Rats were exposed to 1 or 10 μg/mL bisphenol A (BPA) in water during pregnancy and lactation. Offspring rats were given normal water and a standard diet from weaning to postnatal day (PND) 50. Perinatal exposure to BPA resulted in significantly increased body weight, visceral adipose tissue, abnormal serum lipids, and lower adiponectin (ADP) levels in both female and male offspring rats. Liver adipose triglyceride lipase (Atgl) mRNA levels and ADP protein in visceral adipose tissue were significantly decreased in BPA-exposed offspring rats. In both female or male offspring rats, obesity and dyslipidemia induced by perinatal exposure to BPA were associated with down regulation of Atgl mRNA in liver and ADP protein in visceral adipose tissue.
Adiponectin ; metabolism ; Adipose Tissue ; metabolism ; Animals ; Benzhydryl Compounds ; adverse effects ; metabolism ; Body Weight ; Dyslipidemias ; enzymology ; etiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lipase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Obesity ; enzymology ; etiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Phenols ; adverse effects ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; enzymology ; etiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The aim of this study was to determine the normal value of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) according to age group, gender, and the presence of cardiovascular risk factors in healthy Koreans, and to investigate the association between PWV and risk factors such as prehypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, and obesity. We measured an arterial stiffness in 110 normal subjects who were 20 to 69 yr-old with no evidence of cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular accident or diabetes mellitus. The mean values of baPWV and cfPWV were 12.6 (+/-2.27) m/sec (13.1+/-1.85 in men, 12.1+/-2.51 in women; P=0.019) and 8.70 (+/-1.99) m/sec (9.34+/-2.13 in men, 8.15+/-1.69 in women; P=0.001), respectively. The distribution of baPWV (P<0.001) and cfPWV (P=0.006) by age group and gender showed an increase in the mean value with age. Men had higher baPWV and cfPWV than women (P<0.001). There was a difference in baPWV and cfPWV by age group on prehypertension, dyslipidemia, current smoking, or obesity (P<0.001). In multiple linear regression, age and prehypertension were highly associated with baPWV and cfPWV after adjustment for confounding factors (P<0.001). The present study showed that baPWV and cfPWV are associated with age, gender, and prehypertension in healthy Koreans.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; *Ankle Brachial Index ; Blood Pressure ; Brachial Artery/*physiology ; Cardiovascular Diseases/diagnosis/etiology/physiopathology ; Carotid Arteries/*physiology ; Female ; Femoral Artery/*physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity/physiopathology ; Prehypertension/physiopathology ; Pulsatile Flow ; *Pulse Wave Analysis ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Smoking ; Vascular Stiffness/physiology

PURPOSE: Obesity has been suggested to be linked to asthma. However, it is not yet known whether obesity directly leads to airway hyperreactivity (AHR) or obesity-induced airway inflammation associated with asthma. We investigated obesity-related changes in adipokines, AHR, and lung inflammation in a murine model of asthma and obesity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We developed mouse models of chronic asthma via ovalbumin (OVA)-challenge and of obesity by feeding a high-fat diet, and then performed the methacholine bronchial provocation test, and real-time PCR for leptin, leptin receptor, adiponectin, adiponectin receptor (adipor1 and 2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor (TGF) beta, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha in lung tissue. We also measured cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. RESULTS: Both obese and lean mice chronically exposed to OVA developed eosinophilic lung inflammation and AHR to methacholine. However, obese mice without OVA challenge did not develop AHR or eosinophilic inflammation in lung tissue. In obese mice, lung mRNA expressions of leptin, leptin receptor, VEGF, TGF, and TNF were enhanced, and adipor1 and 2 expressions were decreased compared to mice in the control group. On the other hand, there were no differences between obese mice with or without OVA challenge. CONCLUSION: Diet-induced mild obesity may not augment AHR or eosinophilic lung inflammation in asthma.
Animals ; Asthma/physiopathology ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity/*physiopathology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/chemistry ; Dietary Fats/adverse effects ; Mice ; Obesity/*etiology/*physiopathology ; Pneumonia/*physiopathology ; Transforming Growth Factors/metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study blood pressure levels, the prevalence of hypertension and factors associated with the development of hypertension in Hasakh children in the Yili region of Xinjiang Province.

METHODSA total of 2438 Hasakh school children from the Yili region of Xinjiang Province were sampled by stratified random cluster sampling method between May and June 2009. Height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, skinfold thickness and blood pressure were measured. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated.

RESULTSMean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were 94±13 mm Hg and 60±9 mm Hg respectively in the 2438 children, and both averages were lower than in the Han children. Hypertension was noted in 138 children (5.66%). The prevalence of hypertension in girls (6.97%, 84/1206) was higher than in boys (4.38%, 54/1232) (P<0.05). The prevalence of hypertension and blood pressone were positively correlated with BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, skinfold thickness circumference, gender and age.

CONCLUSIONSAverage blood pressure levels in Hasakh children in the Yili region of Xinjiang Province are lower than in domestic age-matched Han children. The prevalence of hypertension in girls is higher than in boys. Obesity is highly correlated with the development of hypertension.

