Association of cell blood counts and cardiometabolic risk factors among young obese children

To determine the association of cell blood count with obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors in children. This cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 st November 2007 to 1 st October 2008 in the Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome Research Clinic of the Preventive Pediatric Cardiology Department, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan, Iran. It comprised 326 [172 girls and 154 boys] obese children aged 6-12 years. The mean age of participants was 8.8 +/- 2.7 years. A significant increasing trend in the mean body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC], triglycerides [TG], total- and low density lipoprotein [LDL]- cholesterol were documented across the quartiles of the white blood cell [WBC]count, and for waist-to-hip ratio and total cholesterol across platelet quartiles. A similar increasing trend was documented for BMI, waist and hip circumference, diastolic blood pressure, LDL-C, and for TG from the second to the fourth quartile of the red blood cells. By the increase in the number of components of metabolic syndrome, the mean BMI, WBC, and TG increased significantly. The highest correlation was documented between WBC count and TG. The WBC count increased the risk of increased BMI [odds ratio [OR]=1.45, confidence interval [CI] 95%; 1.11-1.65, p=0.001], increased WC [OR; 1.47, CI 95%; 1.15-1.74, p=0.001], and high TG [CI 95%; 1.241.06-1.44,p=0.005]. We found significant associations between CBC components and cardiometabolic risk factors in young obese children. The findings are confirmatory evidence of the pro-inflammatory state of obese individuals, even in young children

Training parents or children? Which is more successful in controlling passive smoking?

Environmental tobacco smoke [ETS] has been shown to have adverse health hazards for children. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of two intervention programs for controlling passive smoking in children based on their serum cotinine level. In this trial, 40 children, aged 8-12 years, who were exposed to ETS were randomly assigned to two groups of equal number. In the first the parents [group P], and in the second group the children [group C] were educated about the harmful effects of passive smoking. Children's blood sample was taken for serum cotinine measurement before and after intervention in both groups. Data were analyzed by SPSSv13/win using paired t-test. Smoking allowed inside home decreased in both groups; however, this decrease in group C was significantly higher than in group P. Serum cotinine concentration decreased in both groups with a more prominent decrease in group C. Education of children can be an effective method for controlling passive smoking. This type of education can be effective for lifestyle change in the entire family