Expression of Circulating MicroRNAs Associated with Obesity and their Relationships with Biochemical Parameters and Health-related Physical Fitness in Children 6 to 10 Years Old in Cali, Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a public health problem worldwide; it has reached pandemic proportions in the last 40 years. Its prevalence in children and adolescents increased from 0.7% to 7.8% between 1975 and 2016. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported as regulatory factors related to molecular functions under different conditions. These can be used as biomarkers of a disease to estimate risks in the early stages. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the expression levels of miRNAs associated with childhood obesity and their relationships with biochemical parameters and Health-related Physical Fitness (HRPF). METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study in which a population of 40 children between 6 and 10 years of age of both sexes from Cali, Colombia, was evaluated; the children were classified as 20 normal-weight and 20 obese. Blood biochemistry, HRPF, and miRNA expression levels were determined (hsa-miR-122-5p, hsa-miR-15b-5p, hsa-miR-191-5p, hsa-miR-486-3p, hsa-miR-222-3p. Comparisons were made between the groups, miRNA associations between the studied variables, and linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Twenty normal-weight and 20 obese patients were evaluated. Both groups had an average age of eight years old. The miRNA hsa-miR-122-5p (p < 0.05) was overexpressed in the obese group. According to the linear regression analysis, the amount of adipose tissue may be associated with the production of miRNAs (hsa-miR-15b-5p, hsa-miR-222-3p, hsa-miR-122-5p, and hsamiR- 191-5p). CONCLUSION: Four miRNAs (hsa-miR-15b-5p, hsa-miR-222-3p, hsa-miR-122-5p, and hsa-miR- 191-5p) are associated with modifications in biochemical variables of HRPF in this group. Adipose tissue mass could be associated with the production of these miRNAs, thus making them biomarkers of childhood obesity risk.

Study of delirium at the University District Hospital

Treinta y nueve casos de delirium identificados en el Hospital Universitario corresponden a menos de 1% de las 12,878 admisiones a este hospital en 1984. Con esta data podríamos inferir que la incidencia de delirium puede ser menor que la establecida en la literatura médica sin embargo existe la posibilidad de que en el Hospital Universitario los casos de delirium no son diagnosticados. No se encontraron expedientes médicos con el diagnóstico de alta de delirium en dicho hospital, de enero a septiembre de 1984, aun cuando 39 de las consultas evidenciaban casos de delirium. También existe la posibilidad de que los casos de delirium estan siendo mal diagnosticados. La revisión de los 12 expedientes médicos con el diagnóstico de Desorden Mental Psicótico no específico secundario a Daño Cerebral Orgánico evidenciaban que 3 de dichos casos llenaban los criterios para un diagnóstico de delirium. Existe otra posibilidad; aun cuando se diagnostican los casos de delirium los consultores no consideran incluirlo como diagnóstico final dada la naturaleza transitoria del desorden. Considerando la alta morbilidad y mortalidad de esta condición, es imperativo que los casos de delirium sean identificados y tratados adecuadamente. Se recomienda un estudio para determinar la incidencia exacta de delirium