Executive Functions Rehabilitation in Premature Children Using an Adaptive Motion-Interaction Videogame Platform: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Premature children are at increased risk of executive functions (EF) deficits and these difficulties persist into adolescence and adulthood, potentially undermining their development and academic achievements. The aim of the present randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to evaluate the efficacy of the Intendu trainer, an adaptive virtual reality platform, at ameliorating EF in preterm children. Methods: A single-center, RCT was conducted. The intervention group was exposed to game session with the Intendu software in addition to the standard of care in use in our center. The main outcome was the proportion of children with a 10-point increase in the processing speed quotient as measured by WPPSI-III after 4 weeks from the baseline assessment. Results: Forty-seven children born before 36 + 5 weeks were randomized to the experimental (n = 24) or control arm (n = 23). Five children were lost to follow-up. Thirteen of 23 children (56%) reached the main outcome in the experimental group and 5 of 19 (26%) in the control group (P = 0.049, per-protocol analysis) with an absolute benefit increase (ABI) of 30% reconfirmed by the intention-to-treat analysis (P = 0.022, ABI of 32%). Conclusion: Intendu brain-trainer showed promising short-term results on EF in pre-term children, however, larger studies with longer periods of follow-up are warranted to better investigate the role of this or similar technology in promoting better EF in preterm children.

Epidemiology of Paediatric Italian Food Allergy: Results of the EPIFA study.

Background: Updated epidemiologic data are important for defining effective public health strategies for pediatric food allergy (FA). Objective: The Epidemiology of Paediatric Italian Food Allergy (EPIFA) study was designed to investigate the epidemiology of pediatric FA in one of the most heavily populated Italian regions. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed in collaboration with family pediatricians aimed at investigating the epidemiology of Italian pediatric FA during 2009 to 2021. Family pediatricians in the Campania region were invited to use the Google Forms platform for online compilation of data forms. Data forms were reviewed by experienced pediatric allergists at the coordinating center. Results: A total population of 105,151 subjects (aged 0-14 years) was screened during the study period. Data from 752 FA patients were evaluated. A progressive increase in FA incidence and prevalence was observed from 2009 to 2021, with a relative increase up to 34% and 113.6%, respectively, at the end of study period. The relative increase in FA prevalence was higher in the 0-3-year-old age group in the same study period (+120.8%). The most frequent allergens were cow's milk, hen's egg, and nuts. Conclusion: The results of the EPIFA study showed an increase in pediatric FA incidence and prevalence from 2009 to 2021 in Italy. These results underline the necessity of new effective strategies for preventing and managing these conditions.

Predictors of clinical trajectories of patients with acutely decompensated cirrhosis. An external validation of the PREDICT study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The PREDICT study recently showed that acutely decompensated (AD) patients with cirrhosis can present three different clinical phenotypes in the 90 days after admission: (1) pre-ACLF, developing acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF); (2) unstable decompensated cirrhosis (UDC), being re-admitted for AD without ACLF and (3) stable decompensated cirrhosis (SDC), not presenting readmission or ACLF. This study aimed to externally validate the existence of these three distinct trajectories and to identify predictors for the occurrence of each trajectory. METHODS: Baseline data, 3-month ACLF and readmission incidence and 1-year survival were analysed in a prospective cohort of patients admitted for AD. A multinomial multivariable model was used to evaluate the association between baseline features and clinical trajectories. RESULTS: Of the 311 patients enrolled, 55% met the criteria for SDC, 18% for UDC and 27% for pre-ACLF, presenting a significantly different 1-year mortality: pre-ACLF 65%, UDC 46%, SDC 21% (p < .001). The presence of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) was associated with UDC (p = .043), while the absence of ascites to SDC (p = .017). Among laboratory parameters, an increase in MELD-Na (p = .001) and C-reactive protein (p = .009) and a decrease in haemoglobin (p = .004) and albumin (p = .008) levels were associated with pre-ACLF. CONCLUSION: The present study confirms that AD patients have three different clinical trajectories with different mortality rates. Besides the severity of cirrhosis, the association with C-reactive protein supports the predominant role of systemic inflammation in ACLF pathophysiology. Finally, HE is associated with the UDC phenotype highlighting the need for better management of this complication after discharge.

Development and internal validation of a multivariable model for the prediction of the probability of 1-year readmission to the emergency department for acute alcohol intoxication.

