ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The association of sex hormones with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels has been reported. However, this association remains unexplored in children in whom important anthropometric and hormonal changes are taking place. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the association between high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) and testosterone, estradiol and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels in a population-based sample of adolescents, and to evaluate the influence of leptin levels on this association. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample population of this cross-sectional study was comprised of 338 male and 385 female adolescents, aged 12-16 years. Information on anthropometric variables, hormone, leptin, and hs-CRP levels was available. RESULTS: In male adolescents in our study, higher age is significantly associated with higher testosterone levels and with lower leptin and SHBG concentrations across the range of age studied. No significant changes in leptin and SHBG levels by age are observed in females. In males, leptin correlates negatively with testosterone levels (-0.263, p < 0.001), showing a stronger correlation after adjusting by body mass index (BMI) (-0.424, p < 0.001). A significant correlation between hs-CRP and testosterone levels is observed in males after adjusting by BMI, but the correlation disappears after adjusting by leptin. No association between testosterone and hs-CRP was observed in females. The negative association between hs-CRP levels and SHBG remains significant after adjusting by leptin in both sexes but disappears in males after adjusting by BMI. CONCLUSION: The negative association between hs-CRP and testosterone concentrations observed in 12- to 16-year-old males seems to be related to leptin levels which are closely negatively related to testosterone levels in males independently of BMI.
Subject(s)
C-Reactive Protein/metabolism , Gonadal Steroid Hormones/blood , Leptin/blood , Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin/metabolism , Adolescent , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between obesity and plasma adropin levels in two cohorts of children at two different ages. METHODS: Adropin concentrations were measured in 71 prepubertal and 41 pubertal children with obesity and their age- and sex-matched normal weight counterparts (69 prepubertal and 42 pubertal children). Information was available in these children on insulin levels, lipid profile, and leptin levels. Adropin levels were measured by using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. RESULTS: Plasma adropin levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in prepubertal than pubertal children. Adropin concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in prepubertal girls than in prepubertal boys but significantly lower (P < 0.001) in pubertal girls than in pubertal boys. Prepubertal boys and girls with obesity had significantly higher adropin levels (P < 0.001) than their normal weight counterparts. In contrast, no differences in adropin levels were observed in pubertal children when comparing children with obesity and normal weight boys and girls. CONCLUSIONS: An important decrease in adropin levels in pubertal children compared with prepubertal children was shown as well as a differing association of adropin with obesity depending on age. These findings suggest a possible relationship between adropin levels and centrally regulated sex hormones involved in pubertal development.
Subject(s)
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism , Obesity/blood , Adolescent , Child , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to compare high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels in children with type 1 diabetes, healthy controls, and children with obesity. Additionally, we aimed to analyze the association between hsCRP levels and glycemic control measured by glycohemoglobin A (HbA1c) and anthropometric and biochemical variables. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a non-randomized descriptive study of children with type 1 diabetes matched for sex and age with a control group and group with obesity. We recorded anthropometric parameters and studied variables related to diabetes, blood pressure, lipid profile, and HbA1c. hsCRP was measured by ELISA. RESULTS: We included 49 children with type 1 diabetes, 46 controls, and 40 children with obesity. hsCRP levels were significantly higher in the group with type 1 diabetes compared with controls and nearly significantly lower than in the group comprising children with obesity. We found no correlation between hsCRP and HbA1c and characteristics of type 1 diabetes with the exception of albumin to creatinine ratio. Statistically significant association was found between hsCRP and body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference Z-score. CONCLUSIONS: The higher hsCRP levels observed in children with type 1 diabetes compared with a control group with a similar BMI suggest a basal inflammatory state that could increase cardiovascular risk. The main factors related to hsCRP are BMI and waist circumference, so obesity prevention should be a priority when performing follow-up in children with type 1 diabetes.
Subject(s)
C-Reactive Protein , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 , Body Mass Index , C-Reactive Protein/analysis , Child , Control Groups , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/epidemiology , Humans , Obesity/epidemiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Nesfatin-1, an anorexigenic peptide, has been associated with food intake and thermogenesis, with discordant findings in humans and scarce studies in children to date. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship of obesity with nesfatin-1 levels in two cohorts of children. METHODS: Plasma nesfatin-1 concentrations were analyzed in 6- to 9-year-olds (n = 140) and 12- to 16-year-old children (n = 96), including children with obesity and their sex- and age-matched normal-weight counterparts. Anthropometric measurements were assessed. Cholesterol and triglycerides were determined enzymatically, insulin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay using a commercial kit and nesfatin-1, leptin and hs-CRP concentrations were determined using commercial ELISA kits. RESULTS: Nesfatin-1 concentrations were significantly lower in younger (P = .001) and older (P = .009) girls with obesity than in their normal-weight counterparts, without showing significant differences in boys. Nesfatin-1 showed a negative significant (P < .010) correlation with weight and BMI in girls but not in boys. A significant positive correlation of nesfatin-1 levels with insulin, HOMA, and leptin levels appears in girls after adjusting by age and BMI. A significant positive correlation (P = .003) was observed between nesfatin-1 and fat mass in older children. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows lower concentrations of nesfatin-1 related to obesity in girls but not in boys at two different ages. The existence of a sex-specific association between nesfatin-1 concentrations and presence of obesity highlights the need of an analysis by gender of the relationship of nesfatin-1 with obesity.
