Insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome are related to the severity of steatosis in the pediatric population with obesity.

BACKGROUND: To determine the factors associated with an increased risk for severe steatosis (SS) and establish the Homeostatic Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) as a screening tool. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in obese children to assess the relationship between the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and glucose metabolism alterations (GMA) and the risk for severe steatosis. RESULTS: A total of 94 children (51 males) aged from six to 14 years were included. Thirteen children (14.8%) had severe steatosis (SS). The anthropometric variables associated with SS included body mass index (BMI) (SS 34.1 vs non-SS 29.7, p = 0.005), waist circumference (cm) (100 vs 92.5, p = 0.015) and hip circumference (cm) (108 vs 100, p = 0.018). The blood parameters included alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (UI/dl) (27 vs 21, p = 0.002), gamma-glutamil transpeptidase (GGT) (UI/dl) (16 vs 15, p = 0.017), fasting glycemia (mg/dl) (96 vs 88, p = 0.006), fasting insulin (UI/dl) (25 vs 15.3, p < 0.001) and HOMA-IR score (7.1 vs 3.7, p < 0.001). Eighteen children with MetS were found to be at an increased risk for severe steatosis (odds ratio [OR] 11.36, p < 0.001). After receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the best area under the curve (AUC) was obtained for HOMA-R of 0.862. The HOMA-R 4.9 cut-off value had a 100% sensitivity (CI 95%: 96.2-100) and 67.9% specificity (CI 95%: 57.1-78.7) for severe steatosis. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of MetS and glucose metabolism alterations are risk factors for severe steatosis. The 4.9 cut-off value for HOMA-IR may be a risk factor for severe steatosis in obese children.

Hepatic steatosis and severity-related factors in obese children.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Obesity is an important health-care problem in developed countries. It is considered a multisystemic disease, but it may also affect the liver, thus provoking non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This disease has been less extensively studied among children than among adults. We propose to analyze the prevalence of hepatic steatosis among a pediatric population within an area in southern Europe besides the variables associated with its development and severity. METHODS: Cross-sectional study carried out on a population of children aged 6-14 years inclusive, using abdominal ultrasound as a method to determine the presence and severity of hepatic steatosis; in addition, anthropometric and blood-tested parameters were examined to determine which of these were associated with steatosis. RESULTS: One hundred forty-four children were analyzed, 84 male (58.3%). Steatosis was detected in 50 children (34.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 26.0-42.0%). In six of these cases (12%), elevated aminotransferase levels were recorded. Factors found to be associated with steatosis were body mass index ≥ 99th percentile (odds ratio [OR] 3.58, 95% CI 1.16-15.6) and the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.03-1.13), while its severity was associated with ALT (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.09-1.28). A level of ALT < 23.5 UI/dL predicted lack of severe steatosis with an area under receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.805 (95% CI 0.683-0.927). CONCLUSIONS: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is common in the obese pediatric population in our geographical area. High levels of ALT are associated with severe steatosis, although having ALT above the normal range is not common. Also, the lack of severity of steatosis can be predicted in a subgroup of children with obesity.

[Incidence and clinico-epidemiological aspects of ulcerative colitis in the area of the Hospital Costa del Sol]. / Incidencia y aspectos clinicoepidemiológicos de la colitis ulcerosa en el área de influencia del Hospital Costa del Sol.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease, and of ulcerative colitis in particular, varies widely according to geographical area and has been reported to have increased in the last few years, although some of the differences observed may be due to the methodology employed. OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of ulcerative colitis in our area and to compare it with that described in other areas of Spain and Europe, as well as to describe certain clinico-epidemiological aspects of this disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive, prospective, population-based study was performed from 2000-2001 in patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in the catchment area of the Hospital Costa del Sol, with a population of 210,384 inhabitants. The crude incidence rate was adjusted by the direct method, using the European standard population (EU-25, 2000) as the reference population; 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: Forty-three patients (23 men [53.5%] and 20 women [46.5%], with a mean age of 35.23 years [SD=15.42]) were included. Thirty-three percent were residents of the Hospital Costa del Sol's catchment area and were included in the calculation of incidence. The crude incidence was 7.84 and the incidence adjusted by age and sex to the European population was 7.26 per 100,000 inhabitants/year. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of ulcerative colitis in the area of the Hospital Costa del Sol is higher than that found in other studies performed in the autonomous community of Andalusia as well as that observed in some studies performed in the north of the Peninsula.

[Distinct clinical presentations of a single medical entity: eosinophilic enteritis]. / Diferentes formas de presentación de una misma entidad clínica: gastroenteritis eosinofílica.

Eosinophilic enteritis is a rare disease characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of different wall layers of the gastrointestinal tract, from the esophagus to the rectum, by eosinophilic cells. The most frequently affected structures are the stomach and small intestine. The pathogenesis of eosinophilic enteritis is not well understood and is often related to a personal or familial history of atopy. Clinical symptoms depend on the affected layers. Thus malabsorptive syndrome, intestinal strictures or ascites depend on a mucosal, muscular or serosa layer infiltration, respectively. We present three cases of eosinophilic gastroenteritis with distinct clinical presentations.