To develop and internally validate a multivariable logistic regression model (LRM) for the prediction of the probability of 1-year readmission to the emergency department (ED) in patients with acute alcohol intoxication (AAI). We developed and internally validated the LRM on a previously analyzed retrospective cohort of 3304 patients with AAI admitted to the ED of the Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital (Bologna, Italy). The benchmark LRM employed readmission to the same ED for AAI within 1 year as the binary outcome, age as a continuous predictor, and sex, alcohol use disorder, substance use disorder, at least one previous admission for trauma, mental or behavioral disease, and homelessness as the binary predictors. Optimism correction was performed using the bootstrap on 1000 samples without replacement. The benchmark LRM was gradually simplified to get the most parsimonious LRM with similar optimism-corrected overall fit, discrimination and calibration. The 1-year readmission rate was 15.7% (95% CI 14.4-16.9%). A reduced LRM based on sex, age, at least one previous admission for trauma, mental or behavioral disease, and homelessness, performed nearly as well as the benchmark LRM. The reduced LRM had the following optimism-corrected metrics: scaled Brier score 17.0%, C-statistic 0.799 (95% CI 0.778 to 0.821), calibration in the large 0.000 (95% CI - 0.099 to 0.099), calibration slope 0.985 (95% CI 0.893 to 1.088), and an acceptably accurate calibration plot. An LRM based on sex, age, at least one previous admission for trauma, mental or behavioral disease, and homelessness can be used to estimate the probability of 1-year readmission to ED for AAI. To begin proving its clinical utility, this LRM should be validated in external cohorts.

Fatty Liver Index (FLI) Identifies Not Only Individuals with Liver Steatosis but Also at High Cardiometabolic Risk.

A fatty liver index (FLI) greater than sixty (FLI ≥ 60) is an established score for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which carries a high risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, while a FLI ≤ 20 rules out the presence of steatosis. Thus, we investigated whether FLI was associated with cardiometabolic risk factors, i.e., visceral (VAT), subcutaneous (SC), epicardial (EPI), extrapericardial (PERI), and total cardiac (CARD-AT) adipose tissue, hepatic fat ((by magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, and spectroscopy, MRS), and insulin resistance (IR, HOMA-IR and OGIS-index), and components of metabolic syndrome. All individuals with FLI ≥ 60 had MASLD, while none with FLI ≤ 20 had steatosis (by MRS). Subjects with FLI ≥ 60 had a higher BMI and visceral and cardiac fat (VAT > 1.7 kg, CARD-AT > 0.2 kg). FLI was positively associated with increased cardiac and visceral fat and components of metabolic syndrome. FLI, VAT, and CARD-AT were all associated with IR, increased blood pressure, cholesterol, and reduced HDL. For FLI ≥ 60, the cut-off values for fat depots and laboratory measures were estimated. In conclusion, FLI ≥ 60 identified not only subjects with steatosis but also those with IR, abdominal and cardiac fat accumulation, increased blood pressure, and hyperlipidemia, i.e., those at higher risk of cardiometabolic diseases. Targeted reduction of FLI components would help reduce cardiometabolic risk.

Low haemoglobin level predicts early hospital readmission in patients with cirrhosis and acute decompensation.

Background & Aims: Patients with decompensated cirrhosis present frequent hospitalisations with a relevant clinical and socio-economic impact. This study aims to characterise unscheduled readmissions up to 1-year follow-up and identify predictors of 30-day readmission after an index hospitalisation for acute decompensation (AD). Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of a prospectively collected cohort of patients admitted for AD. Laboratory and clinical data at admission and at discharge were collected. Timing and causes of unscheduled readmissions and mortality were recorded up to 1 year. Results: A total of 329 patients with AD were included in the analysis. Acute-on-chronic liver failure was diagnosed in 19% of patients at admission or developed in an additional 9% of patients during the index hospitalisation. During the 1-year follow-up, 182 patients (55%) were rehospitalised and 98 (30%) more than once. The most frequent causes of readmission were hepatic encephalopathy (36%), ascites (22%), and infection (21%). Cumulative incidence of readmission was 20% at 30 days, 39% at 90 days, and 63% at 1 year. Fifty-four patients were readmitted for emergent liver-related causes within 30 days. Early readmission was associated with a higher 1-year mortality (47 vs. 32%, p = 0.037). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that haemoglobin (Hb) ≤8.7 g/dl (hazard ratio 2.63 [95% CI 1.38-5.02], p = 0.003) and model for end-stage liver disease-sodium score (MELD-Na) >16 at discharge (hazard ratio 2.23 [95% CI 1.27-3.93], p = 0.005), were independent predictors of early readmission. In patients with MELD-Na >16 at discharge, the presence of Hb ≤8.7 g/dl doubles the risk of early rehospitalisation (44% vs. 22%, p = 0.02). Conclusion: Besides MELD-Na, a low Hb level (Hb ≤8.7 g/dl) at discharge emerged as a new risk factor for early readmission, contributing to identification of patients who require closer surveillance after discharge. Impact and Implications: Patients with decompensated cirrhosis face frequent hospitalisations. In the present study, type and causes of readmissions were analysed during 1-year follow-up in patients discharged after the index hospitalisation for an acute decompensation of the disease. Early (30-day) liver-related readmission was associated with higher 1-year mortality. The model for end-stage liver disease-sodium score and low haemoglobin at discharge were identified as independent risk factors for early readmissions. Haemoglobin emerged as a new easy-to-use parameter associated with early readmission warranting further investigation.

The step-down approach in children with cow's milk allergy: Results of a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The Step-Down Approach for Cow's Milk Allergy (SDACMA) trial evaluated the tolerability and the rate of immune tolerance acquisition in CMA children starting dietary treatment with amino acid-based formula (AAF) and then switching to EHCF containing the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (EHCF + LGG). METHODS: Randomized controlled trial involving IgE-mediated CMA children receiving AAF from at least 4 weeks. EHCF + LGG tolerance was evaluated by the results of double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC). Subjects tolerating EHCF + LGG were randomly allocated to remain on AAF, or to switch to EHCF + LGG. Immune tolerance acquisition to cow's milk proteins was evaluated with DBPCFC after 12 months of treatment. Allergy screening tests and body growth were also monitored. RESULTS: Sixty IgE-mediated CMA children were enrolled. The proportion of children treated with AAF who resulted tolerant to the first exposure of EHCF + LGG was 0.98 (exact 95% CI 0.91-0.99). The rate of the immune tolerance acquisition to cow milk proteins after 12 months treatment was higher in the EHCF + LGG (0.48, 95% exact CI 0.29-0.67, n/N = 14/29) than in the AAF group (0.03, 95% exact CI 0.001-0.17, n/N = 1/30). There was an absolute benefit increase (ABI) of tolerance rate equal to 0.45 (95% CI 0.23-0.63, Newcombe method 10) for EHCF + LGG versus AAF, corresponding to a NNT of 2 (2-4, Bender's method). A normal body growth pattern was observed in the two study groups. CONCLUSION: In IgE-mediated CMA children the step-down from AAF to EHCF + LGG is well tolerated and could facilitate the immune tolerance acquisition.

Reply to Alvarez Stehle, E. Comment on "Leone et al. Association between Mediterranean Diet and Fatty Liver in Women with Overweight and Obesity. Nutrients 2022, 14, 3771".

We thank Dr. Elvira Alvarez Stehle [...].

Relationship between Muscle Mass, Bone Density and Vascular Calcifications in Elderly People with SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the changes in organs and tissues that may make elder patients more vulnerable to acute stressors such as SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: In 80 consecutive elderly patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, we evaluated the association between the descending thoracic aorta calcium score, L1 bone density and T12 skeletal muscle density measured on the same scan by high-resolution computed tomography. RESULTS: At median regression, the ln-transformed DTA calcium score was inversely associated with L1 bone density (-0.02, 95%CI -0.04 to -0.01 ln-Agatston units for an increase of 1 HU) and with T12 muscle density (-0.03, -0.06 to -0.001 ln-Agatston units for an increase of 1 HU). At penalized logistic regression, an increase of 1 ln-Agatston unit of DTA calcium score was associated with an OR of death of 1.480 (1.022 to 2.145), one of 1 HU of bone density with an OR of 0.981 (0.966 to 0.996) and one of 1 HU of muscle density with an OR of 0.973 (0.948 to 0.999). These relationships disappeared after correction for age and age was the stronger predictor of body composition and death. CONCLUSIONS: Age has a big effect on the relationship between vascular calcifications, L1 bone density and T12 muscle density and on their relationship with the odds of dying.

