Effects of vinpocetine on atopic dermatitis after administration via three different routes in HR-1 hairless mice.

This study aimed to examine the effects of vinpocetine on atopic dermatitis (AD) by administering it via oral, intraperitoneal, and topical routes to HR-1 hairless mice. AD was induced in the mice for five weeks with ovalbumin, and vinpocetine was administered twice daily through each route of administration for two weeks after the induction of AD. Vinpocetine (20, 10, and 2 mg/kg) was administered by oral, intraperitoneal, and topical routes, respectively. The administration of vinpocetine suppressed the increase in serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E and IgG1 levels and the production of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13-cytokines linked to T helper 2 cells in skin tissue. In addition, the invasion of inflammatory cells, including eosinophils, into the skin tissue was reduced, and changes in skin structure were also suppressed. These results show the potential for the use of vinpocetine in patients with AD and even for targeted treatment against PDE. In most of the experiments, symptom relief in the groups receiving oral and topical vinpocetine was slightly superior to that in the group receiving vinpocetine intraperitoneally. In particular, topical application of vinpocetine was found to be the most effective route when considering the dose of vinpocetine used in each route.

Epidemiological Study of Hereditary Hemolytic Anemia in the Korean Pediatric Population during 1997-2016: a Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary hemolytic anemia (HHA) is a rare disease characterized by premature red blood cell (RBC) destruction due to intrinsic RBC defects. The RBC Disorder Working Party of the Korean Society of Hematology established and updated the standard operating procedure for making an accurate diagnosis of HHA since 2007. The aim of this study was to investigate a nationwide epidemiology of Korean HHA. METHODS: We collected the data of a newly diagnosed pediatric HHA cohort (2007-2016) and compared this cohort's characteristics with those of a previously surveyed pediatric HHA cohort (1997-2006) in Korea. Each participant's information was retrospectively collected by a questionnaire survey. RESULTS: A total of 369 children with HHA from 38 hospitals distributed in 16 of 17 districts of Korea were investigated. RBC membranopathies, hemoglobinopathies, RBC enzymopathies, and unknown etiologies accounted for 263 (71.3%), 59 (16.0%), 23 (6.2%), and 24 (6.5%) of the cases, respectively. Compared to the cohort from the previous decade, the proportions of hemoglobinopathies and RBC enzymopathies significantly increased (P < 0.001 and P = 0.008, respectively). Twenty-three of the 59 hemoglobinopathy patients had immigrant mothers, mostly from South-East Asia. CONCLUSION: In Korea, thalassemia traits have increased over the past 10 years, reflecting both increased awareness of this disease and increased international marriages. The enhanced recognition of RBC enzymopathies is due to advances in diagnostic technique; however, 6.5% of HHA patients still do not have a clear diagnosis. It is necessary to improve accessibility of diagnosing HHA.

Sonographic Growth Charts for Kidney Length in Normal Korean Children: a Prospective Observational Study.

Kidney length is the most useful parameter for clinical measurement of kidney size, and is useful to distinguish acute kidney injury from chronic kidney disease. In this prospective observational study of 437 normal children aged between 0 and < 13 years, kidney length was measured using sonography. There were good correlations between kidney length and somatic values, including age, weight, height, and body surface area. The rapid growth of height during the first 2 years of life was intimately associated with a similar increase in kidney length, suggesting that height should be considered an important factor correlating with kidney length. Based on our findings, the following regression equation for the reference values of bilateral kidney length for Korean children was obtained: kidney length of the right kidney (cm) = 0.051 × height (cm) + 2.102; kidney length of the left kidney (cm) = 0.051 × height (cm) + 2.280. This equation may aid in the diagnosis of various kidney disorders.

Antidepressant effects of exercise are produced via suppression of hypocretin/orexin and melanin-concentrating hormone in the basolateral amygdala.

