OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy on obesity of spleen deficiency and damp blockage pattern and hyperlipemia treated with warm needling therapy and auricular acupuncture and the effect mechanism of the combined treatment.

METHODSOne hundred and ten patients of obesity of spleen deficiency and damp blockage pattern and hyperlipemia were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 55 cases in each one. Additionally, a healthy group (52 cases) was set up as the control. In the control group, the warm needling therapy was applied to Taibai (SP 3), Chongyang (ST 42), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Zusanli (ST 36), etc., once every two days. In the observation group, on the basic treatment as the control group, the auricular acupuncture was applied to Pi (CO₁₃), Wei (CO₄), Fei (CO₁₄), Shen (CO₁₀), etc., once every 2 to 3 days. The efficacy was evaluated after 3-month, treatment in the two groups. The observation was conducted on the obesity outcomes [body mass, obesity degree (A), body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (F%)], blood-lipoids indicators [such as serum total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)], fat-islet endocrine axis outcomes [such as fasting plasma glucose (FPG) , fasting leptin (FLP), fasting insulin (FINS), insulin sensitivity index (ISI), insulin resistance index (Homa-IR) and insulin β cell function index (Homa-β)], as well as autonomic nerve function index (Y) before and after treatment in the patients of the two groups. The efficacy was assessed in the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 96.4% (53/55) in the observation group, better than 87.3% (48/55, P < 0.01) in the control group. For the improvements of the obesity indices, the differences were not significant between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Before treatment, the levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, FLP, FPG, FINS and Homa-IR in the two groups were all significantly higher than those in the healthy group (all P < 0.01), and the levels of HDL, ISI, Homa-β and Y were significantly lower than those in the healthy group (all P < 0.01). After treatment, except Homa-β, the other indices were all improved significantly (all P < 0.01). The results in the observation group were better than those in the control group (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe patients of obesity of spleen deficiency and damp blockage pattern and hyperlipemia have the disturbances of lipid metabolism, "fat-islet endocrinal axis" function and automatic nerve function. The combined treatment of warm needling therapy and auricular acupuncture or simple warm needling therapy present the effects of weight reducing and lipid reducing. The effect of the combined treatment is better than simple warm needling therapy. The efficacy mechanism is probably relevant to the positive regulation of blood glucose, lipid metabolism, fat-islet endocrinal axis and automatic nerve function.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Glucose ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; metabolism ; therapy ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Young Adult

To identify target energy balance-related behaviors (ERBs), baseline data from 141 overweight or obese schoolchildren (aged 8-14 years old) was used to predict adiposity [body mass index (BMI) and fat percentage] one year later. The ERBs included a modified Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension diet score (DASH score), leisure-time physical activity (PA, days/week), and leisure screen time (minutes/day). Several cardiometabolic variables were measured in the fasting state, including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), blood glucose (GLU), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C). BMI and fat percentage were measured using a BIA body composition analyzer (MC-980MA, TANITA, Tanita Co., Guangzhou, China). Partial correlation coefficients (partial r) and multiple linear regression models were used to predict BMI and fat percentage one year later. Our sample consisted of 114 boys and 83 girls with a mean BMI of 24.7±3.7 kg/m2 and fat percentage of 34.2%±8.3% at baseline. BMI, fat percentage, and certain cardiometabolic variables were negatively associated with DASH score and leisure-time PA (all P<0.05), but positively associated with leisure screen time (all P<0.05) at baseline. Statistically significant predictors of BMI and fat percentage one year later were baseline BMI (partial r=0.85), fat percentage (partial r=0.69), eating out (times/week, partial r=0.18), and DASH Score (partial r=-0.18). Overall, childhood obesity prevention interventions should target reductions in ERBs.
Adiposity ; Adolescent ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Blood Pressure ; Child ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Overweight ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Triglycerides ; blood

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

OBJECTIVETo compare the differences of clinical effects in female patients with obesity and hyperlipidemia of yang deficiency of spleen and kidney syndrome between warm acupuncture combined with auricular acupuncture and simple warm acupuncture.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 65 cases in each one. In the control group, acupuncture was used at Pishu (BL 20), Zhongwan(CV 12), Shenshu(BL 23), Zhongji(CV 3), Guanyuan(CV 4), Mingmen(GV 4), Taibai(SP 3), Fenglong(ST 40), etc.; warm acupuncture was applied at Pishu(BL 20), Zhongwan(CV 12), Shenshu(BL 23) and Zhongji(CV 3); the treatment was required once every two days and for 3 months continuously. In the observation group, based on the treatment in the control group, thumbtack intradermal needles were embedded at auricular points, including pi(CO13), shen(CO10), pangguang(CO9), sanjiao(CO17), neifenmi(CO18), neishengzhiqi(TF2), etc. Obesity indices [body mass(W), obesity degree(A), body mass index(BMI), body fat percentage(F%)] blood lipid indices [serum total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), low density lipoprotein(LDL-C), high density lipoprotein(HDL-C)] and clinical efficacy were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. Results After treatment in the two groups, the obesity indices of W, A, BMI, F% and the blood lipid levels of TC, TG, LDL-C were obviously decreased compared with those before treatment (all P<0. 01) and the HDL-C levels were apparently increased than those before treatment (both P<0. 01). After treatment, the improvement of TC and HDL-C in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (both P<0. 01). The difference was not statistically significant in the aspect of improving every obesity index between two groups (all P>. 05). The comprehensive total effective rate of the observation group was 95.4% (62/65), which was better than 84. 6% (55/65) of the control group (P<0. 001).