Distribution of OGTT-Related Variables in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis from Puberty to Adulthood: An Italian Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: Insulin secretion and glucose tolerance is annually assessed in patients with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) through oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) as a screening measure for cystic fibrosis-related diabetes. We aimed to describe the distribution and provide reference quartiles of OGTT-related variables in the Italian cystic fibrosis population. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of PwCF receiving care in three Italian cystic fibrosis centers of excellence, from 2016 to 2020. We performed a modified 2-h OGTT protocol (1.75 g/kg, maximum 75 g), sampling at baseline and at 30-min intervals, analyzing plasma glucose, serum insulin, and C-peptide. The modified OGTT allowed for the modeling of ß cell function. For all variables, multivariable quantile regression was performed to estimate the median, the 25th, and 75th percentiles, with age, sex, and pancreatic insufficiency as predictors. RESULTS: We have quantified the deterioration of glucose tolerance and insulin secretion with age according to sex and pancreatic insufficiency, highlighting a deviation from linearity both for patients <10 years and >35 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: References of OGTT variables for PwCF provide a necessary tool to not only identify patients at risk for CFRD or other cystic fibrosis-related complications, but also to evaluate the effects of promising pharmacological therapies.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: an update.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We discuss two recent controversial issues in the research field of fatty liver: the proposal to replace nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with metabolically associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and the suggestion to extend to primary care the noninvasive testing for liver fibrosis that was developed for secondary care. RECENT FINDINGS: There is preliminary evidence that MAFLD-only patients are at greater risk of fibrosis than NAFLD-only patients. There are a large number of false positives associated with the downshift of noninvasive testing for liver fibrosis from secondary to primary care. SUMMARY: More studies are needed to compare the MAFLD and NAFLD operational definitions. Noninvasive testing of liver fibrosis also needs further evaluation before it can be used in primary care or in the general population.

Mortality and its association with chronic alcohol-related diseases in patients admitted to the emergency department for acute alcoholic intoxication: retrospective cohort study.

We assessed long-term mortality and its association with chronic alcohol-related diseases in patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) because of acute alcoholic intoxication (AAI). A retrospective cohort study was performed at the ED of Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy. 3304 patients, corresponding to 6415 admissions for AAI, who accessed the ED from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2017, were studied. The ED electronic registry system was used to assess living status on 08 May 2020 and to obtain the prespecified potential predictors, i.e., age at first admission, sex, alcohol use disorder (AUD), substance use disorder (SUD), more than 1 admission to ED for trauma, mental and behavioral disorders, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular disease. The median follow-up time was 9.3 years and the time on risk was 30,053 person years (PY) with a death rate corresponding to 4.42 (95% CI 3.74-5.26) per 1000 PY (n = 133 deaths). The death rate was higher in patients with AUD (17.30) than in those without AUD (1.98) and in those with SUD (13.58) than in those without SUD (3.80). Lastly, there was a clearly higher death rate among AUD+ SUD+ (20.89) compared to AUD-SUD-patients (1.74). At multivariable Cox regression, AUD, SUD, and liver cirrhosis were strong and independent predictors of time-to-death. Using standardized mortality ratios, a clear excess of mortality was evident for all the age bands from (40-45] to (60-65] years. Mortality is higher in AAI than in the general population and chronic alcohol-related diseases are strongly associated with it.

Correction and Prevention of Hyponatremia in Patients With Cirrhosis and Ascites: Post Hoc Analysis of the ANSWER Study Database.

INTRODUCTION: We assessed the impact of long-term albumin administration to hyponatremic patients with ascites enrolled in the ANSWER trial. METHODS: The normalization rate of baseline hyponatremia and the 18-month incidence rate of at least moderate hyponatremia were evaluated. RESULTS: The hyponatremia normalization rate was higher with albumin than with standard medical treatment (45% vs 28%, P = 0.042 at 1 month). Long-term albumin ensured a lower incidence of at least moderate hyponatremia than standard medical treatment (incidence rate ratio: 0.245 [CI 0.167-0.359], P < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Long-term albumin administration improves hyponatremia and reduces episodes of at least moderate hyponatremia in outpatients with cirrhosis and ascites.

