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The volatility of oil price as a key energy resource for modern economies has a significant impact on the macroeconomic situation. In addition to affecting aggregated production, consumption, employment and inflation, oil shocks can affect the economy in a more nuanced way. One consequence of the turmoil in the oil market may be a shift in the employment structure between the tradable and non-tradable sectors, which we investigate in this paper. The aim of this study is to test how oil price volatility affects the structure of employment in Central and Eastern European countries. Our main hypothesis is that oil price volatility causes a temporal employment reallocation between tradable and non-tradable sectors. To verify this assumption, we created Interacted Panel VAR (IPVAR), which showed that the shocks of oil price volatility affect the employment structure and this impact is conditioned by the level of dependence on energy imports and the exchange rate regime. The constructed impulse response functions showed that, in general, oil price volatility causes a temporal fall in relative employment in the manufacturing (tradable) sector. For periods of an above-average import of energy, the exchange rate regime does not matter for the response of the structure of employment. Inversely, when countries are less dependent on imports of energy, the exchange rate regime matters for shock absorption—for floats, oil price shocks cause a temporal fall in relative employment in manufacturing, whereas for pegs, there is a slight relative increase in employment in manufacturing.

Background Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a clinical condition that results from the renal loss of protein exceeding the body’s compensatory abilities. Dysproteinemia in the acute phase of the disease inevitably affects the nutritional status of children. It is unclear whether the situation will fully normalize in remission. The aim of the study was to assess the serum concentrations of retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) and prealbumin (PA), as well as the body composition parameters in children with NS in remission in comparison to healthy counterparts. Methods Thirty nephrotic children at the age of 11.9 ± 4.6 years were enrolled and compared to healthy counterparts. RBP4 and PA serum concentrations together with selected basic biochemical parameters, were determined. Body composition parameters were determined based on the bioimpedance method using the Tanita MC-980MA device. Results In NS children the mean RBP4 concentration was 42.6 ± 11.6 mg/l, and mean PA concentration was 540.1 ± 442.1 µg/ml, and those values did not differ significantly from those in the control group (42.0 ± 10.9 mg/l and 372.8 ± 107.9 µg/ml, respectively). RBP4 concentration correlated positively with the age of the studied patients, while PA was not associated with age. Both studied markers did not show significant differences depending on the remission status – maintained with immunosuppressive therapy vs. without active treatment, as well as on the categorization according to the clinical course – steroid-sensitive NS vs. frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent NS. Based on bioimpedance measurements, the parameters characterizing body composition did not differ between NS group and controls. Conclusions RBP4 and PA, which can be considered as selected biochemical markers of nutritional status, as well as body composition measures based on the bioimpedance, do not indicate differences between children with remission of idiopathic NS and their healthy peers. Successful induction and maintenance of NS remission restores the assessed aspects of nutritional status of these children.

Background Generally, it is not well known that Lowe’s syndrome may coexist with hyperammonemia and hipocarnitynemia. The importance of hyperammonemia in the diagnosis of kidney diseases is not completely understood. Case presentation We present the history of a 13-year-old boy, admitted to the hospital due to proteinuria. In the past, the boy was diagnosed with binocular cataracts in infancy. Then he went through neurological diagnostic tests which diagnosed muscular hypotonia and psychomotor retardation but no inherited errors of metabolism were found. Proteinuria has been observed since the age of 2. Ultrasound imaging at the age of 5 showed the presence of a shading deposit in the kidney. At the age of 13, the boy was referred to the Pediatric Nephrology Ward. The laboratory tests revealed: a reduction of glomerular filtration rate, metabolic acidosis, proteinuria, hypercalciuria, increased activity of AST (SGOT), CK, LDH, hyperammonemia, and decreased concentration of total carnitine in blood serum. Based on the clinical presentation, Lowe’s syndrome was diagnosed. The genetic testing revealed an OCRL gene hemizygous mutation. Conclusion Lowe’s syndrome is an example of a disease in which clinical symptoms—although occurring early and in high intensity—may not raise the suspicion of tubulopathy for a long time if they are not analyzed in a complex manner. There is a necessity to educate healthcare practitioners from other fields about the extrarenal symptoms of genetically determined tubulopathies. l -carnitine deficiency may be a symptom of proximal tubulopathy, including Lowe’s syndrome. l -carnitine deficiency leads to disturbances in the efficiency of the urea cycle, which results in hyperammonemia. Hyperammonemia is not only a symptom of inborn errors of metabolism and liver failure, but it may also lead to the diagnosis of tubulopathy. Since carnitine supplementation could have the desired beneficial effect on the patient’s general condition, it is postulated to conduct further studies on larger groups of patients with Lowe’s syndrome.

