Objective To investigate the characteristics of plasma glucose, insulin secretion and changes of insulin resistance (IR) after a glucose load in obese children, and to predict islet β-cell function. Methods A total of 635 obese children were classified into normal glucose tolerance (NGT) group (n=483), impaired glucose regulation (IGR) group (n=112) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) group (n=40) based on their glucose levels. Subjects were also divided into G1 group (23 kg/m2≤BMI<30 kg/m2, n=393) and G2 group (BMI≥30 kg/m2, n=242) based on their different BMI levels. Level of fast plasma glucose (FPG, 0.5 h-PG, 1 h-PG, 2 h-PG and 3 h-PG) and insulin (FINS, 0.5 h-INS, 1 h-INS, 2 h-INS and 3 h-INS) were measured 0 h, 0.5 h, 1 h, 2 h and 3 h after a glucose load. Insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), whole body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI), function of pancreatic beta-cell (HOMA-β), first-phase insulin secretion index (ΔI30/ΔG30) and area under curve of insulin (AUCI) were calculated and compared between groups. Results The value of insulin at each time point was significantly higher in IGR group than that of NGT group. The values of insulin at 0.5 h, 1 h, and 2 h were significantly lower in DM group than those of IGR group, respectively (all P<0.05). Compared with NGT group, AUCI, HOMA-IR and HOMA-β increased, but WBISI and ΔI30/ΔG30 decreased in IGR group (all P<0.05). HOMA-IR increased but WBISI, HOMA-βandΔI30/ΔG30 decreased in DM group (all P<0.05). Compared with IGR group, AUCI, HOMA-βandΔI30/ΔG30 decreased in DM group (all P<0.05). Values of FINS, AUCI, HOMA-IR, 2h-PG and HOMA-βwere significantly higher in G2 group than those of G1 group, but WBISI decreased (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in FPG and ΔI30/ΔG30 between these two groups. Conclusion From NGT, IGR to DM, the peak of insulin secretion is postponed, insulin resistance is getting heavier and the compensation of insulin secretion after a glucose load is increased first and then decreased.

OBJECTIVETo survey the current status of pubertal development of Chinese children and to compare the precocious puberty prevalence of different regions.

METHODSA cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted on 18 707 children and adolescents aged 6≊18 y with male/female ratio of 9 812/8 895 from 6 representative geographical areas in China, including Beijing, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Chongqing and Nanning. The height, weight, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference(HC) and sexual maturation states (Tanner stages: breast stages for girls and testicular volume for boys) of children and adolescents were measured. Probit analysis was used to calculate the median age and 95% confidence interval (CI) for onset of breast and testicular development. The prevalence of precocious puberty of different regions and BMI, waist circumference of different groups were compared.

RESULTSBreast development before 8 y was observed in 2.91% of girls, and testicular volume 4 ml or more before 9 y was observed in 1.74% of boys. The median age of onset of Tanner stages 2 for breast development in girls was 9.69 y (95% CI: 9.63≊ 9.75); the median age of onset of puberty as indicated by Tanner stages 2 for testicular development in boys was 11.25 y (95%CI:11.19≊ 11.30). The prevalence of precocious puberty (43 girls and 37 boys) was 0.43% (80/18 707). The prevalence of precocious puberty in northern region was higher than that in southwest region (0.736% compared with 0.282% P<0.05). There was no difference in onset age of precocious puberty in girls among three regions; but the onset age of precocious puberty in boys was earlier in east China [(7.4±0.28)y]. The SD values of BMI and waist-to-hip ratio (W/H) in precocious puberty children were higher than those in the peer normal children. There was no difference in BMI,waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio in the precocious puberty children among different regions.

CONCLUSIONThe current diagnostic criteria of precocious puberty are suitable for the children in the survey areas. The prevalence and the onset age of precocious puberty are various in different regions. A positive association between obesity and precocious puberty is found both in boys and girls.

Adolescent ; Age of Onset ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; complications ; Prevalence ; Puberty, Precocious ; complications ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Sexual Development

Objective To explore the clinical application and value of percutaneous treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts guided by CT.Methods The percutaneous external draining of pancreatic pseudocyst caused by various causes was performed under CT guidance in 29 cases, including 21 males and 8 females, age from 22 to 71 years, average (48.2?13.6) years. After the point, the angle,and the depth of puncture were measured on CT images, pseudocyst puncture and catheterization of external draining were made and followed up. Results 30 procedures of puncture in 29 lesions were done, the successful rate was 100%. Puncture path included frontal in 17 cases(18 times of puncture), lateral in 8 cases ; back in 4 cases, and 30 drainage catheters were placed. All cases were followed up except one case, follow up time ranged from 1 to 20 months [average (8 07?4 04) months]. Following disappearance of pseudocyst, catheters were extracted in 19 cases except 2 cases with pseudocyst recurrance. Follow up time from 4 to 14 months[average (8.29?4.03) months]. 5 cases had surgerical operations again after draining 1-4 months, 4 cases were still being followed up. The effective rate of therapy was 65.52%(19/29). Conclusion The technique of percutaneous catheter external draining of pancreatic pseudocyst guided by CT is mildly invasive and simple, and has high successful rate.

Objective: To investigate the role of neutrophil elastase inhibitor, sivelestat, in preventing and treating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and its underling mechanisms. Methods: A total of forty 4-week-old male C57BL/6J ApoE-/-mice were equally divided into the following four groups: standard chow (SC)+isotonic saline; SC+sivelestat; high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet+isotonic saline; and HFHC+sivelestat. These mice were treated with above methods for 12 weeks. Blood and liver tissue samples were collected to measure biochemical parameters, hepatic steatosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score (inflammation) were evaluated by oil red O staining and HE staining, respectively. The mRNA and protein expression levels of hepatic inflammatory cytokines, CD68, and F4/80 were determined by quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Comparison of means between the four groups was made by one-way analysis of variance, and comparison between any two groups was made by the LSD or SNK method (for data with homogeneity of variance) or the Tamhane or Dunnett method (for data with heterogeneity of variance). Results: Mice fed with an HFHC diet for 12 weeks developed typical pathological features of NASH compared with those fed with SC. Compared with mice fed with HFHC diet without sivelestat, those treated with HFHC and sivelestat exhibited the following features: (1) significantly reduced fast blood glucose, blood cholesterol, and hepatic biochemical parameters, as well as increased insulin sensitivity; (2) significantly reduced NAFLD activity score (5.71±1.11 vs 3.16±1.16, P < 0.05); (3) reduced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and tumor necrosis factor -α; (4) significantly reduced mRNA levels of CD68 and F4/80; and (5) reduced expression of CD68 in the liver. Conclusion Sivelestat alleviates the hepatic steatosis and inflammation of NASH in mice by inhibiting the activation of Kupffer cells.