Childhood obesity increases the risk of morbidity whether or not obesity persists into adulthood. Measurement of body fat content using bioimpedance analysis (BIA) is a useful tool in epidemiologic studies. Both tricep skinfold thickness (TST, mm) and body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)) are indirect, simple methods and easy to perform for assessing body composition. These methods are generally accepted as good clinical measures for defining childhood obesity. The aim of our study was to evaluate fat mass (FM, kg and %) measurements using TST and BIA (50 kHz) in a cohort of 6-year-old Italian children. A total of 228 southern Italian children (121 boys, 107 girls), randomly selected in nine local primary schools, were included in the study. The correlation between methods for measuring FM was calculated. Linear regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation between FM measured with BIA and BMI ( r=0.92, p<0.001) and with TST ( r=0.79, p<0.001). We conclude that FM measurement using TST and BIA is comparable in different BMI ranges. However, BIA is a useful and alternative method for detecting body composition in children and may be a more precise tool than TST for measuring FM in epidemiological studies in pediatric populations.
INTRODUCTIONPeptic ulcer can be cured by eradicating Helicobacter pylori infection. 1 Many anti-Helicobacter regimens have been proposed over the past decade, but none of these reliably cures 100% of infections. The therapeutic potential, however, has greatly improved over the last few years, and the 1996 gold standard for successful treatment is considered to be an eradication rate higher than 85%±90% and a number of serious adverse events lower than 5%. 2 This goal can be achieved with multi- H. pylori infection was assessed by CLO-test and histology on both antral and corpus biopsies before and at least 4 weeks after the end of therapy. The bacterium was considered eradicated when both tests were negative. Eradication rates and the number of side-effects were evaluated in each group. The Chi-squared test was used for statistical analysis.
AIM: To investigate gastric emptying of a mixed solid and liquid meal in normal weight and obese children. METHODS: 114 volunteer children of school age (range 6 ± 11 y) entered the study. Children were considered as being underweight, normal weight, obese, severely obese according to their body mass index (BMI), and were examined using a non-invasive ultrasound method in the morning after an overnight fast period. The examination was always performed in an upright position by the same operator. The half-emptying time and fasting antral area were assessed, and antral area measurements were performed every 30 min for 240 min after meal administration. RESULTS: Five children (4.4%) were underweight, 53 (46.5%) were normal weight, 19 (16.6%) were obese, and 37 (32.5%) were severely obese. The underweight group was not considered for the analysis. No signi®cant difference in t 1/2 was found among the three groups. A positive statistically signi®cant correlation was found between fasting antral area and BMI (r 0.44; P`0.0001) in all children. The fasting antral area value was 3.5 cm 2 (range 1.6 ± 8.1) in normal weight children, 3.6 cm 2 (range 1.9 ± 7.7) in obese children, and 3.9 cm 2 (range 1.5 ± 10.8) in severely obese children. There was a signi®cant difference between severely obese and normal weight children (P`0.05). No signi®cant difference was found in the gastric emptying between severely obese and obese children, and between severely obese and normal weight ones. CONCLUSION: The difference in fasting antral area in these groups may be considered as an early disturbance. In fact the increased gastric volume could cause a change in the sense of satiety with a consequent increase in the intake of these subjects.
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