Background and objective: Thiopurines (azathioprine (AZA) and 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP)), used to maintain remission in inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (CU)) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), are responsible for a number of adverse effects. One is leukopenia, mainly due to neutropenia and less known lymphopenia. This study aimed to assess the incidence rate of lymphopenia in pediatric patients with CD, CU, and AIH treated with azathioprine (AZA) and to evaluate the impact of lymphopenia on the occurrence of opportunistic infections and its relationship with disease activity, treatment, and nutritional status. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out in ninety-eight (98) paediatric patients, suffering from CD, CU, or AIH and treated with AZA, in order to assay blood cell count and thiopurine metabolite levels, assess the mean AZA dose, measure the anthropometric parameters, evaluate disease activity vs. the treatment administered, and to find out concomitant infections. Results: Lymphopenia was diagnosed in twenty-two (22) children and evaluated as severe in two (2) cases, which were associated with treatment discontinuation. The percentage of patients with lymphopenia in the CD group (34.5%) was significantly higher vs. the CU (3.7%) and AIH (7.7%) groups. The prevalence rates of the patients with low and moderate-to-high disease activity were 13.9% and 46.1%, respectively. The patients with lymphopenia demonstrated higher prevalence rates of mild respiratory tract and skin infections (identified in 32%). No cases of opportunistic infections were reported. Conclusions: Lymphopenia affected approximately one-quarter of the patients observed, the condition being transient in most cases and not demanding any therapy modifications. In no case was it associated with the occurrence of any opportunistic infections. It was significantly more common in the patients with Crohn’s disease and the subgroup with a more intense course of the disease, obviously suggesting a need for more frequent follow-up of the patients in those subgroups. The AZA therapy did not seem to be associated with lymphopenia occurrence in any significant way.

Background: Most published pediatric guidelines on food allergy highlight the importance of nutritional counseling and dietary adequacy to avoid either growth retardation or nutritional deficiencies. The aim of the study was an assessment of the nutritional status of children with IgE-mediated food allergies. Material and method: 45 patients with newly diagnosed food allergy (FA) and 33 healthy controls were analyzed (aged 6 to 72 months, 60.2% boys). The nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurements (body weight and length) and serum laboratory tests. The results were analyzed with the Statistica 12 software (Tulsa, OK, USA). Results: 82%, 40%, 8.8%, and 6.6% of the studied children demonstrated allergy to hen’s egg, cow’s milk, pork meat, and wheat/rye, respectively. Z-score BMI < −2SD was more often found in the FA subjects under 30 months of age than in the controls (p = 0.04). As many as 77.8% of the FA subjects and 78.8% of the controls were of normal height (hSDS: −0.23 ± 1.74 and −0.31 ± 1.49, respectively, p = 0.8). Retinol binding protein four serum concentration was significantly lower in the FA group (17.01 ± 3.84 mg/L) than in the controls (20.47 ± 4.87 mg/L, p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed between the FA group and the controls (either in the younger or the older age group) (p > 0.05) for the serum concentrations of total protein, total cholesterol, thyroxin-binding prealbumin (TBPA), 25(OH)D, hemoglobin level or white blood cells. Conclusions: In patients under 30 months of age, one of the symptoms of food allergy may be body weight deficiency, while short stature is less common at the time of diagnosis.

