This study investigated the effect of supervised sprint interval training (SIT) on different cardiometabolic risk factors and adipokines in adolescent boys with obesity. Thirty-seven boys were allocated to either a SIT group (13.1 ± 0.3 years; body mass index [BMI]: 30.3 ± 0.9 kg·m⁻²) or a control group (CONT) (13.7 ± 0.4 years; BMI: 32.6 ± 1.6 kg·m⁻²). The SIT group performed 4–6 × 30 s all-out cycling sprints, interspersed with 4 min rest, for 3 sessions/week, during a 12-week period, while the non-exercising CONT group maintained a habitual lifestyle. Anthropometric measurements, triglycerides, fasting insulin and glucose, total cholesterol (TC), high- (HDLc) and low-density (LDLc) cholesterol, leptin and adiponectin in blood, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and a metabolic syndrome severity risk score (MSSS) were calculated before and after the 12-week period. Compared to baseline values, a significant reduction in MSSS was seen in the SIT group after intervention. LDLc showed favorable changes in SIT compared to CONT (−0.06 ± 0.1 vs. 0.19 ± 0.01 mmol·L⁻¹; p = 0.025). Additionally, CRF increased in the SIT group compared to the CONT group (5.2 ± 1.1 vs. −2.1 ± 1.1 mL·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹, p < 0.001). Moreover, a 12-week all-out SIT training effectively improves cardiometabolic health in adolescent boys with obesity.

About 10-20% of neonates with suspected or proven early onset sepsis (EOS) fail on the empiric antibiotic regimen of ampicillin or penicillin and gentamicin. We aimed to identify clinical and laboratory markers associated with empiric antibiotic treatment failure in neonates with suspected EOS. Maternal and early neonatal characteristics predicting failure of empiric antibiotic treatment were identified by univariate logistic regression analysis from a prospective database of 283 neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit within 72 hours of life and requiring antibiotic therapy with penicillin or ampicillin and gentamicin. Variables, identified as significant by univariate analysis, were entered into stepwise multiple logistic regression (MLR) analysis and classification and regression tree (CRT) analysis to develop a decision algorithm for clinical application. In order to ensure the earliest possible timing separate analysis for 24 and 72 hours of age was performed. At 24 hours of age neonates with hypoglycaemia ≤ 2.55 mmol/L together with CRP values > 1.35 mg/L or those with BW ≤ 678 g had more than 30% likelihood of treatment failure. In normoglycaemic neonates with higher BW the best predictors of treatment failure at 24 hours were GA ≤ 27 weeks and among those, with higher GA, WBC ≤ 8.25 × 10⁹ L^-1 together with platelet count ≤ 143 × 10⁹ L^-1. The algorithm allowed capture of 75% of treatment failure cases with a specificity of 89%. By 72 hours of age minimum platelet count ≤ 94.5 × 10⁹ L^-1 with need for vasoactive treatment or leukopaenia ≤ 3.5 × 10⁹ L^-1 or leukocytosis > 39.8 × 10⁹ L^-1 or blood glucose ≤ 1.65 mmol/L allowed capture of 81% of treatment failure cases with the specificity of 88%. The performance of MLR and CRT models was similar, except for higher specificity of the CRT at 72 h, compared to MLR analysis. There is an identifiable group of neonates with high risk of EOS, likely to fail on conventional antibiotic therapy.

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of supervised cycling sprint interval training (SIT) on serum osteocalcin, lipocalin-2 and sclerostin levels, and bone mineral characteristics among obese adolescent boys. Untrained obese adolescent boys aged 13.4 ± 0.3 were assigned to either a 12-week SIT group (3 sessions/week), or a non-exercising control group who continued with their habitual everyday life. Serum osteocalcin, lipocalin-2 and sclerostin concentrations, and bone mineral values were assessed before and after intervention. After 12-week intervention, where 14 boys in both groups ended the study, there were no significant differences in serum osteokine levels between the groups after 12 weeks, while whole body bone mineral content and lower limb bone mineral density increased in the SIT group (p < 0.05). Change in body mass index was negatively correlated with the change in osteocalcin (r = −0.57; p = 0.034), and positively correlated with the change in lipocalin-2 levels (r = 0.57; p = 0.035) in the SIT group. Supervised 12-week SIT intervention improved bone mineral characteristics, but did not change osteocalcin, lipocalin-2 or sclerostin levels in adolescent boys with obesity.