No abstract

Excessive adiposity without co-morbidities is not associated with higher levels of circulating RBP4. Serum RBP4 cannot be considered as a direct predictive marker for impaired glucose metabolism. RBP4 possibly contributes to lipid metabolism.

The objective of the study was to characterize how infantile colic is perceived and managed by German and Polish pediatricians. Data in both countries were collected by using a paper questionnaire with seven questions and predefined and free text fields for the answers. Answers from 160 German and 133 Polish pediatricians were collected. The average of the occurrence rates estimated by both responder groups were at the higher end of published rates. The majority of pediatricians from both countries rated the parental burden caused by infantile colic to be high or very high. Pediatricians’ awareness about the association between infantile colic and maternal depression and premature termination of breastfeeding is relatively well established in both countries. While more than 90% of German pediatricians stated knowledge of infantile colic being a major risk factor for shaken baby syndrome, this knowledge was only declared by half of the Polish responders. Pharmacological interventions, pro-/synbiotics or simethicone, are part of the treatment repertoire of nearly all responding pediatricians. In addition, non-pharmacological interventions (e.g., change of feeding, change of parental behavior) are also among the employed interventions. Results of this study will allow to better design and prioritize communication about infantile colic directed at pediatricians.

The aim of the study was to determine effects of administration of simethicone and a multi-strain synbiotic on the crying behaviour of colicky babies. The study design consisted of an open-label, two parallel treatment group study involving 87 infants aged 3-6 weeks with infantile colic (defined as crying episodes lasting 3 or more hours per day and occurring at least 3 days per week within 3 weeks prior to enrolment) randomly, unequally [1:1.5] assigned to receive simethicone (n=33) or a multi-strain synbiotic (n=54) orally for 4 weeks. The multi-strain synbiotic contained Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-14, Lacticaseibacillus casei R0215, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Lp-115, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, Ligilactobacillus salivarius Ls-33, Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04, Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071, Bifidobacterium longum R0175 and fructooligosaccharides). Primary outcome measures were the responder rates (effect ≥50% reduction from baseline) of the measures ‘crying days last 3 weeks’, ‘average evening crying duration last 3 weeks’ and ‘reduction of average number of crying phases per day last three weeks’ at the end of treatment. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under NCT 04487834. Significantly higher responder rates (effect ≥50% reduction from baseline) of the multi-strain synbiotic compared to simethicone were found for the measures ‘crying days last 3 weeks’ (72% vs 18%, P<0.0001) and ‘average evening crying duration last 3 weeks’ (85% vs 39%, P=0.0001). No significant difference was found for the measure ‘reduction of average number of crying phases per day last three weeks’ (50% vs 42%, P=0.4852). No adverse effects were reported for the two treatment groups. Based on these results, the multi-strain synbiotic can be considered as an interesting therapeutic possibility for the treatment of infantile colic, worthwhile to be investigated further in non-clinical and clinical studies.

Introduction: According to a report from the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), there are 200 million overweight and obese school children in the world today. To assess body mass for students in Poland, in middle schools, high schools and universities, according to growth charts and BMI. Also, to investigate the link between chosen dietary habits and the risks to these subjects of being overweight and obese. Material and methods: The 13,566 subjects surveyed in 2011 consisted of middle school (3,548), high school (4,423) and university (5,595) students. The two younger groups received a questionnaire that had been devised by GIS (Poland's Chief Sanitary Inspectorate) based on one previously used for the WHO's global school-based student health survey (GSHS). An electronic questionnaire was used for the university students, made available at a designated internet site. Results: Overweight rates of 13%, 11% and 14% were found in students from middle-school, high-school and university. Overall obesity rates were 3%. Most subject ate three meals daily, although almost 1 in 5 said they ate only 1 to 2 meals daily. Snacking between meals was admitted by 84%, 89% and 89% of students, respectively, whereas corresponding rates for nighttime eating were 24%, 37% and 36%. Conclusions: The survey demonstrated that overweight status, according to growth charts and BMI, occurs in 13%, 11% and 14% of subjects in each student group, respectively. Overall, obesity accounts for 3% of respondents. Numerous instances of abnormal dietary habits were found, highlighted by irregular mealtimes, between-meal snacking and nighttime eating.