Physical exercise is considered beneficial in the treatment of depression, but the underlying mechanism is not clearly understood. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism regulating antidepressant effects of exercise by focusing on the role of the amygdala using a well-defined animal model of depression. C57BL/6 mice treated with repeated restraint showed depression-like behaviors, which was counteracted by post-stress treatment with physical exercise. The two neuropeptides hypocretin/orexin (Hcrt/Orx) and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) were transcriptionally upregulated in the BLA after repeated stress, and their enhanced expression was downregulated by treatment with exercise, mirroring stress-induced depression-like behaviors and their reversal by exercise. Stereotaxic injection of either Hcrt/Orx peptide or MCH peptide within the BLA commonly increased phospho-CaMKIIα level and produced depression-like behaviors, mimicking the neural states in the BLA of mice subjected to repeated stress. In contrast, siRNA-mediated suppression of Hcrt/Orx or MCH in the BLA blocked stress-induced depression-like behaviors. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated inhibition of CaMKIIα in the BLA also counteracted stress-induced depression-like behaviors. Local injection of Hcrt/Orx peptide or MCH peptide within the BLA in exercise-treated animals blocked antidepressant-like effects of exercise. Together these results suggest that exercise produces antidepressant effects via suppression of Hcrt/Orx and MCH neural systems in the BLA.

Effects of the novel compound DK223 ([1E,2E-1,2-Bis(6-methoxy-2H-chromen-3-yl)methylene]hydrazine) on migration and proliferation of human keratinocytes and primary dermal fibroblasts.

Wound healing plays an important role in protecting the human body from external infection. Cell migration and proliferation of keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts are essential for proper wound healing. Recently, several studies have demonstrated that secondary compounds produced in plants could affect skin cells migration and proliferation. In this study, we identified a novel compound DK223 ([1E,2E-1,2-bis(6-methoxy-2H-chromen-3-yl)methylene]hydrazine) that concomitantly induced human keratinocyte migration and dermal fibroblast proliferation. We evaluated the regulation of epithelial and mesenchymal protein markers, such as E-cadherin and Vimentin, in human keratinocytes, as well as extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion and metalloproteinase families in dermal fibroblasts. DK223 upregulated keratinocyte migration and significantly increased the epithelial marker E-cadherin in a time-dependent manner. We also found that reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased significantly in keratinocytes after 2 h of DK223 exposure, returning to normal levels after 24 h, which indicated that DK223 had an early shock effect on ROS production. DK223 also stimulated fibroblast proliferation, and induced significant secretion of ECM proteins, such as collagen I, III, and fibronectin. In dermal fibroblasts, DK223 treatment induced TGF-ß1, which is involved in a signaling pathway that mediates proliferation. In conclusion, DK223 simultaneously induced both keratinocyte migration via ROS production and fibroblast proliferation via TGF-ß1 induction.

Piperacillin-Tazobactam versus Cefotaxime as Empiric Treatment for Febrile Urinary Tract Infection in Hospitalized Children.

BACKGROUND: According to international pediatric urinary tract infection (UTI) guidelines, selecting ampicillin/sulbactam or amoxicillin/clavulanate is recommended as the first-line treatment for pediatric UTI. In Korea, elevated resistance to ampicillin and ampicillin/sulbactam has resulted in the widespread use of third-generation cephalosporins for treating pediatric UTIs. This study aims to compare the efficacy of piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP) and cefotaxime (CTX) as first-line treatments in hospitalized children with UTIs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study, conducted at Jeju National University Hospital, retrospectively analyzed medical records of children hospitalized for febrile UTIs between 2014 and 2017. UTI diagnosis included unexplained fever, abnormal urinalysis, and the presence of significant uropathogens. Treatment responses, recurrence, and antimicrobial susceptibility were assessed. RESULTS: Out of 323 patients, 220 met the inclusion criteria. Demographics and clinical characteristics were similar between TZP and CTX groups. For children aged ≥3 months, no significant differences were found in treatment responses and recurrence. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-positive strains were associated with recurrence in those <3 months. CONCLUSION: In Korea, escalating resistance to empirical antibiotics has led to the adoption of broad-spectrum empirical treatment. TZP emerged as a viable alternative to CTX for hospitalized children aged ≥3 months with UTIs. Consideration of ESBL-positive strains and individualized approaches for those <3 months are crucial.

Genetic effects of adiponectin single nucleotide polymorphisms on the clustering of metabolic risk factors in young Korean adults.

