The association between weight loss and long term development in quality-of-life among children living with obesity: a pragmatic descriptive intervention study.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is associated with impaired Quality-of-Life (QoL), increased stigmatization and higher risk of development of depression compared to their peers. This report describes the long-term development in QoL for cohort of children with obesity after a sustainable weight reduction. METHODS: This pragmatic descriptive intervention study enrolled 120 children with obesity, age 5-17 years, in a multifactorial lifestyle intervention. The intervention was an across sectors collaboration between a department of pediatrics and community health care workers. QoL was assessed yearly throughout the intervention and evaluated by a 6-item Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). For analyzing changes in VAS, as function BMI-SDS, regression models were used, while ANOVA and Wilcoxon test were applied for normal and not-normal distributed data. 95% confidence interval not containing 0 and p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: After 26.4 months (13.9 SD) an overall decrease in bullying (0.6 vs. 0.0 median) and motivation (10.0 vs. 9.6) was observed. QoL increased in children with a BMI-SDS reduction (0.65 (2.49 SD)) opposite children with no-change or increasing BMI-SDS who reported reduced QoL (-0.36 (1.55 SD) and -0.96 (2.27 SD)). A significant inverse relationship was observed for Joy of Life, QoL and body perception as a function of BMI-SDS per year. CONCLUSION: Weight reduction causes improvement in QoL for children with obesity and an inverse relationship for QoL and changing BMI-SDS / year was establish.

Uric Acid Is Elevated in Children With Obesity and Decreases After Weight Loss.

Introduction: Childhood obesity is an increasing condition associated with continuous obesity into adulthood and development of comorbidities. Adult studies show an association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and body mass index (BMI). The aim of this retro perspective exploratory study was to investigate SUA in obese children and adolescents and the effects of a subsequent weight reduction. Materials and Methods: One hundred and seventy-one children (age 4-18), with obesity (i.e. BMI-SDS of +2 or higher) were included in a multifactorial lifestyle intervention. The children participating were annually measured for anthropometrics, blood samples and DEXA-scans for up to 3 years. Eighty-nine children were included for follow-up analysis. Results: After a follow-up of 20.7 ± 9.4 months a reduction in BMI-SDS of -0.34 ± 0.53 (p < 0.01) was observed. SUA was found to be positively associated with changes in BMI-SDS. SUA levels decreased in the 65 children who lost weight during the trial, conversely, SUA increased in the 23 children who gained weight during the trial (p < 0.01 between groups). Conclusion: SUA was found to correlate with measures of obesity and for the first time, this intervention demonstrates a positive relationship between SUA and weight reduction in children with obesity.

Sustainable weight loss over three years in children with obesity: a pragmatic family-centered lifestyle intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Childhood obesity has psychological consequences and increases the risk of continuous obesity into adulthood, associated with development of non-communicable disease (e.g. type 2 diabetes). Short-term weight loss intervention studies show good results but long-term studies are limited. METHODS: One hundred ninety-nine obese children (4-18 years of age), with a BMI-SDS (standard deviation score) above + 2 SDS were enrolled into a multifactorial family-centered lifestyle intervention study. The children had yearly visits in the outpatient clinic for anthropometrics, blood samples and DXA-scans, and 6-8 meeting with community health workers between these visits. The children followed the intervention up to 3 years. RESULTS: After a follow-up of 26.7 ± 17.5 months a reduction in BMI-SDS of - 0.25 SDS (p < 0.001) was observed. The 57 children who were adherent to the intervention for ≥ 2 years had significantly reduced BMI-SDS compared to the 142 children with shorter intervention (BMI-SDS: - 0.38 ± 0.67 vs. - 0.20 ± 0.50, p = 0.036). All weight loss was accompanied by decrease in fat mass and increase in muscle mass (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The intervention was found to induce long-term reduction in BMI-SDS in obese children, with beneficial change in body composition. Children who followed the intervention the longest had the greatest reduction in BMI-SDS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, longitudinal cohort study.

[Perianal abscesses in twins]. / Identisk forløb af perianal absces hos nyfødte enæggede tvillinger.

Perianal abscesses (PA) are relatively common in children, especially in infants. The aetiology of PA is still unknown but several factors point toward a congenital aetiology: 1) it is almost exclusively seen in infants, 2) with a male predominance, 3) predilection sites at 3 and 9 o'clock, 4) the finding of abnormal Morgagni crypts and 5) aberrant epithelial lining. Traditionally, incision and drainage has been the treatment of choice, but several studies suggest conservative management. The effect of antibiotics has not been proven. In this case report we present two 29-day-old monozygous twin boys with PA.

[Primary autoimmune neutropenia in children]. / Primær autoimmun neutropeni hos børn.

Primary autoimmune neutropenia (AIN) is characterised by severe neutropenia and the presence of granulocyte reactive autoantibodies. The pathogenesis of the disease remains unknown and the disease is believed to be underdiagnosed. AIN occurs predominantly at the age of 6-24 months and despite severe neutropenia the symptomatology covers mainly benign infections. Serious bacterial infections might occur and some patients thus may benefit from treatment with prophylactic antibiotics or granulocyte growth factor. Spontaneous remission usually occurs within 30 months from the time of diagnosis.

[Neonatal alloimmune neutropenia is a frequently overlooked diagnosis in neonates]. / Neonatal alloimmun neutropeni er en overset diagnose.

Neonatal alloimmune neutropenia (NIN) results from the destruction of foetal neutrophils by maternal immunoglobulin G-class neutrophil-reactive antibodies crossing the foeto-placental barrier. We report two cases of neonatal patients presenting with unspecific symptoms and persisting neutropenia accompanied by thrombocytosis. Both were subsequently diagnosed with NIN. These two cases of persisting neutropenia highlight the diversity of symptoms and the diagnostic challenges remaining in NIN. Furthermore, the cases remind us that neutropenia in neonates may be rooted in several different pathophysiological mechanisms.