Is sleep deprivation a contributor to obesity in children?

Chronic lack of sleep (called “sleep deprivation”) is common in modern societies with 24/7 availability of commodities. Accumulating evidence supports the role of reduced sleep as contributing to the current obesity epidemic in children and youth. Longitudinal studies have consistently shown that short sleep duration is associated with weight gain and the development of obesity. Recent experimental studies have reported that sleep restriction leads to weight gain in humans. Increased food intake appears to be the main mechanism by which insufficient sleep results in weight gain.

Voluntary sleep restriction has been shown to increase snacking, the number of meals eaten per day, and the preference for energy-dense foods. Although the causes of sleep loss in the pediatric population are numerous, more research looking at screen exposure before bedtime and its effects on sleep is needed given the pervasiveness of electronic media devices in today’s environment.

Health professionals should routinely ask questions about sleep and promote a good night’s sleep because insufficient sleep impacts activity and eating behaviors. Future research should examine the clinical benefits of increasing sleep duration on eating behaviors and body weight control and determine the importance of adequate sleep to improve the treatment of obesity.

Cite this article as:

Chaput, JP. Eat Weight Disord (2016) 21: 5. doi:10.1007/s40519-015-0233-9

Biomarkers for predicting serious cardiac outcomes at 72 hours in patients presenting early after chest pain onset with symptoms of acute coronary syndromes

BIOMARKER ABSTRACT-Clin Chem. 2012 Jan;58(1):298-302. Epub 2011 Sep 20


BACKGROUND: Most outcome studies of patients presenting early to the emergency department with potential acute coronary syndromes have focused on either the index diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI) or a composite end point at a later time frame (30 days or 1 year). We investigated the performance of 9 biomarkers for an early serious outcome.

METHODS: Patients (n=186) who presented to the emergency department within 6 h of chest pain onset had their presentation serum sample measured for the following analytes: creatine kinase, creatine kinase isoenzyme MB, enhanced TnI troponin I , high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), ischemia-modified albumin, interleukin-6, investigation use only hs-cTnI , N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, and cardiac troponin I . We followed patients until 72 h after presentation and determined whether they experienced the following serious cardiac outcomes: MI, heart failure, serious arrhythmia, refractory ischemic cardiac pain, or death. ROC curves were analyzed to determine the area under the ROC curve (AUC) and optimal cutoffs for the biomarkers.

RESULTS: The AUCs for the hs-cTnI assay (0.86; 95% CI, 0.76-0.96), the TnI assay (0.86; 95% CI, 0.78-0.95), and the hs-cTnT assay (0.82; 95% CI, 0.71-0.94) assays were significantly higher than those for the other 6 assays (AUC values≤0.71 for the rest of the biomarkers, P<0 .05=".05" 68="68" 75="75" 80="80" 86="86" 88="88" 92="92" and="and" assays="assays" curve-derived="curve-derived" cutoffs="cutoffs" diagnostic="diagnostic" for="for" g="g" hs-ctni="hs-ctni" hs-ctnt="hs-ctnt" ng="ng" optimal="optimal" respectively.="respectively." roc="roc" sensitivity="sensitivity" specificity="specificity" the="the" tni="tni" were="were">
CONCLUSIONS: The optimal cutoffs for predicting serious cardiac outcomes in this low-risk population are different from the published 99th percentiles. Larger studies are required to verify these findings

Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, and Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program, Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Association between adolescent emotional problems and metabolic syndrome: The modifying effect of C-reactive protein gene (CRP) polymorphisms

