Jan–Mar 2022 • Vol LXI • No. 3 9 Latest in Medicine A Family History of Type 2 Diabetes as a Predictor of Fatty Liver Disease in Diabetes‑Free Individuals With Excessive Body Weight De Pergola G, et al Sci Rep. 2021;11:24084. Comprehensive screening for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may serve as a prompt in the clinical management of fatty liver disease. A cross-sectional relationship between a family history of type 2 diabetes (FHT2D) and NAFLD probability was characterized in 1185 diabetes-free Apulian individuals (aged > 20 y), who were overweight or obese and were not on any medication or supplementation. Their clinical data, routine biochemistry, and NAFLD probability based on the fatty liver index (FLI) were analyzed. The study population predominantly comprised females (70.9%), of whom 48.4% had first-degree FHT2D. A high BMI, waist circumference, and diastolic blood pressure was common among individuals with a FHT2D. Altered markers of glucose homeostasis, a high triglyceride level, and poor liver function were also observed. The FLI score was significantly low in individuals without a first-degree FHT2D. According to logistic regression models, the probability of FHT2D association with NAFLD was almost 2-fold higher compared with cases without a history. A first-degree FHT2D acts as an independent determinant of NAFLD in excess weight phenotypes, regardless of the age group. NAFLD risk assessment within multidimensional screening might be useful in individuals who are overweight and report a FHT2D even in the absence of diabetes. Butyrate-Producing Microbiota Are Reduced in Chronic Kidney Diseases Gao B, et al Sci Rep. 2021;11:23530. Alterations in the gut microbiota composition have been observed in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Nevertheless, the correlation between the gut microbiota and disease severity has not been investigated. In this study, a shotgun metagenomics sequencing was performed, and several taxonomic and functional signatures associated with disease severity in patients with CKD were identified. Nineteen microbial genera that were significantly associated with the severity of CKD were observed. The butyrate-producing bacteria were reduced in patients with advanced stages of CKD. In addition, functional metagenomics showed that two component systems—metabolic activity and regulation of cofactor—were significantly associated with the disease severity. This study provides valuable information for the development of microbiota-oriented therapeutic strategies for CKD. Association Between Serum Vitamin A Levels and Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infections in Children Wang X, et al Front Pediatr. 2021;9:756217. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the association between serum vitamin A levels and the prevalence of recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs) in children and adolescents and to provide evidence that would help decrease the prevalence of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children. The study included 8034 children and adolescents (aged 6 mo to 17 y). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between the serum vitamin A level and RRTIs after adjusting for potential confounders. Among the included children, 8.97% were diagnosed with vitamin A deficiency, whereas 38.25% were diagnosed with subclinical vitamin A deficiency. Only 28.8% of children with vitamin A deficiency and 53.1% of children with subclinical vitamin A deficiency had no RRTI and RTI symptoms, respectively. Compared with children with normal vitamin A levels, those with vitamin A deficiency and subclinical vitamin A deficiency were at a higher risk of RRTIs. The vitamin A level was also positively associated with RTI symptoms. This study shows that a low serum vitamin A level is significantly associated with RRTI or RTI prevalence in children and adolescents.
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