Correlation of anthropometric measurements with body mass index and estimation of the proportion of metabolic syndrome among overweight and obese children: a hospital-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Early identification of overweight and obesity with the help of simple anthropometric tests can prevent from development of metabolic complications in these children. Body mass index (BMI) is the most commonly used parameter but, measurements such as waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and wrist circumference (WrC) have also been studied and found to have a better correlation with visceral fat. OBJECTIVE: To correlate WC, WHtR and WrC with BMI among overweight and obese children. The secondary objective was to estimate the proportion of metabolic syndrome among obese and overweight children. METHODS: A single-centre, cross-sectional study involving 80 overweight and obese children aged 3-15 years. Anthropometric measures such as WC, WHtR and WrC of the study subjects were correlated with BMI and investigated for metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: Statistically significant and moderate positive correlation was found between BMI and WC, r (80)=0.45 and p<0.001 with WC explaining 20% of the variation of BMI. There was a statistically significant, moderate positive correlation between WHtR and BMI r (80)=0.34 and p<0.001 with 11% of the variation in BMI. There was a statistically significant strong positive correlation between WC and WrC (80)=0.61 and p<0.001, and WrC explains 37.2% of the variation in WC. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between BMI and WrC. Metabolic syndrome was found in 13 (16.25%) children. CONCLUSION: Alternative anthropometric measurements such as WC and WHtR have a significant correlation with BMI and may be of help in defining overweight and obesity in children. There was a statistically significant strong positive correlation between WC and WrC among obese children. Metabolic syndrome is common in these children.

Efficacy of Locking Miniplates in Managing Mandibular Fractures without Intermaxillary Fixation.

Background: In maxillofacial trauma, the most commonly encountered are mandibular fractures requiring treatment. Managing these fractures with rigid fixation abolish the intermaxillary fixation (IMF) requirement with reduction and early return to function. Aims: The present trial was carried out to assess clinically the effectiveness of new locking bone plate screw system postsurgically in mandibular fracture cases without IMF. Materials and Methods: In 18 subjects, the fracture site was exposed, fracture segments were reduced and approximated keeping the occlusal relationship is desirable using locking 2 mm mini plates and screws without IMF. The subjects were followed every week for initial 4 weeks followed by evaluation for up to 6 months every month to assess clinical and radiographic healing and the results were formulated. Results: Road traffic accident was the cause in 10 subjects (55.5%), followed by assault in 22.2% (n = 4) subjects, and fall from height in 16.6% (n = 3) subjects. Parasymphysis was involved in 44.4% (n = 8), followed by symphysis in 11.1% (n = 2) subjects. A minor complication of wound dehiscence was seen in 5.5% (n = 1) subjects that were managed conservatively and a major complication of infection was also seen in 1 subject that required removal of the plate at 4 weeks of follow-up. Following plate removal, IMF was done for that subject. All other sites were healed uneventfully. Primary healing in bone was seen in 94.4% (n = 17) subjects and it was not seen in the case with infection. Conclusion: Within the limitations, the present study concluded that the locking miniplate system is highly effective and reliable in treating mandibular fractures with acceptable results and a very low postoperative complications rate.

Single-cell RNA sequencing profiling of mouse endothelial cells in response to pulmonary arterial hypertension.

AIMS: Endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction drives the initiation and pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We aimed to characterize EC dynamics in PAH at single-cell resolution. METHODS AND RESULTS: We carried out single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of lung ECs isolated from an EC lineage-tracing mouse model in Control and SU5416/hypoxia-induced PAH conditions. EC populations corresponding to distinct lung vessel types, including two discrete capillary populations, were identified in both Control and PAH mice. Differential gene expression analysis revealed global PAH-induced EC changes that were confirmed by bulk RNA-seq. This included upregulation of the major histocompatibility complex class II pathway, supporting a role for ECs in the inflammatory response in PAH. We also identified a PAH response specific to the second capillary EC population including upregulation of genes involved in cell death, cell motility, and angiogenesis. Interestingly, four genes with genetic variants associated with PAH were dysregulated in mouse ECs in PAH. To compare relevance across PAH models and species, we performed a detailed analysis of EC heterogeneity and response to PAH in rats and humans through whole-lung PAH scRNA-seq datasets, revealing that 51% of up-regulated mouse genes were also up-regulated in rat or human PAH. We identified promising new candidates to target endothelial dysfunction including CD74, the knockdown of which regulates EC proliferation and barrier integrity in vitro. Finally, with an in silico cell ordering approach, we identified zonation-dependent changes across the arteriovenous axis in mouse PAH and showed upregulation of the Serine/threonine-protein kinase Sgk1 at the junction between the macro- and microvasculature. CONCLUSION: This study uncovers PAH-induced EC transcriptomic changes at a high resolution, revealing novel targets for potential therapeutic candidate development.

Importance of Long Non-coding RNAs in the Development and Disease of Skeletal Muscle and Cardiovascular Lineages.

The early mammalian embryo is characterized by the presence of three germ layers-the outer ectoderm, middle mesoderm and inner endoderm. The mesoderm is organized into paraxial, intermediate and lateral plate mesoderm. The musculature, vasculature and heart of the adult body are the major derivatives of mesoderm. Tracing back the developmental process to generate these specialized tissues has sparked much interest in the field of regenerative medicine focusing on generating specialized tissues to treat patients with degenerative diseases. Several Long Non-Coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as regulators of development, proliferation and differentiation of various tissues of mesodermal origin. A better understanding of lncRNAs that can regulate the development of these tissues will open potential avenues for their therapeutic utility and enhance our knowledge about disease progression and development. In this review, we aim to summarize the functions and mechanisms of lncRNAs regulating the early mesoderm differentiation, development and homeostasis of skeletal muscle and cardiovascular system with an emphasis on their therapeutic potential.