Effects of Soluble Dextrin Fiber from Potato Starch on Body Weight and Associated Gut Dysbiosis Are Evident in Western Diet-Fed Mice but Not in Overweight/Obese Children.

BACKGROUND: The study investigated the impact of starch degradation products (SDexF) as prebiotics on obesity management in mice and overweight/obese children. METHODS: A total of 48 mice on a normal diet (ND) and 48 on a Western diet (WD) were divided into subgroups with or without 5% SDexF supplementation for 28 weeks. In a human study, 100 overweight/obese children were randomly assigned to prebiotic and control groups, consuming fruit and vegetable mousse with or without 10 g of SDexF for 24 weeks. Stool samples were analyzed for microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and amino acids (AA) were assessed. RESULTS: Results showed SDexF slowed weight gain in female mice on both diets but only temporarily in males. It altered bacterial diversity and specific taxa abundances in mouse feces. In humans, SDexF did not influence weight loss or gut microbiota composition, showing minimal changes in individual taxa. The anti-obesity effect observed in mice with WD-induced obesity was not replicated in children undergoing a weight-loss program. CONCLUSIONS: SDexF exhibited sex-specific effects in mice but did not impact weight loss or microbiota composition in overweight/obese children.

Population-based references for waist and hip circumferences, waist-to-hip and waist-to-height ratios for children and adolescents, and evaluation of their predictive ability.

Childhood obesity is a public health problem globally as well as in Poland. This paper aimed to provide age- and sex-specific waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-height ratio and waist-to-hip ratio normative values for Polish children and adolescents aged 3 - 18 years for more precise monitoring of abdominal fat accumulation. The waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-height ratio and waist-to-hip ratio references were constructed with the lambda-mu-sigma (LMS) method using data from two nationally representative health surveys: the OLA study and the OLAF study, the largest available paediatric surveys in Poland which provided measured height, weight, waist, hip and blood pressure for 22,370 children and adolescents aged 3 - 18 years. The predictive ability of newly established references for overweight/obesity as defined by the International Obesity Task Force criteria and elevated blood pressure was tested with receiver operating characteristic. Abdominal obesity cut-offs linked to adult cardiometabolic cut-offs were established. Reference values for waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-height ratio and waist-to-hip ratio are presented, as well as waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio and waist-to-hip ratio cut-off values linked to adult's cut-offs of cardiometabolic risk. The predictive value for overweight and obesity of population-based waist, hip and waist-to-height ratio references was outstanding-area under the receiver operating characteristic curve > 0.95 in both sexes, whereas with regard to the elevated blood pressure predictive ability was low-area under the receiver operating characteristic curve < 0.65.   Conclusion: This paper presents the first waist, hip, waist-to-height ratio and waist-to-hip ratio references for Polish children and adolescents aged 3-18 years. The 90th and 95th percentile and cut-offs linked to adult thresholds for cardiometabolic risk are proposed as cut-offs for abdominal obesity. What is Known: • Waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio and waist-to-hip ratio are used to assess abdominal obesity in children and adults. • In Poland, there is no abdominal obesity and hip circumference references for children and adolescents from 3 to 18 years of age. What is New: • Population-based references of central obesity indices and hip references for children and youth aged 3-18 years and cardiometabolic risk thresholds for children and adolescents linked to adult's cut-offs were established.

Comparison of the Activity of Fecal Enzymes and Concentration of SCFA in Healthy and Overweight Children.

In modern societies obesity has become a serious issue which must be urgently addressed. The health implications of neglected obesity are substantial, as not only does it affect individuals' everyday lives, but it also leads to significantly increased mortality due to the development of several disorders such as type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and depression. The objective of this research was to investigate the alterations in selected health markers caused by overweight and obesity in children. The measured parameters were the activity of the fecal enzymes, the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and the concentration of branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs). The activity of the fecal enzymes, specifically α-glucosidase, α-galactosidase, ß-glucosidase, ß-galactosidase, and ß-glucuronidase, was determined using spectrophotometry at a wavelength of 400 nm. Furthermore, concentrations of lactic acid, SCFAs (formic, acetic, propionic, butyric, and valeric acids), and BCFAs (isobutyric and isovaleric acids) were determined using the HPLC method. The obtained results reveal that obese children have different fecal enzyme activity and a different profile of fatty acids from children of normal weight. The group of obese children, when compared to children of normal weight, had increased concentrations of BCFAs (p < 0.05) and higher activity of potentially harmful enzymes such as ß-glucosidase and ß-glucuronidase (p < 0.05). In comparison, children of normal weight exhibited significantly increased concentrations of lactic acid and SCFAs (especially formic and butyric acids) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, their α-glucosidase and α-galactosidase activity were higher when compared to the group of obese children (p < 0.05). These results suggest that the prevalence of obesity has a significant impact on metabolites produced in the gastrointestinal tract, which might result in a higher chance of developing serious diseases.