Little is known if lifestyle-related risk factors modulate the adiponectin genetic effects on its outcome phenotypes. The aims of the study were to investigate whether the association between the adiponectin gene two SNPs (+45T>G, rs2241766 and +276G>T, rs1501299) and a clustering of metabolic risk factors is modified by both cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and insulin resistance in a study sample of 1,622 young Korean adults (941 men and 681 women, mean age 22.9 ± 2.4 years). The clustering of metabolic risk factors was defined as a sum of Z scores for waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), triacylglycerols (TAG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and fasting glucose. With respect to SNP +45T>G, the TT genotype had significantly higher values for BMI, WC, systolic BP, TAG, insulin, and a clustered risk score than did the TG+GG genotype. The genetic effect of SNP +45 on the clustered risk score remained significant even after controlling for age, sex, and smoking (P = 0.019). However, the genetic impact was no longer significant when additionally controlling for CRF (P = 0.097) and fasting insulin (P = 0.181), respectively. With respect to SNP +276G>T, the GT+TT genotypes had significantly higher values for BMI and TAG than did the TT genotype. In summary, the present findings suggest that the SNPs at position +45 and +276 are associated with several of metabolic risk factors; however, the genetic effect of SNP +45T/G variant on the clustered risk score is modulated by both CRF and insulin resistance.

Enhancement of Efficiency of a TiO2-BiFeO3 Dye-Synthesized Solar Cell through Magnetization.

Enhancement in the efficiency of a TiO2 dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) has been demonstrated by introducing ferromagnetic perovskite BiFeO3 and controlling the magnetic field, which induces two-dimensional material-like properties in the bulk of the TiO2-BiFeO3 DSSC (a 3-dimensional material). The effect of the concentration of BiFeO3 as well as the magnetization direction on the performance of the TiO2-BiFeO3 DSSC has been investigated. After magnetization, it was confirmed that the current density, efficiency, and open circuit voltage of the TiO2-BiFeO3 DSSC were increased. The observed phenomena have been explained in terms of the Hall effect which is responsible for the reduction of the degree of freedom of the electron movement resulting in the two-dimensional material-like properties in the bulk of the TiO2-BiFeO3 DSSC.

Precore and core promoter mutations of the hepatitis B virus gene in chronic genotype C-infected children.

The precore (G1896A) and core promoter (A1762T, G1764A) mutations of the hepatitis B virus gene are known to be associated with changes in immunologic phase or the progression to complicated liver disease in adults. We analyzed these mutations in chronically HBV-infected children. Serum was collected from 37 children with chronic HBV infection from March 2005 to September 2008. HBV DNA extraction and nested PCR were followed by sequencing of the PCR products. The children were 6.7 ± 4.6 yr old. All of 37 children had HBV genotype C. Of the cohort, 31 (83.8%) were HBeAg-positive and 6 (16.2%) were HBeAg-negative; the former group comprised 18 (48.6%) who were in the immune-tolerance phase (ITP) and 13 (35.2%) in the immune-clearance phase (ICP). Most of the patients had HBV DNA levels of > 1.0 × 10(8) copies/mL. In the ITP group, only 1 (5.5%) had core promoter mutations, and none had the precore mutation. In the ICP group, only 2 (15.4%) had core promoter mutations; the remaining 6 patients had HBV DNA levels of < 2.0 × 10(3) copies/mL and no core promoter/precore mutations. The very low incidence of the precore/core promoter gene mutation, in children, suggests that these mutations may be the result of life-long chronic HBV infection.

Clustering of metabolic syndrome risk factors associated with lifestyle factors and serum leptin in Korean children.

The present study investigated the relationships among metabolic risk factors, major lifestyle factors, and serum cytokines in a sample of Korean children. In a cross-sectional design, we studied a total of 275 children (130 boys and 145 girls) aged 12-13 years. Measured variables included anthropometrics, blood pressures (BP), VO2max, physical activity (PA), dietary intakes, lipids, glucose, and insulin. We explored the extent to which dietary intakes, VO2max, PA, and serum cytokines explained variance in a clustered risk score, which is a sum of Z scores for waist circumference, BP, TG, HDLC, and HOMA-IR, using a stepwise linear regression by blocks. VO2max, vigorous PA (VPA), and leptin were independent predictors for the clustered risk score while adjusting for age and Tanner stage. Our findings suggest that the clustered risk score is associated not only with low levels of VO2max and VPA, but also with elevated serum leptin in Korean children.

Vinpocetine alleviates lung inflammation via macrophage inflammatory protein-1ß inhibition in an ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma model.

