Prevalence and treatment of giardiasis in chronic diarrhoea and malnutrition.

To determine the prevalence of giardiasis in Gambian children with chronic diarrhoea and to assess their response to treatment, 31 children with chronic diarrhoea and malnutrition were investigated for giardiasis using a combination of serology (specific antigiardia IgM antibody) and microscopy of faeces and jejunal biopsy specimens. Fourteen of 31 children with chronic diarrhoea had giardiasis compared with only four of 33 healthy age and sex matched control children. Four of 15 malnourished children without diarrhoea were giardia positive. Twenty-three children with chronic diarrhoea were reinvestigated after treatment with metronidazole; giardia was found in 11 of them. These results show that giardia is highly prevalent in children with chronic diarrhoea and malnutrition and that the infection does not respond to standard therapeutic measures.     

Cerebral energy metabolism in phenylketonuria: findings by quantitative In vivo 31P MR spectroscopy

Both severe impairments of brain development in untreated infants and acute reversible neurotoxic effects on brain function are clinical features of phenylketonuria (PKU). For determining whether impairments of cerebral energy metabolism play a role in the pathophysiology of PKU, quantitative in vivo 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was performed in a supratentorial voxel of 11 adult PKU patients and controls. Peak areas of inorganic phosphate; phosphocreatine; alpha-, beta-, and gamma-ATP; NAD; phosphomonoesters; phosphodiesters; and a broad phospholipid signal were converted to millimolar concentrations. Mg2+, pH, ADP, the phosphorylation potential, and the relative velocity of oxidative metabolism V/Vmax were derived. Clinical evaluation included mutation analysis, neurologic investigation, intelligence testing, magnetic resonance imaging, and concurrent plasma and brain phenylalanine (Phe), the last by 1H-MRS. Phe loading was performed in five patients with an oral dose of 100 mg/kg body wt L-Phe monitored by spectral EEG analysis. Under steady-state conditions, 31P-MRS revealed normal values for ATP, phosphocreatine, NAD, phosphomonoesters, phosphodiesters, Mg2+, and pH in PKU. ADP (+11%) and the phosphorylation potential (+22%) were increased. Peak areas of inorganic phosphate (-22%) and phospholipid (-8%) were decreased. ADP correlated with concurrent plasma (r = 0.65) and brain (r = 0.55) Phe. During the Phe load, blood Phe levels increased steeply. EEG revealed slowing of background activity. The phosphorylation potential decreased, whereas ADP and V/Vmax increased. In vivo 31P-MRS demonstrated subtle abnormalities of cerebral energy metabolism in PKU in steady-state conditions that were accentuated by a Phe load, indicating a link between Phe neurotoxicity and imbalances of cerebral energy metabolism.     

Serum,zinc and copper levels in children with protein energy malnutrition

Serum zinc and copper were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 58 children (3 months-5 years); of these, 46 children had protein energy malnutrition (PEM), and 12 children served as controls. The levels of serum zinc and copper were found to be significantly low in children with severe malnutrition (grades III and IV PEM). There was a significant positive correlation between serum zinc and height-for-age (r=0.8809, p<0.001). Serum copper was found low only in children exhibiting marked linear growth retardation (height-for-age <85% of the normal). Hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin <2.5 g/dl), and anemia (hemoglobin ≤8.0 g/dl) in malnourished children were associated with significant decline in serum zinc and copper levels, respectively.     

Comparison of in vivo31P-MR spectra of the brain,liver, and kidney of adult and infant animals

In vivo³¹P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was used to determine the phosphorus metabolite levels in the brain and kidney of infant rabbits and adult rats and in the liver of infant rabbits and adult and infant rats. For³¹P-MRS of the brain, a surface, radiofrequency coil was placed on the anterosuperior region of the head; for³¹P-MRS of the liver and kidney, a radiofrequency coil was chronically implanted either between the hepatic lobes or around the kidney.³¹P-MR spectra were found to show large variations in the levels of the phosphorus metabolites depending on the species, the organ, and the age of the animal. The phosphate monoester (MP)/adenosine triphosphate (ATP) ratio was significantly higher and the phosphocreatine (PCr)/ATP ratio was significantly lower in the brains of infant rabbits than in the brains of adult rats. Comparison of these data with data reported for humans and other animals suggests that these differences are due mainly to differences in age and not to differences among species. The phosphodiester (PD)/ATP ratio was found to be significantly higher in the livers of infant rabbits than in the livers of adult and infant rats — a difference more likely related to the species than to age. The kidneys of the infant rabbits showed a higher PCr/ATP radio than the kidneys of the adult rats, but this difference might be due to the influence of PCr in the surrounding muscle. Research Fellow in Magnetic Resonance Imaging at UCSF, supported, in part, by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft     