Breastfeeding and Overweight in European Preschoolers: The ToyBox Study.

The benefits of breastfeeding (BF) include risk reduction of later overweight and obesity. We aimed to analyse the association between breastfeeding practices and overweight/obesity among preschool children participating in the ToyBox study. Data from children in the six countries, participating in the ToyBox-study (Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Poland, and Spain) 7554 children/families and their age is 3.5-5.5 years, 51.9% were boys collected cross-sectionally in 2012. The questionnaires included parents' self-reported data on their weight, height, socio-demographic status, and infant feeding practices. Measurements of preschool children's weight and height were done by trained researchers using standard protocols and equipment. The ever breastfeeding rate in the total sample was 85.0% (n = 5777). Only 6.3% (n = 428) of the children from the general sample were exclusively breastfed (EBF) for the duration of the first six months. EBF for four to six months was significantly (p < 0.001) less likely among mothers with formal education < 12 years (adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.61; 95% Confidence interval (CI) 0.44-0.85), smoking throughout pregnancy (adjusted OR = 0.39; 95% CI 0.24-0.62), overweight before pregnancy (adjusted OR = 0.67; 95%CI 0.47-0.95) and ≤25 years old. The median duration of any breastfeeding was five months. The prevalence of exclusive formula feeding during the first five months in the general sample was about 12% (n = 830). The prevalence of overweight and obesity at preschool age was 8.0% (n = 542) and 2.8% (n = 190), respectively. The study did not identify any significant association between breastfeeding practices and obesity in childhood when adjusted for relevant confounding factors (p > 0.05). It is likely that sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with breastfeeding practices may have an impact on childhood obesity. The identified lower than desirable rates and duration of breastfeeding practices should prompt enhanced efforts for effective promotion, protection, and support of breastfeeding across Europe, and in particular in regions with low BF rates.

Complementary Feeding and Overweight in European Preschoolers: The ToyBox-Study.

Complementary feeding (CF) should start between 4-6 months of age to ensure infants' growth but is also linked to childhood obesity. This study aimed to investigate the association of the timing of CF, breastfeeding and overweight in preschool children. Infant-feeding practices were self-reported in 2012 via a validated questionnaire by >7500 parents from six European countries participating in the ToyBox-study. The proportion of children who received breast milk and CF at 4-6 months was 51.2%. There was a positive association between timing of solid food (SF) introduction and duration of breastfeeding, as well as socioeconomic status and a negative association with smoking throughout pregnancy (p < 0.005). No significant risk to become overweight was observed among preschoolers who were introduced to SF at 1-3 months of age compared to those introduced at 4-6 months regardless of the type of milk feeding. Similarly, no significant association was observed between the early introduction of SF and risk for overweight in preschoolers who were breastfed for ≥4 months or were formula-fed. The study did not identify any significant association between the timing of introducing SF and obesity in childhood. It is likely that other factors than timing of SF introduction may have impact on childhood obesity.

Quality of Life and Adherence to Therapy in Patients With Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Treated With Nilotinib as a Second-Line Therapy: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate quality of life (QOL) and adherence to the therapy in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase treated with nilotinib as second-line therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multicenter, prospective, observational trial with 6 time points was conducted; 177 patients were recruited in 23 centers in Poland who were treated with nilotinib as second-line therapy because of the ineffectiveness or intolerance of their previous therapy. QOL was evaluated with the standard European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life questionnaire. Adherence to the therapy was assessed using the 4-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale by patients and their physicians. RESULTS: The average QOL in patients who completed the study was significantly higher during the last visit (69.4 ± 17.4) than at the start of the study (59.1 ± 18.8; P < .001). At their first visit, 120 (83.2%) patients assessed themselves as highly compliant and 135 (93.4%) at the fifth visit. Low-compliance patients represented 3 (1.7% of the total) during visit 1; none of the patients self-assessed as low compliance since the fourth visit. At the first visit 151 (85.3%) patients were categorized by their physicians as highly compliant and 138 (96.0%) during the last 3 visits. Patients' and their physicians' assessments were significantly correlated. CONCLUSION: The QOL among patients receiving nilotinib administered as second-line therapy was very good and adherence to the treatment was high. The efficacy and safety of the drug were confirmed in the real-life setting.

[Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from pulmonary trunk in an 11 year old girl - a case report]. / Nieprawidlowe odejscie prawej tetnicy wiencowej od pnia plucnego u 11-letniej dziewczynki.

A case of 11 year old girl with the anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from pulmonary trunk is presented. Initially the patient was treated conservatively, however, after demonstrating myocardial ischaemia during SPECT, she was selected for surgical treatment.