leptin and Infant--Newborn--Diseases

Adipokines are involved in the regulation of many inflammatory processes and are present at very high concentrations in cord blood of term infants.. We analysed data of a large prospective birth cohort study to examine whether adiponectin and leptin concentration in cord blood are determinants of wheezing disorders in children within the first 2 years of life.. Seven hundred and forty mothers and their newborns were included in this analysis. Adiponectin and leptin concentrations were measured in cord blood. The cumulative incidence of physician-reported asthma or obstructive bronchitis was recorded during a 2-year follow-up.. During the first 2 years of life, asthma or obstructive bronchitis was reported by the caring paediatricians for 157 (19.6%) of the children. We found a strong interaction of cord blood adiponectin and history of atopic disease in the mother with respect to the risk of physician-reported asthma or obstructive bronchitis (P=0.006). Compared with children with cord blood levels in the middle quintile (reference category), the odds ratios for physician-reported asthma or obstructive bronchitis in the bottom quintile and top quintile were 0.14 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.02-0.90] and 2.12 (95% CI 0.67-6.66), respectively (P for trend=0.0003), among children of mothers with a history of atopy. This association was independent of other established risk factors. Leptin levels in cord blood were not associated with risk of asthma or obstructive bronchitis.. In children of mothers with a history of atopy, concentrations of adiponectin in cord blood could play an important role in determining risk of wheezing disorders in early childhood.

Topics: Adiponectin; Adult; Asthma; Bronchitis; Child, Preschool; Female; Fetal Blood; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Leptin; Male; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Respiratory Sounds; Risk Factors

The effect leptin on fetal growth in healthy and infected newborns is not well known. This study is aimed at: 1) evaluating serum leptin concentration in full term and preterm, healthy and infected newborns, according to their gender, birth asphyxia, intrauterine and neonatal infections, and 2) assessing the correlation between serum leptin levels and anthropometric parameters among healthy and infected newborns.. The study involved 146 newborns: 73 full-term and 73 preterm, 86 male and 60 female, 56 healthy and 90 infected, aged from 2nd to 4th day of life. Anthropometric parameters, including: birth weight, length, head and chest circumference, and serum leptin concentration were measured in all the subjects. Intrauterine and neonatal infections were diagnosed by the standard criteria.. In this study, it was found that both healthy and infected, but full-term newborns had significantly higher mean leptin concentration than the premature ones (p<0.05). Statistically significant (p<0.05), positive correlations were found between serum leptin level and gestational age, birth weight, head and chest circumference, both in healthy, and in infected newborns.. Findings of this study suggest that the serum leptin concentration in full term newborns is higher than in the preterm ones, and in females it is higher than in males, 2) among both healthy and infected newborns, there is a positive, linear correlation between the serum leptin concentration and anthropometric parameters, 3) intrauterine and neonatal infections do not have a significant influence on serum leptin concentration. The role of leptin in fetal growth deserves further research.

Topics: Anthropometry; Birth Weight; Body Height; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Gestational Age; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Infant, Premature; Infections; Leptin; Linear Models; Male; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Term Birth

It has been suggested that hyperleptinemia could be caused by hyperinsulinemia in infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs).. To compare leptin, insulin, and glucose levels in large-for-gestational-age (LGA) and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants.. A cross-sectional study was conducted in IDMs, infants of non-diabetic mothers (INDM) and AGA infants.. Seventy-seven newborns were studied (11 IDM, 16 INDM, and 50 AGA infants). Leptin levels were significantly higher in LGA infants than in the AGA group and a trend for higher levels in IDM than NIDM was observed. Insulin levels and insulin resistance were significantly higher in IDMs. Glucose levels were lower in both groups of LGA infants.. We found insulin resistance, hyperinsulinism and hyperleptinemia in IDMs, and the trend of higher leptin levels in IDMs than INDMs shows that leptin could be related to insulin resistance in these infants.

Topics: Birth Weight; Blood Glucose; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus; Female; Fetal Macrosomia; Gestational Age; Humans; Hyperinsulinism; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Leptin; Male; Obesity; Pregnancy; Pregnancy in Diabetics