Nocturnal saturation and glucose tolerance in children with cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Glucose intolerance is common in cystic fibrosis (CF), and is associated with worsening pulmonary function and nutritional status, and increased mortality. As sleep-disordered breathing is associated with disorders of glucose metabolism, it was hypothesised that recurrent episodes of hypoxaemia during sleep, and sleep disruption, would be associated with inflammation and glucose intolerance in CF. METHODS: 25 children (aged 14±4 (mean±SD) years) with CF underwent polysomnography, actigraphy, measurement of serum inflammatory markers and oral glucose tolerance testing. Blood glucose area under the curve (AUC), as a cumulative measure of glucose response, was determined. Polysomnography data were compared with retrospective data from 25 healthy controls. RESULTS: Forced expiratory volume in 1 s was 92±14% predicted. 24 subjects underwent glucose tolerance testing, of whom 29% had impaired glucose tolerance and 4% had diabetes. The mean nocturnal oxygen saturation correlated negatively with glucose AUC at 120 min (r=-0.49, p=0.015). Partial correlations and regression models including age, body mass index, nocturnal saturation and pulmonary function indicated that nocturnal saturation accounted for the majority of the predictive power for glucose AUC (R(2)=0.24, p=0.001). There were no meaningful relationships between sleep quality, inflammation and glucose tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: Lower oxyhaemoglobin saturation is associated with worse glucose regulation in children with CF. Further studies are needed to determine whether lower saturation negatively impacts glucose regulation or, alternatively, whether abnormalities in glucose metabolism are an early sign of pulmonary dysfunction.

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in Hong Kong children.

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a rare but potentially fatal disease. Diagnosing this disease may be difficult and is often delayed because the clinical presentation mimics other conditions like severe sepsis, hepatic failure and malignancies. We reviewed the clinical presentations, response to treatment, and outcomes of children diagnosed with haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis from 1991 to 2006 in a Hong Kong tertiary paediatric haematology centre. All patients had typical presentations with prolonged fever, organomegaly, and pancytopaenia. Six children had hepatic dysfunction and two had neurological symptoms. The median time from disease onset to diagnosis was 21 days. Elevated serum ferritin levels and evidence of haemophagocytosis in bone marrow examinations aided diagnosis. The overall mortality was 57%. Three patients who presented in the first few years studied had relatively long lag times between disease onset and definitive treatment; all died of active disease. Three patients diagnosed more recently were given timely treatment using the haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis-94 protocol of etoposide and dexamethasone, with or without cyclosporin. All three achieved remission, but two had a recurrence and one died during the recurrence.

Increased prevalence of constipation in pre-school children is attributable to under-consumption of plant foods: A community-based study.

AIM: To evaluate consumption of foods rich in dietary fibre and its relation to the prevalence of constipation in pre-school children. METHODS: In total, 368 children aged 3-5 years were randomly selected from kindergartens in Hong Kong. Constipation was confirmed by Rome-criteria. Children with normal bowel habits served as non-constipated controls. Consumption of vegetables, fruits, whole-grain cereals and fluid were determined using a 3-day food record. RESULTS: A total of 28.8% children were reported to have constipation. Median dietary fibre intake of constipated children was significantly lower than non-constipated children (3.4 g/d (inter-quartile range (IQR): 2.3-4.6 g/d) vs. 3.8 g/d (IQR: 2.7-4.9 g/d); P = 0.044) corresponding to 40% reference dietary fibre intake. Constipated children also had significantly lower intakes of vitamin C (P = 0.041), folate (P = 0.043) and magnesium (P = 0.002). Fruit intake and total plant foods intake were significantly lower in the constipated than non-constipated children: (61 g/d (IQR: 23.8-115 g/d) vs. 78 g/d (IQR: 41.7-144.6 g/d); P = 0.047) and (142.5 g/d (IQR: 73.7-214.7 g/d) vs. 161.1 g/d (IQR: 98.3-233.3 g/d); P = 0.034), respectively. Total fluid intake did not differ between groups but milk intake among the constipated children was marginally higher than the non-constipated children (P = 0.055) CONCLUSION: Insufficient dietary fibre intake is common in Hong Kong pre-school children. Constipated children had significantly lower intakes of dietary fibre and micronutrients including vitamin C, folate and magnesium than non-constipated counterparts which was attributable to under-consumption of plant foods. However, milk intake was marginally higher in the constipated children. More public education is necessary for parents to help develop healthy dietary habit and bowel habit in early life in order to prevent childhood constipation.