Cryptosporidium, malnutrition, and chronic diarrhea in children

Cryptosporidium was found in the stools of 13.5% of 221 children hospitalized with diarrhea. It was the single most prevalent pathogen isolated. Children with Cryptosporidium-positive stools were significantly more malnourished than children in whom Cryptosporidium was not detected. Children with more severe malnutrition (ie, less than 50% of their expected weight) and with Cryptosporidium in their stools had a significantly longer duration of diarrhea than similarly malnourished children without Cryptosporidium (63 vs 32 days, respectively). In 77 better-nourished outpatients with diarrhea, Cryptosporidium was found in only 5.2% of cases and was associated with less-severe illness. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that in less-developed areas, Cryptosporidium is a major pathogen, not only in acute but also in chronic childhood diarrhea, and may play an important role in the interaction between diarrhea and malnutrition.     

Elevated serum immunoreactive pancreatic cationic trypsinogen in acute malnutrition: evidence of pancreatic damage

We used a sensitive probe of pancreatic dysfunction, serum immunoreactive cationic trypsinogen, to study 50 infants and children with varying degrees of malnutrition. Patients were classified into subgroups according to the severity of malnutrition. Mean serum trypsinogen concentration was significantly elevated in 25 patients with "severe" malnutrition (77.4 +/- 42.0 ng/ml, P less than 0.001) and in 23 with "moderate" malnutrition (55.2 +/- 16.1 ng/ml, P less than 0.02) compared with the mean value (32.5 +/- 10.4 ng/ml) for well-nourished controls. The level of circulating trypsinogen tended to rise with increasing severity of malnutrition. There was no relationship between serum trypsinogen and other variables such as age, specific diagnosis, or mode of feeling. Elevated serum trypsinogen levels could not be attributed to renal disease or cystic fibrosis. In patients who showed an improvement in nutritional status, serum trypsinogen tended to revert toward normal. Elevated serum trypsinogen values in acutely malnourished infants and children may result from pancreatic acinar cell damage or regurgitation of enzymes from obstructed pancreatic ducts.     

In vivo 31P nuclear magnetic resonance measurement of chronic changes in cerebral metabolites following neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage

The purpose of this study was to determine whether cerebral metabolic changes occur after intraventricular hemorrhage in the newborn. Five babies with bilateral grade 3 to 4 intraventricular hemorrhage were compared with 15 preterm infants without intraventricular hemorrhage. Cerebral high-energy phosphorus metabolites and intracellular pH were measured with in vivo 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Spectra were collected initially within the first 2 weeks of life, and then every other week until discharged from the hospital. The phosphocreatine to inorganic phosphate ratio and the phosphocreatine to adenosine triphosphate ratio were significantly lower in the group with intraventricular hemorrhage, but differences in intracellular pH were not significant. Differences between babies with and without intraventricular hemorrhage varied with postconceptional age: in those with intraventricular hemorrhage, the phosphocreatine to adenosine triphosphate ratio was decreased at all postconceptional ages, and the phosphocreatine to inorganic phosphate ratio was lower in babies with intraventricular hemorrhage and younger than 30 weeks. Results of this study confirm the presence of chronic metabolic changes following intraventricular hemorrhage which may exacerbate neurologic damage after intraventricular hemorrhage in the newborn.     

Trace elements in the hair of healthy and malnourished children

Pre-school age children from the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, Mexico, consisting of 47 malnourished children were evaluated for mineral status by hair samples and nutritional status by anthropometric measurements and haemoglobin levels. Hair minerals were determined by either atomic absorption spectroscopy or instrumental neutron activation analysis. Malnourished children had significantly lower hair zinc while the iron and copper levels were significantly higher. Hair concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and manganese were not significantly different between healthy and malnourished children. Sixty per cent of the malnourished children's haemoglobin values were either marginal or deficient while 45 per cent of the haematocrits readings were either marginal or deficient. Malnourished children in weight-for-age category were 81 per cent malnourished; by weight-for-height 55 per cent were malnourished and by height-for-age 59 per cent were malnourished. The overall nutritional status of malnourished children can be characterized as mild to severe malnutrition with a chronic stunting of growth. Hair zinc values were a good indicator of nutritional status.     

