IntroductionPrevious studies have examined the correlation between hyperandrogenemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in women and showed contradictory results. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between testosterone level and Fatty Liver Index (FLI), as a surrogate marker for NAFLD, in a cohort of postmenopausal women.Material and methodsA total of 150 postmenopausal women were included in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters, as well as blood pressure, were obtained. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is assessed by FLI, an algorithm based on body mass index, waist circumference, triglycerides and γ-glutamyl transferase, as a simple and accurate predictor of hepatic steatosis. Women were divided into three groups (FLI < 30, n = 80; 30 ≤ FLI < 60, n = 44; FLI ≥ 60, n = 26). Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) as a surrogate marker of insulin resistance was calculated.ResultsMultiple linear regression analysis revealed that the best model consisted of 4 parameters (e.g., bioavailable testosterone (β = 0.288, p = 0.001), log HOMA-IR (β = 0.227, p = 0.005), log high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (β = 0.322, p < 0.001), and retinol-binding protein 4 (β = 0.226, p < 0.001)). Adjusted R2 for the best model was 0.550, which means that as much as 55.0% of variation in FLI could be explained with this model.ConclusionsBioavailable testosterone is independently associated with FLI in postmenopausal women.

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.

Our results suggest that high sUA and low SOD may predict all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in HD patients.

Objectives Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition with alarmingly high rates worldwide. There is controversy regarding the relationship between insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and pediatric obesity. We investigated the relationship between IGF-1, insulin resistance and metabolic profile with childhood pre-obesity/obesity. Methods The study involved 201 children aged 7–15 years, divided in three groups according to their nutritional status (International Obesity Task Force criteria): normal-weight (n=84), pre-obese (n=82), obese (n=35). Laboratory IGF-1, insulin, fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile, alanine-aminotransferase (ALT), uric acid (UA), anthropometric and body composition parameters were analyzed. Body mass index and IGF-1 standard deviation score (SDS), waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) score were calculated. Results Pre-obese/obese children had significantly higher IGF-1 SDS, FBG, insulin, HOMA-IR, UA, ALT, triglycerides, and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c); obese group had higher WtHR and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) compared to controls (p<0.05). In obese group, IGF-1 SDS was positively correlated with fat free/muscle mass, total body water (p<0.05) and negatively correlated with LDL-c (p<0.05). In pre-obese/obese HOMA-IR and insulin were positively correlated with age, total body fat (TBF) (p<0.05) and negatively correlated with HDL-c (pre-obese) (p<0.05). Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analyses showed that IGF-1 SDS (OR=1.94; 95%CI: 1.21–3.11), TBF (OR=1.37; 95%CI: 1.21–1.54) were predictors of nutritional status (p<0.001). FBG (OR=42.39; 95%CI: 2.31–77.2) and UA (OR=1.03; 95%CI: 1.01–1.05) were predictors of IR (p<0.001). Conclusions IGF-1 SDS and TBF were predictors of nutritional status. Further studies are required to clarify the role of IGF-1 in pathophysiology of obesity and its comorbidities.

Objective -The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) over the last 5 years and analyze and summarize the status of newborn screening in Montenegro. Materials and methods -This is a population-based retrospective study. Blood samples were collected from the heels of newborns 48 -96 hours after birth and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was determined. The cut off value in our laboratory was 10 mIU/l in whole blood. Dissociation-enhanced lanthanide fluorescent immunoassay (DELFIA) was used for detection. Results -Over the period January 2008 -December 2012, a total of 40,758 newborns were screened and 17 cases were confirmed as CH -both transient and permanent. The program covered all live born infants (100%). Recall rate was 0.97 -1.36%. Mean age of starting treatment was 21.4±6.4 days. Conclusion -During the period of analysis in our study, 17 cases of CH were detected. The overall prevalence of CH was 1 in 2397 live births. This is the first report on newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism in Montenegro.

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Introduction: Data suggesting that cystatin C levels are linked to obesity, apart from renal pathology, are conflicting. The aim of the study was to explore the potential association between serum cystatin C levels, anthropometric, and cardiometabolic parameters in healthy middle-aged adults.