Hepatocyte growth factor as an indicator of neonatal maturity.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent mitogen and morphogen expressed in fetal organs. It requires activation by specific serine proteases. The role of activated HGF during fetal development has not been evaluated. We hypothesized that the serum levels of activated HGF would be increased in preterm neonates. Cord blood total HGF and activated HGF levels were measured in 19 preterm (gestational age, 28.04±2.39 weeks) and 24 term (gestational age, 39.37±0.95 weeks) newborns. Anthropometric parameters and metabolic indices were evaluated. Activated HGF was higher in preterm than in term neonates (0.81±0.05 vs. 0.61±0.06 ng/mL, p<0.05), whereas total HGF levels did not differ significantly between groups. In addition, total and activated HGF further increased by ∼40% in preterm neonates 12 h after birth. Finally, activated HGF correlated inversely with gestational age (r=-0.369; p=0.015) and birth weight (r=-0.440; p=0.003). Our study demonstrates that regulation of HGF activity and circulating HGF levels differ between term and preterm neonates along fetal development.

[Parents´perception of childhood overweight and obesity and eating behaviors, physical activity and sedentary lifestyle of their children. Spain]. / La percepción del sobrepeso y la obesidad infantil por parte de los progenitores.

BACKGROUND: Parents often do not perceive their children's excess weight, and therefore not modified their lifestyles. We study how often this actually occurs and whether this perception is associated with differences in dietary habits, physical activity and sedentary in children. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 1620 children aged 3-16 years selected by multi-stage sampling (2008-2010) of which 454 children had excess weight. We studied family anthropometric characteristics, dietary habits, physical activity (adapted questionnaires Cindi/Marathon), and sedentary lifestyle. We analyze the differences in children with normal weight, unperceived and perceived excess weight (chi² test and ANOVA). RESULTS: Parents receive 34.7% of overweight cases and 72.3% obesity cases of their sons, and a 10.8% and 53,8% respectively in daughters. Obese parents recognize a 54.5% and 57,7% of cases of excess weight in sons, compared to 23.8% and 27,8% in daughters. Perception of excess weight was associated with the professional qualifications of the father (47%) and be a housewife (40%). Excess weight parents' perception coincided with more compliance with physical activity recommendations in younger's sons (67.5% vs. 77.3%) and daughters (47.5% vs. 55.6%), and a lower frequency of sedentary in 3-9 years girls (42.6% vs. 38.9%). According to parents' excess weight perception we found slight differences in dietary by gender and age group of children. CONCLUSIONS: A significant percentage of children´s excess weight is not perceived by the parents, being due to study the causes and why parent's perception does not determine differences in dietary habits, physical activity and sedentary habits in their children.

La percepción del sobre peso y la obesidad infantil por parte de los progenitores / Parents' perception of childhood overweight and obesity of their children. Spain

Fundamento: Con frecuencia los padres no perciben la sobrecarga ponderal de sus hijos. El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar con que frecuencia se produce este hecho y si esta percepción se asocia a diferencias en hábitos alimentarios, actividad física y sedentarismo de sus hijos. Métodos: Estudio transversal de 1.620 niños de 3 a 16 años seleccionados en un muestreo por conglomerados (2008-2010). 454 presentaron sobrecarga ponderal. Se estudiaron sus características antropométricas, hábitos alimentarios, actividad física (adaptación cuestionarios Cindi/Maraton) y sedentarismo. Analizamos las diferencias con niños con normopeso, sobrecarga ponderal percibida y no percibida (chi2 y Anova). Resultados: Los padres percibieron el 34,7% del sobrepeso y un 72,3% de obesidad en sus hijos varones, y un 10,8% y 53,8% respectivamente en las hijas. Los padres y madres obesos identifican un 54,5% y el 57,7% de los casos de sobrecarga ponderal de varones, frente al 23,8% y 27,8% en niñas. La percepción del exceso de peso se asocio a la cualificación profesional del padre (47%) y a la de ser ama de casa en las mujeers (40%). La percepción coincidió con mayor cumplimiento de recomendaciones de actividad física en los hijos (67,5 vs. 77,3%) e hijas (47,5% vs 55,6%) más jóvenes, menor sedentarismo en éstas (42,6% vs. 38,9%), y discretas diferencias por sexo y edad en los hábitos alimentarios. Conclusiones: Un porcentaje significativo de casos con sobrecarga ponderal infantil no es percibida por sus padres debiéndose estudiar sus causas y por qué esta percepción parental no determina diferencias en alimentación, actividad física y sedentarismo de sus hijos(AU)

Background: Parents often do not perceive their children's excess weight, and therefore not modified their lifestyles. We study how often this actually occurs and whether this perception is associated with differences in dietary habits, physical activity and sedentary in children. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 1620 children aged 3-16 years selected bymulti-stage sampling (2008-2010) ofwhich 454 children had excessweight.We studied family anthropometric characteristics, dietary habits, physical activity (adapted questionnaires Cindi/Marathon), and sedentary lifestyle. We analyze the differences in children with normal weight, unperceived and perceived excess weight (chi2 test and ANOVA). Results: Parents receive 34.7%of overweight cases and 72.3%obesity cases of their sons, and a 10.8% and 53,8% respectively in daughters. Obese parents recognize a 54.5% and 57,7% of cases of excess weight in sons, compared to 23.8% and 27,8% in daughters. Perception of excess weight was associated with the professional qualifications of the father (47%) and be a housewife (40%). Excess weight parents’ perception coincided with more compliance with physical activity recommendations in younger’s sons (67.5% vs. 77.3%) and daughters (47.5% vs. 55.6%), and a lower frequency of sedentary in 3-9 years girls (42.6% vs. 38.9%). According to parents’ excess weight perception we found slight differences in dietary by gender and age group of children. Conclusions: A significant percentage of children's excess weight is not perceived by the parents, being due to study the causes and why parent’s perception does not determine differences in dietary habits, physical activity and sedentary habits in their children(AU)