Oral glucose tolerance test unravels circulating miRNAs associated with insulin resistance in obese preschoolers.

BACKGROUND: Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) may act as biomarkers of metabolic disturbances. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify serum miRNAs signature of early insulin resistance in obese preschoolers. METHODS: Twelve obese children, aged 2-6 years, six insulin resistant (IR) and six controls were selected being age-matched, sex-matched and body mass index-matched. Profiling of 179 circulating miRNAs, known to be widely expressed in the bloodstream, was investigated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction at fasting and 120 min following a standard oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). RESULTS: Twenty-one miRNAs were differentially regulated in IR obese preschoolers. miR-200c-3p, miR-190a and miR-95 were differently regulated both at fasting and 120 min after the OGTT. In controls, the fold changes of some miRNAs were correlated with Δglucose0-120 (miR-660, miR-26b-5p and miR-22-3p: p = 0.005 for all) and Δinsulin0-120 (miR-660 and miR-22-3p: p = 0.02 for both and miR-423-5p: p = 0.042). In IR patients, miR-1 fold changes were correlated with Δglucose0-120( r = -0.786; p = 0.036) and Δinsulin0-120( r = -0.821; p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Our study identifies circulating miR-200c-3p, miR-190a and miR-95 as biomarkers of insulin resistance in obese preschoolers, being differentially regulated in IR patients both in fasting condition and after the OGTT. Expression of some circulating miRNAs seems reflecting glucose and insulin excursion following the OGTT differently in controls and IR obese preschoolers.

Randomised clinical trial: The beneficial effects of VSL#3 in obese children with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

BACKGROUND: Gut microbiota modifiers may have beneficial effects of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) but randomised controlled trials (RCT) are lacking in children. AIM: To perform a double-blind RCT of VSL#3 vs. placebo in obese children with biopsy-proven NAFLD. METHODS: Of 48 randomised children, 44 (22 VSL#3 and 22 placebo) completed the study. The main outcome was the change in fatty liver severity at 4 months as detected by ultrasonography. Secondary outcomes were the changes in triglycerides, insulin resistance as detected by the homoeostasis model assessment (HOMA), alanine transaminase (ALT), body mass index (BMI), glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and activated GLP-1 (aGLP-1). Ordinal and linear models with cluster confidence intervals were used to evaluate the efficacy of VSL#3 vs. placebo at 4 months. RESULTS: At baseline, moderate and severe NAFLD were present in 64% and 36% of PLA children and in 55% and 45% of VSL#3 children. The probability that children supplemented with VSL#3 had none, light, moderate or severe FL at the end of the study was 21%, 70%, 9% and 0% respectively with corresponding values of 0%, 7%, 76% and 17% for the placebo group (P < 0.001). No between-group differences were detected in triglycerides, HOMA and ALT while BMI decreased and GLP-1 and aGLP1 increased in the VSL#3 group (P < 0.001 for all comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: A 4-month supplement of VSL#3 significantly improves NAFLD in children. The VSL#3-dependent GLP-1 increase could be responsible for these beneficial effects. Trial identifier: NCT01650025 (www.clinicaltrial.gov).

Exclusion of Treacher Collins Franceschetti syndrome in a subject with tetralogy of Fallot and cryptorchidism.

Genotyping with flanking DNA markers was used to ascertain Treacher Collins Franceschetti syndrome (TCOF1) in a subject affected by tetralogy of Fallot and cryptorchidism. The proband's family consisted of a father and sister who were affected by the disease, and a healthy mother. Since cardiac malformation and cryptorchidism have been associated with the TCOF1 syndrome, the proband was suspected to be a carrier of the mutated gene. Microsatellite markers D5S527, SPARC and D5S519, which previously mapped the TCOF1 gene within a 2.1-cM interval on chromosome 5 (5q32-33.1), were used to follow the transmission of the TCOF1 mutated locus. Flanking markers D5S519 and D5S527 were informative and enabled us to exclude inheritance of a TCOF1 mutation to the proband, while showing that cardiac malformation and crytorchidism were unrelated in this patient.

[Variations of the immunological parameters and the clinical response in 25 children treated with thymopentin]. / Variazioni dei parametri immunologici e risposta clinica in 25 bambini trattati con timopentina.

We studied the effects of thymopentin on 25 children aged between 15 months and 11 years, suffering from relapsing herpes, malnutrition and recurrent infections of respiratory tract. None of these children had previously received vaccines or immunostimulating drugs. Our purpose was to test thymopentin efficacy on various pathologies. We carried out a series of blood tests before, during and after drug administration in order to evaluate the variations of immunological parameters (IgA, IgG, IgM, IgAs, C3, C4 and cellular immunity), as well as changes in weight and height. Thymopentin was administered at a dose of 0.5 mg/Kg three times a week for three weeks. Seric IgA (Tab. 2) were also affected by thymopentin. As far as cellular immunity is concerned we observed a progressive increase of CD3 and CD8 during thymopentin treatment. Tolerability was excellent. Only one child had a slight fever that disappeared at the end of treatment. No hematological disorders were reported.