Therapeutic Effects of Butyrate on Pediatric Obesity: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The pediatric obesity disease burden imposes the necessity of new effective strategies. Objective: To determine whether oral butyrate supplementation as an adjunct to standard care is effective in the treatment of pediatric obesity. Design, Setting, and Participants: A randomized, quadruple-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed from November 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021, at the Tertiary Center for Pediatric Nutrition, Department of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. Participants included children aged 5 to 17 years with body mass index (BMI) greater than the 95th percentile. Interventions: Standard care for pediatric obesity supplemented with oral sodium butyrate, 20 mg/kg body weight per day, or placebo for 6 months was administered. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was the decrease of at least 0.25 BMI SD scores at 6 months. The secondary outcomes were changes in waist circumference; fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, ghrelin, microRNA-221, and interleukin-6 levels; homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR); dietary and lifestyle habits; and gut microbiome structure. Intention-to-treat analysis was conducted. Results: Fifty-four children with obesity (31 girls [57%], mean [SD] age, 11 [2.91] years) were randomized into the butyrate and placebo groups; 4 were lost to follow-up after receiving the intervention in the butyrate group and 2 in the placebo group. At intention-to-treat analysis (n = 54), children treated with butyrate had a higher rate of BMI decrease greater than or equal to 0.25 SD scores at 6 months (96% vs 56%, absolute benefit increase, 40%; 95% CI, 21% to 61%; P < .01). At per-protocol analysis (n = 48), the butyrate group showed the following changes as compared with the placebo group: waist circumference, -5.07 cm (95% CI, -7.68 to -2.46 cm; P < .001); insulin level, -5.41 µU/mL (95% CI, -10.49 to -0.34 µU/mL; P = .03); HOMA-IR, -1.14 (95% CI, -2.13 to -0.15; P = .02); ghrelin level, -47.89 µg/mL (95% CI, -91.80 to -3.98 µg/mL; P < .001); microRNA221 relative expression, -2.17 (95% CI, -3.35 to -0.99; P < .001); and IL-6 level, -4.81 pg/mL (95% CI, -7.74 to -1.88 pg/mL; P < .001). Similar patterns of adherence to standard care were observed in the 2 groups. Baseline gut microbiome signatures predictable of the therapeutic response were identified. Adverse effects included transient mild nausea and headache reported by 2 patients during the first month of butyrate intervention. Conclusions and Relevance: Oral butyrate supplementation may be effective in the treatment of pediatric obesity. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04620057.

Association between Mediterranean Diet and Fatty Liver in Women with Overweight and Obesity.

Obesity is a risk factor for NAFLD. However, not all people with obesity have an excessive intrahepatic fat content. Adherence to a high-quality dietary pattern may also promote liver health in obesity. A cross-sectional study of 2967 women with overweight and obesity was carried out to assess the association between a Mediterranean diet and fatty liver. All women underwent clinical examination, anthropometric measurements, blood sampling, ultrasound measurements of abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat, and assessment of adherence to the Mediterranean diet using the 14-item MEDAS questionnaire. Fatty liver index (FLI), NAFLD fatty liver steatosis (NAFLD-FLS) and hepatic steatosis index (HSI) were calculated. In women with obesity, the MEDAS score was inversely associated with FLI (ß = −0.60, 95% CI: −1.04, −0.16, p = 0.008), NAFLD-FLS (ß = −0.092, 95% CI: −0.134, −0.049, p < 0.001) and HSI (ß = −0.17, 95% CI: −0.30, −0.04, p = 0.011). Stronger associations were observed in premenopausal women with obesity. Mediterranean diet was inversely associated with NAFLD-FLS in women with overweight, independently of menopausal status. In conclusion, Mediterranean diet is associated with a better liver status in women with overweight and obesity. This may have a public health impact and be useful in drafting nutritional guidelines for NAFLD.

Therapeutic effects elicited by the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG in children with atopic dermatitis. The results of the ProPAD trial.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting up to 20% of the pediatric population associated with alteration of skin and gut microbiome. Probiotics have been proposed for AD treatment. The ProPAD study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) in children with AD. METHODS: In total, 100 AD patients aged 6-36 months were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial to receive placebo (Group A) or LGG (1 x 1010 CFU/daily) (Group B) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the evaluation of the efficacy of LGG supplementation on AD severity comparing the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index at baseline (T0) and at 12-week (T12). A reduction of ≥8.7 points on the SCORAD index was considered as minimum clinically important difference (MCID). The secondary outcomes were the SCORAD index evaluation at 4-week (T16) after the end of LGG treatment, number of days without rescue medications, changes in Infant Dermatitis Quality Of Life questionnaire (IDQOL), gut microbiome structure and function, and skin microbiome structure. RESULTS: The rate of subjects achieving MCID at T12 and at T16 was higher in Group B (p < .05), and remained higher at T16 (p < .05)The number of days without rescue medications was higher in Group B. IDQOL improved at T12 in the Group B (p < .05). A beneficial modulation of gut and skin microbiome was observed only in Group B patients. CONCLUSIONS: The probiotic LGG could be useful as adjunctive therapy in pediatric AD. The beneficial effects on disease severity and quality of life paralleled with a beneficial modulation of gut and skin microbiome.

Prepuberal insulin secretory indices are long-term predictors of short adult stature in cystic fibrosis.

