One out of four Montenegrin children is overweight, with two times more frequent obesity among boys compared with girls. Some previously salient predictors did not appear salient in this sample. To enable worldwide comparability, we propose the use of all three childhood obesity criteria in national studies.

Higher GPx activity is associated with higher FSH level, but abdominal obesity may be the underlying determinant of this relationship.

SUMMARY -Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is an emerging risk factor for atherosclerotic disease in adults. However, to our knowledge, there are no studies examining the relationship between RBP4 and cardiovascular risk in young population. Th erefore, we aimed to estimate this potential relationship in overweight/obese adolescent girls. Seventy overweight/obese adolescent girls, mean age 17.6±1.20 years, were included. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured. Cardiovascular risk score (CVRS) was calculated by adding points for each risk factor (e.g., sex, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), non-HDL-c, smoking, blood pressure and fasting glycemia). According to the risk status, we divided adolescent girls into low, medium and high risk groups (-2≤ CVRS ≤1, 2≤ CVRS ≤4 and CVRS ≥5, respectively). We found signifi cantly higher RBP4 in the high risk group as compared with low risk group (p<0.001). However, multiple linear regression analysis showed waist circumference (beta=0.257, p=0.031) to be the only independent predictor of higher cardiovascular risk (adjusted R 2 =0.342, p<0.001). In conclusion, RBP4 may be associated with higher cardiovascular risk in overweight/obese adolescent girls, but this association is mediated by abdominal obesity.

Introduction/Objective. Childhood obesity is an emerging public health problem. The national prevalence of child overweight/obesity in Montenegro has increased by one third in the last decade. As the overwhelming majority of Montenegrin population is urban, investigation of obesity and correlates among urban children is of special public health interest. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of and contributing factors to obesity among schoolchildren of Podgorica. Method. The sample included 1,134 schoolchildren (49.8% boys) aged 7?12 years, from 10 elementary schools in Podgorica. We measured children?s body mass, body height, and waist circumference to calculate body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio. The research instrument was a closed type of the original questionnaire. Nutritional status was assessed according to the criteria recommended by the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization and International Obesity Task Force. Results. Among the investigated children there were 21.2% and 6% overweight and obese children, respectively. Obesity was more frequent among boys (7.6%) compared to girls (4.4%). In a multiple regression, childhood obesity was positively related to the following: male gender, younger age, lower number of siblings, parental obesity, and low physical activity. Conclusion. One out of five urban Montenegrin schoolchildren is overweight/obese, with obesity being twice as frequent among boys compared to girls. A program against obesity among urban Montenegrin children should focus on the revealed contributing factors.

Background Childhood obesity is a serious health condition with increasing rates worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between inflammation, oxidative stress, vitamin D, copper and zinc in pre-obese and obese children compared to controls. Methods The study involved 202 children aged 7–15 years (63.9% boys), randomly chosen from 10 elementary schools in Podgorica, Montenegro. Participants were divided into three groups according to their nutritional status (International Obesity Task Force [IOTF] criteria): normal-weight (42.1%), pre-obese (40.6%) and obese (17.3%). Serum biochemical analyses were performed (C-reactive protein [CRP], retinol-binding protein [RBP], total antioxidant status [TAS], total vitamin D [VD], copper and zinc). Results Serum TAS and CRP concentrations were higher in pre-obese and obese children compared to controls (p < 0.001). Serum VD concentrations were lower in pre-obese and obese children compared to their normal-weight peers (p = 0.027 and p = 0.054, respectively). Copper, zinc and RBP concentrations did not differ significantly among the groups (p > 0.05). In pre-obese and obese children, a positive correlation was found between CRP and copper (r = 0.305, p = 0.011 and r = 0.440, p = 0.013, respectively), and TAS and RBP (r = 0.528, p < 0.001 and r = 0.434, p = 0.015, respectively). Standard regression analyses showed that CRP and TAS increase (p < 0.001) whereas VD decreases (p = 0.011) with the body mass index (BMI). Conclusions We show that pre-obesity and obesity in childhood are positively associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, and inversely associated with VD status. Copper and zinc concentrations were not associated with excess fat in children.

SUMMARY -In the last several decades, a great number of studies have pointed to a dramatic increase of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) incidence in the whole world, especially in younger age groups. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess changes in the age distribution at onset of T1DM in Montenegro children aged <15 years during a 15-year period (1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011) and analyze the seasonal pattern. Primary case ascertainment was from diabetes register, secondary and tertiary independent data sources were hospital case records and register of children receiving free test stripes in pharmacy. Standardized incidence rates were calculated using the Poisson regression. Case ascertainment was 100% complete using the capture-recapture method. The mean age-standardized incidence was 18.6/100,000 (95% CI: 13.0-24.1) from 2007 to 2011 compared with 13.4/100,000 95% CI, 11.5-15.5) from 1997 to 2006. The incidence of T1DM increased predominantly in younger age groups. Relative increase of incidence per 5-year period was largest in boys aged 0-4 and 5-9 years: 64.7% (95% CI: 20.6-10.7; p=0.004) and 52.8% (95% CI: 16.9-88.8; p=0.004), respectively. Seasonality in monthly case counts of T1DM was apparent. The greatest number of cases were diagnosed during autumn and winter months. In conclusion, the onset of T1DM was found to occur at an ever younger age in Montenegro children. Our results indicated a seasonal pattern of the disease onset.

The relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and pancreatic cancer is complex- DM is both a risk factor and early sign of pancreatic cancer. DM is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer because it increases insulin resistance, intrapancreatic concentrations of insulin, and the bioavailability of IGF, subsequently promoting ductal cell proliferation. Accordingly, treatment targeting the insulin/IGF pathway is the focus of many researchers. Antidiabetic drugs modify the risk for pancreatic cancer- metformin’s antineoplastic effect being most notable and indicating potential clinical use in pancreatic cancer. New-onset DM can also be the first manifestation of pancreatic cancer. There are several theories for the pathogenesis of DM in pancreatic cancer, the most important being that DM is a paraneoplastic syndrome caused by diabetogenic factors. As a consequence of this intricate relationship, new-onset DM after the age of 50 is considered a red flag for pancreatic cancer, prompting the need for screening in this patient population. Multiple clinical studies are currently underway exploring this matter. A better understanding of the relationship between DM and pancreatic cancer could aid in developing novel screening and treatment strategies for pancreatic cancer. This could ultimately improve the prognosis and quality of life of patients with pancreatic cancer.

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