Agreement between arm circumference, weight for age, and weight for height measures of malnutrition in children

Agewise agreement between mid-upper arm circumference (AC), weight for age and weight for height assessment of nutritional status was analyzed for 5,509 Indian children 1 to 5 years of age. Sensitivity specificity and positive predictive value of AC are presented. The sensitivity of AC for detecting moderate malnutrition by weight for age or weight for height was found to be low, except in children 13-24 months of age. From 25-58% of the severely malnourished children by weight for age in the age group 25-60 months were misclassified as normal by AC. Specificity of AC was high across the age range indicating that most of the children identified as not malnourished by weight for age or weight for height also had normal AC. The positive predictive value of AC was low for severe malnutrition but high for moderate to mild malnutrition compared to weight for age and weight for height. The findings indicate that AC is not constant over the age range 1 to 5 years, and use of fixed cut-off points for assessing malnutrition from 1 to 5 years is inappropriate. Sensitivity of AC using a fixed-cut-off point clearly decreases with age, and specificity increases with age. Where possible, weight of children is preferable to AC for nutritional status assessment, due to large number of moderately or severely malnourished children likely to be wrongly classified as normal by AC.     

短肽型肠内营养制剂对行机械通气肺炎患儿的营养支持研究

目的 观察儿童重症监护室（PICU）行机械通气的重症肺炎患儿营养不良及营养风险发生情况,探讨短肽型肠内营养制剂的营养支持效果。方法 选取2017年10月至2018年10月于PICU住院治疗且需机械通气的重症肺炎患儿68例为研究对象,采用前瞻性随机对照法将患儿随机分为对照组和试验组。通过鼻饲管分别给予试验组短肽型肠内营养制剂,对照组整蛋白型肠内营养制剂。评估两组患儿的年龄别体重Z值、STRONGkids营养风险评分和小儿危重病评分。检测两组患儿入院时、出院前的血清总蛋白（TP）、白蛋白（ALB）、前白蛋白（PA）水平,观察两组患儿的胃肠耐受性和临床治疗效果指标。结果 68例机械通气患儿中有26例（38%）存在营养不良,包括中度营养不良10例（15%）,重度营养不良16例（24%）;出院时有10例（15%）存在营养不良。63例（93%）患儿存在中、高营养风险,包括中度营养风险21例,高度营养风险42例,极危重组和危重组中的中、高营养风险检出率明显高于非危重组（P < 0.05）。与对照组相比,试验组患儿的机械通气时间、总住院时间缩短,血清PA水平和体重增长率增加,在胃肠道耐受性方面试验组优于对照组（P < 0.05）;两组呼吸机相关肺炎发生情况及疾病转归情况比较差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。结论 行机械通气肺炎患儿的营养不良及营养风险检出率较高。短肽型肠内营养制剂有助于改善行机械通气肺炎患儿的治疗效果,更适用于需机械通气危重患儿的营养支持治疗。     

An evaluation of cardiac function in malnourished children by non-invasive methods

Forty-six malnourished children between 3-48 mo with varying grades of malnutrition (PEM) were evaluated for left ventricular function by echocardiography. None of these children had any pre-existing cardiac disease, chronic illness or significant anemia. Children with Grades III and IV PEM had significantly smaller cardiac chamber size and ventricular wall thickness as compared to normally nourished children. Cardiac output as well as other indices of left ventricular function (percentage fractional shortening, mean rate of circumferential fibre shortening and ejection fraction) were also significantly decreased in severe PEM. The atrophic PEM heart does appear to show left ventricular dysfunction in moderately severe malnutrition.     

Ultrasonographic assessment of the extent of hepatic steatosis in severe malnutrition.

Ultrasonographic, blinded assessment was made of the extent of hepatic steatosis in 55 children with severe malnutrition: undernutrition (n = 6), marasmus (n = 18), marasmickwashiorkor (n = 17), and kwashiorkor (n = 14). The children were examined on admission, in early recovery (considered as baseline), and again at discharge. Eleven healthy control children and eight of the previously malnourished children were studied as comparison groups. Both oedematous and non-oedematous malnourished children had significantly more steatosis than the comparison groups at each time. Children with oedematous malnutrition had significantly greater steatosis than non-oedematous children at admission. Half of the non-oedematous malnourished children had appreciable hepatic steatosis at both admission and at baseline. Hepatic fat was only slowly mobilised. The rate constant was 1.4 +/- 0.3%/day. One quarter of the children did not change steatosis grades during the period they were in hospital. There was no overall correlation between the extent of steatosis and liver size. Hepatic steatosis in childhood malnutrition is not confined to oedematous children: it is frequently present in marasmic and undernourished children. Its extent is not necessarily related to the degree of hepatomegaly and accumulated lipid is only slowly mobilised.     

