Serum levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interlukin-6, and paraoxonase-1 in childhood obesity

Obesity is becoming an epidemic health problem. Elevated cytokines and chemokines are prominent features in obesity, which play a main role in the development of other chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 [MCP-1], interlukin-6 [IL-6], and serum paraoxonase-1 [PON1] in childhood obesity. The present study included 40 obese school-aged children [5-15 years] and 40 healthy children as controls. The patients were presented to the outpatient clinic in National Institute of Nutrition. MCP-1, IL-6, PON1, total cholesterol, and triglycerides were measured in all participants. The mean serum levels of MCP-1, IL-6, and total cholesterol were significantly higher in obese participants than in controls [P < 0.0001], whereas the PON1 was significantly lower in obese participants than in controls [P < 0.0001]. MCP-1, IL-6, and serum cholesterol levels showed significant positive correlation with BMI [P < 0.05], whereas PON1 showed a significant negative correlation with BMI [P < 0.05]. Multiple regression analysis showed a strong association between PON1 activity and BMI [P < 0.0001]. Childhood obesity is associated with increased serum MCP-1 and IL-6 and decreased PON1 and hypercholesterolemia suggesting an increase in adulthood disease risk. Measuring serum MCP-1, IL-6, PON1 activity in obese children may be a good predictor for future chronic disease development and complications

Serum vitamin D level as a predictor of bronchial asthma in Egyptian children

This study was designed to assess the relationship between the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and the clinical, functional severity and the level of asthma control among Egyptian asthmatic children. This case-control cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 asthmatic patients from those regularly attending the Pediatric Chest Clinic, Children's Hospital, Ain Shams University. Twenty healthy children of matched age and sex were recruited as the control group. Pulmonary function tests were significantly decreased in the asthmatic cases compared with the control [P < 0.01]. The serum vitamin D level was found to be significantly decreased in asthmatic children compared with the control group [P < 0.001]. Out of the 50 asthmatic children, 20 had a serum vitamin D level of less than 25 ng/ml, and were considered to be 'vitamin D deficient', whereas the remaining 30 children had a level ranging between >25 ng/ml and