Asthma is a well-known bronchial disease that causes bronchial inflammation, narrowing of the bronchial tubes, and bronchial mucus secretion, leading to bronchial blockade. In this study, we investigated the association between phosphodiesterase (PDE), specifically PDE1, and asthma using 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX; a non-specific PDE inhibitor) and vinpocetine (Vinp; a PDE1 inhibitor). Balb/c mice were randomized to five treatment groups: control, ovalbumin (OVA), OVA + IBMX, OVA + Vinp, and OVA + dexamethasone (Dex). All mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA, except for the control group. IBMX, Vinp, or Dex was intraperitoneally administered 1 h before the challenge. Vinp treatment significantly inhibited the increase in airway hyper-responsiveness (P<0.001) and reduced the number of inflammatory cells, particularly eosinophils, in the lungs (P<0.01). It also ameliorated the damage to the bronchi and alveoli and decreased the OVA-specific IgE levels in serum, an indicator of allergic inflammation increased by OVA (P<0.05). Furthermore, the increase in interleukin-13, a known Th2 cytokine, was significantly decreased by Vinp (P<0.05), and Vinp regulated the release and mRNA expression of macrophage inflammatory protein-1ß (MIP-1ß) increased by OVA (P<0.05). Taken together, these results suggest that PDE1 is associated with allergic lung inflammation induced by OVA. Thus, PDE1 inhibitors can be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of asthma.

Pinus thunbergii Parl. Extracts Reduce Acute Inflammation by Targeting Oxidative Stress.

Pinus thunbergii Parl. (PTP) has traditionally been used for edible and medicinal purposes to treat several disorders, including diabetes and neuralgia. Therefore, this study sought to evaluate the inhibitory effects of PTP leaf ethanol extracts on acute inflammation. Moreover, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) generation, and H2O2-induced lipid peroxidation capacity of PTP were assessed in vitro in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Our results suggest that PTP prevents cell damage caused by oxidative free radicals and downregulates the expression of LPS-induced inflammation-associated factors including inducible nitric oxidase synthetase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). PTP inhibited NO production by 53.5% (P < 0.05) and iNOS expression by 71.5% (P < 0.01) at 100 µg/mL. PTP at 100 µg/mL also inhibited ROS generation by 58.2% (P < 0.01) and SOD activity by 29.3%, as well as COX-2 expression by 83.3% (P < 0.01) and PGE2 expression by 98.6% (P < 0.01). The anti-inflammatory effects of PTP were confirmed in vivo using an arachidonic acid (AA)-induced ear edema mouse model. Ear thickness and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were evaluated as indicators of inflammation. PTP inhibited edema formation by 64.5% (P < 0.05) at 1.0 mg/ear. A total of 16 metabolites were identified in PTP extracts and categorized into subgroups, including two phenolic acids (mainly quinic acid), seven flavonoids, five lignans, one sesquiterpenoid, and one long-chain fatty acid. Therefore, our results suggest that PTP possesses anti-inflammatory properties.

Low cardio/respiratory fitness as an independent predictor of metabolic syndrome in Korean young men.

Little information is available regarding the relationship between cardio/respiratory fitness (CRF) and metabolic risk factors in South Korea. The purpose of this study was to compare metabolic risk factors and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) across CRF levels in young Korean men. In a cross-sectional study, we examined 909 Korean young men (mean age 24.0 +/- 2 years) who were apparently healthy, free of any diagnosed chronic diseases, not taking any medications, and who had completed all the requested measurements. Body composition, resting blood pressures, and fasting blood levels of lipids, glucose, and insulin were measured with our standardized laboratory protocols. CRF was quantified as the maximum volume of minute oxygen uptake measured during a graded treadmill test. Group analyses showed that men with moderate to high CRF levels had more favorable profiles in terms of body composition, resting blood pressures, mean values in fasting lipids, glucose, and insulin as well as the homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance than men with a low CRF level. After adjusting for age, smoking, and percent body fat, the low and moderate CRF groups had odds of 4.64 (95% CI 2.00-10.79) and 2.57 (95% CI 1.04-6.34) respectively for having the MS compared to the high CRF group. These findings suggest that low CRF is positively and independently associated with the MS in Korean young men.

Combined effects of body mass index and cardio/respiratory fitness on serum vaspin concentrations in Korean young men.

Little information is available regarding how body fatness and cardio/respiratory fitness (CRF) are associated with serum vaspin. The purpose of the study was to investigate the combined effect of body mass index (BMI) and CRF on serum vaspin in Korean young men. In a cross-sectional study, we examined 490 Korean young men (mean age 23.8 +/- 2.5 years) who were voluntarily recruited. Body fatness and fasting levels of serum insulin, adiponectin, and vaspin were measured. CRF was quantified as the minute volume of oxygen consumption (VO(2)) measured during a graded treadmill test. We assigned individuals to either low or middle or high third CRF tertiles based on age-adjusted VO(2max). We also assigned individuals to either a lean weight (LN) or obese (OB) group based on body fatness levels, in which a BMI value >/=25 kg/m(2) was used as an indicator of Pacific-Asian obesity. Group analyses showed significant interaction effects between fatness and CRF on fasting insulin and serum vaspin such that the OB group with low CRF levels had significantly higher insulin and vaspin concentrations than the OB counterparts with moderate to high CRF levels, and no such CRF-based sub-group differences in insulin and vaspin were found in the LN groups. Regression analyses show that BMI, waist circumference, VO(2), and fasting insulin explain approximately 18% of the individual variations in serum vaspin concentration in this study population. This is the first study to show that high body fatness along with low CRF might contribute to increased vaspin concentrations in Korean young men.

