humerus breadth, weight and sum of four circumferences (0.07–0.09?z-score/year; p?<?0.05). However, there was some evidence that MMA was positively associated with body heights, ectomorphy and blood pressure in girls aged ≥12.

Conclusion: Children with earlier MMA tend to have greater anthropometric dimensions. Adolescent growth spurt might affect these relationships, at least in girls.     

The −675 4G/5G PAI-1 polymorphism confers genetic susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus,its clinical manifestations,and comorbidities in Mexican-Mestizo population

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) involves a broad range of factors that contribute to the development of the disease and its comorbidities. Genetic predisposition influences the development of SLE, and the ?675 4G/5G PAI-1 polymorphism has been associated with several pathologies with a chronic inflammatory component. Our objective was to investigate the genetic association between the ?675 4G/5G PAI-1 polymorphism with SLE, its clinical manifestations, and comorbidities in a Mexican-Mestizo population. The ?675 PAI-1 polymorphism was determined by PCR-RFLP in 716 subjects: 293 SLE patients and 423 control subjects. Significant associations for SLE genetic susceptibility were found in carriers of 4G/5G (OR = 2.63; CI 1.81–3.87; p?<?.001) and 4G/4G (OR = 2.70; CI 1.62–4.51; p?<?.001) genotype in comparison with the 5G/5G genotype; 4G allele carriers also presented genetic risk for SLE (OR = 1.63; CI 1.31–2.03; p?<?.001) compared to the 5G allele. Following a dominant genetic model, a similar association was found with the 4G allele to SLE (OR = 2.66; CI1.84–3.84; p?<?.001). The 4G/5G genotype was associated with shorter disease duration (p?=?.039), as well as lower levels of haemoglobin (p?=?.001) and haematocrit (p?=?.009); the need for prednisone treatment (p?=?.001), higher BMI (p?=?.03), presence of type 2?DM (p?=?.015), clinical activity (Mex-SLEDAI = 57%; p?=?.047), Chronicity (SLICC-ACR = 0; p?=?.015) and CRP levels (p?=?.015) were associated with 5G/5G genotypes. In conclusion, the ?675 4G/5G and 4G/4G PAI-1genotypes were found as genetic risk markers of susceptibility for SLE in the Mexican-Mestizo population, and each genotype could influence the clinical manifestations and comorbidities differently in SLE.     

Body composition in urban South Asian women; development of a bioelectrical impedance analysis prediction equation

Abstract

Background: Assessment of body composition plays a significant role in combating chronic disease among South Asians. Accurate assessment of body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) requires population-specific equations which are currently unavailable for urban South Asian women.

Aim: To assess validity of direct BIA assessment and selected equations for prediction of total body water (TBW), against Deuterium (²H₂O) dilution and develop and validate a population-specific TBW equation for urban South Asian women.

Subjects and method: Data of 80 urban Sri Lankan women (30–45 years) were used for this analysis. Body composition was assessed by ²H₂O dilution (reference) and BIA. Available BIA equations were assessed for validity. A new TBW equation was generated and validated.

Results: Direct BIA measurements and other equations did not meet validation criteria in predicting TBW. TBW by the new equation (TBW?=?3.443?+?0.342?×?(height²/impedance)?+?0.176?×?weight) correlated (p?<?0.001) with TBW by reference method. TBW using the new equation was not significantly different (25.30?±?2.4?kg) from the reference (25.32?±?2.7?kg).

Conclusion: Direct use of TBW by instrument and existing equations are less suitable for this population. The new TBW equation is suitable for body composition assessment in urban South Asian women.