PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the incidence of complication in severely obese children and to determine whether the difference of Lp (a) between severely obese children and normal control group exists. METHODS: Body weight, height and obesity index were measured in 5885 (M:F= 3089:2796) elementary school children. Eight eight (M:F=63:25) were selected as severely obese children. Of the 88 children, 74 agreed to venous puncture for the measurement of serum glucose, total cholesterol, AST, ALT, HDL-cholesterol, apo A1, apo B and Lp (a). Blood pressure and atherogenic index were also checked. Twenty nine children were selected for the control group. RESULTS: The prevalence of severe obesity in elementary school children was 1.5%. Of 74 severely obese children, serum total cholesterol was over 200mg/dl in 16.2%, and HDL cholesterol below 40mg/dl in 47.3%. Atherogenic index was over 3 in 60.8%. The incidence of hypertension and fatty liver was 6.8% and 13.5%, respectively. DM was not found. The levels of total cholesterol, ALT, HDL cholesterol and atherogenic index in severely obese group differed significantly from those of control group. There were no significant differences in apolipoprotein levels between severely obese and control group. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of complication in severely obese children is considerably high. We need systemic program about obesity prevention and management, and individualized approaches to prevention have to be applied. It seems that severe obesity doesn't directly influence on the levels of Lp (a) and apolipoproteins.
Apolipoprotein A-I ; Apolipoproteins B ; Apolipoproteins* ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Child* ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Fatty Liver ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incheon* ; Incidence ; Lipoprotein(a)* ; Lipoproteins* ; Obesity ; Obesity, Morbid ; Prevalence ; Punctures

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate the toxic effects of toluene on the placental functions and reproductionin the rat. In this study, the expression of placental prolactin-growth hormone (PRL-GH) and Pit-1 genes, the frequency of placental trophoblast cells, and the reproductive data were analyzed. METHODS: The pregnancy of the Sprague-Dawley rats (250+/-25 g) was determined by verifying the presence of the copulatory plug or sperm in the vaginal smear and the day on which this was observed was defined as pregnancy day 0. The pregnant rats were divided into three groups. The control group was intraperitoneally (ip) injected with sesame oil, and the other two groups were given either 150 or 750 mg/kg BW/day of toluene resuspended in sesame oil during pregnancy days 7-11 and 16-20. The rats from the three experimental groups were sacrificed on pregnancy days 11 and 20, respectively. The mRNA levels of the PRL-GH, Pit-1a and b isotype genes were analyzed by Northern blot hybridization and Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. The hormonal concentration was analyzed by Radioimmunoassay. The frequency of the placental trophoblast cells was determined by means of a histochemical study. Reproductive data, such as the placenta and infnat weight, pregnancy period and litter size were surveyed at pregnancy day 20 and after birth. Statistical analysis was carried out by means of the SAS program (version 8.1). RESULTS: The mRNA levels of the PRL-GH family genes were reduced in a linear fashion by exposure to toluene. The mRNA levels of the Pit-1a and b isotype genes, which induce the expression of the PRL-GH family genes, were also reduced by exposure to toluene. The placental lactogen Iv and II concentrations in the rat placenta, fetus and maternal blood were also decreased by exposure to toluene. During the last stage of gestation, exposure to a high dose of toluene reduced the frequency of the spongiotrophoblast cells that secrete the PRL-GH hormones. Reproductive data such as the placenta and infant weight, and litter size were reduced, and the pregnancy period was extended in the toluene exposed group as compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Toluene disrupts the PRL-GH hormone metabolism in the rat placenta and this leads to reproductive disorder.
Animals ; Blotting, Northern ; Fetus ; Humans ; Infant ; Litter Size ; Metabolism ; Parturition ; Placenta ; Placental Lactogen ; Pregnancy ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproduction* ; RNA, Messenger ; Sesame Oil ; Spermatozoa ; Toluene* ; Trophoblasts ; Vaginal Smears

