[Correlation between serum homocysteine levels and selected atherosclerosis risk factors in children and adolescents with simple obesity]. / Zaleznosc pomiedzy stezeniem homocysteiny a wybranymi czynnikami ryzyka miazdzycy u dzieci i mlodziezy z otyloscia prosta.

Homocysteine is known as an independent risk factor of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was assessment of serum homocysteine concentrations in obese children and evaluation of possible relationship between homocysteine and risk factors of atherosclerosis. 498 children with simple obesity were included into our study. There was a significant correlation between serum homocysteine levels and both traditional and new risk factors of atherosclerosis. The issues confirm a necessity of evaluation serum homocysteine levels of obese children in estimation of cardiovascular disease risk.

[Immaturity or hypotrophy? The cord blood leptin levels in preterm and small-for-gestational age neonates]. / Niedojrzalosc czy niedozywienie? Poziom leptyny we krwi pepowinowej noworodków urodzonych przedwczesnie i z hipotrofia wewnatrzmaciczna.

OBJECTIVES: To assess cord blood leptin levels in preterm and small-for-gestational age neonates and determine whether fetal leptin levels correlate with selected clinical parameters associated with prematurity and undernutrition at birth. DESIGN: Study of preterm newborns (p-AGA; n = 31) and small-for-gestational age (t-SGA; n = 23) cases in a population of neonates born in Szczecin between September 2001 and June 2002. METHODS: Fetal cord blood was sampled after delivery. Leptin levels were measured by RIA. Anthropometric data (birth weight, birth length, head and chest circumferences, body mass index, Ponderal index) were also recorded. RESULTS: Cord blood leptin levels did not differ significantly between p-AGA and t-SGA neonates with similar birthweight. Among the two groups of newborns the correlations between fetal leptin and anthropometric data were only observed in p-AGAs, but not in t-SGA group. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that cord blood leptin level depends on body mass rather than maturity of newborn. It is also hypothesized that leptin level in SGA neonates is determined by other than anthropometric parameters used in this study.