Acute phase proteins disturbances indicate uncompensated obesity declining physical fitness.

OBJECTIVE: The correlation between physical fitness and health indicators still requires a research aimed at improving the knowledge about physical fitness and the impact of obesity on the health status in children and adolescents. The aim of this study is an analysis of the results of the EUROFIT battery tests in relation to routine laboratory parameters and the inflammation markers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the group of 123 Polish adolescents the routine parameters of lipid metabolism and acute phase proteins were investigated, and compared with EUROFIT motor fitness tests results, expressed as percentiles of the results achieved by healthy Polish population. RESULTS: Most of the EUROFIT tests battery were performed by overweight adolescent girls on an insufficient level. Children who were described by parameters indicating more advanced obesity performed the EUROFIT tests worse. There was showed a negative correlation between the concentration of HDL cholesterol and the long jump (rho=-0.304) as well as with the speed of limb movement (rho=-0.277). There was a positive correlation between the speed of limb movement and the concentration of triglycerides (rho=0.335), LDL cholesterol (rho=0.305) and the percentage of the A4 (rho=0.239). CONCLUSIONS: Disturbed lipid parameters, as well as altered glycosylation profiles of acute phase proteins, were observed in all overweight children, and the intensity of alterations correlated with worse fitness.

Cardiorespiratory endurance in relation to body mass in Polish rural children: Preliminary report.

Physical fitness is generally viewed as having morphological, muscular, motor, cardiovascular and metabolic components. Cardiorespiratory fitness describes the capacity of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems to carry out prolonged strenuous exercise. It is often considered as the most important indicator of health status. The place of residence is seen as a factor that may influence the feasibility of physically active lifestyles, and thus shaping cardiorespiratory fitness. The study group consisted of 121 children aged 10-16 years, including 60 girls and 61 boys. All of the children lived in rural areas. The investigated group was divided according to age and sex; body height and weight were measured and body mass index (BMI) calculated. All children performed the Cooper's run test and the Ruffier's test. The analysis of BMI for the nutritional status of children in relation to the entire study group demonstrated that 81 children had normal weight, 20 children were overweight and 11 were obese, while 9 children were underweight. The studied group of children showed on average very good and good performance in the Cooper's test, regardless of body weight, whereas the results of the Ruffier's test showed merely weak or medium cardiorespiratory endurance, which was even worse in overweight or obese children.

Independent reaching of the sitting position depends on the motor performance in the 3rd month of life.

OBJECTIVE: Sitting is one of milestones in motor development. However, reaching of the sitting position must precede achieving the ability of independent sitting. Qualitative assessment of motor performance at 3 months of age, with the prospective quantitative assessment of the function of independent reaching of the sitting position at the age of 8 months. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 125 children, 51 girls and 74 boys (born at term n = 78; born prematurely n = 47) were subject to prospective assessment of motor development with qualitative characteristics at the age of 3 months and quantitative characteristics at the age of 8 months. In parallel, the children were subjected to neurological assessment. Risk factors that could potentially affect motor development were analyzed. RESULTS: Children who at the age of 3 months performed at least 13 /15 qualitative elements in the prone position and at least 13/15 qualitative elements in the supine position, at the age of 8 months reached independently the sitting position. Poor qualitative assessment at the age of 3 months and a higher prevalence of risk factors increased the risk of non-reaching the sitting position. In the prone position, the pelvis, lower limbs, the arms and shoulders showed the most expressed differences between the children who reached or did not reached the independent sitting. For the supine position, the pelvis and lower limbs, as well as the extension of the spine and correct alignment of the shoulders showed the most expressed differences. CONCLUSIONS: Proper qualitative development at the age of 3 months is a good predictor of the achievement of independent reaching of the sitting position at the age of 8 months.

Association of cognitive performance with the physical activity and body mass index in middle-aged and older rural inhabitants.

