Lipid profile pattern in pediatric overweight population with or without NAFLD in relation to IDF criteria for metabolic syndrome: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim of this study is to assess the lipid profile pattern of pediatric overweight and/or obese patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in relation to IDF Consensus Criteria for Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional preliminary study on 45 consecutive pediatric patients. Overweight or obese children aged from 3 to 18 years were included. Standardized measurement of blood pressure and anthropometric parameters were performed. Biological evaluation included inflammatory status, lipid profile, glycemic profile, full blood count and liver function tests. Abdominal ultrasound was performed in all patients. RESULTS: Prevalence of MetS was 44.4%. A number of 21 patients (46.7%) had NAFLD. MetS patients had higher risk for NAFLD (OR = 9.5, 95% CI = 2.42-37.24). Also patients with positive familial history of type 2 diabetes had a 6.61 fold higher risk for NAFLD (OR = 6.61, 95% CI = 1.74-25.1). We performed a subgroup analysis in patients under ten years old. Patients under the age of ten which had both NAFLD and MetS met more frequently the hypertriglyceride criterion. After adjusting for age and MetS presence, triglyceride levels independently associated with NAFLD (adjusted R square = 0.46, unstandardized B coefficient = 34.51, 95% CI = 4.01-65.02, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: NAFLD obese patients had higher prevalence of MetS, higher BMI and particular lipid profile pattern. Triglyceride levels independently associated with NAFLD after adjusting for age and MetS presence. According to our findings we suggest early triglyceride testing (even below the age of ten) in selected patients.

Ultrasound diagnosis in two cases of severe craniofacial anomalies.

Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is a rare anomaly of the brain consisting of an absent or incomplete separation of the forebrain in early gestation. We present 2 variants of HPE, diagnosed by ultrasound, which combined with the clinical features led to HPE subtypes differentiation.

Preterm screening by transfontanelar ultrasound - results of a 5 years cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Intracranial hemorrhages (ICH) might be the cause of significant psycho-motor or cognitive impairment in preterm babies. A 5 year cohort study performed in the IOMC was aimed at determining the prevalence and proportion of the main types of ICH diagnosed by transfontanelar (TF) ultrasound among admitted preterms, along with the neuro-developmental effects on a 12 month follow-up period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the above mentioned period all enrolled newborns were examined by TF ultrasound according to a common standardized protocol. The 4 grade Papile ICH classification was used for all examined subjects. In order to determine the potential neurological sequels we performed a 12 month neurological follow-up of all 292 patients in the study group. RESULTS: The prevalence of all types ICH diagnosed by systematic TF ultrasound was 20.4 %. The most prevalent type of ICH was peri-intraventricular: 40% grade I and 33 % grade II, with no major neurological sequels For both the correlation to the neurological outcome was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Severe neurological sequels were associated with grade III and IV, but the correlation was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05) only for grade IV hemorrhages. A severe neurological outcome was of statistical significance only for the cerebellar hemorrhage outcome, although a similar pattern was also observed for the thalamic hemorrhages. CONCLUSION: Systematic TF screenings for preterm is useful for early diagnosis and staging which might improve the management of rehabilitation therapies, and provide appropriate information on the disease outcome as well as influencing the quality of parental counseling.