Seasonal Pattern in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Poland: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

The existing literature does not address the question of the seasonal impact on pregnancy in Central-Eastern Europe; therefore, this study was designed to investigate the seasonal variation in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) based on a recent Polish sample. The data of 30,205 newborns from singleton pregnancies and their mothers, including the date and gestational age of birth, neonatal sex and weight, maternal age and parity, mode of delivery, ethnicity, and a detailed list of comorbidities (including GDM), were retrospectively analysed. The prevalence of GDM was significantly (p < 0.0001) lower in spring (14.71%) than in the other seasons (16.78%). A higher incidence of GDM was observed for mothers who underwent an oral glucose tolerance test from June to August compared to those who were tested from December to February (17.34% vs. 14.75%, p < 0.0001). Similarly, there were significant differences between seasons with higher and lower insolation. The regression analysis revealed that seasonal patterns were significantly associated with the prevalence of GDM. In conclusion, this large retrospective cohort study demonstrated seasonal changes in GDM risk. The observed seasonal patterns may equally refer to mothers of babies born at term and prematurely. Further research concerning GDM risk and other seasonal and gender associations is warranted.

Helicobacter pylori Infection in Children with Phenylketonuria Does Not Depend on Metabolic Control and Is Not More Frequent Than in Healthy Subjects-A Cross-Sectional Study.

In a small preliminary study, phenylketonuria and poor metabolic control were suggested as risk factors for Helicobacter pylori infection in children as detected with an antigen stool test. We aimed to determine Helicobacter pylori prevalence in an adequately sized group of individuals with phenylketonuria and healthy subjects using the standard gold test (urea breath test). Further, we correlated Helicobacter pylori infection with metabolic control. The study comprised 103 individuals with phenylketonuria and 103 healthy subjects on whom a 13C urea breath test was performed. Blood phenylalanine levels in the preceding year were analysed. The infection rate did not differ between individuals with phenylketonuria and healthy subjects (10.7% vs 15.5%; p = 0.41). The frequency of testing and phenylalanine concentrations of Helicobacter pylori-positive and Helicobacter pylori-negative patients with phenylketonuria did not differ (p = 0.92 and p = 0.54, respectively). No associations were detected for body mass index or metabolic control. Forward stepwise regression models revealed that age (p = 0.0009-0.0016) was the only independent correlate of Helicobacter pylori infection with a relatively low fraction of the variability of the condition being explained (adjR2 = 0.0721-0.0754; model p = 0.020-0.023). In conclusion, Helicobacter pylori infection in phenylketonuria is not more frequent than in the general population. Moreover, it does not depend on metabolic control.

Body Fat Changes and Liver Safety in Obese and Overweight Women Supplemented with Conjugated Linoleic Acid: A 12-Week Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Preliminary evidence suggests that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) may reduce body weight and affect body composition. The present study assessed the effect of CLA supplementation on body fat composition in overweight and obese women, while also evaluating the liver safety of CLA use. Seventy-four obese or overweight women were randomly assigned to receive 3 g/day CLA or placebo for 12 weeks. Body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) and liver function (13C-methacetin breath test and serum liver enzymes) were assessed before and after the trial. Patients receiving CLA experienced a significant reduction of total body fat expressed as mass (p = 0.0007) and percentage (p = 0.0006), android adipose tissue (p = 0.0002), gynoid adipose tissue (p = 0.0028), and visceral adipose tissue (p = 4.2 × 10-9) as well as a significant increase in lean body mass to height (p = 6.1 × 10-11) when compared to those receiving a placebo. The maximum momentary 13C recovery changes and end-point values were significantly higher in the CLA group when compared to the placebo group (p = 0.0385 and p = 0.0076, respectively). There were no significant changes in alanine aminotransferase, asparagine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities between the groups. In conclusion, CLA supplementation was well tolerated and safe for the liver, which shows beneficial effects on fat composition in overweight and obese women.

Conflicting results of non-invasive methods for detection of Helicobacter pylori infection in children with celiac disease - a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: There are no data addressing the usefulness of non-invasive tests for the detection of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection in celiac disease (CD). AIM: The aim of this study was to compare two most sensitive and specific tests - urea breath test (UBT) and fecal antigen test (FAT) in HP diagnosis in CD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised of 76 CD patients, 49 healthy subjects (HS) and 35 patients who underwent differential diagnosis due to abdominal pain (AP patients). The presence of HP infection was evaluated using the (13)C isotope-labeled UBT and FAT (ELISA). RESULTS: HP infection was diagnosed based on UBT and FAT in 8 (16.3%) and 7 (14.3%) HS, and in 8 (10.5%) CD patients and 12 (34.3%) AP patients, respectively, using both tests. The prevalence of conflicting results in comparison with positive results (obtained with any of the two tests) was distinctly higher (54.5%) in CD group than in other subjects (23.3%); however, due to low HP prevalence, it did not reach the level of significance (p<0.1759). CONCLUSION: CD may increase the risk of divergent results of non-invasive tests used for the detection of HP infection in children. Since UBT is the most reliable test, we suggest its standard use as a method of choice in pediatric CD - at least until new evidence emerges supporting a different approach.