Adolescent ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Male ; Obesity ; physiopathology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Skinfold Thickness ; Waist Circumference

PURPOSE: Reduced heart rate variability significantly increases cardiovascular mortality. Metabolic syndrome increases the cardiac autonomic dysfunction. Recently, increasing cardiovascular mortality has been reported in patients with schizophrenia. This study was done to compare heart rate variability between adults with and without schizophrenia and to compare the relationship of heart rate variability to metabolic syndrome in hospitalized patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: This was a descriptive and correlational study in which 719 adults without schizophrenia and 308 adults with schizophrenia took part between May and June 2008. We measured the following: five-minute heart rate variability; high-frequency, low-frequency, the ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency, and the Standard Deviation of all the normal RR intervals. Data was also collected on metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure and fasting glucose. RESULTS: The Standard Deviation of all the normal RR intervals values of heart rate variability indices were 1.53+/-0.18. The low-frequency and high-frequency values of heart rate variability indices were significantly higher in hospitalized patients with schizophrenia (3.89+/-1.36; 3.80+/-1.20) than those in the healthy participants (2.20+/-0.46; 2.10+/-0.46). There were no significant differences between the schizophrenic patients with and without metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that schizophrenia patients have significantly lower cardiac autonomic control, but they have significantly higher low-frequency and high-frequency values than those of healthy adults. Use of antipsychotic drug may affect the autonomic nervous system in schizophrenic patients. Metabolic syndrome was not associated with cardiac autonomic control in schizophrenia patients.
Adult ; Autonomic Nervous System/physiopathology ; Blood Glucose/analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases/complications/diagnosis/mortality ; Cholesterol, HDL/blood ; Female ; *Heart Rate ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*complications/*physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Obesity/etiology ; Schizophrenia/*complications/mortality/*physiopathology ; Triglycerides/blood

Obesity is a major cause of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The altered glucose homeostasis is caused by faulty insulin signal transduction, which results in decreased glucose uptake by the muscle, altered lipogenesis, and increased glucose output by the liver. The etiology of this derangement in insulin signaling is related to a chronic inflammatory state, leading to the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase and release of high levels of nitric oxide and reactive nitrogen species, which together cause posttranslational modifications in the signaling proteins. There are substantial differences in the molecular mechanisms of insulin resistance in muscle versus liver. Hormones and cytokines from adipocytes can enhance or inhibit both glycemic sensing and insulin signaling. The role of the central nervous system in glucose homeostasis also has been well established. Multi-pronged therapies aimed at rectifying obesity induced anomalies in both central nervous system and peripheral tissues may prove to be beneficial. The golden standard method to evaluate the insulin sensitivity is hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp.
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; etiology ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Humans ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; physiology ; Obesity ; complications ; metabolism ; physiopathology

In the viewpoint of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the authors consider that simple obesity is not a disease, which does not fit to be treated according to the models of diagnosis and treatment in TCM. Considering its cause, pathogenesis, syndrome differentiation, principles and methods of treatment, as well as experimental study, etc. , the authors point out that the true effects of acupuncture on weight-loss should be investigated alone and avoid the influence of diet and exercise. Until now, what we have done on the acupuncture for treatment of simple obesity is not sufficient to verify the direct effects of acupuncture for weight-loss. The correct way for weight-loss is health care including dietary regime and regular life schedule. Comparatively, the treatment as the main choice for weight-loss is not recommended.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Humans ; Obesity ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Weight Loss

Animals ; Diet, High-Fat ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Obesity ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Leptin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sexual Development ; physiology

OBJECTIVES: Obesity is currently an epidemic in Korea, and sleep duration is thought to be one of the risk factors for obesity. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that short sleep duration is associated with obesity in Korean adults. METHODS: The data from the 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey were used, and 6,174 subjects aged 18~80 years were included in the analysis. Sleep duration was measured using information obtained from self-reported questionnaires. Obesity, the main outcome variable, was measured according to body mass index. Multiple regression modeling was used to adjust for potential confounding variables. RESULTS: The study results revealed a negative association between sleep duration and body mass index among Korean adults. These associations persisted after controlling for the potential confounding variables. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the hypothesis that sleep duration is associated with obesity in Korean adults. In addition, these observations support earlier experimental sleep studies and provide a basis for future studies on weight control intervention by increasing the amount of sleep.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity/*epidemiology/etiology ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Sleep Disorders/*epidemiology/physiopathology

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare metabolic syndrome (MS) risk factor prevalence by obesity and age in middle-aged women. METHOD: Two hundred and fifty-one subjects were recruited from the health promotion center of a tertiary care hospital in an urban city. MS was defined by the third report of the national cholesterol education program (NCEP) expert panel on detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults(Adult Treatment Panel III)(ATPIII), and obesity was determined by body mass index(BMI)> or = 25kg/m2. RESULTS: The mean blood pressure, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride were significantly higher in the obese group than in the non-obese group. The prevalence of MS, hypertension, and impaired fasting glucose were significantly higher in the obese group than in the non-obese group. In the forties, blood pressure was significantly higher in the obese group than in the non-obese group. In the fifties, body fat, systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride were significantly higher in the obese group than in the non-obese group. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that the nurse should focus on the obese fifty year old female patients for improvement of the MS risk factors.
Women's Health ; Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Body Fat Distribution ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol/blood ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*epidemiology/etiology ; Middle Aged ; Models, Nursing ; Obesity/*complications/epidemiology/physiopathology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors