ABSTRACT
We sought associations among metabolic profiles, copeptin levels, emotional control, personality traits, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in metabolically obese normal-weight young women (MONW). We assessed body composition, including fat-free mass; body fat (BF) and android and gynoid fat depots; fasting blood glucose, insulin, copeptin, cortisol (baseline and after dexamethasone), adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), triglycerides, total cholesterol, low- (LDL) and high-density (HDL) lipoproteins; and the BCL1 and N363S polymorphisms of the glucocorticoid receptor gene in 59 MONW and 71 healthy women aged 20-40 years. We also evaluated personality traits using the NEO-Five Factor Inventory and the subjective extent of emotional suppression by the Courtauld Emotional Control Scale. Compared to the controls, MONW had significantly higher insulin, cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, and waist circumference, but lower HDL. MONW also had increased BF (>30 % of weight) and unfavorable regional fat distribution with excess android fat. The android/BF ratio was 8.29 % (MONW) versus 7.89 % (controls) (p = 0.005), while the gynoid/BF ratio was 31.99 versus 34.1 %, respectively (p = 0.008). Despite similar ACTH levels in both groups, MONW had higher cortisol levels both at the baseline (p < 0.001) and in the dexamethasone suppression test (p = 0.003). Copeptin levels and the distribution of glucocorticoid receptor polymorphisms were similar in both groups. There were also no significant differences in psychological features between MONW and controls. In conclusion, the MONW phenotype was associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation, unfavorable metabolic profiles, and fat accumulation, but normal distribution of glucocorticoid receptor gene polymorphisms and copeptin levels, and no significant differences in psychological features between MONW and controls.
Subject(s)
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/metabolism , Ideal Body Weight , Obesity/metabolism , Personality , Pituitary-Adrenal System/metabolism , Receptors, Glucocorticoid/genetics , Adult , Case-Control Studies , Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific/metabolism , Female , Humans , Ideal Body Weight/genetics , Obesity/genetics , Personality/genetics , Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young AdultABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Helicobacter pylori infection activates local immunological response and causes mononuclear cells infiltration in the gastric mucosa. On this account the studies on lymphocyte subpopulations in the gastric mucosa in children during Helicobacter pylori infections are inconsistent. It has been shown that the morphological status of gastric mucosa in children with Helicobacter pylori infection is different than in adult patients. THE AIM OF THE STUDY was the evaluation of chosen immunocompetent cells expression in gastric mucosa in children before and after eradication treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-nine children with chronic abdominal pain was enrolled in the study. They were divided into the following groups: 22 children without infection (negative urease test and absence of Helicobacter pylori antigen assessed by immunoenzymatic and immunofluorescent methods) and 27 with Helicobacter pylori infection. Part of the children (11) from the second group had a follow-up endoscopy after eradication therapy. The tissue samples from the gastric antrum and fundus were obtained for morphological and immunohistochemistry assays by direct immunofluorescent and immunoenzymatic methods. RESULTS: There were negative Helicobacter pylori tests in group I. In the group of infected children superficial colonisation of pathogen dominated In analysed groups percentage of patients with superficial antigens and cytokines (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, IL-4, IL-6, INF-gamma) characteristic for each lymphocytes subpopulations were established. In infammatory infiltrations T lymphocytes CD4 and B lymphocytes CD20 dominated localised mainly in the lamina propria of the gastric mucosa. Expression of above lymphocytes subpopulations diminished after eradication treatment. After treatment the total eradication of Helicobacter pylori was observed in 5 children and in 6 patients the pathogen persisted. CONCLUSIONS: The dominant role in local response during Helicobacter pylori infection in children is played by T CD4 and B CD20 lymphocytes localised mainly in lamina propria of gastric mucosa. Degree of T cells CD4 and CD20 expression decreases after eradication treatment.
Subject(s)
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Gastric Mucosa/immunology , Helicobacter Infections/immunology , Helicobacter pylori/isolation & purification , Adolescent , Antigens, CD20/biosynthesis , B-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology , CD3 Complex/biosynthesis , CD4 Antigens/biosynthesis , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects , CD8 Antigens/biosynthesis , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects , Case-Control Studies , Child , Female , Gastric Mucosa/metabolism , Gene Expression , Helicobacter Infections/drug therapy , Humans , Interferon-gamma/biosynthesis , Interleukin-4/biosynthesis , Interleukin-6/biosynthesis , Male , T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunologyABSTRACT
THE AIM OF THE STUDY: Determination of the incidence of undernutrition among children on admission to hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 818 patients aged l week to 20 years admitted to Paediatric Department from January to May 2004, the height and body mass was recorded and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The incidence of undernutrition in this population was calculated. RESULTS: Body mass below 10th percentile was found in 158 children (19.3%). including 96 with body mass <3 percentile. Undernutrition was more frequent in children below 5 year of age (22.16%) than in the older ones (16.74%). CONCLUSIONS: Undernutrition among children admitted to hospital is relatively frequent and can make treatment more difficult and expensive.