Subject(s)
Nucleobindins/blood , Pediatric Obesity/blood , Adolescent , Body Mass Index , Child , Cohort Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Sex CharacteristicsABSTRACT
The relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and plasma antioxidants has been established in adults. However, the association has been rarely investigated in healthy children. Thus, we examined the cross-sectional association of high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) levels with fat-soluble plasma antioxidant concentrations in a cohort of healthy prepubertal children. We determined hs-CRP levels in 543 healthy sixâ»eight-year-old children using a high-sensitivity CRP enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The plasma concentrations of lipids, apolipoproteins and lipid-soluble antioxidants (α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, lycopene, α-carotene, ß-carotene and retinol) were determined using standardized methods. Pearson correlation analysis showed significant correlations between plasma hs-CRP and α-carotene and retinol concentrations. After adjusting by sex, body mass index (BMI) and lipid levels, only the association with retinol remains significant, with children in the highest hs-CRP tertile group (hs-CRP ≥ 0.60 mg/dL) showing significantly lower levels of retinol than those from the tertiles 1 and 2. A stepwise linear regression selected retinol, BMI, apo A-I and sex as predictors of hs-CRP levels, in a model explaining 19.2% of the variability of hs-CRP. In conclusion, in healthy prepubertal children, after adjusting by sex, BMI and lipid levels, hs-CRP concentrations were highly associated with plasma retinol, which is transported in blood bound to retinol-binding protein but were not associated with the lipoprotein-bound antioxidants.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/analysis , C-Reactive Protein/analysis , Inflammation Mediators/blood , Vitamin A/blood , Age Factors , Biomarkers/blood , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , SpainABSTRACT
In the present work we report the development and validation of a fast liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous determination of endogenous nucleosides derived from DNA and RNA in urine. The target compounds were 2'-deoxyguanosine and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, derived from DNA, and the analogue 8-hydroxyguanosine, derived from RNA, together with adenosine, 1-methyladenosine, 7-methylguanosine and inosine. The method is based on the use of a chromatographic column packed with superficially porous particles for high-efficiency separation; further detection by MS/MS was accomplished with a triple quadrupole-mass spectrometer for analyte identification and accurate quantification. As a preliminary purification step, we developed a new procedure based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) with a mixed-sorbent prepared from three polymeric materials that facilitated the isolation of modified nucleosides, such as 2-deoxynucleosides, that are not retained by phenylboronic acid-based SPE. The proposed approach (SPE prior to LC-MS/MS) was validated in human urine in terms of linearity, the limit of detection, the limit of quantification, accuracy, recovery, repeatability, reproducibility and matrix-effects. For the SPE step, intra-day and inter-cartridge reproducibility were evaluated in natural and spiked urine samples, being ± 16.9% or below, with recoveries in the 74-125% range. No significant matrix effects were found in further MS/MS detection. The application of the present method to urine from healthy smoker and non-smoker volunteers is also reported in order to test its usefulness as a tool for clinical and toxicological trials.
Subject(s)
Chromatography, Liquid/methods , DNA/urine , Nucleosides/urine , RNA/urine , Solid Phase Extraction/methods , Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods , 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine , Adult , DNA/isolation & purification , Deoxyguanosine/analogs & derivatives , Deoxyguanosine/metabolism , Female , Guanosine/analogs & derivatives , Guanosine/metabolism , Humans , Male , Nucleosides/isolation & purification , RNA/isolation & purification , Young AdultABSTRACT
Se realiza un estudio descriptivo sobre cáncer cervicouterino para conocer su comportamiento así como los factores de riesgo desencadenantes de este proceso en el Policlínico Universitario Omar Ranedo Pubillones del municipio Guantánamo, durante el período comprendido 2006-2007. El universo de estudio estuvo conformado por todos los casos notificados con citologías patológicas en consulta. La muestra se conformó con 14 casos notificados en ese período. El mayor porcentaje de casos se encontró entre los 46 a 55 años de edad. Predominaron el desgarro posparto y las pacientes multíparas. El 78,5 por ciento tenía relación con el virus del papiloma humano (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/diagnosis , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de la sífilis durante 20 años con el objetivo de caracterizar su comportamiento clínico-epidemiológico en la provincia de Guantánamo. El universo de estudio estuvo conformado por los casos notificados durante los años 1987-2007. Entre las variables se analizó el comportamiento por grupos de edades y sexo. Como indicadores estadísticos se utilizaron el número absoluto, el porcentaje y la tasa. Entre los principales resultados estuvieron la disminución de la tendencia. No existió diferencia en cuanto al sexo. Predominó el grupo de edades de 15 a 24 años. Se analizó el total de casos de sífilis congénita y el incremento inusual en 1995. Se precisan los factores que incidieron en la aparición de los casos. La información se presenta en tablas de distribución de frecuencia y gráficos. Se arriba a conclusiones y se emiten recomendaciones (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Syphilis/epidemiology , Syphilis, Congenital/epidemiology , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Se realiza un estudio con el propósito de identificar las causas más frecuentes deembarazo en adolescentes pertenecientes al Policlínico Universitario Omar Ranedo Pubillones de la provincia Guantánamo, durante el año 2007. El universo de estudio está conformado por 30 adolescentes embarazadas con edades entre 12 y 19 años. Entre las variables estudiadas se analizó que el mayor porcentaje de las mismas estaban comprendidas entre 15-19 años de edad. Se determinó que las embarazadas en su gran mayoría no utilizaban ningún método anticonceptivo, el universo desconocía totalmente el método del conteo de los días posiblemente fértiles, el inicio de sus primeras relaciones sexuales fue en edades tempranas entre 12-14 años. Se arriba a conclusiones y recomendaciones pertinentes (AU)