The Effect of Malnutrition on Protein Glycosylation in Children

Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of protein energy malnutrition on protein glycosylation by investigating transferrin isoform pattern and its relationship to the degree of malnutrition and the biochemical markers of nutritional status in children. Methods: Forty one children with mild (n=23) and severely/moderately (n=18) acute malnutrition and 29 controls were enrolled in the study. Serum transferrin isoforms were determined by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis. Transferrin, prealbumin, zinc, iron and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were measured using automated analyzers. Findings : Asialotransferrin and disialotransferrin were significantly higher in severely/moderately malnourished patients compared to controls (P=0.04 and P=0.04, respectively). Other transferrin isoform patterns were not different among three groups. Serum IGF-1, transferrin and iron levels of severely/ moderately malnourished group were significantly lower than tose of controls (P=0.001, 0.02 and 0.03, respectively). Serum prealbumin and zinc levels were similar in all three groups. Serum IGF-1, transferrin and iron levels, and all transferrin isoform patterns were not significantly different in mildly malnutrition group from other two groups. Conclusion: The changes in transferrin isoform pattern observed in malnourished patients may indicate that malnutrition is a catabolic state which has effects on glycosylation.Key Words: Glycosylation; Isoelectric Focusing; Protein Energy Malnutrition; Transferrin; Isoform     

Application of a score system to evaluate the risk of malnutrition in a multiple hospital setting

Background

An increased but unpredictable risk of malnutrition is associated with hospitalization, especially in children with chronic diseases. We investigated the applicability of Screening Tool for Risk of Impaired Nutritional Status and Growth (STRONGkids), an instrument proposed to estimate the risk of malnutrition in hospitalized children. We also evaluated the role of age and co-morbidities as risk for malnutrition.

Methods

The STRONGkids consists of 4 items providing a score that classifies a patient in low, moderate, high risk for malnutrition. A prospective observational multi-centre study was performed in 12 Italian hospitals. Children 1–18 years consecutively admitted and otherwise unselected were enrolled. Their STRONGkids score was obtained and compared with the actual nutritional status expressed as BMI and Height for Age SD-score.

Results

Of 144 children (75 males, mean age 6.5?±?4.5 years), 52 (36%) had an underlying chronic disease. According to STRONGkids, 46 (32%) children were at low risk, 76 (53%) at moderate risk and 22 (15%) at high risk for malnutrition. The latter had significantly lower Height for Age values (mean SD value -1.07?±?2.08; p?=?0.008) and BMI values (mean SD-values -0.79?±?2.09; p?=?0.0021) in comparison to other groups. However, only 29 children were actually malnourished.

Conclusions

The STRONGkids is easy to administer. It is highly sensitive but not specific. It may be used as a very preliminary screening tool to be integrated with other clinical data in order to reliably predict the risk of malnutrition.

     

The pathogenesis of hyperuricemia in glycogen storage disease, type I.

After the infusion of fructose, 0.25 g/kg body weight, blood uric acid levels were significantly increased above the mean basal value in five patients with glycogen storage disease (GSD), type I (P less than 0.02-P less than 0.05). The mean fasting blood inorganic phosphate (Pi) level in the patients was 3.9 +/- 0.3 mg/100 ml and was significantly lower than the mean Pi value of 4.8 +/- 0.3 mg/100 ml of the control subjects (P less than 0.05). Blood Pi levels were significantly lower in the patients than in the control subjects at varying times after the administration of fructose (P less than 0.005-P less than 0.05). Uric acid excretion did not increase significantly in the patients after fructose was given. In contrast to normal children, the mean peak blood uric level in the patients increased significantly after the administration of glucagon (P less than 0.001). In both patients (P less than 0.005) and control subjects (P less than 0.05), mean blood Pi concentrations decreased significantly after the administration of glucagon; however, the blood Pi concentrations in the patients were significantly lower than in the control subjects. Uric acid excretion increased after glucagon administration in both patients and control subjects, but the differences in uric acid excretion between the two groups were not significant. The data in our patients after fructose and glucagon administration suggest that hyperuricemia in GSD results from enhanced nucleotide catabolism. The concentrations of hepatic Pi and ATP may be low in patients with GSD; hepatic Pi and ATP content would therefore be further diminished by the administration of fructose and glucagon. By a mechanism similar to that of fructose-induced hyperuricemia, diminished hepatic Pi and ATP content might increase the breakdown of adenine nucleotides with resultant hyperuricemia.     

