The lateral margin of the psoas muscle, contrasted by retroperitoneal fat, is usually visualized o plainabdominal radiography. Failure to visualize all or segment of lateral margin of the psoas muscle, so called psoassing, has been emphasized as reliable finding of retroperitoneal pathology. But the significance of psoas sign hasbeen controversial. The authors reevaluated ‘psoas sign’ by comparing 160 abdominal radiography with CT. Theresults were as follows: 1. In 160 supine radiographys, good visualization was present in 106 cases(66.3%), faintvisualizatin in 24(15.0%), segmental nonvisualization in 18(11.3%), and completer nonvisualization in 12(7.5%). In113 erect radiographs, good visualization was present in only 36 cases(31.9%). 2. Asymmetric visualization waspresent in 84 out of 160 cases. In patient with scoliosis, lateral margin of convex side was seen more clearlythan concave side, and this finding was statistically significant (p<0.005). 3. Ascites did not directly influenceto psoa visualization contrary to common belief. 4. In 54 cases of faint or nonvisualization, normal was16(29.6%), intraperitoneal pathology was 16(29.6%), and retroperitoneal pathology was 22(40.7%). 1) In normalpatient, psoas contact with kidney or intestine and deformed psoas muscle were responsible for poor visualization. 2) The major cause of poor visualization in intraperitoneal pathology were psoas contact with displaced kidney byhepatomegaly, ascites with scanty retroperitoneal fat and derformed psaos muscle. 3) The major cause of poorvisualization in retroperitoneal pathology were psoas invasion by tumor or inflammation, psoas conntact withenlarged kidney or perirenal lesion. 5. In summary, the mechanism of faint or nonvisualization of psoas marginwere: 1) psoas contact with normal or pathologic organs 2) psoas invasion by tumor or inflammation 3) deformedpsoas muscle 4) scanty retroperitoneal fat
Ascites ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intestines ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Kidney ; Pathology ; Psoas Muscles ; Radiography ; Radiography, Abdominal ; Scoliosis

Obesity is characterized by abnormal and excessive adipose tissue accumulated in the body. Compared with peripheral obesity (the accumulation of subcutaneous adipose tissue), abdominal obesity (the accumulation of visceral adipose tissue) is associated with increased risk of the metabolic syndrome, such as diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and dyslipidemia. Adipose tissue is a highly heterogeneous endocrine organ. Adipose tissue depots differ significantly in anatomy, cell biology, glucose and lipid metabolism as well as in endocrine regulation. Visceral adipose tissue has a stronger metabolic activity and secrets a larger amount of free fat acids, adipocytokines, hormones and inflammatory factors, which flux into the liver directly via the hepatic portal vein. These characteristics indicate that visceral adiposity may lead to the metabolic syndrome and thus visceral adipose tissue might be the clinical target for the prevention and treatment of obesity.
Adipose Tissue ; pathology ; Humans ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; pathology ; Lipid Metabolism ; Metabolic Syndrome ; physiopathology ; Obesity ; physiopathology ; Obesity, Abdominal ; physiopathology ; Subcutaneous Fat ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of early high fat diet on sugar metaboliam, insulin sensibility and pancreatic β cellularity in young rats.

METHODSSixty male weaned young rats were randomly fed with high fat diet (high fat group) and normal diet (control group). The body weight, viscus fattiness and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were measured after 3, 6 and 9 weeks. Serum insulin level was measured with radioimmunoassay. The ultrastructure of pancreas was observed under an electricmicroscope.

RESULTSThe high fat group had significantly higher body weight and visceral fat weight than the control group after 3 weeks. There were no significant differences in the FPG level between the two groups at all time points. The levels of fasting insulin and HOMAIR in the high fat group were significantly higher than those in the control group after 3, 6 and 9 weeks (P<0.01). Dilation of rough endoplasmic reticulum and mild swelling of mitochondria of islet β-cells were observed in the high fat group after 6 weeks.

CONCLUSIONSEarly high fat diet may induce a reduction in insulin sensitivity and produce insulin resistance in young rats. Endoplasmic reticulum expansion in β-cells may be an early sign of β-cell damage due to obesity.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Dietary Fats ; adverse effects ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of anthropometric measures of obesity, including body mass index (BMI), abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue and visceral adipose tissue, on pathological characteristics in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer.

METHODSFrom January 2006 to March 2013, the 413 patients of prostate cancer who received radical prostatectomy (RP) and their clinical and pathological data had been collected. The median age for the entire cohort was 68 years, which ranged from 48 to 78 years. All patients were diagnosed with prostate cancer before surgery and the Gleason score ranged from 4 to 10 (median 7). Anthropometric measures of abdominal adiposity including anterior abdominal fat, posterior abdominal fat and anteroposterior diameter were measured from the T2 weighted sagittal localization images of MRI scans and subcutaneous adipose tissue and the percentage of visceral adipose tissue were calculated. The patients' clinical and pathologic characteristics across BMI groups were compared used Student's t test for continuous variables or chi-squared test for categorical variables. Moreover, univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to address the influence of anthropometric measures of obesity on pathological outcomes.