Physical exercise during exposure to 40-Hz light flicker improves cognitive functions in the 3xTg mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Exercise promotes brain health and improves cognitive functioning in the elderly, while 40-Hz light flickering through the visual cortex reduces amyloid beta (Aß) by stabilizing gamma oscillation. We examined whether exercise was associated with hippocampus-mediated improvement in cognitive functioning in the 3xTg-Alzheimer's disease (3xTg-AD) murine model following exposure to 40-Hz light flickering and exercise. METHODS: We subjected 12-month-old 3xTg-AD mice to exercise and 40-Hz light flickering for 3 months to investigate spatial learning, memory, long-term memory, Aß levels, tau levels, mitochondrial functioning including Ca2+ retention and H2O2 emission, apoptosis, and neurogenesis in the hippocampus. RESULTS: Treatments had a positive effect; however, the combination of exercise and 40-Hz light flickering exposure was most effective in reducing Aß and tau levels. Reducing Aß and tau levels by combination of exercise and 40-Hz light flickering improves Ca2+ homeostasis and reactive oxygen species such as H2O2 in mitochondria and apoptosis including bax, bcl-2, cytochrome c, and cleaved caspase-3 and cell death, cell differentiation, and neurogenesis in the 3xTg-AD model of the hippocampus, resulting in improving cognitive impairment such as spatial learning, memory and long term memory. CONCLUSION: Our results show that exercising in a 40-Hz light flickering environment may improve cognitive functioning by reducing Aß and tau levels, thereby enhancing mitochondrial function and neuroplasticity.

Comparative study on long-term stability in mandibular sagittal split ramus osteotomy: hydroxyapatite/poly-l-lactide mesh versus titanium miniplate.

BACKGROUND: Resorbable devices have recently been adopted in the field of orthognathic surgery with controversies about their postoperative skeletal stability. Hence, we determined the long-term skeletal stability of unsintered hydroxyapatite/poly-l-lactic acid (HA/PLLA) mesh for osteofixation of mandibular sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO), and compared it with that of titanium miniplate. METHODS: Patients were divided into resorbable mesh and titanium miniplate fixation groups. A comparative study of the change in the mandibular position was performed with preoperative, 1-day, 6-month, and 2-year postoperative lateral cephalograms. RESULTS: At postoperative 6 months-compared with postoperative 1 day, point B (supra-mentale) was significantly displaced anteriorly in the titanium-fixation group. Moreover, at postoperative 2 years-compared with postoperative 6 months, point B was significantly displaced inferiorly in the titanium-fixation. However, the HA/PLLA mesh-fixation group did not show any significant change with respect to point B postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The HA/PLLA mesh-fixation group demonstrated superior long-term skeletal stability with respect to the position of mandible, when compared with the titanium-fixation group.

Meckel's Diverticulum Diagnosed in a Child with Suspected Small Bowel Crohn's Disease.

We report a rare case of Meckel's diverticulum in a boy who initially presented with chronic iron deficiency anemia (IDA) without any history of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding at 8 years-old. Isolated small bowel Crohn's disease was suspected based on findings of small bowel ulcers on capsule endoscopy. At four years from initial presentation, he developed massive GI bleeding. Abdominal computed tomographic angiography and small bowel series revealed findings suggestive of Meckel's diverticulum. Meckel's diverticulum should be suspected in children with unexplained chronic IDA even in the absence of prominent GI bleeding and negative findings on repetitive Meckel's scans. Moreover, Meckel's diverticulum should be included in the differential diagnosis of isolated small bowel Crohn's disease when the disease is limited to a short segment of the distal small bowel, as ulcers and inflammation may result as a consequence of acid secreted from adjacent heterotopic gastric mucosa constituting the Meckel's diverticulum.

