BACKGROUND:Obesity is a multifactorial disease, associated with metabolic disorders and chronic low-grade inflammation. Procalcitonin (PCT) is well known as a biomarker of infection, and systemic inflammation. Recently, it has potential as a marker for chronic low-grade inflammation.AIM:This study aims to evaluate the role of serum PCT as an inflammatory biomarker in the diagnosis of obesity-related low-grade inflammation.METHOD:In this case-control study, 50 obese and 35 normal weight children and adolescents aged 5–15 years were enrolled. Anthropometric parameters were measured in all subjects. Blood samples were collected for measurement of lipid profile, blood glucose, insulin, high sensitivity-CRP (Hs-CRP) and serum procalcitonin. Serum (PCT) levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.RESULTS:Obese participants had higher concentrations of serum PCT, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c, glucose and Hs-CRP than control group. On correlation analysis, procalcitonin had significant positive correlation with (BMI) z-score (P = 0.02), insulin (P = 0.00), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (P = 0.006), Hs-CRP (P = 0.02), total cholesterol (P = 0.04) and triglycerides (P = 0.00) in obese group.CONCLUSION:The increased serum procalcitonin concentrations were closely related to measures of adiposity, Hs-CRP and insulin resistance, suggesting that PCT may be an excellent biomarker for obesity-related chronic low-grade inflammation in children and adolescents.

AIM: To evaluate hearing in β-thalassemia major patients on iron chelation therapy by using pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive study was done on (48) diagnosed, 6-18 years old, β-thalassemia major patients who had received at least 3 years iron chelating agent deferoxamine (DFO). We performed PTA, DPOAE testing, and tympanometry for all participants. SPSS was used to analyse data. P < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between PTA and DPOAE testing in their capability to detect ototoxicity. PTA and DPOAE testing for the detection of ototoxicity in BTM and BTI, kappa values (κ) were found to be 0.516 and 0.459, respectively. The whole mean serum ferritin level was 2,251.3 ng/ml. The mean level was 1,603 ± 1,380 ng/ml in the patients with SNHL and 2,405 ± 1,908 ng/ml in the patients with normal hearing with the statistically significant difference among both groups (p = 0.015). The occurrence of ototoxicity was statistically significant with increasing age (p < 0.001). There was no marked difference as regards gender (p = 0.72). CONCLUSION: Hearing loss is prevailing in patients with β-thalassemia major on iron chelating agents. Therefore, regular hearing evaluations and periodic check-ups after the initiation of chelation therapy are mandatory.

Aim: We aimed to assess antioxidant status in Egyptian children with obesity and investigate the mutual relationship between oxidative stress markers, body composition, and metabolic pattern. Methods:This cross-sectional study included 52 obese and 20 healthy-weight children. Subjects underwent through clinical assessment. Serum lipid profile, fasting glucose, and serum insulin were measured in plasma. A range of antioxidant activities was tested. Steady state beta cell function (%B), insulin sensitivity (%S), and insulin resistance (IR) were calculated.Results: Children with obesity had high prevalence of family history of obesity, hypertension and type 2 diabetes and 18 of them had hypertension. Sixteen (30.7%) children with obesity had high level (90 th percentiles) of lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL-C) and triglycerides and 14 (24.9%) had low level (10 th percentiles) of high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C). Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were significantly higher, whereas catalase, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and vitamin E were significantly lower in children with obesity. Both MDA and GST correlated positively with anthropometric measures, triglycerides, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR. Both catalase and TAC correlated negatively with anthropometric measures, and cholesterol. Furthermore, catalase correlated negatively with diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, LDL, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR, but positively with age. Conclusion:There is a substantial burden of oxidative stress represented by the high level of oxidants (MDA, GST) and low level of antioxidants (catalase, TAC) in children with obesity necessitating improvement in the management of childhood obesity.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of chronic disorders of metabolism characterised by high blood glucose levels. There is an increased prevalence of Type 1 DM in children and adolescents with its adverse complications especially microvascular ones (retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy) that might cause multiple organ damage. AIM: To study the relation between DM and neurological affection. METHODS: Fifty-nine children with type I DM, divided randomly into 2 groups, aged 8-18 years old of both sexes were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. All children were subjected to full history taking, physical, neurological and systemic examination. RESULTS: There was an affection of motor power in both upper limbs as well as lower limbs. Also, we found that there was an affection of the superficial peripheral sensation affecting both upper and lower limbs. CONCLUSION: Neurological assessment of children with diabetes mellitus type I should be a routine to early discover these manifestations which can have a deteriorating effect on the child’s health.