Micronutrients and T-cell subsets: a comparison between HIV-infected and uninfected, severely malnourished Rwandan children

OBJECTIVE: To determine the levels of CD4+ cells and micronutrients in HIV-infected and uninfected severely malnourished children. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study in two centres. SETTING: Children admitted to the malnutrition units in Kigali and Butare, Rwanda. PATIENTS: A total of 112 children aged 2 months to 5 years presenting with severe malnutrition (weight for height Z- score -3 SD +/- oedema). Fifty-two (46.4%) were HIV-infected. METHODS: CD4+ counts, selenium, zinc and copper levels were measured. The percentage of CD4 cells was calculated as a proportion of total lymphocyte count. RESULTS: The mean age of the 52 HIV-infected children (18 months) was lower than of the 60 uninfected children (26 months) (p=0.01). Six (11.5%) of the HIV-infected had oedematous malnutrition compared with 50% of the uninfected group. The mean (SD) CD4+ count was 1054 (780) in the HIV-infected and 1579 (721) in the uninfected group (p=0.001). The CD4+ count was also significantly lower in the HIV-infected group than in the uninfected group for the ages <12 mths (p=0.09), 12-24 mths (p=0.045) and >36 mths (p=0.001). In HIV-infected children, 17% had severe immunosuppression (<15% CD4+ cells), 33% moderate (15-24%) and 50% had none (>25%) compared with 9%, 12% and 80% in the HIV-uninfected group, respectively (p<0.001). Approximately one-third in both groups had low levels of selenium and zinc and 77% had raised levels of copper. In multivariate analysis there was significant correlation between selenium and CD4+ (r=0.36, p<0.001) in HIV-infected children and no correlation of zinc and copper to CD4+ %. In HIV uninfected children, CD4+ % was related to selenium (r=0.282, p=0.03) and to zinc (r=0.264, p=0.047) but not to copper. CONCLUSIONS: In severely malnourished children with HIV infection, low CD4+ levels are associated mainly with HIV infection. There was no significant difference in levels of selenium, zinc and copper between HIV-infected and uninfected children.     

Oxygen consumption of the fetal sheep in utero

In the subgroup of small-for-dates, indicated as intra-uterine malnourished infants, we made an attempt to correlate the degree of starvation and the degree of skeletal retardation. In 31 wasted infants (including 4 post-mature children) and 20 not wasted infants, the ponderal index (100 X W/L3) was determined and deviation from 'normal' calculated. A highly significant correlation was found between the degree of malnutrition (deviation of the ponderal index from normal) and the degree of skeletal retardation (in weeks). The skeletal retardation seems a useful parameter to determine the minimal duration of insufficient energy supply to the fetus.     

短肽型肠内营养制剂对行机械通气肺炎患儿的营养支持研究

目的 观察儿童重症监护室（PICU）行机械通气的重症肺炎患儿营养不良及营养风险发生情况,探讨短肽型肠内营养制剂的营养支持效果。方法 选取2017年10月至2018年10月于PICU住院治疗且需机械通气的重症肺炎患儿68例为研究对象,采用前瞻性随机对照法将患儿随机分为对照组和试验组。通过鼻饲管分别给予试验组短肽型肠内营养制剂,对照组整蛋白型肠内营养制剂。评估两组患儿的年龄别体重Z值、STRONGkids营养风险评分和小儿危重病评分。检测两组患儿入院时、出院前的血清总蛋白（TP）、白蛋白（ALB）、前白蛋白（PA）水平,观察两组患儿的胃肠耐受性和临床治疗效果指标。结果 68例机械通气患儿中有26例（38%）存在营养不良,包括中度营养不良10例（15%）,重度营养不良16例（24%）;出院时有10例（15%）存在营养不良。63例（93%）患儿存在中、高营养风险,包括中度营养风险21例,高度营养风险42例,极危重组和危重组中的中、高营养风险检出率明显高于非危重组（P < 0.05）。与对照组相比,试验组患儿的机械通气时间、总住院时间缩短,血清PA水平和体重增长率增加,在胃肠道耐受性方面试验组优于对照组（P < 0.05）;两组呼吸机相关肺炎发生情况及疾病转归情况比较差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。结论 行机械通气肺炎患儿的营养不良及营养风险检出率较高。短肽型肠内营养制剂有助于改善行机械通气肺炎患儿的治疗效果,更适用于需机械通气危重患儿的营养支持治疗。     