Abstract
Depression is associated with the development of the metabolic syndrome, and both depression and metabolic syndrome are associated with markers of systemic inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP). We examined associations between affective status in adolescence and adulthood, and the metabolic syndrome at age 53 years in a large representative British birth cohort. We also investigated whether two CRP gene polymorphisms (rs1205 and rs3093068) were associated with affective status and the metabolic syndrome, and whether the association between affective status and the metabolic syndrome was modified by these CRP polymorphisms. Women, but not men, with emotional problems in adolescence were more likely to have the metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.26), although this sex difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.22). The CRP SNPs were not associated with affective status or the metabolic syndrome, but the association of adolescent emotional problems with the metabolic syndrome was stronger in those who were homozygous for the major allele (C) of rs1205 (OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.17, 2.86) than in carriers of the T allele (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.66, 1.55) (p = 0.05 for gene by affective status interaction). This interaction was stronger when considering adolescent emotional problems as a continuous variable (p = 0.003). Adolescent emotional problems play an important role in the development of the metabolic syndrome later in life, particularly in those homozygous for the major allele of CRP rs1205. These findings may highlight new ways of identifying people with emotional problems at high risk of developing the metabolic syndrome, which is of great importance for the management of the physical health of these patients.
Abstract
Depression is associated with the development of the metabolic syndrome, and both depression and metabolic syndrome are associated with markers of systemic inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP). We examined associations between affective status in adolescence and adulthood, and the metabolic syndrome at age 53 years in a large representative British birth cohort. We also investigated whether two CRP gene polymorphisms (rs1205 and rs3093068) were associated with affective status and the metabolic syndrome, and whether the association between affective status and the metabolic syndrome was modified by these CRP polymorphisms. Women, but not men, with emotional problems in adolescence were more likely to have the metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.26), although this sex difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.22). The CRP SNPs were not associated with affective status or the metabolic syndrome, but the association of adolescent emotional problems with the metabolic syndrome was stronger in those who were homozygous for the major allele (C) of rs1205 (OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.17, 2.86) than in carriers of the T allele (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.66, 1.55) (p = 0.05 for gene by affective status interaction). This interaction was stronger when considering adolescent emotional problems as a continuous variable (p = 0.003).

Adolescent emotional problems play an important role in the development of the metabolic syndrome later in life, particularly in those homozygous for the major allele of CRP rs1205. These findings may highlight new ways of identifying people with emotional problems at high risk of developing the metabolic syndrome, which is of great importance for the management of the physical health of these patients.

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
Volume 25, Issue 4, May 2011, Pages 750-758

Eat dark chocolate ‘to control hypertension’

Suffering from hypertension? Fret not, for a new study has found that dark chocolate could control one’s high blood pressure levels and thus keep one's heart in good shape.

Dark chocolate is already known to contain high levels of antioxidants which are thought to be beneficial to health.

Now, a team from Sweden has revealed that dark chocolate works on the body in the same way as blood pressure pills -- in fact, researchers have discovered that it inhibits an enzyme that raises blood pressure.

Lead researcher Ingrid Persson said that the dark chocolate, which contains large amounts of cocoa, has high levels of compounds called catechins and procyanidines, both of which have been shown to affect blood pressure.

She added that with other factors such as a balanced diet and not smoking, dark chocolate could be a good way to lower risk of heart disease and stroke. But, milk chocolate contains too much sugar and not enough cocoa to offer the same health effects, the ‘Daily Express’ reported.

In their study, 10 men and six women had blood samples taken before and after eating 75 grams of dark chocolate - a large piece. Within three hours, the team saw a blood pressure enzyme known as ACE had been inhibited by up to 18 per cent.

This is as effective as ACE inhibitor drugs currently given to the millions of patients with high blood pressure.

Dr. Perrson was quoted by the British newspaper as saying, “We have previously shown that green tea inhibits the enzyme ACE, which is involved in the body’s fluid balance and blood pressure regulation.”

Other studies have shown that dark chocolate may also reduce stress levels and boost mood.

Differently regulated proteins in sera of breast cancer patients and healthy donors

Abstract

e21022

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer type in women worldwide. Its early detection is a crucial step for the successful treatment. Although many serum biomarkers were described for breast cancer, all of them still lack of clinical specificity and sensitivity for the early detection. Therefore, we developed and evaluated a proteomics-approach for detection of biomarkers in serum of breast cancer patients and tried to identify differently regulated proteins.