OBJECTIVE: Last few decades have witnessed rapid ageing of the population. The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment and dementia is significantly higher in people aged 60 and over than in younger. The aim of the study was the assessment of the putative associations between physical activity and cognitive functioning in elderly inhabitants of a rural area. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The participants underwent physical assessment, physical activity, cognitive functions, depression were assessed. RESULTS: Highly active participants had better results in tests assessing psychomotor speed and in measuring attention and its flexibility comparing to groups of medium and low physical activity. Active people made fewer errors in the test measuring visual memory and new learning, and had significantly better results in the spatial-recognition memory test. Persons with symptoms of depression performed worse in visuospatial memory and working memory tests. Associations between physical activity and cognitive test results as well as association between body mass index and blood pressure and cognitive performance were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study suggest an association between higher physical activity and better cognitive functioning in the field of working memory and visual and spatial-recognition, attention and attention flexibility. Symptoms of depression, hypertension and increased BMI may adversely affect cognitive performance in elderly.

Obesity itself does not influence BDNF serum levels in adults.

OBJECTIVE: In European countries more than 50% of the population are overweight, 30% with obesity. In Poland overweight was present in 41% of men and 28.7% of women (obesity 15.7% and 19.9%). It was examined whether obesity affects serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which may lead to the consequences of obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and finally the metabolic syndrome. We aimed to examine whether obesity affects the serum levels of BDNF and IL-6. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 144 people aged 45 to 86 years, 80 subjects with diagnosed obesity and 64 with normal body weight, ≤ 65 years old (n = 45) and > 65 years old (n = 99). All patients underwent tests of glucose, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides levels, using routine laboratory methods. A test of the concentration of IL-6 and BDNF was carried out. The declared level of physical activity (gymnastics, cycling or walking) was considered. RESULTS: It was shown that in women ≤ 65 years old, obesity was associated with higher levels of interleukin-6. When the test group, divided into the above categories, was analyzed for the diagnosis of hypertension, heart failure or diabetes mellitus, no statistically significant differences in the investigated parameters were detected. The concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor did not differ in the investigated subjects, regardless of sex, age, obesity, or the declared physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: The concentration of interleukin-6 in younger people, including those with normal body weight, correlated with total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and it was significantly higher in obese women compared to those with normal body weight.

Qualitative motor assessment allows to predict the degree of motor disturbances.

OBJECTIVE: Early diagnosis is necessary in order to determine neurological integrity and the potential risk of improper development, and also to undertake possible early intervention. The quantitative assessment consists of observation of motor development, and provides information about whether a child performs an activity (movement) expected at a given life period. The qualitative assessment of motor performance verifies whether a specific activity is performed properly. The papers aims to demonstrate the motor performance assessment sheet for infants at the age of 6 months and assessment of qualitative elements of 3rd month at the age of 6 months. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 173 infants (76f/97m) were assessed by a neurologist and a physiotherapist at the age of 6 and 9 months. The neurologist set the final diagnosis at the age of 16 months. Additionally, the physiotherapist assessed qualitative elements typical of the 6th month and of the 3rd month. Risk factors possibly affecting motor performance were considered. RESULTS: The assessment performed by the neurologist and the physiotherapist demonstrated high conformity. Infants with varying degrees of developmental delay and with cerebral palsy at the age of 6 months have still not achieved all of the qualitative characteristics typical of the 3rd month of life, nor proper performance for the 6th month. The low Apgar score and the presence of intraventricular haemorrhage affected the motor development at the age of 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The author's motor development assessment sheet applied at the age of 6 months proves to be a sensitive research tool and demonstrates good predictive value.

Obesity in adolescents from urban and rural areas--a comparison of physical fitness and markers of inflammation.

OBJECTIVES: Obesity entails serious health consequences associated with the development of inflammation in the body and it has an impact on physical fitness. Obesity is not only related to the development of inflammation in the body, but it is a condition involving the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Aim of this paper was the comparison of parameters of physical fitness and inflammatory condition in overweight and obese adolescents from urban and rural areas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 113 children aged from 12 to 18 who were overweight or obese (mean body weight 89.32 ± 17.69, height 168.6 ± 9.82, BMI 31.27 ± 4.38 BMI). Physical fitness was measured using the Eurofit test, while concentrations and profiles of the glycosylation of the acute phase proteins was investigated by means of electrophoretic methods. RESULTS: The study demonstrated inferior results of fitness tests and the presence of features of inflammation in adolescents in both age groups, compared with their peers who had no problems with overweight or obesity. Boys from the younger group have a higher BMI and poorer Eurofit test results than their urban counterparts. Boys from rural areas show markers of acute inflammation, correlating with worse results of endurance, explosive power and speed tests. CONCLUSIONS: Young people from rural areas are more at risk of metabolic consequences of obesity than their peers from urban areas, due to poorer fitness and already visible markers of inflammation.

