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Biomedical subjects

G Zoppi

Publications and source records attributed to G Zoppi.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of the composition and caloric value of infant formulas on intake and hormone levels.

Seventy-six normal full-term infants have been observed from birth to the fourth month of life. Thirty-six were breast-fed; the others were fed four different feeds (conventional or adapted formulas) containing different amounts of calories, protein, fat, and carbohydrate. The control mechanism of volume intake appears to be well functioning in infants fed human milk and adapted formulas providing conventional calorie concentrations. The other formulas were associated with either a high BUN or high base insulin concentrations. It is concluded that uncontrolled amounts of milk should be fed only to breast-fed infants and those receiving adapted formulas but not to those fed formulas that provide high calorie or protein concentrations.

Animals↗
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[Basal metabolism and respiratory quotient in obese children].

Childhood obesity represents an increasing dysmetabolic condition. The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of Fat Mass (FM%) on Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) and Respiratory Quotient (RQ) as indicator of substrate oxidation. FFM and FM were estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), using the Kushner equation. Resting metabolic rate was determined by open-circuit indirect calorimetry. The mean (SD) of RMR 1517.6 (236.8) was found to be different from predicted RMR 1470.6 (190) calculated using the Fleisch equations. The best predictors of RMR were weight (p = 0.000) and FFM (p = 0.000); whereas correlation between RMR and fat mass (FM%) was not significant. Therefore low RMR cannot be responsible of fat mass degree, in fact, it is not reduced in obese children. Different values of RQ were found suggesting different metabolic behaviours to oxidate substrates. These data indicate that genetics may play a significant role in the development of many types of obesity.

Age Factors↗
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Psychological problems connected to the dietary restrictions in the adolescent with coeliac disease.

AIMS: To assess the influence of dietary restrictions on psychological development in adolescents with coeliac disease. DESIGN: Statistical analysis on coeliac patients on gluten-free diet who agreed to answer the questionnaire. SETTING: Children with coeliac disease on gluten-free diet followed by the Department of the Pediatric Division of the City Mayor Hospital, Chair of Paediatrics, Verona University. SUBJECT: 39 patients (15 male and 24 female) from 10 years old to 21 who chose to answer a questionnaire of 25 questions dealing with the psychological implications of coeliac disease and with the need of following a particular dietary regime, in the presence of a psychologist. The questionnaire was made up of 6 SIGNALLING questions, 15 EVALUATING questions, 4 FILTER questions. They also filled up an information sheet on the composition and social position of the family. RESULTS: Fathers were on average 45.5 years old, mothers 43. Only 2 parents had no educational qualifications. Father's professions were of various kinds, 22 mothers were housewives. Only 4 patients were only children, 22 had one brother or sister. 13 patients only out of 39 claimed not to have been admonished by their parents, though, showed a conflictual relationship with food. The awareness of their difference from friends was: a) lack in children 10 to 12, b) uneasiness in adolescents 13 to 17, c) maturation and consensus in older patients. A significant number of patients feel different from their friends and these patients showed a latent envy to friends on free diet. A sense of latent envy towards the condition of independence was exhibited by patients who felt different from friends. CONCLUSIONS: The acceptance of a gluten-free diet is problematic for the majority of coeliac children and adolescents, particularly for those between 12 and 17. In this group the search of an individual personality is disturbed. Difficulties connected with gluten-free diet seem to be absent in the family environment, whereas difficulties emerge significantly when relating with friends. The number of cases of our study was limited but we consider these conclusions quite significant. DESCRIPTORS: Gluten-free diet, adolescents and children, relationship with parents, relationship with friends.

