Serum levels of nesfatin-1 and irisin in obese children.

Along with the developing technology in the modern age, physical activity had decreased considerably in children and adolescents alike with a concomittant and rapid increase in the prevalence of childhood obsesity. The purpose of the present study is to measure the levels of serum nesfatin-1 and irisin in obese children. The present study was carried out with a total of 62 children, including 32 obese children diagnosed between June 2017 and October 2017 and 30 healthy children. Serum nesfatin-1, irisin, SOD, MDA, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), HDL-C, LDL-C, aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT)), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), C-reactive protein (CRP), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), potassium (P), chromium (Cr), ferritin, and vitamin B12 data were collected for each patient. In our study, mean nesfatin-1 and SOD values of the obesity group were lower than those of the control group (p <0.05, p <0.001), whereas irisin and MDA values were higher than those of the control group (p <0.001). Childhood obesity is still a significant global problem, despite increased social awareness and numerous preventive healthcare interventions. We believe that all the prospective studies to be carried out to evaluate the relationship between obesity-irisin-nesfatin-1 triad, will make positive contributions to treatment of obesity.

Evaluation of serum Neuron-specific enolase, S100B, myelin basic protein and glial fibrilliary acidic protein as brain specific proteins in children with autism spectrum disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Brain specific-proteins are not found in other tissues and measurement non-invasively in the blood may identify structurally and functionally damaged brain regions and identify the severity and prognosis of neuropsychiatric diseases. For this reason, we aimed to evaluate serum brain-specific protein values as brain damage markers in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHOD: 35 children with ASD and 31 healthy subjects were included in the study. Sociodemographic form and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) were applied to each subject. Serum neuron specific enolase (NSE), S100B, Myelin basic protein (MBP) and Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) values ​​were measured with ELISA. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups for NSE, MBP and S100B values (p=0.242; p=0.768; p=0.672, respectively). However, GFAP values ​​in the patient group were statistically significantly higher (mean±SD: 0.463±0.392ng/ml) than in the healthy control group (mean±SD: 0.256±0.111ng/ml) (p<0.001). In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between serum GFAP values ​​and CARS score in all subjects and in the patient group (r=0.599; p<0.001 and r=0.380; p=0.024, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: While serum NSE, MBP, and S100B values cannot be considered as biomarkers for ASD, GFAP may be a biomarker and is suggested as a possible indicator of autism severity.

Increased Serum Zonulin Levels as an Intestinal Permeability Marker in Autistic Subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the serum levels of zonulin, which regulates tight junctions between enterocytes and is a physiological modulator controlling intestinal permeability, in patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). STUDY DESIGN: Serum zonulin levels were determined in 32 patients with ASD and 33 healthy controls using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The severity of ASD symptoms was assessed with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale. RESULTS: Serum zonulin levels were significantly higher in the patients with ASD (122.3 ± 98.46 ng/mL) compared with the healthy controls (41.89 ± 45.83 ng/mL). There was a positive correlation between zonulin levels and Childhood Autism Rating Scale score when all subjects were assessed (r = 0.523; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that zonulin, which regulates intestinal permeability, plays a role in the development of symptoms of ASD.