Objective: Diabetes is a frequent comorbidity in cystic fibrosis (CF), related to multiple unfavorable outcomes. During the progression of ß-cell dysfunction to diabetes, insulin deficiency could possibly reduce the anabolic support to grow even in the absence of significant glycemic derangements. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated whether prepuberal insulin secretory indices are independent predictors of adult height. Design: Observational cohort study. Research design and methods: A longitudinal analysis of 66 CF patients (33 females) from an ongoing cohort received at prepuberal age (median age of 12 years) modified 3-h oral glucose tolerance tests with 30-min insulin and C-peptide sampling, modeling of insulin secretory and sensitivity parameters, anthropometric evaluation. The latter was repeated when adults after a median follow-up of 9 years. Results: In alternative models, we found a positive association with either basal insulin secretion (mean 0.22, 95% CI 0.01, 0.44 z-scores) or prepuberal ß-cell glucose sensitivity (mean 0.23, 95% CI 0.00, 0.46 z-scores) and adult height, while total insulin secretion was negatively related to adult height (mean -0.36, 95% CI -0.57, -0.15 z-scores or mean -0.42, 95% CI -0.69, -0.16 z-scores, respectively). The high total insulin secretion of low adult height patients was mainly due to late (>60 min) secretion and was associated with a worse glucose response during OGTT. Conclusions: Abnormal insulin secretion associated with high glucose response during OGTT predicts a decrease in adult height z-score. Our results suggest that insulin secretory defects in CF affect growth prior to the development of fasting hyperglycemia.

Predictive factors of responsiveness to a body weight reduction program in Prader-Willi patients at 6 years of follow-up.

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a multisystemic disorder caused by lack of expression of genes on the paternally inherited chromosome 15q11.2-q13 region, is characterized by hyperphagia and childhood-onset morbid obesity, A retrospective cohort study of 60 PWS patients, 38 females and 22 males, undergoing a 6-year rehabilitation program was analysed. Mean age at the time of first admission was 27 ± 7 years, body weight (BW) was 97 kg ± 29 kg and height was 1.53 ± 0.09 m. Twenty-four patients (40%) showed BW loss after 6 years of follow-up, seventeen (28%) remained stable and nineteen (32%) gained BW. Responsiveness in term of BW reduction was less frequent in patients with the UPD karyotype, karyotype del15 being more frequent among responsive patients. Furthermore, responsive PWS subjects had a higher BMI (47 vs. 36 kg/m2), waist (123 vs. 106 cm) and hip (136 vs. 118 cm) circumferences than non-responsive at the time of first hospitalization. Baseline body composition and metabolic parameters did not differentiate between responsive and non-responsive patients. Given the rarity of PWS and relative lack of studies, these results can be considered relevant because based on a relatively large number of PWS patients followed up for a long term period.

Circulating Mir-140 and leptin improve the accuracy of the differential diagnosis between psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: a case-control study.

The differential diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is difficult because of the lack of diagnostic clinical signs and reliable biomarkers. This study investigated microRNAs (miRNA) and adipokines as potential additional markers to discriminate PsA from RA. The expression profile of miRNA (miR-21, miR-140, miR-146a, miR-155, miR-181b, miR-223, miR-let-7e) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-17a, IL-23a, TNF-α) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of PsA and RA patients compared to healthy controls (HC) were evaluated by real-time PCR, and serum adipokines (adiponectin, chemerin, leptin, resistin, visfatin) and cytokines by ELISA assay. Univariable binary logistic regression was used to find the association between PsA and potential predictors. The gene expression of miRNA and cytokines and the serum levels of adipokines were found significantly different in PsA and RA patients compared to HC, as well as in PsA versus RA. MiR-140 gene expression resulted up-regulated in PsA patients and reduced in RA in comparison to HC, and, for the first time, significantly higher in PsA compared with RA. Serum levels of IL-23a and leptin were significantly increased in PsA and RA populations than in HC, as well as in PsA versus RA. Furthermore, circulating TNF-α was up-regulated in PsA and RA in comparison to controls, while resulted higher in RA than in PsA. Univariable binary logistic regression analysis found the above-mentioned markers associated to PsA versus RA. Our results first demonstrated an increased expression of circulating miR-140 and serum leptin in PsA patients compared to RA, which were identified as potential additional biomarkers to discriminate PsA from RA. Since the differential diagnosis of PsA and RA poses challenges in clinical practice, our data may help to enhance the diagnostic performance of PsA in daily practice.