<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Data on the role of irisin in vascular calcification in patients with end-stage renal diseases on regular dialysis are inconsistent, and the underlying mechanisms are not clearly defined. The present study was designed to explore the association of serum irisin with vascular stiffness and with the impact of well-established risk factors. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The clinical study enrolled 52 hemodialysis (HD) and 15 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with an age of &#x3e;18 years receiving dialysis therapy for &#x3e;3 months. Patients who had major pathologies affecting carbohydrate, lipid, and bone metabolism and those who had acute cardiovascular events were excluded. Thirty-seven healthy subjects matched for age and sex served as controls. Routine biochemical parameters were measured in fasting serum samples by standard methods. Serum irisin was determined using the commercial ELISA kit (BioVendor Laboratory Medicine Inc., Brno, Czech Republic). Arterial stiffness parameters – carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf PWV) and augmentation index (Aix) – were measured using applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor System; AtCor Medical, Sydney, Australia). Body composition was assessed by segmental bioelectric impedance (InBody 2.0; Biospace Co. Ltd., Seoul, Korea). <b><i>Results:</i></b> It was demonstrated that serum irisin levels were markedly depressed (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05), while the cf PWV significantly increased (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05) in HD/PD patients as compared to controls. Serum irisin proved to be independent of serum insulin, glucose, and HOMA-IR. However, it was inversely related to HbA1c (β = −0.544, <i>p</i> = 0.035), iPTH (β = −0.260, <i>p</i> = 0.035), and alkaline phosphatase (<i>r</i> = −0.325, <i>p</i> = 0.007). Furthermore, significant negative relationships were found of irisin to serum triglyceride and indices of body fat mass. Retrospective analysis at a follow-up period of 40 months revealed a direct relationship of irisin to all-cause mortality (<i>p</i> = 0.039). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Our study demonstrated that serum irisin levels are reduced in uremic patients on regular HD/PD but failed to establish significant associations of irisin deficiency with vascular stiffness. However, the significant negative relationship of irisin to HbA1c, iPTH, and alkaline phosphatase suggests that it improves insulin sensitivity, inhibits bone resorption, mitigates bone-vascular interaction, and protects vascular function.

Panel Survey Experiences with Cancer Survey. Descriptive analysis was conducted to describe sociodemographic characteristics (age, race, education, marital status, household income, BMI, physical activity, comorbidities and treatment history), (means + SD, percentages). We used multivariable logistic regression to compare between 2 groups of cancer survivors (those who were ≥ 65 years old [n = 657] and those who were < 65 years old [n= 739]). Propensity score analysis was used to account for the confounding variables. The confounding variables include categorical variables: changes to work schedule and other aspects of work, experience with health insurance coverage, and the effects of cancer and its treatment on family finance. Results: Of the 1,396 cancer survivors, the majority were Non-Hispanic Whites, with no history of smoking, having usual check within two years and treated for cancer in the past 10 years. Patients ≥ 65 years were more likely to be with higher education (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.67-1.70), smoking (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.12-1.12), diagnosed with diabetes (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.23-1.27). A higher proportion of patients ≥ 65 years old have health insurance and able to pay medical bills. Also, patients ≥ 65 years old have lower physical component scores (40.40 vs. 45.67), but slightly higher mental component scores (51.93 vs.48.22) for SF-12v2 compared to patients < 65 years old. ConClusions: This study found that patients < 65 years old were less likely to have health insurance and able to pay medical bills. Future research should examine the financial impact of cancer among survivors < 65 years old, to provide better health care.

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Introduction and aim: The aim of our research is to evaluate and compare commonly performed diagnostic tests, and to examine the psychological disorders induced by this food allergy. Children with symptoms suggesting cow’s milk protein allergy were included in this study (n = 47). Blood and saliva samples were collected from the participants. Parents were asked to fill in a questionnaire constructed by the research team (containing the DSM-5 symptoms checklist about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Method: One of the most widely used diagnostic tool is the skin allergy test, which was performed in 47 subjects (n = 47, mean age: 7.36 years); only 2 children showed positive test result for cow’s milk. Lymphocyte transformation test was observed to be positive in 8 children (17%), 4 subjects demonstrated questionable results. In our sub-study about psychological symptoms (n = 43, mean age: 7.88 years), the score was according to the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptom checklist before the diet (6.88, SD: 4.43) and showed significant decrease after 3 months of the elimination diet (4.48, SD: 3.69, p = 0.001). Scores of children with sleep disorder (10.62, SD: 4.23) also represented a significant reduction after 3 months of the diet (6.69, SD: 4.59, p = 0.009). Salivary cortisol levels did not show significant changes before and after elimination diet. Results: According to our data, skin allergy testing and lymphocyte transformation test are not reliable diagnostic tools for establishing the diagnosis. Conclusion: We conclude that a significant improvement in clinical symptoms can only be achieved with a strict elimination diet. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(33): 1311–1318.

IntroductionThe most prevalent food allergy in younger children is cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA), a hypersensitivity reaction to cow's milk protein and its most common clinical manifestation is allergic colitis. The goal of our recent study was to assess somatic symptoms of CMPA and to prospectively observe the effects of a dairy elimination diet using objective parameters and questionnaires.MethodsThe County Hospital in Szekszárd, Hungary, investigated children aged 1 to 18 who had clinical signs that might indicate CMPA. Stool samples were taken and analyzed using a fecal calprotectin (FC) rapid test (Quantum Blue fCAL, Bühlmann Laboratories, Switzerland) at the time of the diagnosis and following 3 months of an elimination diet. At the baseline visit as well as the first and second follow-up, questionnaires were filled out. Patients were divided into two subgroups according to dietary guidelines based on the results of the questionnaires.ResultsA total of 47 patients participated in the study [42.55% female, mean age: 7.36 (SD 4.22) years]. There was no significant difference in FC levels between baseline and after 3-month elimination diet [73.98 (71.12) μg/g and 68.11 (74.4) μg/g, respectively, p = 0.331]. After three months, there was a significant decrease in FC levels among patients who adhered to the strict diet [84.06 (79.48) μg/g and 41.11 (34.24) μg/g, respectively, p = 0.001].ConclusionThe findings of our study suggest that FC can be an objective marker in confirming the diagnosis of CMPA. Significant improvement in clinical symptoms and in FC levels can only be expected after a strictly followed elimination diet.