Adolescent↗
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BMI centile as an indicator of degree of obesity in childhood.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate body mass index (BMI centile) as an indicator of degree of obesity in childhood. DESIGN: Random. SETTING: Obese and nonobese healthy children were recruited in the Verona University Department of Pediatrics and Division of Pediatrics of the Verona City Hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 70 males aged 9.7 +/- 2.75 years and 55 females aged 9.9 +/- 3 years. Percentage fat mass was estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis using Kushner's equation, and Italian BMI charts (A. Luciano et al. 1997) were used to calculate the BMI centile (BMI > 90 degrees in 76 subjects and BMI < 90 degrees in 59 subjects). RESULTS: Linear regression analysis and correlations between percentage fat mass and BMI centile were significant in males (P = 0.000, r = 0.6) and females (P = 0.000, r = 0.7) in both obese and nonobese subjects. CONCLUSIONS: BMI is a reliable, easy-to-use indicator of degree of obesity in childhood. Pediatricians should be encouraged to use BMI centiles to assess childhood obesity and particularly the onset of overweight, its evolution and its response to different types of management.

Body Mass Index↗
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[Physiology of pubertal maturation].

Most important features of puberty are described. The puberty is the age of development of sexual characters. In females it appears between 10 and 15 years +/- 1 year whereas in males signs of puberty are visible between 11 and 15 years. In our country menarche appears at the mean age of 12 years and 2 months +/- 1 year and 2 months. Precocious puberty in females is that which appears before 8 years and 6 months and in males before 10 years. Delayed puberty is that which appears in females after 15 years and in males after 16. Nowadays is possible to keep off puberty when it is too soon by means of an analogous of LH-RH and as the result the subject reaches a better statural growth. The puberty should not be confused with the adolescence which is characterized by psycho-social maturity.

Adolescent↗
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[The lipid status, insulinemia and fat mass in 40 children with essential obesity].

Obesity is usually defined on the basis of body composition measurements. Body composition can be assessed using elaborate methods or anthropometry. Obese children are characterized by increased serum total cholesterol and triglycerides, reduced high-density-lipoprotein(HDL)-cholesterol concentrations, and hyperinsulinemia. Such a metabolic profile may create favorable conditions for atherogenesis and cardiovascular disease later in life. In fourty obese children aged 6-14 years were evaluated plasma insulin after OGTT, serum lipids and body composition. The correlation analysis between insulin, lipids and fat mass (%), based on skinfold measurements was not significative. These results are possible because with skinfold measurements are not separated the subcutaneous and intraabdominal compartments; infarct, only abdominal obesity is associated with the increased risk factors (hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia, ecc.).

Adolescent↗
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[Intraesophageal pH measurement in childhood: the technic and indications].

This review evaluates methodologic problems concerning esophageal pH monitoring in pediatric patients. Prolonged intraesophageal pH recording (twenty-two or twenty-four hour) is considered as the gold standard for all reflux investigations. The indications to pH monitoring and the interpretation of long-term pH studies data are discussed in details in the paper.

Child↗
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[Gastroesophageal reflux and respiratory pathology: a study comparing radiology and intraesophageal pH measurement].

From November 1st, 1992 to August 31st, 1993 45 children with respiratory symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) were tested with barium esophagogram and 24 h intraesophageal pH-monitoring to determine their sensitivity in detecting gastric acid reflux and to document their usefulness as a prognostic indicators. Results showed that thirty-seven of these patients had GER on esophagograms and that 24 h intraesophageal pH monitoring was positive in thirty-nine patients. However, we found a high incidence of false-negative results of the upper gastrointestinal series when the pH monitoring was positive.

Child↗
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[Blood insulin values after the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the body composition in 30 obese children].

The body composition and plasma insulin after OGTT were evaluated in 30 obese children, aged 6 to 14 years. The obese children higher serum insulin after OGTT. There was a relationship between plasma insulin and Body Mass Index (MBI) and between plasma insulin and Weight For Height (WFH) (p < 0.001). There is the accumulating evidence that chronic day-long hyperinsulinemia is associated with an insulin-resistance syndrome characterized by the development of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis and non insulin depend diabetes.

Adolescent↗
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[Gastroesophageal reflux and bronchial asthma: pH-metric patterns in non allergic children].