Background. The aim of a longitudinal, retrospective study was to establish variables predicting fracture incidence over a decade. Methods. The study sample comprises a group of 457 postmenopausal women aged over 55 years, recruited from the database of an outpatient osteoporotic clinic. Several variables with potential influence on bone status, including the measurement of body height and hip bone densitometry, were collected. BMD at the femoral neck (FN BMD) was established using a Prodigy device (Lunar, GE, USA). Current body height was compared with the maximal historical body height in early adulthood, as reported by the patient. Results. Three hundred and ninety-four women did not have fractures during the follow up, and 63 subjects presented fractures. Subjects with fracture had lower FN BMD with a T-score of −1.86 ± 1.04 compared to −1.44 ± 0.89 in those without fractures (p < 0.001). Mean height loss (HL) was 3.47 ± 2.11 cm in fractured subjects and 2.50 ± 2.47 cm in unfractured ones, and differed significantly, p < 0.01. Fracture incidence was significantly related to age, rheumatoid arthritis, falls, and previous fractures. In the multivariable analysis using logistic regression, FN BMD, baseline fracture, and HL were identified as the significant predictors of fractures of follow up. Conclusions. Osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women were predicted by FN BMD, prior fracture(s), and HL easily established during physical examination.

Background The aim of the study was to establish longitudinal bone changes in obese women after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Methods Twenty-nine women at baseline mean age of 40.41 ± 9.26 years and with mean body mass index (BMI) of 43.07 ± 4.99 kg/m 2 were included in a 6-month study. Skeletal status at hip [femoral neck (FN) and total hip (TH)] and spine was assessed at baseline, as well as in 3 and 6 months after surgery. Body size was measured at baseline and follow-up (weight, height, BMI, and waist). Results Baseline body weight was 117.5 ± 18.4 kg. The mean body weight and BMI decreased by 17.9 % during the first 3 months after surgery to obtain 28.4 % after 6 months. At 6 months, BMD decreased significantly for spine by 1.24 %, FN 6.99 %, and TH 5.18 %. The changes after 3 months in individual subjects showed that, in the majority of subjects, FN and TH BMD decreased significantly (in 52 % and 69 % of subjects, respectively), and in 24 % loss of BMD was found at the spine. After 6 months, the corresponding, significant decreases in individual subjects were found in 72 %, 86 %, and 38 % of woman, respectively. Those with a significant loss of FN BMD tended to lose more weight (30 ± 9.47 versus 23.25 ± 6.08 kg, p  = 0.061) than others; women with a significant decrease of FN BMD lost more weight than those with no such decrease (30.43 ± 8.07 versus 15 ± 1.91 kg). Conclusion LSG proved efficient for body weight reduction, however, with a parallel decline in bone mineral density.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have been recognized as potent antioxidant agents. Since SGLT2i are nephroprotective drugs, we aimed to examine the urine antioxidant status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). One hundred and one subjects participated in this study, including 37 T2DM patients treated with SGLT2i, 31 T2DM patients not using SGLT2i, and 33 healthy individuals serving as a control group. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), free thiol groups (R-SH, sulfhydryl groups), and catalase (CAT) activity, as well as glucose concentration, were assessed in the urine of all participants. Urine SOD and MnSOD activity were significantly higher among T2DM patients treated with SGLT2i than T2DM patients without SGLT2i treatment (p=0.009 and p=0.003, respectively) and to the healthy controls (p=0.002 and p=0.001, respectively). TAC was significantly lower in patients with T2DM treated with SGLT2i when compared to those not treated and healthy subjects (p=0.036 and p=0.019, respectively). It could be hypothesized that the mechanism by which SGLT2i provides nephroprotective effects involves improvement of the SOD antioxidant activity. However, lower TAC might impose higher OS (oxidative stress), and elevation of SOD activity might be a compensatory mechanism.