The association between a low urine pH and the components of metabolic syndrome in the Korean population: Findings based on the 2010 Korea National health and nutrition examination survey.

BACKGROUND: Low urine pH is related to obesity and insulin resistance, which are components of metabolic syndrome (MS). The aim of this study was to identify the relation between a low urine pH and MS after controlled for other covariates including demographic and lifestyle factors in adult Korean population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross-sectional and nationally representative survey and 1960 men and 2702 women were included in this study. Study subjects were divided into the group with urine pH <5.5 and the group with urine pH ≥5.5 refer to literature. We then evaluated the association between low urine pH and MS. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, drinking status, regular exercise, and blood urea nitrogen level, the odds ratio (OR) for the presence of MS in the group with urine pH <5.5 was 1.350 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.158-1.573) using the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute criteria or 1.304 (95% CI: 1.082-1.572) using the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Among MS components, elevated fasting glucose (OR: 1.231, 95% CI: 1.058-1.433, P = 0.007) and elevated triglyceride (TG) (OR: 1.389, 95% CI: 1.189-1.623, P < 0.001) showed a significantly high OR. CONCLUSION: The findings confirmed that low urine pH is associated with MS in the Korean population. Among MS components, elevated fasting glucose and elevated TG showed a significantly high OR.

Differential expression of ghrelin mRNA according to anatomical portions of human stomach.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The detailed ghrelin distribution on mRNA level in different anatomical portions of adult stomach and its association with plasma ghrelin levels are not yet well established. We investigated the ghrelin mRNA and peptide expression in different anatomical portions of stomach in human adults. METHODOLOGY: Stomach tissue samples were obtained from 16 patients with gastric cancer who underwent total gastrectomy. The normal stomach tissues were taken from the upper (gastric fundus and upper body), middle (gastric middle and lower body) and lower (gastric antrum and pylorus) portions of stomach, respectively. The expression of ghrelin mRNA and peptide in stomach tissue samples were measured using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The ghrelin/actin ratio was 0.78 (range 0-3.38; n=16) at the upper portion, 0.20 (range 0-1.28; n=16) at the middle portion and 0.07 (range 0-0.67; n=16) at the lower portion of the stomach (p=0.001). Ghrelin-positive cells were seen in all parts of the gastric mucosa and were most numerous in the glandular compartment compared to foveolar compartment. Gastric body or fundic mucosa showed ghrelin-positive cells most abundantly as compared to other portions of the gastric mucosa (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Ghrelin mRNA expression and immunoreactivity is highest at the upper portion of the human stomach.

Analysis of questioning technique during classes in medical education.

BACKGROUND: Questioning is one of the essential techniques used by lecturers to make lectures more interactive and effective. This study surveyed the perception of questioning techniques by medical school faculty members and analyzed how the questioning technique is used in actual classes. METHODS: Data on the perceptions of the questioning skills used during lectures was collected using a self-questionnaire for faculty members (N = 33) during the second semester of 2008. The questionnaire consisted of 18 items covering the awareness and characteristics of questioning skills. Recorded video tapes were used to observe the faculty members' questioning skills. RESULTS: Most faculty members regarded the questioning technique during classes as being important and expected positive outcomes in terms of the students' participation in class, concentration in class and understanding of the class contents. In the 99 classes analyzed, the median number of questions per class was 1 (0-29). Among them, 40 classes (40.4 %) did not use questioning techniques. The frequency of questioning per lecture was similar regardless of the faculty members' perception. On the other hand, the faculty members perceived that their usual wait time after question was approximately 10 seconds compared to only 2.5 seconds measured from video analysis. More lecture-experienced faculty members tended to ask more questions in class. CONCLUSIONS: There were some discrepancies regarding the questioning technique between the faculty members' perceptions and reality, even though they had positive opinions of the technique. The questioning skills during a lecture need to be emphasized to faculty members.

Interactive effects of an isocaloric high-protein diet and resistance exercise on body composition, ghrelin, and metabolic and hormonal parameters in untrained young men: A randomized clinical trial.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: The interactive effects of resistance training and dietary protein on hormonal responses in adults are not clear and remain controversial. We tested the effect of an isocaloric high-protein diet on body composition, ghrelin, and metabolic and hormonal parameters during a 12-week resistance training program in untrained healthy young men. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We randomized 18 healthy young men to a standard diet (ST group) or an isocaloric high protein diet (HP group). Both groups participated in a 12-week resistance exercise program. We measured body composition, lipid profile, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) indices, total ghrelin, and exercise-related hormones at baseline and 12 weeks. RESULTS: In the HP group, lean body mass (LBM), total ghrelin, growth hormone, testosterone and cortisol levels showed an increase, whereas body fat percentage and HOMA-IR showed a decrease at 12 weeks, compared with baseline (P ≤ 0.05). In the ST group, no changes in these parameters were observed during the 12-week period. During the 12-week period, significant differences in the pattern of change of LBM (P = 0.032), total ghrelin (P = 0.037), HOMA-IR (P = 0.040) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.011) over time were observed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study suggest that an isocaloric high-protein diet can ameliorate body composition, metabolic profiles and energy metabolism during a 12-week scheduled resistance training program in untrained healthy young men. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (no. NCT01714700).

Adjustment of gut hormones release pattern following a fixed mealtime change in human.

BACKGROUND: Gut hormones secretion is related to habitual mealtimes. However, how fast gut hormones adjust to that change when people change their fixed mealtime remains unknown. METHODS: Seven healthy male volunteers were asked to eat a test breakfast at 0700 am for 2 weeks before the start of the study. Then, their fixed mealtime was intentionally changed from 0700 am to 0900 am for next 2 weeks. Blood samples were drawn every half hour from 0500 am until next 3h after breakfast for determining gut hormone levels every week. RESULTS: After a change in fixed mealtime, the release pattern of acylated ghrelin was first adjusted identically according to the change and then total ghrelin was made. The meal-related fluctuations of acylated ghrelin were delayed by 120 min from week 1 after the change, while those of total ghrelin were delayed by 60 min at week 1, by 120 min at week 2. Two weeks was not enough time to adjust completely for PYY(3-36) to the change. CONCLUSION: Two weeks is enough time until the pattern release of ghrelin, but not PYY(3-36) , is adjusted fully after a fixed mealtime change in human.

The impact of bladder distension on blood pressure in middle aged women.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relation between the extent of bladder distention and the rise of blood pressure in middle aged women. METHODS: In a cross-sectional, descriptive observational study, we obtained data from 172 middle aged women at a health promotion center of Pusan National University Hospital. We measured duration of urine-holding as the degree of the extension of bladder distention. Blood pressure was measured twice while holding urine and immediately after urination. Urine holding with full bladder was confirmed by abdominal ultrasound. RESULTS: Difference in systolic blood pressure was 4.2 ± 10.7 (P < 0.001), and that in diastolic blood pressure was 2.8 ± 7.7 mm Hg (P < 0.001) between holding urine and immediately after urination. There was no significant correlation between the urine-holding duration and differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that systolic and diastolic blood pressure is increased by urine-holding at least 3 hours after the last urination in middle aged women. Thus in practice, blood pressure should be measured after the bladder is emptied.