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Aim Methods Results Conclusion The purpose of this study was to evaluate irisin, myonectin and high‐sensitivity interleukin‐6 (hs IL‐6) levels in obese children and adolescents and to determine the association of these parameters with metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in children.Sixty‐one overweight/obese children with suspected liver disease and seventeen healthy controls were included in the study. MASLD was diagnosed according to the latest consensus. Circulating irisin, myonectin and hs IL‐6 were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The study group included 38 children meeting MASLD criteria and 23 children without diagnosed hepatic steatosis. The concentrations of the analysed myokines were comparable in the MASLD and non‐MASLD groups. Patients with MASLD were further divided according to the severity of hepatic steatosis. Significantly higher levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma glutamyltransferase, uric acid and irisin were observed in patients with severe hepatic steatosis compared to mild hepatic steatosis. There were borderline statistically significant positive correlations of irisin with ALT and AST.We revealed that elevated irisin levels were associated with the degree of hepatic steatosis in MASLD. We also found a borderline significant positive association of irisin with liver enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the study: The new term "metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease" (MASLD) focuses on the bidirectional interplay between fatty liver and metabolic dysregulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum concentrations of uric acid (UA) in overweight/obese children and adolescents and to determine the association of this parameter with MASLD and metabolic dysregulation. Material and methods: One hundred and ninety-four overweight/obese children with suspected liver disease were included in the study. MASLD was diagnosed according to the latest consensus. Diagnosis of metabolic syndrome (MetS) was based on the International Diabetes Federation criteria in children aged ≥ 10 years (n = 182). Results: MASLD was diagnosed in 68.56% and MetS in 26.92% of patients. Children with MASLD had significantly higher values of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), UA and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). Significantly higher levels of insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and UA were observed in patients with MetS. Correlations were observed between UA and ALT, AST, GGT, TG, insulin, HOMA-IR, mean IMT, body mass index (BMI) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in overweight and obese children. UA was helpful in differentiating between children with MetS and without MetS (p = 0.0003), while only borderline statistical significance was observed for MASLD (p = 0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that UA may be a potential additional and readily available marker of metabolic dysfunction in children with MASLD. Further studies on a larger group of patients are needed to confirm this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical prestressing was developed during the 1960s; however, and due to technical difficulties at that time, the technology was not considered as an alternative to conventional prestressing; instead, it was only used as a shrinkage compensating method. Still, recent development in concrete technology encouraged several researchers to revisit this technology, where significant achievements were made. This paper aims to present a state‐of‐the‐art review about the recent development in the chemical prestressing technology. This includes reviewing existing field applications, existing types of expansive additives, influence of different expansive additives, influence of curing methods, mix proportioning, mechanical properties, and structural behavior. Furthermore, a thorough discussion was performed and suggestions were made for future researchers to help further contribute to the development of this prestressing technology. It was concluded that although the chemical prestressing technology seems very promising, more research is required before using it in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the study: Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) requires close monitoring due to its increased incidence and progression to fibrosis, cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. The search for non-invasive markers to diagnose liver fibrosis is ongoing. The aim of our study was to evaluate the serum levels of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), thrombospondin-2 (TSP2), pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8) in children with MAFLD. Material and methods: Fifty-six overweight/obese children with suspected liver disease were included in this prospective study. MAFLD was diagnosed according to the latest consensus. Vibration-controlled transient elastography (TE) was performed to detect clinically significant liver fibrosis. Serum concentrations of GDF-15, TSP2, PTX3 and ANGPTL8 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Liver steatosis was diagnosed in abdominal ultrasound in 31 (55.36%) overweight/obese patients who were classified as the MAFLD group. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/platelet ratio (APRI) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) values and TSP2 concentrations showed significantly higher values in patients in MAFLD than in the non-MAFLD group. TSP2 was significantly positively correlated with alanine transaminase (ALT), AST, g-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and APRI in the study group. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of LSM, APRI and serum TSP2 was significant for predicting MAFLD in obese children. In the multivariable regression model, LSM was the only significant parameter associated with the diagnosis of MAFLD in children. Conclusions: TSP2 may be a potential biomarker of hepatocyte injury in pediatric patients with MAFLD. None of the examined biomarkers were found to be effective non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The incidence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is rapidly increasing in both children and adults. However, despite extensive research, data on disease pathogenesis and useful markers for predicting treatment response are still lacking. The aim of the study was to analyze matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) expression in the esophagus of pediatric patients with EoE. Material and methods: This single-center study included newly diagnosed children with EoE based on endoscopic and histopathological results, children with esophageal eosinophilia (EE) not meeting the EoE criteria and healthy controls. Immunohistochemistry for MMP-1 and TIMP-1 was performed. Results: Among the 30 children whose biopsy specimens were evaluated, 10 patients were diagnosed with EoE, 10 patients with EE and 10 were healthy controls. Weak expression of MMP-1 in esophageal samples was observed in half or more cases in each group. However, strong MMP-1 expression was noted in half of EoE patients before treatment with a decrease in number of cases after treatment. Interestingly, lack of TIMP-1 expression was noted in all EoE patients, in contrast to EE samples, or control cases. Children with strong MMP-1 expression at the time of EoE diagnosis appeared to respond less well to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) either alone or in combination with an elimination diet. There were no differences in MMP-1 expression with PPI monotherapy as opposed to combination therapy. Conclusions: Our data revealed that children with EoE did not express TIMP-1 in esophageal tissue, unlike EE and healthy controls. More intense expression of MMP-1 at diagnosis was associated with a poor response to treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Adipokines and hepatokines are proteins secreted by adipose tissue and the liver. To date, the levels of adipokines and hepatokines in cholelithiasis have only been evaluated in studies in adult patients. The purpose of our research was to assess the levels of circulating adipokines: chemerin, vaspin, progranulin, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP-4) and hepatokine: fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) and to compare their concentrations in paediatric patients with and without cholelithiasis.Methods: The prospective study included 54 children and adolescents diagnosed with gallstones and 26 controls. Fasting serum levels of adipokines and hepatokine were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.Results: The serum levels of chemerin, FGF-21 and RBP-4 were significantly higher in children and adolescents with gallstones compared to the control group. Elevated levels of triglycerides, RBP-4, and a homeostatic model for assessing insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were observed in overweight or obese patients compared to patients with normal weight and cholelithiasis. Chemerin concentrations were increased in the normal-weight children and adolescents with cholelithiasis compared to the control group. Children and adolescents with gallstones and abnormal weight had significantly higher levels of chemerin, FGF-21 and RBP-4 than healthy controls.Conclusion: Elevated serum chemerin levels were significantly higher in non-obese patients with cholelithiasis than in non-obese controls, suggesting a potential role of chemerin in the development of cholelithiasis in children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]