The evaluation of selected serum mineral concentrations and their association with insulin resistance in obese adolescents.

BACKGROUND: In obesity, elevated insulin resistance is observed, which may be associated with disturbances in mineral status in the body. The few studies concerning the status of minerals and their relationships with insulin resistance and body composition in adolescent populations have brought inconclusive results. AIM: of this study is, thus, to assess serum mineral concentration in obese adolescents, and to evaluate their potential association with insulin resistance. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy-eight obese adolescents and 20 healthy volunteers aged 12-18 years were recruited for the study. Selected anthropometrical measurements and levels of iron, zinc, copper, calcium, and magnesium were assessed in serum. Insulin resistance in the participants was evaluated according to the homeostatic model of assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) protocol. Levels of iron, zinc, copper, calcium, and magnesium were assessed in serum. RESULTS: Obese subjects had significantly higher HOMA-IR indices than the control group. Compared to healthy subjects, the serum concentration of zinc, calcium, and magnesium was significantly lower in obese subjects. A significant inverse relation was found between HOMA-IR and zinc levels in serum. CONCLUSIONS: Obese adolescents have a poorer mineral status (especially zinc) than adolescents of normal weight, which can contribute to insulin resistance.

Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor in euthymic bipolar patients on prophylactic lithium therapy.

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in a group of euthymic bipolar patients on long-term prophylactic lithium treatment and to delineate putative relationships between lithium efficacy and BDNF concentrations. METHODS: 141 euthymic bipolar patients (51 male, 90 female) on long-term lithium treatment were studied. Three categories of prophylactic lithium response were delineated: excellent lithium responders (ER; 30 patients), partial lithium responders (PR; 61 patients) and lithium nonresponders (NR; 50 patients). The control group consisted of 75 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. RESULTS: The lithium-treated patients as a whole group had lower BDNF levels compared to the healthy controls. However, after breaking down the patients into ER, PR and NR, it appeared that only NR had significantly lower BDNF levels compared with the healthy control subjects. No association between the age of the patients, duration of bipolar illness, and serum lithium and BDNF levels was found. CONCLUSION: The results point to a relationship between lithium prophylactic efficacy and plasma BDNF levels in euthymic bipolar patients where lithium NR had reduced BDNF levels. These findings suggest that serum BDNF is associated with lithium efficacy in bipolar disorder.

Acute phase proteins serum concentrations in children are related to urinary iodine excretion.