The presence of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) was studied, by computerized 24 hours intraesophageal pH monitoring, in 27 asthmatic children (16 M - 11 F; mean age 75.04 months) without allergy and in absence of medical treatment for at least ten days. Patient were divided in 3 groups: Group A (11 cases): subjects with Reflux Index (R.I. = percentage of time pH < 4) more than 4.2% and with GER percentage of time in standing position > supine position (p < 0.001). Group B (6 cases): subjects with R.I. more than 4.2% and with GER percentage of time in standing position < supine position (p = 0.05). Group C (10 cases): subjects with R.I. less than 4.2%. A group D (10 cases): normal children considered as control. The group A ("daily refluxes") resulted as the most numerous, in contrast to the studies up to now followed. The total number of refluxes resulted with no significant difference in groups A, B and C, but a significant prevalence of this number was noted in the group C against group D. Therefore, the parameter "Total number of refluxes in 24 hours" characterizes in our opinion, on the pH monitoring, children with bronchial asthma and without allergy.

Adolescent↗
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[Cholesterol cholelithiasis. A clinical case].

The Authors present a case of cholesterinic cholelithiasis, in a patient 13 years of age. The case is interesting because the cholesterol gallstones are uncommon in childhood, with women showing a higher prevalence than men.

Adolescent↗
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[Hypoallergenic milks (HA formulas) in infant nutrition].

According to the definition of the European Scientific Committee for Food, hypoallergenic or hypoantigenic formulas (HA-formulas) are those which contain hydrolysed protein derived both from casein or whey. Soy-based formulas are not comprised in this definition since it has been demonstrated from several years that soy-protein, in several circumstances, may be highly allergenic. Hypoallergenic formulas contain besides hydrolysed protein, carbohydrate and lipid in amount and proportion similar to those indicated by ESPGAN recommendations on adapted formulas. As far as it concerns composition in lipid, recently great attention has been given to optimal supply and ratio of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. Hypoallergenic formulas are therefore suitable for balanced nutrition of suckling infants. Specific indications on prevention of atopic diseases are not treated.

Fatty Acids↗
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[Obesity in pediatrics: statistical analysis of school performance of obese children].

We examined the school performance of 936 normal children (431 males, 434 females) and 71 obese children (39 males, 32 females) aged between 8 and 13 years (mean 11 years and 6 months +/- 1 year) attending 2 primary school in a district of our town characterized by a good socio-cultural level. In total the subjects studied were 1007. Results showed that: 1) females had a school performance significantly higher than males (p < 0.005); 2) obese patients (both males and females) had a school performance significantly higher than normal children (p < 0.001). This observation may be explained by the consideration that good school attendance implies: a) stress inducing a compensatory mechanism of hyperalimentation; b) lower physical activity. Another interpretation may also be suggested: children already obese attend the school more diligently in order to be better accepted and to counterbalance their negative self-image.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A case of slowly resolving enteritis caused by Clostridium difficile].

Clostridium difficile is considered as the most important cause of severe antibiotic-associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis. We describe the case of an one year old boy presenting C. difficile chronic diarrhea without previous antibiotic treatments.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
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[Prevalence of HCV antibodies and vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus].

HCV infection is one of the most frequent causes of hepatitis in man. There are numerous means of infection, not all of which can be documented. In infancy HCV infection occurs particularly in children that have been multitransfused or are on dialysis. Vertical transmission of HCV infection is rare, and the times and means of occurrence are not as yet well defined. The present study sets out to establish the prevalence of HCV-Ab carriers within a population of 4,242 pregnant women in Verona (Italy). It also aims to assess the incidence of vertical transmission of HCV infection in a sample of newborns examined over a 15-months follow-up. Of the 4,242 pregnant women subjected to screening, 45 (1.06%) were HCV-Ab positive. In only 74% of the cases it was possible to identify an HCV infection risk factor. On the 45 children of the HCV positive mothers, at present 25 have completed the 15 months follow-up. Only one of these children has contracted the infection: the incidence of transmission is therefore 4%.

Carrier State↗