BackgroundOmentin-1 a new anti-inflammatory adipokine has been identified as a major visceral (omental) secretory adipokine which plays important roles in glucose homeostasis, lipid metabolism, insulin resistance and diabetes. The aim of our study was to evaluate serum omentin-1 levels in type 2 diabetic obese females and assess its relation with glycemic control, insulin resistance and metabolic parameters.MethodsThe study included 60 obese type 2 diabetic females and 30 healthy female subjects formed the control group. They subjected to full clinical examination, weight, height, waist and hip circumference. Fasting (blood glucose, insulin, lipid profile, omentin-1) and HbA1c were measured. BMI and HOMA-IR were calculated. Our data analyzed and expressed in terms of mean ± SD. Pearson correlation performed to study the correlation of serum omentin-1 in relation to glycemic control, insulin resistance and metabolic parameters in the studied groups.ResultsWe found significant decrease in serum omentin-1 levels in cases with mean ± SD (16.5 ± 2.6 pg/ml) compared to controls (25.3 ± 1.0 pg/ml) (P < 0.001). We also found strong significant negative correlations between serum omentin-1 and (BMI, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR) (r = −0.909, −0.853, −0.511) respectively (P < 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (r = −0.274, p = 0.031). The best cut off point of serum omentin-1 was 22.2 pg/ml to differentiate cases from controls using ROC curve analysis.ConclusionOur study has shown significant low levels of serum omentin-1 in obese type 2 diabetic females in comparison to healthy subjects. Omentin-1 inversely related to obesity, insulin resistance and SBP. No significant associations with glycemic control and fasting lipids. Serum omentin-1 can be used as a biomarker for obesity related metabolic disorders.

Background:We studied JAZF1, ABCC8, KCNJ11and Notch2 gene expression and vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms (Fok1 and Bsm1) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and tried to find out their association with microvascular complications in these patients. Methods: The study was conducted on 180 patients (93 complicated and 87 noncomplicated) and 150 healthy subjects. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to assess gene expression and real-time PCR was used to detect VDR genotypes. Serum vitamin D was assessed using Elisa technique. Results: After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index and glycated hemoglobin, altered Notch2 gene expression was found between patients and controls and between complicated and noncomplicated cases (p = 0.001 and 0.001, respectively) and ABCC8 gene expression showed significant difference between patients and controls only (p = 0.003), while JAZF1and KCNJ11 expression showed no significant difference between the studied groups (p = 0.3 and 0.4, respectively). Serum vitamin D level was decreased in patients compared with controls (p = 0.001), while no difference was detected between complicated and noncomplicated cases (p = 0.1). Our results revealed no significant difference in VDR Fok1 and Bsm1 genotype distributions (p = 0.7 and 0.1, respectively) and allele frequencies (p = 0.4 and 0.1, respectively) between patients and controls. Patients with complications showed increased frequencies of Fok1GG genotype and G allele, while patients without complications showed increased frequencies of AA, then AG Fok1 genotype and A allele (p = 0.001 and 0.001, respectively). In addition, the frequencies of CC Bsm1 genotype and C allele were significantly higher among patients with complications, while frequencies of TT Bsm1 genotype and T allele were significantly higher among patients without complications (p = 0.02 and 0.003, respectively). Conclusion: Altered expression of Notch2 and ABCC8 genes may play a role in the pathogenesis of T2DM. Altered expression of Notch2 and VDR polymorphisms may play a role in the development of microvascular complications in diabetic patients. These results may assist in early identification and management of diabetic complications.

The Pediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Conference (PALICC) published pediatric-specific guidelines for the definition, management, and research in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS). Acute viral bronchiolitis (AVB) remains one of the leading causes of admission to PICU. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of AVB. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of PARDS in AVB and identify the risk of RSV as a trigger pathogen for PARDS. This study is a retrospective single-center observational cohort study including children < 2 years of age admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit at St Mary’s Hospital, London, and presented with AVB in 3 years (2016–2018). Clinical and demographic data was collected; PALICC criteria were applied to define PARDS. Data was expressed as median (IQR range); non-parametric tests were used. In this study, 144 infants with acute viral bronchiolitis were admitted to PICU in the study period. Thirty-nine infants fulfilled criteria of PARDS with RSV as the most common virus identified. Bacterial infection was identified as a risk factor for development of PARDS in infants with AVB. Conclusion: AVB is an important cause of PARDS in infants. RSV is associated with a higher risk of PARDS in AVB. Bacterial co-infection is a significant risk factor for development of PARDS in AVB. What is Known:• Bronchiolitis is a common cause of respiratory failure in children under 2 years.• ARDS is a common cause of PICU admission. What is New:• Evaluation of bronchiolitis as a cause of PARDS according to the PALLIC criteria.• Evaluation of different viruses’ outcome in PARDS especially RSV as a commonest cause of AVB.

No abstract

Childhood obesity has been linked to an increase in fracture risk, so the impact of obesity on bone metabolism is becoming a focus of attention to identify factors that may affect bone health in obese children. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association between serum 25-Hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH) D], adipokines and bone status in obese children. This case control study was executed in the Child Health Clinic in Medical and Scientific Centre of Excellence, National Research Centre (NRC), 100 obese and 80 non-obese age- and sex-matched children were enrolled in our study with mean age of (10.12±2.34 & 9.62±1.67 years) respectively. Anthropometric measurements, femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) and its Z-score, bone mineral content (BMC) were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in relation to body weight (kg), we also determined serum 25(OH) D, adiponectin, leptin and lipid profile. HOMA-IR was calculated to assess insulin resistance. It was found that BMC and BMD Z-score adjusted for weight were significantly lower in obese children as compared to controls (all p<0.05). Obese children had lower levels of 25(OH) D and adiponectin (P<0.01), while higher levels of leptin, total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) compared to controls (P<0.01). Both BMC and BMD Z-score showed positive association with 25(OH) D and adiponectin (P<0.01) and negative association with HOMA-IR, TG and TC (P<0.05). Linear regression analysis showed that 25(OH) D was the most effective factor predicting BMD Z-score and BMC in obese children. It is concluded that, obesity is negatively related to bone health in childhood. Those obese children are at increased risk for vitamin D insufficiency, which shows an obvious relationship to lower bone mass, raising the question of supplementation to prevent the deleterious effect of its deficiency on bones and reducing future risk of fracture and osteoporosis.