Methods: Blood samples of 50 women with breast cancer (CA) and 50 age-matched healthy women (CTRL) were drawn prior to surgery and respective sera were obtained. We used surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) for protein profiling with three active surfaces of the protein chips with different binding properties. Data was analyzed by multivariate statistical techniques and artificial neural networks.

Results: We obtained a protein profile with 15 differently regulated proteins. Ten of them were upregulated in sera of breast cancer patients. The diagnostic pattern could discriminate CA from CRTL with specificity of 77% and sensitivity of 85%, the area under curve (AUC) of 0.85 was achieved. Two of upregulated proteins in breast cancer sera are Inter-a (globulin) inhibitor H4 (ITIH4) and Apolipoprotein C-I (ApoC-1).

Conclusions: SELDI-TOF-MS is a promising, non-invasive tool for detection of breast cancer biomarkers with low sample amounts and high sensitivity and specificity. The next step of this project is the identification of all obtained biomarkers from our protein profiles and a validation serum study in a larger study population. The knowledge of different regulated proteins can help to understand the development of cancer, possibly leading to its early detection.

Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2010 ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings (Post-Meeting Edition).
Vol 28, No 15_suppl (May 20 Supplement), 2010: e21022


K. Keller, D. Boehm, A. Lebrecht, M. Schmidt, J. Pieter, H. Koelbl and F. Grus
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany; Department of Experimental Ophthalmology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

Lifetime care for patients with autism

Anton R. Miller
University of British Columbia, Division of Developmental Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC

The model of care in Nova Scotia proposed by Casey 1 is spot on, but the scope of the project is faulty.

The unrelenting pressure for resources for autism services and research tends to bury at least two important facts. First, many children are challenged by complex neurodevelopmental disorders, and all would benefit from a properly coordinated and accessible system of intervention and support services. It would be unconscionable if discrepancies existed among children with different kinds of cancer — full support for those with bone cancer but meagre support for those with kidney cancer.

Second, it is true that autism and related disorders are diagnosed in more and more children, but the spectrum is broad. The needs of some children and families are complex, but others have fewer needs. Allocation of resources based on a medical diagnosis ignores this crucial fact.

Many professionals involved in the support of children with neurodevelopmental disorders are advocating for child and family support based on need rather than diagnosis. What we really need are regional total care centres for children with complex neurodevelopmental disorders — all those with complex learning and behavioural problems that elude a simple diagnosis.

Oral health and risk for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: the Carolina Head and Neck Cancer Study.

OBJECTIVE: Recent reports have linked oral health and periodontal disease indicators with increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN). Thus far, evidence has been inconclusive; our objective was to study the association between oral health and SCCHN risk in the context of a large population-based study.

METHODS: A population-based case-control study of incident SCCHN, the Carolina Head and Neck Cancer Study was carried out in 2002-2006 in 46 counties in North Carolina. Controls (n = 1,361) were frequency matched with cases (n = 1,289) on age, race, and gender. Oral health was assessed using interview data on tooth loss and mobility, mouthwash use, and frequency of dental visits.

RESULTS: Subjects were 26-80 years old (median age = 61). The distribution of tooth loss among controls was 0-5 teeth = 60%; 5-14 = 15%; and 16-28 = 25%. After controlling for covariates, tooth loss did not yield any notable association with SCCHN (16-28 vs. 0-5 lost teeth: OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 0.94, 1.56). Self-reported history of tooth mobility was moderately associated with increased SCCHN risk (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.65); however, the association did not persist among never smokers. Routine dental visits were associated with 30% risk reduction (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.53, 0.87).

CONCLUSIONS: These data provide support for a possible modest association of periodontal disease, as measured by self-reported tooth loss indicators, but not tooth loss per se, with SCCHN risk.

Divaris K, Olshan AF, Smith J, Bell ME, Weissler MC, Funkhouser WK, Bradshaw PT.