PURPOSE: The paper presents links between iodine provision and selected acute phase proteins' (APP) serum concentrations as well as their glycosylations profiles (investigated with the use of affinity immunoelectrophoresis with Concanavalin A as ligand) in children. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 116 children (58 girls and 58 boys) were enrolled. Iodine level was measured in the morning (7:30-8:30) urine portion, using Cr-As method. According to iodine level children were divided into two groups. The first one consisted of 56 children with decreased iodine level (lower than 100 micrograms/L), second--60 children with iodine level higher than 100 micrograms/L. In serum the concentration of ferritin, beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG), thyroxin (T4), triiodothyronin (T3), thyrotrophic hormone (TSH) were measured by radioimmunoassay (BELORIS, Belarus). Concentrations of APP: C-reactive protein (CRP), alphal-acid glycoprotein (AGP), alphal-antichymotrypsin (ACT), alphal-antitrypsin (AT), haptoglobin (Hp), alpha2-macroglobulin (A2-M), ceruloplasmin (Cp) and transferrin (Tf) were measured in sera samples by rocket immunoelectrophoresis acc. to Laurell with antibodies and standard from DakoCytomation, Denmark. Microheterogeneity of AGP, ACT and Tf was estimated using affinity immunoelectrophoresis with ConA as a ligand, acc. to Bøg-Hansen. RESULTS: It was established, that CRP level was lower than upper limit of normal range. Levels of other investigated proteins were reliably dependent on the level of iodine. Especially for AGP lower level was observed for children of the group with low iodine level. In children with low iodine level along with the decrease of serum AGP concentration altered glycosylations profile was observed, namely decrease in the content of variant non-reactive to ConA (W0) and increase in content of weakly reactive (W1) and reactive (W2) variants content, which resulted in increase of the reactivity coefficient (AGP-RC). Similar tendency in alterations of distinctly glycosylated variants in relation to iodine level could be shown for ACT. Serum concentration of any investigated protein was not dependent on the concentration of the hormones of pituitary-thyroid system. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that the influence of the iodine level is direct, not via thyroid hormones. It could be suggested that in euthyroid children with low iodine excretion with urine a hidden iodine deficiency is already registered by the regulatory mechanisms and a kind of acute phase reaction is started, may be in order to increase iodine uptake and storage.

Alterations of lymphocyte subpopulations in choroidal melanoma patients undergoing surgery.

PURPOSE: The alterations of lymphocyte subpopulations assessment after surgery in choroidal melanoma patients compared to cataract patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 12 patients with malignant melanoma of the choroid, 10 patients subjected to surgery due to cataract. Methods--flow cytometric measurement of absolute lymphocyte count, the number of all T cells (CD3+), T helper lymphocytes (CD3+ CD4+), T cytotoxic lymphocytes (CD3+CD8+), B lymphocytes (CD19+), NK cells (CD3-CD16+) and T cells (CD3+) cells with gammasigma TCR, on the day of surgery and two days after it. RESULTS: Comparable numbers of cells were observed in both groups prior to surgery, but the behavior of some populations differed: CD3+, CD3+CD4+ cells increased in melanoma patients whereas they decreased in reference group, the number of T lymphocytes with gammasigma TCR was significantly higher in melanoma patients before surgery and it did not differ after it. CONCLUSIONS: Though there were no significant differences in lymphocyte subpopulations between melanoma patients and the reference group, it seems that the presence of tumour influences the reactivity of the immune system to the trauma (surgery).

Development and psychokinetic therapy of children suffering from West Syndrome--an overview.

Paper presents reasons leading to the West Syndrome, disturbances occurring in the child's development and possible rehabilitation programmes. Psychological rehabilitation of a child with West Syndrome is multilateral, but its main aim is to improve the quality of life, social adaptation and optimizing of the cognitive functioning. Taking into consideration the psychokinetic retardation occurring in the West Syndrome because of prenatal, perinatal or postnatal disturbances apart from pharmacotherapy an intensive psychokinetic stimulation based on plasticity of the brain should be stressed out. Only the complex, intensive and long lasting rehabilitation of a child may secure to it the best possible development.

Binding of alpha1-antichymotrypsin to the surface of lymphocytes--preliminary study.

PURPOSE: The paper presents preliminary results of investigation of binding of alpha1-antichymotrypsin to the surface of peripheral blood lymphocytes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pooled serum samples from healthy individuals served as source of alpha1-antichymotrypsin for isolation using chromatography. Binding of alpha1-antichymotrypsin to the surface of peripheral blood lymphocytes was measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Even on native cells alpha1-antichymotrypsin may be detected. After incubation with isolated preparation the percentage of positive lymphocytes increased. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of alpha1-antichymotrypsin on the surface of lymphocytes may imply its regulatory role during acute phase response and early immune response.

No evidence of HTLV-I infection in patients with mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome.

