Association of Umbilical Cord Perilipin 2 Levels with Neonatal Anthropometric Measurements in Infants of Diabetic Mothers.

BACKGROUND: Perilipin 2 (PLIN2) is a protein that contributes to the formation and stability of lipid droplets. It has been associated with the development of several diseases, particularly related to glucose and lipid metabolism. In infants of diabetic mother (IDM), fetal hyperinsulinaemia leads to increased adipose tissue and macrosomia. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between PLIN2 levels and anthropometric measurements in the IDM and to investigate the relationship between PLIN2 levels and IGF-1, IGF-2 and leptin levels. METHODS: The study group consisted of IDMs, while the control group consisted of infants born to non-diabetic mother, matched for gestational week and gender. Cord blood samples were collected from all patients to determine PLIN2, IGF-1, IGF-2 and leptin levels. Anthropometric measurements were taken for all patients at birth. RESULTS: There were no differences between the groups in birth weight, birth length, head circumference and body mass index (BMI), but middle arm circumference, triceps, biceps, subscapular and suprailiac skinfold thickness were significantly higher in the IDM. While PLIN2, IGF-1, IGF-2 and leptin levels were similar between groups, there was a strong correlation between PLIN2 levels and IGF-2 and leptin levels. CONCLUSIONS: Even if IDMs were not macrosomic, the presence of high subcutaneous adipose tissue was not associated with PLIN2.

The effects of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) on surgery-related stress response in thoracic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Surgical injury induces a stress response to surgery that induces tissue repair with the activation of endocrine, metabolic, and immunological mediators aimed at restoring hemostasis. OBJECTIVE: In our study to determine the effect of analgesic method on postoperative respiratory function tests, stress hormone and proinflammatory response in patients undergoing elective thoracotomy surgery. METHODS: Seventy-two patients aged between 18 and 75 years with scheduled for elective thoracotomy surgery were included in the study. Thirty-six patients who underwent Erector Spinae Plane block were included in the block group, and 36 patients were included in the control group. IL 6, TNF alpha, cortisol, CRP, insulin and blood glucose levels were measured preoperatively, at the 3rd hour after postoperative extubation and at the 24th postoperative hour. RESULTS: We observed that while IL6 and TNF alpha levels decreased in the ESPB group compared to the preoperative period, they increased insignificantly in the control group. CONCLUSION: ESPB has a positive effect on stress hormones and proinflammatory cytokines, reduces the use of opioids and analgesics in the intraoperative and postoperative period compared to patients without block, and lower VAS scores are obtained in patients with block.

Association Between Graft Function and Urine CXCL10 and Acylcarnitines Levels in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate post-transplantation graft functions noninvasively by using urine C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10) and metabolome analysis. METHODS: The 65 living-donor kidney-transplant recipients in our cohort underwent renal biopsy to investigate possible graft dysfunction. The patients were divided into 2 groups, according to pathology reports: chronic allograft dysfunction (CAD; n = 18) and antibody-mediated/humoral allograft rejection (AMR; n = 16). The control group was composed of renal transplant recipients with stable health (n = 33). We performed serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), cystatin C, urine protein, CXCL10, and metabolome analyses on specimens from the patients. RESULTS: BUN, creatinine, cystatin C, urine protein, leucine + isoleucine, citrulline, and free/acetyl/propionyl carnitine levels were significantly higher in patients with CAD and AMR, compared with the control individuals. CXCL10 levels were significantly elevated in patients with AMR, compared with patients with CAD and controls. CXCL10 (AUC = 0.771) and cystatin C (AUC = 0.746) were significantly higher in the AMR group, compared with the CAD group (P<.02). CONCLUSIONS: CXCL10 and metabolome analyzes are useful for evaluation of graft functions. Also, CXCL10 might be useful as a supplementary noninvasive screening test for diagnosis of allograft rejection.

Is there a relationship between the dietary inflammatory index and metabolic syndrome among adolescents?

Background Dietary patterns have a crucial role in modulating chronic inflammation. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and inflammation markers and metabolic syndrome components in adolescents (n = 343). Methods Fasting glucose, fasting insulin and lipid profile were analyzed and blood pressures were measured. Analysis of inflammation markers such as sedimentation, leukocyte, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was also performed. The DII scores were calculated based on the adolescent's 3-day food consumption records. Results The dietary inflammatory score varied between 1.04 and 5.11 (3.6 ± 0.82). There was no significant difference in leukocyte and CRP levels between quartiles (p > 0.05). Those in the fourth quartile were observed to have higher levels of TNF-α and IL-6 compared to the others (p < 0.05). In the multiple regression analysis, a positive correlation existed only between IL-6 and DII, independent of other inflammatory markers (ß = 0.272; p < 0.05). The DII was associated with glucose intolerance (odds ratio [OR] for DII quartile 4 compared to 1 = 3.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2-10.4) and dyslipidemia (OR for DII quartile 4 compared to 1 = 5.3, 95% CI = 1.7-16.8). Conclusions These data suggest that a higher DII score was significantly associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome and some metabolic syndrome components in adolescents. Hence, DII can be used to determine the inflammatory potential of a diet and a healthy diet with anti-inflammatory properties that may be conducive to the prevention of metabolic disorders.

The Results of 16 Years of Iodization: Assessment of Iodine Deficiency Among School-age Children in Antalya, Turkey

Objective: Iodine deficiency (ID) continues to be a problem around the world. This study investigated the prevalence of ID and goiter among school-age children in the city center of Antalya, Turkey. The aim was to investigate the effect of an iodization program, which had been running for sixteen years, on nutritional iodine status in this population. Methods: A total of 1,594 school children, aged 6-14 years, were included in this cross-sectional study. ID was evaluated based on median [interquartile range (IQR)] urine iodine/creatine (UI/Cr) (µg/g) ratio and median (IQR) UI concentrations (UIC) (µg/L). UICs were measured using the Sandell-Kolthoff method. Goiter was determined by palpation and staged according to World Health Organization classification. Results: Median (IQR) UIC was found to be 174.69 (119.17-242.83) µg/L, and UIC was found to be lower than 50 µg/L in 6.5% of the population. The median UI/Cr ratio increased from 62.3 to 163.3 µg/g and goiter rates had decreased from 34% to 0.3% over the 16 years of the program. However, 19% were still classified as ID (mild, moderate or severe) and, furthermore, 11.5% were classified as excessive iodine intake. Conclusion: Comparison of two cross-sectional studies, carried out 16-years apart, showed that Antalya is no longer an ID region. However, surveillance should be continued and the percentage of ID and iodine excess individuals in the population should be monitored to avoid emerging problems.