RESULTSThe BMI ranged from 14.2 to 34.0 kg/m(2) and the median value was 23.8 kg/m(2). The abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue ranged from 12.6 to 60.3 mm and the median value was 31.4 mm. The percentage of visceral adipose tissue ranged from 71.1% to 92.1% and the median value was 83.8%. In RP specimens, Gleason score ≥ 8 was observed in 141 patients (34.1%), pathological tumor stage was T3a in 69 patients (16.7%) and pathological tumor stage was T3b in 78 patients (18.9%). Positive surgical margin and lymph node involvement were observed in 71(17.2%) and 38(9.2%) patients, respectively. Although univariate analysis showed that BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2) was associated with pathological Gleason score ≥ 8 (OR = 1.413, P = 0.035), this positive correlation disappeared in multivariate analysis(P = 0.095). In multivariate analysis, the percentage of visceral adipose tissue was significantly associated with pathological Gleason score (OR = 9.618, P = 0.000), extracapsular extension (OR = 6.750, P = 0.002) and seminal vesicle invasion (OR = 4.419, P = 0.007) after adjusting for patient age, PSA level, clinical stage and biopsy Gleason score.

CONCLUSIONSAnthropometric measures of abdominal adiposity was more sophisticated than simple BMI to evaluate the risk of obesity with regard to the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. The percentage of visceral adipose tissue was an independent factor for pathological Gleason score, extracapsular extension and seminal vesicle invasion in RP specimens.

Adiposity ; Aged ; Anthropometry ; Body Mass Index ; Humans ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; Prostate ; pathology ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Risk Factors

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Body Fat Distribution ; Body Mass Index ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Fatty Liver ; etiology ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Abdominal obesity and hyperinsulinemia or insulin resistance are of interest in connection with colon carcinogenesis. We conducted a prospective case controlled study for the evaluation of relationship between abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, and colorectal adenoma. METHODS: Fifty patients with colorectal adenoma and fifty healthy subjects were included in this study. Total colonoscopic examinations were performed in all the subjects. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR), triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CROL), BMI (body mass index), WHR (waist hip ratio), percent body fat (PBF) and obesity degree (OD) were measured. HOMA-IR was considered to represent insulin resistance. Diabetic patients were excluded from this study. RESULTS: There were no differences in sex, serum insulin, FBS, HOMA-IR, TG, CROL between adenoma and control group. Subjects with high BMI, WHR, percent body fat, and obesity were more likely to have colonic adenoma. Multiple logistic regression analysis after adjusting confounding factors, had revealed that WHR was the most important independent risk factor for colon adenoma. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal obesity was most closely related to colonic adenoma. However, insulin resistance was not related to colonic adenoma. A larger case controlled study is needed.
*Abdominal Fat ; Adenoma/diagnosis/epidemiology/*etiology ; Aged ; Body Fat Distribution ; Body Mass Index ; Colonic Neoplasms/diagnosis/epidemiology/*etiology ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; *Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity/*complications/epidemiology/pathology ; Risk Factors ; Waist-Hip Ratio

PURPOSE: A laparoscopic procedure is considered the treatment of choice for an adrenalectomy. We report our experience of a laparoscopic transperitoneal adrenalectomy in a series of 41 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 1999 and September 2004, 41 consecutive patients underwent a laparoscopic transperitoneal adrenalectomy. The indications for a adrenalectomy were primary aldosteronism in 16 patients, Cushing's syndrome in 7, pheochromocytoma in 6, nonfunctional adenoma in 5, adrenal cyst in 3, benign cystic teratoma in 2, myelolipoma in 1 and metastatic renal cell carcinoma in 1. The author analyzed the results of each operation. RESULTS: The affected adrenal gland was successfully removed, with the exception of 3 cases. Conversion to open surgery was necessary in 3 of the pheochromocytoma patients due to massive intraoperative bleeding and severe adhesion to retroperitoneal fat. The mean operative time was 245.3 minutes (125-420). The mean intraoperative blood loss and adrenal mass size were 189.6ml (20-2100) and 3.6cm (1.0-10.4), respectively. The mean post-operative hospital stay was 10.4 days (5-29). The mean times to oral intake and ambulation were 1.4 (1-3) and 1.0 days (1-2) after the operation, respectively. The mean number of days of analgesic administration was 2.1 (0-6). The conversion and major complication rates were 7.3 and 10.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A laparoscopic adrenalectomy is safe and effective in nearly all adrenal pathologies, with early oral intake, ambulation and a low number of days of pain control.
Adenoma ; Adrenal Glands ; Adrenalectomy* ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Conversion to Open Surgery ; Cushing Syndrome ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Myelolipoma ; Operative Time ; Pathology ; Pheochromocytoma ; Teratoma ; Walking

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the changes in body fat distribution after gastric bypass in gastric cancer patients with metabolic syndrome.