The involvement of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) in the etiology of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) is still controversial. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of HTLV-I in the pathogenesis of mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sezary syndrome (SS) in Polish patients. The studied group consisted of 42 patients with MF, 5 with SS and 25 with chronic dermatitis. DNA was extracted from snap-frozen and paraffin-embedded skin biopsies and from peripheral blood. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR or nested PCR) was carried out for amplification of different regions of HTLV-I genome. Primer sets flanking pX, p 19, U5, tax and pol genes were used in the investigation. The presence of HTLV-I antibody was examined in 46 sera samples with the use of anti-HTLV-I/II EIA test. HTLV-I antibodies were not detected in any collected sera samples. PCR with two primer sets homologous to the pX region of HTLV-I showed negative results in all samples investigated. To confirm these results two other primer pairs specific for U5 and gag regions were designed. With these primer pairs no PCR product, except that in positive control, was observed. For more sensitive amplification a nested-PCR with pol and tax specific primers was performed. HTLV-I probably does not play an important role in the pathogenesis of MF in Polish patients.

[Microheterogeneity of two acute phase proteins in patients with ovarian carcinoma]. / Mikroheterogennosc wybranych bialek ostrej fazy u chorych z rakiem jajnika.

Concentrations of two acute phase proteins: alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) and transferrin (Tf) as well as glycosylation profiles of alpha 2M and Tf were studied in sera samples from 13 patients suffering from ovarian cancer. In the observed group of patients with ovarian cancer in whom the progression of disease was noticed low concentrations of both investigated proteins were present. On the contrary, the microheterogeneity of both alpha 2M and Tf was changed towards variants of both proteins more weakly reacting with ConA, what was previously described for AGP and ACT in all chronic inflammatory conditions including cancer.

[Monitoring of the inflammation in children before and after tonsillectomy]. / Monitorowanie stanu zapalnego u dzieci przed i po tonsylektomii.

A group of 54 children aged from three to 13 years was qualified to tonsillectomy for laryngological indications. In sera of all children following measurements were performed: the concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and alpha1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) were measured using rocket immunoelectrophoresis according to Laurell, also concentrations of three main immunoglobulin classes (IgA, IgG, IgM) and antistreptolysin titer. The microheterogeneity of both AGP and ACT was investigated, using crossed affinity immunoelectrophoresis according to Bog-Hansen with Concanavalin A (Con A) as a ligand. Results were expressed as reactivity coefficients (RC), being the proportion of all Con A-reacting variants to the non-reacting variant. It is worth mentioning that there was no difference in all investigated parameters as well between groups obtained by categorizing children according to the presence or absence of elevated antistreptolysin titer. It may mean that at least in some cases the chronic inflammation was caused by streptococci non-producing streptolysin O. The results obtained suggest that the absence of the arthritic pain does not exclude the need of antibiotic therapy in children after tonsillectomy. Generally it is postulated that estimation of acute phase proteins concentrations and glycosylation profiles, which were previously shown to be useful in clinical assessment of various diseases may serve as additional marker in laryngology in cases where indications to tonsillectomy are still controversial.

Intense acute phase response in ischemic patients.

The aim of this study was to estimate the qualitative and quantitative changes of acute phase proteins in patients suffering from coronary heart disease. The study was carried out on 74 patients and 12 healthy volunteers. The patients were divided into three groups as follows: patients with myocardial infarction (n=37), Group I--without heart failure, Group II--with heart failure (II-III NYHA), Group III--patients with unstable angina pectoris (n=35); controls-healthy volunteers (n=12). The immunological measurements were performed at the beginning of hospitalisation (point 0), after 4, 8, 12 and 72 h, and after 6, 9 and 12 days of hospitalisation. The concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and alpha1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) were measured using rocket immunoelectrophoresis according to Laurell. Glycosylation profiles of AGP and ACT were determined using crossed affinity immunoelectrophoresis with Con A as ligand according to Bøg-Hansen. Between Groups I and II statistically significant differences were observed for all investigated parameters. Highest concentration values were observed for Groups II and III; for Group II they appeared earlier than for Group III. The maximal values for reactivity coefficients (AGP-RC and ACT-RC) were observed earlier than the respective maximal values of concentrations. Continuous activation occurring in unstable angina leads to a more rapid increase in the concentrations of acute phase proteins and more marked alterations in their glycosylation profiles. In a way these patients seem to be 'primed' with constant stimulation, so that they respond dramatically to the stimulus of ischemia.