Study on dietary constituents, hs-CRP serum levels and investigation of correlation between them in excess weight adolescents.

BACKGROUND:  The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased in Greece as well as worldwide. Mediterranean diet is considered the world's most popular healthy eating pattern. C-reactive protein (CRP) has been shown to play an important pathophysiological role between inflammation and cardiovascular diseases and has been linked to obesity. Our study aimed to investigate the adolescents' diet, their high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) serum levels, and whether low-grade inflammation, present in obesity, is related to adolescents' diet. METHODS: The sample of the study consisted of 142 adolescents age- and gender- matched 13.4 ± 1.46 years, divided into two groups: the study group and the controls. The study group of 71 excess body weight adolescents was further divided into two subgroups of 28 overweight and 43 obese respectively; 71 normal weight age- and gender-matched served as controls. Dietary constituents (food weight, energy intake, protein, carbohydrate and fat consumption, fiber, and sugars) were analyzed. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was investigated, and hs-CRP serum levels were determined. The findings were compared between/among groups. Furthermore, the correlation of hs-CRP serum levels and food constituents between/among groups was investigated. RESULTS:  We documented differences in several parameters among the groups: waist to hip ratio (p =0.001), food weight (p =0.040), energy intake (p =0.024), protein intake (p =0.001), total fibre (p =0.017), sugars (p =0.001), and the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents (KIDMED; p =0.008). No statistically significant difference was found for hs-CRP serum levels among the three groups. No correlation was found between hs-CRP serum levels and any of the dietary constituents. CONCLUSIONS:   Comparing the three groups (obese, overweight, and controls), we found statistically significant differences for food constituents but not for hs-CRP serum levels. In our study, inflammation was not found to be correlated with any of the dietary constituents. Further studies in a larger sample are required to consolidate these findings. HIPPOKRATIA 2019, 23(1): 3-8.

Cardiac manifestations of inborn errors of metabolism.

AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the frequency and type of cardiac manifestations in a defined group of patients with inborn errors of metabolism. This paper also explores the key role of cardiac manifestations in the diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism in daily practice. METHODS: Out of the 287 patients with the potential for inborn errors of metabolism who had been referred to the University Hospital of Heraklion (202 children and adolescents and 85 adults), 41 were found to have a variety of cardiac manifestations, including cardiomyopathy, cardiomegaly, atrioventricular conduction disorders and coronary artery disease. RESULTS: In 15 out of the 41 patients a diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism was established, while the total number of patients with inborn errors of metabolism was 60 out of the 287. In 6 out of the 15 patients the major symptoms were from the cardiovascular system and 7 of them were adults with symptoms initiating in childhood. CONCLUSION: The cardiac findings consist of a neglected area in the diagnosis of the inborn errors of metabolism. Neurologists, pediatricians and internists should cooperate with cardiologists in managing people with unexplained cardiac symptoms and signs and be aware that several inborn errors of metabolism are associated with cardiac abnormalities and mild neurologic findings.

Intensive short course chemotherapy for treatment of Greek children with tuberculosis.

This prospective study with an 18-month posttreatment follow-up evaluated the efficacy of intensive short course chemotherapy in Greek children with pulmonary or extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Between November, 1988, and March 1991 a 2-month regimen of rifampin, 10 to 12 mg/kg/day, isoniazid, 10 to 12 mg/kg/day, and pyrazinamide, 30 to 35 mg/kg/day, followed by rifampin and isoniazid for the remaining 4 months, was administered orally to 36 children with tuberculosis. Twenty-three boys and 13 girls ages 8 months to 12 years (mean, 5 1/2 years) were enrolled in the study. The diagnostic criteria for establishing tuberculosis were tuberculin skin test reactivity, radiographic findings compatible with tuberculosis, epidemiological data and clinical and laboratory findings. Four children had extrapulmonary and 32 had pulmonary tuberculosis; 9 of the latter were asymptomatic. Among the pulmonary cases there were 2 children with pleural effusion. Clinical response to therapy was apparent within 7 to 14 days; the pleural effusions resolved in 2 to 6 weeks and the pulmonary infiltrates cleared in 2 to 6 months. Hilar adenopathy regressed within 18 months or longer. No serious problems with drug tolerance or toxicity were noted during the treatment period. Temporary hyperuricemia and transient elevation in serum transaminases were observed in 11 patients but no drug modification was required. There were no posttreatment relapses. These findings suggest that intensive short course chemotherapy for the treatment of Greek children with pulmonary or extrapulmonary tuberculosis appears to be effective, safe, of good patient compliance and comparable to the longer treatment regimens.

Interaction of ketoprofen and frusemide in man.

The effects of ketoprofen on frusemide-induced diuresis, natriuresis and renin release were studied in 12 healthy male volunteers. Each received frusemide 40 mg once daily with either ketoprofen 100 mg twice daily or placebo for two periods of 5 days separated by a treatment-free period according to a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study design. Ketoprofen significantly reduced frusemide-induced diuresis on Day 1 but not on Day 5 of treatment. The natriuresis induced by frusemide on Day 1 or Day 5 of treatment did not differ significantly whether ketoprofen or placebo was administered, although the mean urinary sodium excretion values were consistently lower following ketoprofen. Ketoprofen did not affect the kaliuretic response to frusemide on Day 1 or Day 5 of treatment. The increase in plasma renin activity after frusemide was inhibited by ketoprofen on both Day 1 and Day 5. These results suggest that ketoprofen reduces the diuresis and renin release induced by frusemide, but that the reduction in diuretic response may become less important after their repeated coadministration.

Comparison of chlortenoxicam and indomethacin on frusemide-induced diuresis.

A single oral dose of chlortenoxicam 4 mg, a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, significantly antagonized the diuretic and natriuretic actions of frusemide when compared with placebo in normal human volunteers. Indomethacin 50 mg significantly reduced the natriuretic, but not diuretic action of frusemide.

The influence of changes in buccal potential difference on the buccal absorption of propranolol.

A buccal potential difference (b.p.d.) exists across the mucous membrane of the mouth, which can be made less negative by contact with aspirin. The influence of changing the b.p.d. with aspirin on the buccal absorption of propranolol from a series of buffers of pH5-10 has been studied in eight volunteers. The study confirmed that the buccal absorption of propranolol was markedly pH dependent, but pretreatment of the buccal membrane with aspirin had no influence on the absorption of propranolol.