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) frequently occurs in adolescents because of accelerated physical growth in boys and girls. This was aimed at assessing the prevalence of iron deficiency and IDA in apparently healthy Korean adolescents according to the gender and age. METHODS: Apparently healthy students(M: F=1: 1.2) aged 11 to 24 years were included in this study and blood samples were obtained from April to May, 2000. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell indices, serum ferritin, iron and total iron-binding capacity were measured. RESULTS: In males, the prevalence of iron deficiency was 15.7% in the 11~12 years group, 16.1% in the 13~14 years group, 9.9% in the 15~16 years group, and 6.4% in the 17~18 years group. In females, the prevalence of iron deficiency was 26.8% in 11~12 years group, 27.9% in the 13~14 years group, 38.8% in the 15~16 years group, 36.0% in the 17~18 years group, 30.9% in the 19~24 years group. The prevalence of IDA in males was 3.6% in 11~12 years, 2.1% in 13~14 years group, 1.9% in 15~16 years group, and 0.6% in 17~18 years group. The prevalence of IDA in females was 4.2% in 11~12 years, 9.7% 13~14 years, 20.4% in 15~16 years, 16.2% in 17~18 years group, and 12.4% in 19~24 years group. CONCLUSION: As the prevalence of iron deficiency and IDA were substantially greater than expected, studies of iron state in adolescent girls, especially middle to high school age, should be undertaken to assess iron deficiency.
Adolescent* ; Anemia ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Ferritins ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Incheon* ; Iron* ; Male ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency anemia frequently occurs in adolescence because of accelerated physical growth in both boys and girls, and because of menstrual iron loss and dieting to avoid obesity in female teenagers. As little is known about iron deficiency in adolescents in Korea, this study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in apparently healthy Korean adolescents in relation to gender, physical development, and dietary habit. METHODS: With a questionnaire regarding their demographic characteristics, blood samples were obtained from apparently healthy students aged 10~18 years by venipuncture at Sept. and Oct. 1996. Hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit, RBC indices, serum ferritin levels, iron and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) were measured. RESULTS: A total of 1,164 students (M:F = 610:554) aged 10~18 years were included in this study. In boys, the mean Hb concentration increased with age from 13.3g/dL in the 10~12 years group to 15.3g/dL in the 17~18 years group. In girls, the mean Hb concentration was 13.2g/dL in the 10~12 years group, and 12.7g/dL in the 15~16 years group. In boys, iron deficiency prevalence was 5.6% in the 10~12 years group, 10.6% in the 13~16 years. In girls, the prevalence of anemia increased with age: 0.8% in the 10~12 years group; 5.5% in the 13~14 years group; 16.9% in the 15~16 years group; 19.7% in the 17~18 years group. Iron deficiency prevalence in girls was 9.2% in the 10~12 years group, 14.1%in the 13~14 years group, 22.6% in the 15~16 years group, and 30.7% in the 17~18 years group. The prevalence of IDA in girls was 0.8% in the 10~12 years group, 4.3% in the 13~14 years group, 7.3% in the 15~16 years group, and 13.1% in the 17~18 years group. On questionnaire, 19.5% of males and 40.0% of females usually missed one meal a day. The proportion of missed meals in girls increased with age. The proportions of Hb<12g/dL and ferritin<10ng/dL were significantly high in boys aged 10~14 years with vegetarian parents. The prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency in the students with menstruation was 14.9% and 21.6%, which was higher than the prevalence of 3.3% and 13.2% in those who did not have the menarche (P<0.001 and P<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: As the prevalence of iron deficiency and IDA were substantially greater than expected, studies of iron state in adolescent girls, especially middle to high school age, should be undertaken to assess iron deficiency. In addition, nutritional education for adolescents is warranted.
Adolescent* ; Anemia ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency* ; Diet ; Education ; Female ; Ferritins ; Food Habits ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Iron* ; Korea ; Male ; Meals ; Menarche ; Menstruation ; Obesity ; Parents ; Phlebotomy ; Prevalence* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

We report a Korean patient with glycogen storage disease type 1b (GSD-1b) whose diagnosis was confirmed by liver biopsy and laboratory results. The patient presented with delay of puberty and short stature on admission and had typical clinical symptoms of GSD as well as chronic neutropenia and inflammatory bowel disease. Mutation analysis of the glucose 6-phosphate translocase 6-phosphate translocase (SLC37A4) gene revealed that the patient was a compound heterozygote of two different mutations including a deletion mutation (c.1042_1043delCT; L348fs) and a missense mutation (A148V). The L348fs mutation was inherited from the patient's father and has been reported in an Italian family with GSD-1b, while the A148V mutation was transmitted from the patient's mother and was a novel mutation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of genetically confirmed case of GSD-1b in Korean.
Base Sequence ; DNA/chemistry/genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Glycogen Storage Disease Type I/enzymology/*genetics ; Humans ; Korea ; *Mutation, Missense ; Phosphotransferases/*genetics ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't