[Dehydrated child]. / II bambino disidratato.

Dehydration, in childhood as in adulthood, may origin from an inadequate water ingestion or an excessive water elimination. Causes may be found in fever, vomiting, scalds, pulmonary hyperventilation, diabetes. Water loss during acute diarrhea in children can be even 6-7 times higher in comparison with an healthy child. Together with water, electrolytes are lost. We differentiate dehydration in isonatremic d. (70% of cases), hyponatremic d. (10%) and hypernatremic d. (20%) basing on Sodium loss. Important dehydration causes severe clinical symptoms as shock, renal and cardiocirculatory failure, convulsion, coma. Symptoms at the central nervous system level derivate both from hyperosmolarity in brain cells and from thrombosis or hemorrhages in subdural sites. Dehydration, following acute diarrhea, is slight when weight loss is lower than 5%. The child health conditions still remain good. Dehydration become moderate if weight loss reaches 5% and the child starts suffering. When the weight loss reaches 10%, dehydration is now severe and circulatory deficiency becomes evident. When it is higher than 10%, prognosis is very severe and shock and coma may be observed. In the present work, we illustrate the different ways of rehydration after acute diarrhea. Initially, oral rehydration must be established with one of the oral solutions, differing each other for amount of electrolytes and glucose. Recently, a new solution, "supersolution", has been presented differing from the other ones for electrolytes concentration and for the presence of rice starch instead of glucose. In most cases of diarrhea, oral rehydration appears adequate but sometimes an intravenous rehydration becomes necessary, e.g. in case of vomiting, CNS depression and in any case of severe gastroenteric symptomatology.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Comparison of an oral rehydration solution (ORS 90) and a "supersolution" during acute infantile diarrhea]. / Confronto tra una soluzione reidratante orale (ORS 90) ed una "supersoluzione" in corso di diarrea acuta infantile.

As acute diarrhoea gives rise to a loss of water and electrolytes, the most effective therapy results the oral rehydration. Harrison and Darrow tried this way first. Only in the years '60 we began to use oral rehydration commonly. Usually, solutions contain glucose, Na, K, Cl, Bicarbonate in various concentration. When glucose is replaced by rice starch or when amino acid are added, then we have a "supersolution". Nutrients intake provides more calories and increases absorption Na-depending. We used one of these new "supersolutions". Two groups of children, hospitalised for acute diarrhoea, were treated with different rehydration solutions. The first one (Dicodral Forte), prepared according to the WHO, contains glucose and electrolytes as we know. The second one (Amidral) has rice starch instead of glucose and presents a lower concentration of Na and Cl. The present study looked over: A) Weight increase from the first to the third day of hospitalisation in our department. B) Duration of diarrhea. C) Number of stools. D) Haematological values before and after rehydration. All the patients ingested the same amount of solution. Children which received WHO's solution presented diarrhea longer than others (2.55 +/- 2.06 vs 2.2 +/- 1.1 days). Number of stools was below average too (3.05 +/- 2.64 vs 2.8 +/- 1.5). Refeeding was done employing the same milk used in former times. AMIDRAL was used to dilute the milk when it was possible. Most important result is the increase of weight we had using this "supersolution". 15/20 children which received AMIDRAL showed an increase of their weight as shown in Tab. 1.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva. An 11-year-old boy treated with a diphosphonate.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a severe, rare, autosomal dominant, ectopic ossifying condition, with primary involvement of the skeletal muscles associated with skeletal abnormalities. This report concerns an 11-year-old boy suffering from FOP, who presented significant modification of the musculoskeletal structure of the thorax and problems with articular movements. The patient showed progress after treatment with ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate (EHDP). In fact, using a scintiscanner we were able to observe a significant improvement in symptoms and a recovery of some of the active sites of ossification.

[Description of a case of Meckel's diverticulum and chronic anemia in a 4-year-old boy]. / Descrizione di un caso di diverticolo di Meckel ed anemia cronica in un bambino di 4 anni.

The case of a boy of 4 years 6 months suffering from Meckel's diverticulum (M.D.) and chronic anaemia is reported. The patient presented no evident sign of bleeding of the mucosa or of other sites. Admitted to the Paediatric Clinic for severe anaemia, he underwent numerous clinical and laboratory investigations that revealed the presence of a bleeding M.D. This was removed surgically and in a comparatively short time (about 3 months), the haematic picture normalized, with manifest benefit to the child.