Efficacy of a point-of-care test based on deamidated gliadin peptides for the detection of celiac disease in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of a point-of-care test (POCT) based on deamidated gliadin peptides (DGP) compared to the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) criteria diagnosis in the early detection of celiac disease (CD) in pediatric patients. METHODS: One hundred children (≤ 18 years) with suspected CD were selected, including siblings of celiac children that underwent gastroscopy for other gastrointestinal conditions. Patients with severe disease, following a gluten-free diet (GFD), with gastrointestinal bleeding, coagulopathy and infections in the last month were excluded. All children were evaluated with a POCT that detects immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to DGP and total IgA. The POCT results were compared to CD diagnosis according to current ESPGHAN criteria. This involved the detection of IgA tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibodies, the results of an intestinal biopsy and genetic testing. RESULTS: The prevalence of CD found in the present study was 48% (95% confidence interval in parenthesis 37.9-58.2%). The results of the POCT were concordant with the CD diagnosis made according to ESPGHAN criteria: 95.8% (85.7-99.4%) sensitivity, 98.1% (89.7-99.7%) specificity, 97.9% (88.7-99.6%) positive predictive value and 96.2% (87.0-99.4%) negative predictive value. Positive and negative likelihood ratios were 49.8 (7.2-347.5) and 0.04 (0.01-0.17), respectively. The POCT showed a 100% diagnostic accuracy in children younger than ten years of age. In total, three discordant results were found. CONCLUSION: Due to the high diagnostic accuracy in the pediatric population, the POCT can be considered as an effective tool for the early diagnosis of CD, especially in patients younger than ten years of age.

Reference values for leptin, cortisol, insulin and glucose, among European adolescents and their association with adiposity: the HELENA study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Adequate concentrations of leptin, cortisol, and insulin are important for a suitable metabolism and development during adolescence. These hormones jointly with glucose play a major role in fat metabolism and development of childhood obesity. Our main objective was to quantify biomarkers as leptin, cortisol, insulin and glucose status in European adolescents to contribute to establish reference ranges. METHODS: A representative sample of 927 adolescents (45% males, 14.9±1.2 years for the overall population) from ten European cities of the HELENA study was used to obtain fasting blood samples for these biomarkers. The percentile distributions were computed by sex and age and percentiles were associated with BMI classification. RESULTS: Serum leptin concentration in adolescents varied significantly according to BMI, sex and age (all p < 0.001). Cortisol presented a tendency to increase with age, both for females and males, while insulin and glucose were stable with age. Leptin and insulin were highest in obese adolescents (p < 0.001), whilst cortisol and glucose did not vary with BMI. Percentiles 5, 25, 50, 75 and 95, for hormones values were, respectively: 1.27, 4.06, 11.54, 26.70 and 65.33 ng/ml for leptin; 5.00, 8.11, 11.14, 15.00 and 24.51 µg/dl for cortisol and 3.65, 6.15, 8.52, 11.90 and 20.53 µlU/ml for insulin. CONCLUSIONS: In adolescents, leptin, cortisol, insulin and glucose concentrations are differently affected by age, sex and BMI. Establishment of reference ranges (percentiles) of these biomarkers would be of great interest when pediatricians have to assess the trend of an adolescent to develop obesity years after.

Objetivo: Concentraciones adecuadas de leptina, cortisol e insulina son importantes para un metabolismo normal durante la adolescencia, puesto que valores alterados de estas hormonas, junto con la glucosa, se asocian con el desarrollo de la obesidad infantil. Nuestro principal objetivo fue cuantificar estos marcadores en adolescentes europeos con el fin de establecer rangos de referencia. Métodos: Muestras de sangre procedentes de 927 adolescentes en ayunas (14,9 ± 1,2 años, 45% varones, estudio HELENA), fueron analizadas para cuantificar la leptina, cortisol, insulina y glucosa. Las distribuciones de percentiles se determinaron teniendo en cuenta el sexo y la edad. También se estudió la asociación entre percentiles y la clasificación del IMC. Resultados: La concentración de leptina en suero variaba significativamente con el IMC, el sexo y la edad (todos p.

Effects of milk supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid on weight control and body composition in healthy overweight people.

INTRODUCTION: Conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) have shown beneficial effects in weight control therapy however this relation is not clear. OBJETIVE: The aim of the study was to examine the effects and safety of 3g of a 1:1 mix of c9-t11 and t10-c12 on weight control and body composition in healthy overweight individuals. METHODS: A prospective, placebo-controlled, randomised double-blind, parallel clinical trial lasting 24 weeks was carried out in 38 volunteers (29w, 9m) aged 30-55 years and BMI ≥27-<30 kg/m2 who consumed 200 ml/day of skimmed milk with 3g of CLAs or 3g olive oil (placebo). Anthropometric, biochemical and dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) tests were measured. Diet and physical activity were assessed. RESULTS: Subjects maintained their habitual dietary and exercise patterns over the study. Only CLA group showed a significant decrease in weight (74.43 ± 10.45 vs 73.54 ± 11.66 kg, p = 0.029) and waist circumference (91.45 ± 10.33 vs 90.65 ± 9.84 cm, p = 0.012) between baseline and end of the study. BMI and waist height ratio decreased (28.44 ± 1.08 vs 27.81 ± 1.43 kg/m2, p = 0.030 and 0.57 ± 0.05 vs 0.56 ± 0.04 p = 0.013 respectively) in CLA group at the end. CLA group experienced a reduction in total fat mass after 24 weeks (38.62 ± 5.02 vs 36.65 ± 5.64%, p = 0.035). No decrease was observed in Control group. HOMA index had no changes. CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of skimmed milk enriched with 3g of a 1:1 mixture of c9-t11 and t10-c12 for 24 weeks led to a decrease in body weight and total fat mass in healthy, overweight subjects who maintained habitual diets and exercise patterns. No adverse effects were observed. Registered under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier No. NCT01503047.

