ABSTRACT Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the commonest diffuse liver disease, of which women with polycystic ovary syndrome are at an increased risk. The aim of the present study was to assess the diagnostic value of the semiquantitative strain parameters of real-time ultrasound elastography for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Subjects and methods: Thirty-five polycystic ovary syndrome patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, 70 polycystic ovary syndrome patients without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and 70 healthy female controls of reproductive age were included. All participants underwent ultrasonic examination and semiquantitative analysis of real-time ultrasound elastography of the liver. Results: Main semi quantitative strain parameters, such as average strain value, differed significantly among groups polycystic ovary syndrome with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, polycystic ovary syndrome without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and control (87.02 ± 10.16 vs. 96.31 ± 11.44 vs. 104.49 ± 7.28, p < 0.001). Clinical and laboratory parameters differed significantly between the two subgroups with low or high average strain value. For diagnostic value of average strain value for elevated aminotransferase, the area under the curve was 0.808 (range 0.721-0.895). In multiple linear regression analysis, polycystic ovary syndrome, waist circumference, and metabolic syndrome were stand-alone independent factors associated with average strain value among subjects without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusion: Semiquantitative real-time ultrasound elastography analysis could distinguish liver parenchyma alterations in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome more sensitively. The diagnostic value of the proposed method for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease need further research.

Ultrasound-measured inferior vena cava (IVC) and abdominal aorta (Ao)-associated parameters have been used to predict volume status for decades, yet research focusing on the impact of individual physical characteristics, including gender, height/weight, body surface area (BSA), and age, assessed simultaneously on those parameters in Chinese children is lacking. The aim of the present study was to explore the impact of individual characteristics on maximum IVC diameter (IVCmax), Ao, and IVCmax/Ao in healthy Chinese children. From September to December 2015, 200 healthy children from 1 to 13 years of age were enrolled. IVCmax and Ao diameters were measured by 2D ultrasound. We found that age (years), height (cm), weight (kg), waist circumference (cm), and BSA (m2) were positively correlated with IVCmax and Ao. Multivariate linear regression showed that age was the only independent variable for IVCmax (mm) in female children, height was the only independent variable for IVCmax in male children, and age was the only independent variable for Ao in both females and males. IVCmax/Ao was not significantly influenced by the subjects’ characteristics. In conclusion, IVCmax and Ao were more susceptible to subjects’ characteristics than IVCmax/Ao. IVCmax/Ao could be a reliable and practical parameter in Chinese children as it was independent of age, height, and weight.

Objective To investigate the effect of abstention from breastfeeding, for an hour before and after each vaccination, on the immune responses of infants to two doses of rotavirus vaccine. Methods In Soweto, South Africa, mother–infant pairs who were uninfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were enrolled as they presented for the “6-week” immunizations of the infants. Each infant was randomly assigned to Group 1 – in which breastfeeding was deferred for at least 1 h before and after each dose of rotavirus vaccine – or Group 2 – in which unrestricted breastfeeding was encouraged. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to evaluate the titres of rotavirus-specific IgA in samples of serum collected from each infant immediately before each vaccine dose and 1 month after the second dose. Among the infants, a fourfold or greater increase in titres of rotavirus-specific IgA following vaccination was considered indicative of seroconversion. Findings The evaluable infants in Group 1 (n = 98) were similar to those in Group 2 (n = 106) in their baseline demographic characteristics and their pre-vaccination titres of anti-rotavirus IgA. After the second vaccine doses, geometric mean titres of anti-rotavirus IgA in the sera of Group-1 infants were similar to those in the sera of Group-2 infants (P = 0.685) and the frequency of seroconversion in the Group-1 infants was similar to that in the Group-2 infants (P = 0.485). Conclusion Among HIV-uninfected South African infants, abstention from breastfeeding for at least 1 h before and after each vaccination dose had no significant effect on the infants’ immune response to a rotavirus vaccine.