The presence of clinical signs in malnourished infants with acute lower respiratory tract infections

OBJECTIVES:

To determine the reliability of respiratory rate and subcostal retractions in diagnosing acute lower respiratory tract infection in malnourished children.

METHODS:

One hundred forty-three children with acute lower respiratory tract infection were classified according to the Gomez classification as normal, mildly, moderately or severely malnourished. The presence of tachypnea, subcostal retractions and the sensitivity of either sign in identifying children with a clinical and radiological diagnosis of acute lower respiratory tract infection in each of the nutritional categories were evaluated and compared.

RESULTS:

According to the Gomez classification, 21 (15%) of 143 subjects were severely malnourished, 40 (28%) were moderately malnourished, 38 (26%) were mildly malnourished and 44 (31%) were well nourished. The mean respiratory rates in subjects with normal nutrition and in mildly, moderately and severely malnourished subjects were 62.6±9.38 breaths/min, 61.3±5.57 breaths/min, 57.6±11.65 breaths/min and 49.9±9.04 breaths/min, respectively. The mean respiratory rate of those with normal nutrition was not significantly different from that of those with mild malnutrition (P>0.05), but there was a statistically significant difference between the normal subjects and both the moderately malnourished (P=0.03) and severely malnourished (P<0.001) subjects. Subcostal retraction was observed in 78% of total children, which represents 41 (93%) subjects with normal nutrition, 34 (89%) mildly malnourished subjects, 30 (75%) moderately malnourished subjects and 10 (47%) severely malnourished subjects.There was no statistically significant difference between the frequencies of subcostal retractions observed in children with normal nutrition and mildly malnourished children (P>0.05), but subcostal retraction frequencies were significantly lower both in moderately (P=0.03) and severely (P<0.001) malnourished children. Tachypnea frequency was also found to be significantly lower in moderately (P=0.04) and severely (P=0.03) malnourished children compared with the normal group. As a consequence, the sensitivity of the presence of both of these signs was found to be lower in these two groups. The coexistence rates of both findings were 95% for the patients with normal nutrition and 47% for the severely malnourished patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

The current World Health Organization algorithm must be supported with other signs for the diagnosis of acute lower respiratory tract infection, especially in severely mal-nourished children.     

Evaluation of the correlation between serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha and relative body mass index (RBMI) in childhood

OBJECTIVE: Obesity and malnutrition are the main nutritional problems of childhood. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) is a well-known cytokine with effects on adipose tissue. In this study relative body mass index (RBMI) and serum TNFalpha levels were compared in obese and malnourished children, and hyperinsulinism was evaluated in the obese children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty-four children of whom 14 (9 M, 5 F) were obese, 10 (5 M, 5 F) were malnourished and 10 (4 M, 6 F) constituted the control group were evaluated. RBMI was used to define the groups according to the formula: patient's BMI/predicted BMI x 100. Mean RBMI values were 148.7 +/- 26, 77.6 +/- 4.63, and 100 +/- 8.2 in the obese, malnourished and control group, respectively. Mean ages of the obese, malnourished and control children were 9.75 +/- 2.59, 12.3 +/- 1.86 and 12.4 +/- 1.3 years, respectively. RESULTS: Higher serum TNFalpha levels were found in the obese children (20.94 +/- 0.38 pg/ml) in comparison with the control group (2.97 +/- 0.05 pg/ml) (p <0.001). Mean TNFalpha level in the malnourished group was 2.77 +/- 0.04 pg/ml, not statistically different from the control group (p >0.05). TNFalpha concentrations of the hyperinsulinemic and normoinsulinemic obese patients were not significantly different (p >0.05). CONCLUSION: We showed higher levels of serum TNFalpha in obese children. Increased TNFalpha levels do not always reflect hyperinsulinism. There was no difference in TNFalpha levels between the controls and the malnourished group.