INTRODUCTION: Conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) have shown beneficial effects in weight control therapy however this relation is not clear. OBJETIVE: The aim of the study was to examine the effects and safety of 3g of a 1:1 mix of c9-t11 and t10-c12 on weight control and body composition in healthy overweight individuals. METHODS: A prospective, placebo-controlled, randomised double-blind, parallel clinical trial lasting 24 weeks was carried out in 38 volunteers (29w, 9m) aged 30-55 years and BMI ¡Ý27-

[Predictor variables for low adherence to a lifestyle modification program of overweight treatment in primary health care]. / Variables predictoras de baja adherencia a un programa de modificación de estilos de vida para el tratamiento del exceso de peso en atención primaria.

OBJECTIVES: To identify predictive variables of low adherence to a pilot Lifestyle Modification Program (LMP) for overweight and obesity treatment in primary health care (PC ). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty subjects with BMI > 27 kg/m(2) were recruited. Health professionals directed the program in a group structure and biweekly, based on nutrition education with individualized dietary guidelines, promotion of physical activity and motivational support. A validated questionnaire on lifestyle habits for overweight and obesity subjects was used to identify variables related with program adherence and anthropometric variables were measured before and 6 months after intervention. Low adherence was considered when patients attended to less than 80% of visits. RESULTS: Twenty-seven subjects (45%) presented high adherence to the program. The variables associated to low adherence were related to baseline with IMC ≥ 35 kg/m(2) (p < 0.05); ex smoker period ≤ 4 months (p < 0.01); high caloric diet (p < 0.01) and scarce physical activity (p < 0.05). At 6 months the subjects who finalized the program presented a significant decrease of weight (86.0 ± 15.6 vs 79.2 ± 13.4 kg; p < 0,001); fat mass percentage (41,6 ± 4,6 vs 38.8 ± 5,4%; p < 0.001), blood glucose (108 ± 45.48 vs 94.38 ± 11.97 mg/dl; p < 0.01). It also improved caloric diet profile, above all decreasing the percentage of fat (39.6 ± 4.8 vs 35.5 ± 5.6%; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Have recently left smoking, obesity degree two or higher, a high caloric diet and scarce physical activity were basal variables identified as predictive of a low adhesion to a LMP for the treatment of overweight and obesity in primary health care. We do not consider this pilot experience as satisfactory and other new strategies are under development.

Objetivos: Identificar variables predictoras de baja adherencia a un programa piloto de Modificación de Estilos de Vida (MEV) para el tratamiento del exceso de peso en Atención Primaria (AP). Material y métodos: Se reclutaron 60 sujetos con IMC > 27 kg/m2. Profesionales sanitarios dirigieron el programa, en formato grupal y con una periodicidad quincenal, basado en educación nutricional, pautas dietéticas individualizadas, promoción de actividad física y apoyo motivacional. Para identificar las variables relacionadas con la adherencia al programa se utilizó un cuestionario validado sobre Hábitos de Vida de personas con Sobrepeso y Obesidad y se midieron variables antropométricas al inicio y a los seis meses del tratamiento. Una baja adherencia al programa fue considerada cuando los sujetos del estudio acudían a menos del 80% de las visitas quincenales. Resultados: Se adhirieron al programa 27 sujetos (45%). Las variables asociadas a baja adherencia estuvieron relacionadas al inicio del estudio con IMC ≥?35 kg/m2 (p < 0,05); período de exfumador =?4 meses (p < 0,01); mayor contenido calórico de la dieta (p < 0,01) y menor práctica de ejercicio físico (p < 0,05). A los 6 meses los sujetos que finalizaron el programa presentaron una disminución significativa de: peso (86,0 ± 15,6 vs 79,2 ± 13,4 kg; p < 0,001);% de masa grasa (41,6 ± 4,6 vs 38,8 ± 5,4%; p < 0,001) y glucemia (108 ± 45,48 vs 94,38 ± 11,97 mg/dl; p < 0,01). Además mejoró el perfil calórico de su dieta, disminuyendo sobretodo el porcentaje de grasa sobre el valor calórico total (39,6 ± 4,8 vs. 35,5 ± 5,6%; p < 0,01). Conclusión: Haber dejado de fumar recientemente, padecer obesidad de grado dos o superior, el alto contenido calórico de la dieta y la menor práctica de ejercicio físico fueron las variables basales identificadas como predictoras de una baja adherencia a un programa de MEV para el tratamiento de sobrepeso y obesidad en AP. Esta experiencia piloto una vez evaluada no la consideramos satisfactoria y otras nuevas estrategias están en fase de desarrollo.