Is the Diagnostic Trial with Proton Pump Inhibitors Reasonable for School Age Children with Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms?

PURPOSE: On the basis of evidence, we aimed to reevaluate the necessity of the empirical proton pump inhibitor (PPI) trial for children with suspected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). METHODS: We analyzed the frequency of GERD in 85 school-age children with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) symptoms, who received 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and/or upper endoscopy. According to the reflux index (RI), the children were classified into normal (RI <5%), intermediate (5%≤ RI <10%), or abnormal (RI ≥10%) groups. RESULTS: Fifty six were female and 29 were male. Their mean age was 12.6±0.5 (±standard deviation) years (range: 6.8-18.6). The RI analysis showed that the normal group included 76 patients (89.4%), the intermediate group included 6 patients (7.1%), and the abnormal group included 3 patients (3.5%). The DeMeester score was 5.93±4.65, 14.68±7.86 and 40.37±12.96 for the normal, intermediate and abnormal group, respectively (p=0.001). The longest reflux time was 5.56±6.00 minutes, 9.53±7.84 minutes, and 19.46±8.35 minutes in the normal, intermediate, and abnormal group, respectively (p=0.031). Endoscopic findings showed reflux esophagitis in 7 patients. On the basis of the Los Angeles Classification of Esophagitis, 5 of these patients were included in group A, 1 patient, in group B and 1 patient, in group C. CONCLUSION: The incidence of GERD was very low in school-age children with GER symptoms. Therefore, injudicious diagnostic PPI trials would be postponed until the actual prevalence of GERD is verified in future prospective studies.

Lifestyle plus exercise intervention improves metabolic syndrome markers without change in adiponectin in obese girls.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Little is known about whether lifestyle plus exercise intervention improves obesity, metabolic syndrome markers, and circulating adiponectin concentrations in obese girls. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of a 12-week lifestyle plus exercise intervention on adiponectin and metabolic syndrome markers in Korean obese adolescents. METHODS: A total of 44 obese adolescent girls (13-15 years old), who were recruited from a local middle school via a flyer or a school newsletter, were randomized to a lifestyle plus exercise intervention group (LIFE+EX, n = 22) or control (CON, n = 22). The LIFE+EX group participated in 12 weeks of lifestyle plus exercise intervention, while the CON group maintained their lifestyle as usual. Body composition, metabolic syndrome markers, and adiponectin were measured prior to and after the intervention program. RESULTS: Following the 12-week lifestyle plus exercise intervention, group analyses showed significant time x group interactions in changed scores in several of the metabolic syndrome markers such that the LIFE+EX group had significantly greater improvements in body composition including body weight, body mass index, percent body fat, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio than the CON group. Similarly, the LIFE+EX group had significantly greater reductions in SBP, TC, LDLC, TG, TC/HDLC, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, CRP, and leptin than the CON group, while there were no significant time x group or time or group differences in DBP, HDLC, HbA1c, and adiponectin. CONCLUSION: The current findings suggest that lifestyle plus exercise intervention may be an effective means to improve several variables in the health hazards of obesity in Korean adolescent girls, with no change in circulating adiponectin.

Associations among the Degree of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Metabolic Syndrome, Degree of Obesity in Children, and Parental Obesity.

PURPOSE: To analyze the associations among the degrees of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by ultrasonography and metabolic syndrome, degrees of obesity in children, and degrees of parental obesity. METHODS: A total of 198 children with obesity who visited a pediatric obesity clinic were prospectively enrolled in this study. The severity of NAFLD based on ultrasonography was classified into no, mild, moderate, or severe NAFLD group. The degree of obesity based on the percentage over standard weight for height per sex was classified into mild, moderate, or severe. RESULTS: Of 132 patients evaluated for the degree of NAFLD and metabolic syndrome, the p-value of correlation between the two factors was 0.009. Therefore, metabolic syndrome might significantly affect the degree of NAFLD. Of 158 patients evaluated for the degree of NAFLD and the degree of obesity, the p-value of correlation between the two factors was 0.122. Of 154 patients evaluated for the degree of obesity and father's obesity, the p-value was 0.076. Of 159 patients evaluated for the degree of obesity and mother's obesity, the p-value was 0.000, indicating that mother's obesity could significantly affect the degree of obesity in children. Of 142 patients evaluated for the degree of obesity and metabolic syndrome, the p-value was 0.288. CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndrome might significantly affect the degree of nonalcoholic fatty liver in children. In addition, mother's obesity might be a significant factor that affects the degree of obesity in children.