Polymorphisms of leptin receptor (LEPR) may contribute to a common form of obesity and, as a consequence, obesity-related diseases. We evaluated the potential role of genetic variation at the LEPR gene in heart sympathetic activity and other traits related to obesity in Mexican adolescents. Adolescents aged between 12 and 17 years, with steady body weight for the last 3 months were included. We evaluated anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, seric glucose, insulin, leptin levels, heart sympathetic activity (by electrocardiograph monitoring at rest), and the Gln223Arg and Pro1019Pro LEPR polymorphisms in each subject. In total, 103 adolescents (55 obese and 48 nonobese) were included. The group of obese adolescents showed higher sympathetic activity, blood pressure, glucose, insulin, and leptin levels. The genotype frequencies for the two polymorphisms were found to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There was no difference in the genotype frequencies for Gln223Arg or Pro1019-Pro polymorphisms between obese and nonobese adolescents. However, there was a higher prevalence of Gln223 allele among subjects with higher insulin levels (0.72 vs 0.57; P ¼ 0.04 for adolescents with insulin levels higher and lower than 100 pmol/l, respectively). According to Gln223Arg polymorphism, those with Gln allele (Gln/Gln and Gln/Arg) had higher heart sympathetic activity, body fat percentage, and leptin levels. To conclude, our results support the hypothesis that Gln223Arg polymorphism of LEPR in Mexican adolescents is associated with haemodynamic and metabolic disturbances related to obesity.

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We found insulin resistance, hyperinsulinism and hyperleptinemia in IDMs, and the trend of higher leptin levels in IDMs than INDMs shows that leptin could be related to insulin resistance in these infants.

We compared the response of temperature adaptation in preterm infants using the polyethylene wrap with and without previous drying versus the sterile preheated field. Both groups of polyethylene use achieved a mean axillary temperature of 36.5C at 30 minutes compared with 75 minutes for the group of traditional care. At 120 minutes, the incubator temperature was higher in those using preheated field, compared with infants in the polyethylene wrap with or without previous drying, (35.15C, 34.20C and 34.20C respectively; P = 0.0001). No difference in axillary or incubator temperature was found between the groups using the polyethylene wrap.

In patients with renal anemia, iron therapy can be administered intermittently or regularly at a low dose. We performed a randomized clinical trial in pediatric patients with end-stage renal failure on hemodialysis and absolute or functional iron deficiency. The study group received maintenance iron therapy according to the ferritin serum levels and the control group received intermittent 10-weekly doses. Success was defined as stabilization of ferritin levels between 100 and 800 microg/l and transferrin saturation (TSAT) between 20% and 50%, in addition to an increase in the hemoglobin level. The major reason for exclusion was iron overload. The study group received 6 mg/kg per month of parenteral iron [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.3-8.8] and the control group 14.4 mg/kg per month (95% CI 12-16.8) ( P<0.001). After 4 months of treatment, ferritin levels increased to 66 microg/l (95% CI 69-200) in the study group and to 334 microg/l (95% CI 145-522) in the control group ( P=0.009). Maintenance therapy and intermittent weekly doses were successful in 73% and 38%, respectively. After 3 months of treatment, hemoglobin levels increased to 10 g/dl, with no difference between the groups. However, in the control group the increase in hemoglobin levels was unsustained, and 3 patients needed transfusion. Patients in the control group had a higher risk of iron overload than patients in the study group (70% vs. 19%). Thus, the regimen based on assessment of serum ferritin levels was more efficient than the intermittent regimen because it increased and maintained the hemoglobin levels with lower iron doses and a lower risk of iron overload.