METHODSFrom July 2009 to February 2010, 26 patients with gastric cancer and concurrent metabolic syndrome were prospectively enrolled and underwent gastric bypass surgery at the Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command. Body mass index(BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, insulin and insulin resistance index were measured before operation and at postoperative 1, 4, 12, 24, 48 weeks.

RESULTSAfter gastric bypass surgery, metabolic syndrome was improved including obesity, hypertension, disturbance of lipid and hyperglycemia. After 48 weeks postoperatively HOMA-IR decreased from 5.7 ± 1.5 to 3.4 ± 1.0 (P<0.05). BMI decreased from (27.1 ± 3.8) kg/m(2) to (22.6 ± 1.4) kg/m(2) (P<0.05). Indices for central obesity: waist circumference decreased from (95.3 ± 2.5) cm to (75.3 ± 1.1) cm, and visceral fat area decreased from(101.7 ± 13.8) cm(2) to (78.7 ± 11.2) cm(2) (P<0.05). There were no decline in peripheral obesity indices including hip circumference and subcutaneous fat area(P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe distribution of body fat after gastric bypass changes from central obesity to peripheral obesity. Improvement of insulin resistance after gastric bypass surgery is associated with the decrease in central obesity indices.

Adult ; Body Fat Distribution ; Gastric Bypass ; Humans ; Metabolic Syndrome ; metabolism ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; pathology ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Postoperative Period ; Prospective Studies

PURPOSE: The β3-adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) is expressed in visceral adipose tissue and has been speculated to contribute to lipolysis, energy metabolism, and regulation of the metabolic rate. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association of polymorphism of the ADRB3 gene with the sex of children with obesity and related pathologies. METHODS: ADRB3 gene trp64arg genotyping was conducted in 441 children aged 6–18 years. Among these subjects, 264 were obese (103 boys; 161 girls) and 179 were of normal weight (81 boys; 98 girls). In the obese group, fasting lipids, glucose and insulin levels, and blood pressure were measured. Metabolic syndrome (MS) was defined according to the modified World Health Organization criteria adapted for children. RESULTS: The frequency of trp64arg genotype was similar in obese and normal weight children. In obese children, serum lipid, glucose, and insulin levels; homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) scores; and MS were not different between arg allele carriers (trp64arg) and noncarriers (trp64trp). In 264 obese children, genetic analysis results revealed that the arg allele carriers were significantly higher in girls than in boys (p=0.001). In the normal weight group, no statistically significant difference was found between genotypes of boys and girls (p=0.771). CONCLUSION: Trp64arg polymorphism of the ADRB3 gene was not associated with obesity and MS in Turkish children and adolescents. Although no relationships were observed between the genotypes and lipids, glucose/insulin levels, or HOMA-IR, the presence of trp64arg variant was frequent in obese girls, which can lead to weight gain as well as difficulty in losing weight in women.
Adolescent ; Alleles ; Blood Pressure ; Child ; Energy Metabolism ; Fasting ; Female ; Genotype ; Glucose ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Lipolysis ; Obesity ; Pathology ; Weight Gain ; World Health Organization

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of complications related to diverticulitis and visceral obesity. The study was based on a retrospective case note review conducted at the Hanyang University Hospital. Patients were diagnosed with diverticulitis based on clinical symptoms and abdominal computed tomography (CT) findings and divided into two groups: those admitted with complicated diverticulitis and those with a simple diverticulitis episode. We compared the body mass index (BMI) and degree of visceral obesity, measured by abdominal CT. The study included 140 patients, 87 (62.1%) were simple diverticulitis and 53 (37.9%) were complicated diverticulitis. In the complicated diverticulitis group, 9 (6.4%) cases were recurrent, 29 (20.7%) were perforation or abscess patients, and 28 (20%) were patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Of the SIRS patients, 13 were involved in other complication groups. When comparing in the two groups, the complicated diverticulitis group had a significantly higher visceral fat area (128.57 cm2 vs 102.80 cm2, P = 0.032) and a higher ratio of visceral fat area/subcutaneous fat area (0.997 vs 0.799, P = 0.014). Visceral obesity is significantly associated with complications of diverticulitis.
Adipose Tissue ; Adult ; Aged ; Body Composition ; Body Mass Index ; Diverticulitis/*complications/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; *Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Lipids/*blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity, Abdominal/*complications ; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome