Obesity is most frequently associated in children with IL-6 174 C allele carriers and with IL-6 190 C allele carriers.

Child malnutrition in developed countries is mainly due to secondary chronic diseases and it can be aggravated by prolonged hospitalization. Child malnutrition has severe consequences for growth, development and health.Objectives and aim: Are to assess the nutritional status of children with cancer compared with children with other causes of malnutrition and with control group. Material and method:A prospective study was performed on 106 children hospitalized in the Pediatric Clinic I Tg.-Mures, Romania, between November 1, 2010-february 2011, children who were divided into three groups: group 1, children with malnutrition of different causes: 25 cases (23.58%), group 2, children with neoplastic diseases 33 cases (31.13 %) and control group 3, consisting of 48 children (45.28%) with normal nutritional status. Results and discussions:In study group 1 we observed a low weight -3, 22 SD, comparative with control group, {p=0.001}. We got statistically significant differences in terms of height (p=0.0022), BMI (p=0.0001) and MUAC (p=0.0001); all parameters beeing much lower in the group with malnutrition, less decreased in the group with oncological diseases compared with controls.In addition, it was observed a good correlation, statistically significant between BMI and total serum proteins in children in group 1, (p=0.05) and significant correlation to both as group 1 and group 2 between the MUAC and serum albumin (p=0,05).In conclusion we found to be most affected nutrional status in children with malnutrition secondary to other causes than the cancer, BMI, MUAC and serum protein, respectively albumin characterize better nutritional status.

The aim of the present study was to investigate differences regarding 24-hour blood pressure and arterial stiffness in a cohort of office normotensive obese and non-obese children and adolescents, and to evaluate correlations of these parameters with some anthropometric indices. We retrospectively evaluated ABPM records in 71 children (42 boys); 31 obese compared with 40 normal-weight children.Results: Mean 24-hour, day-time and night-time SBP was significantly higher in the obese group than in the control group (p <0.01 during the entire period). Significantly higher AASI values were found in obese children compared to controls (0.45 vs. 0.41, p <0.05), the difference being more obvious for day-time AASI (p <0.001).Conclusions: This research confirms that SBP and AASI are increased in obese children. AASI is a useful index of arterial stiffness that can be easily measured under ambulatory circumstances in children.

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Background and aimsIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterised by chronic abdominal pain, recurrent abdominal pain or difficulties in defecation. Most of the times, the onset of this disorder is during childhood. It is one of the first 10 reasons for visits to primary care physicians, and therefore it is very important for every physician to keep his knowledge about this topic updated.MethodsThe paediatric gastroenterologists worldwide try every day to explain as much as possible this syndrome by performing different researches related to its aetiology, epidemiology, symptoms, diagnostic tools or efficient treatments.ResultsBased on all these data, it was proven that children with a positive history of recurrent abdominal pain are at increased risk of developing IBS further on during adolescence or even young adulthood. Romania own the second place regarding the epidemiology of IBS. Hypersensitivity and dysmotility are incriminated in the physiopathology of IBS. The first one can lead to pain and/or discomfort, while the latter can result in diarrhoea, constipation, flatulence or bloating. IBS is no longer considered an exclusion diagnosis. Microbiota is a new concept, more and more related to IBS, but still unclear. The therapeutic success is guaranteed only if the physician succeeds to establish a relationship of real support with his patient. No studies support the pharmacological approach as a first choice in the management of IBS. Nevertheless, the management of IBS includes: education, dietary measurements, identification and elimination of stressful factors, but also drug therapy.ConclusionsIBS is frequently encountered in children and teenagers. Multiple studies try to clarify the unknown aspects related to IBS. Even though multiple therapeutic options are available for the treatment of IBS, no comparative studies have been performed between them until now. The concept of individualised therapy might of real benefit for the patients diagnosed with IBS.