Association of visceral fat and risk factors for metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents.

PURPOSE: Visceral fat (VF) is closely associated with many metabolic risk factors and is also known to be a strong predictive factor for severe metabolic complications in adults. But there are only a few studies concerning the association of VF and risk factors for metabolic syndrome (MS) in children and adolescents. In our study, we emphasized the association of VF [measured by VF computed tomography (VFCT)] and risk factors for metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were outpatients aged 6 to 18 years who underwent VFCT in the family medicine of The Catholic University of Korea from January 2005 to August 2009. There were 82 patients in total (42 children, 40 adolescents). Height, weight, blood pressure (BP), blood tests, body composition analysis and VF were measured. The three groups were also classified by metabolic score. RESULTS: In children, only high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) showed a statistically significant difference, while in adolescents, triglyceride, HDL-C, BP, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and VFA showed statistically significant differences. In terms of VFA, fasting glucose, BP, BMI, basal metabolic rate (BMR) and WC showed statistically significant differences. BMI showed a statistically significant difference in terms of BP, BMR, WC, VFA and HDL-C. CONCLUSION: There is a need to acknowledge the statistically significant associations of VF and risk factors for MS in children and adolescents. Screening tests for BP, cholesterol, fasting glucose and WC should be given in clinics for children and adolescents so that MS can be detected and its risk factors treated early.

Role of medial orbital wall morphologic properties in orbital blow-out fractures.

PURPOSE: This study compares medial orbital wall supporting structures in patients with isolated inferior and medial wall fractures. METHODS: The morphologic properties in all consecutive patients with periocular trauma who underwent orbital computed tomography (CT) scans from January 2004 to March 2006 were reviewed. On CT scans, the size of the fracture, the number of ethmoid air cell septa, and the length and height of the lamina papyracea were measured. RESULTS: In 118 patients without orbital wall fracture, there were no bilateral differences in the measured structures. We took measurements from the opposite site in patients with fractures in whom it was difficult to visualize the structures at the fractured site. Seventy patients with medial wall fractures and 37 with inferior wall fractures showed no differences in sex, side of impact, etiology of the trauma, association with intraocular injuries, fracture size, anterior and posterior height, anteroposterior length, or the area of the lamina papyracea. In contrast, the number of ethmoid air cell septa was significantly lower (3.09+/-0.86 vs. 3.62+/-0.79, P=0.002) and the lamina papyracea area supported per ethmoid air cell septum was significantly higher (137.55+/-40.11 mm(2) vs. 119.64+/-38.14 mm(2), P=0.028) in patients with medial wall fractures than in those with inferior wall fractures. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with fewer ethmoid air cell septa and a larger lamina papyracea area per septum are more likely to develop medial wall fractures than inferior wall fractures.