Resumen Objetivo Investigar el efecto de la abstención de la lactancia materna, una hora antes y después de cada vacuna, en las respuestas inmunes de los lactantes a dos dosis de la vacuna contra el rotavirus. Métodos En Soweto, Sudáfrica, se inscribieron parejas de madres-bebés que no estaban infectados por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH), ya que se sometieron a las inmunizaciones de «seis semanas» de los lactantes. Se asignó al azar a cada niño al Grupo 1 – en el cual se aplazó la lactancia materna al menos 1 hora antes y después de cada dosis de la vacuna contra el rotavirus – o al Grupo 2 – en el cual se fomentó la lactancia sin restricciones. Se utilizaron ensayos de inmunoadsorción enzimática para evaluar los títulos de IgA específica de rotavirus en muestras de suero recogidas de cada lactante inmediatamente antes de cada dosis de vacuna y 1 mes después de la segunda dosis. Entre los lactantes, un incremento cuádruple o mayor en los títulos de IgA específica de rotavirus tras la vacunación se consideró indicativo de seroconversión. Resultados Las características demográficas de base y los títulos de vacunación previa de la IgA antirrotavirus de los lactantes evaluables del Grupo 1 (n = 98) fueron similares a los del Grupo 2 (n = 106). Tras la segunda dosis de la vacuna, los títulos de la media geométrica de la IgA antirrotavirus en los sueros de los lactantes del Grupo-1 eran similares a los de los sueros de los lactantes del Grupo-2 (P = 0,685) y la frecuencia de la seroconversión en los lactantes del Grupo-1 fue similar a la de los lactantes del Grupo-2 (P = 0,485). Conclusión Entre los lactantes sudafricanos infectados por el VIH, la abstención a la lactancia materna durante al menos 1 hora antes y después de cada dosis de la vacuna no tuvo efectos importantes en la respuesta inmune de los lactantes a la vacuna contra el rotavirus.

Résumé Objectif Étudier l'effet de l'abstention d'allaitement, une heure avant et après chaque vaccination, sur les réactions immunitaires des nourrissons à deux doses de vaccin contre le rotavirus. Méthodes À Soweto, en Afrique du Sud, des couples mère-enfant non infectés par le virus de l'immunodéficience humaine (VIH) ont été inscrits à cette étude, alors qu'ils se présentaient pour les vaccinations des nourrissons de 6 semaines. Chaque enfant a été placé au hasard dans le groupe 1 – au sein duquel l'allaitement était reporté au moins d'une heure avant et après chaque dose de vaccin contre le rotavirus - ou dans le groupe 2 - au sein duquel l'allaitement sans restriction a été encouragé. Des dosages immuno-enzymatiques ont été utilisés pour évaluer les titres d'IgA spécifiques du rotavirus dans des échantillons de sérum prélevés chez chaque enfant immédiatement avant chaque dose de vaccin et un mois après la deuxième dose. Chez les nourrissons, une augmentation par 4 ou plus des titres d'IgA spécifiques du rotavirus après la vaccination a été considérée comme une indication de séroconversion. Résultats Les nourrissons évaluables du groupe 1 (n = 98) étaient similaires à ceux du groupe 2 (n = 106) en ce qui concernaient leurs caractéristiques démographiques de base et leurs titres d'IgA anti-rotavirus avant la vaccination. Après les deuxièmes doses de vaccin, les titres moyens géométriques d'IgA anti-rotavirus du sérum des nourrissons du groupe 1 étaient semblables à ceux du sérum des nourrissons du groupe 2 (P = 0,685), et la fréquence de séroconversion des nourrissons du groupe 1 était semblable à celle des nourrissons du groupe 2 (P = 0,485). Conclusion Chez les nourrissons non infectés par le VIH en Afrique du Sud, l'abstention d'allaitement pendant au moins une heure avant et après chaque dose de vaccination n'a eu aucun effet significatif sur la réaction immunitaire des nourrissons à un vaccin contre le rotavirus.