CONCLUSIONWarm acupuncture combined with auricular acupuncture and simple warm acupuncture can both benignly adjust abnormal lipid metabolism of obesity patients with hyperlipidemia, and warm acupuncture combined with auricular acupuncture are superior to simple warm acupuncture treatment on antiobesity action and improving the TC and HDL-C levels.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adult ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Triglycerides ; metabolism ; Yang Deficiency ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDObstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is strongly associated with obesity and with cardiovascular disease. Ghrelin and obestatin are two peptides from the same source but have opposite roles. Both of them can affect feeding and regulate vascular tune. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma ghrelin, obestatin, the ratio of ghrelin and obestatin (G/O) and sleep parameters and blood pressure circadian rhythms in patients with OSAS.

METHODSThis study enrolled 95 newly diagnosed over-weight OSAS patients (OSAS group), 30 body mass index (BMI)-match non-OSAS adults (over-weight group) and 30 non-OSAS normal weight adults (control group). Polysomnography (PSG) was performed in the OSAS group and over-weight group. Blood pressure of all subjects was monitored by means of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The concentration of plasma ghrelin and obestatin was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSPlasma ghrelin levels in the OSAS group and over-weight group were significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Plasma obestatin levels were lower in the over-weight group and OSAS group, but there was no significant difference among the three groups. The blood pressure in OSAS patients was higher, and there was a significant difference in all blood pressure parameters compared to the control group, and in the daytime average diastolic blood pressure (DBP), nocturnal average systolic blood pressure (SBP) and DBP, DBP variability values as compared to over-weight subjects. Furthermore, there were significantly more non-dipper patterns of blood pressure (including hypertension and normotension) in the OSAS group than in the other two groups (P < 0.01). Correlation analysis showed that ghrelin levels had a significant correlation with BMI and nocturnal average DBP but not with PSG parameters. In contrast, the G/O ratio had a negative correlation with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) (P < 0.05), as well as a strong positive correlation with the blood pressure variability values (P < 0.01). In multivariate analyses, AHI (P < 0.05) and G/O (P < 0.05) were independently related to SBP variability changes, while AHI (P < 0.05), G/O (P < 0.01) and BMI (P < 0.05) were independently related to DBP variability changes.

CONCLUSIONSOur data show plasma ghrelin and obestatin levels were related to obesity in OSAS. Sleep apnea in OSAS patients could have led to an imbalance in G/O in the basis of obesity. Moreover, the imbalance may promote nighttime blood pressure elevation and affect blood pressure circadian disorder.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Circadian Rhythm ; physiology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Ghrelin ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; blood ; physiopathology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; blood ; physiopathology ; Prognosis ; Repressor Proteins ; metabolism ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; blood ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and effect mechanism of the combined therapy of acupuncture and tapping method in the treatment of obesity and hyperlipidemia of liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency pattern in the patients.

METHODSOne hundred and four female patients were randomized into a combined therapy of acupuncture and tapping (combined therapy group) group method and an acupuncture group, 52 cases in each group. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to Qimen (LR 14), Taichong (LR 3), Zhangmen (LR 13), Taibai (SP 3), Zusanli (ST 36), Geshu (BL 17), Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20), etc. In the combined therapy group, on the basis of acupuncture treatment, the tapping method with plum blossom needle was used at each acupoint. The treatment was given once every two days, continuously for 3 months in the two groups. The indices were observed, including the obesity indices, such as body mass, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (F%) and obesity degree (A); the blood lipid levels such as total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL); the fat-islet axie relevant indices such as fasting plasma glucose (FBS), fasting leptin (FLP), fasting insulin (FINS), insulin sensitive index (ISI), insulin resistance in- dex (Homa IR), insulin secretion index (Homa-β) and autonomic nerve function index (Y value) before and after treatment in the patients of two groups. The efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rates were 96.2% (50/52) and 84.6% (44/52) in the combined therapy group and the acupuncture group respectively, without significant difference in comparison (P > 0.05). Obesity indices, blood lipid indices, fat-islet axie relevant indices and autonomic nerve function indices were all improved after treatment as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and the improvements in the combined therapy group were much more significant (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of acupuncture and tapping method achieves the double effects of weight loss and lipid loss in the treatment of obesity combined with hyperlipidemia. The effect mechanism is possibly related to the positive regulations of blood glucose, lipid metabolism and fat-islet axie in the patients.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Leptin ; metabolism ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Qi ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome ; Triglycerides ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) has been postulated to provide a new link between obesity and insulin resistance. We aimed to assess the relationship between serum RBP4 and insulin resistance by investigating serum RBP4 levels in children and adolescents according to degree of obesity and pubertal stage. A total of 103 (30 lean, 39 overweight, 34 obese) were evaluated for serum RBP4, adiponectin, insulin, glucose and lipid profiles. RBP4 levels of obese and overweight groups were higher than those of lean group. RBP4 level was higher in pubertal group than in prepubertal group. RBP4 was positively correlated with age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), abdominal circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol and triglyceride, and inversely with adiponectin. In the multiple linear regression analysis, RBP4 was found to be independently associated with pubertal stage, BMI and triglyceride but not with HOMA-IR. In conclusion, serum RBP4 level is related with degree of adiposity and pubertal development. The association of RBP4 with insulin resistance is supposed to be secondary to the relation between RBP4 and adipose tissue in children and adolescents.
Adiponectin/blood ; *Adiposity ; Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Blood Glucose/analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Cholesterol/blood ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin/blood ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Obesity/*blood/metabolism/physiopathology ; Puberty/*blood/metabolism/physiology ; Republic of Korea ; Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma/*metabolism ; Sex Factors ; Triglycerides/blood ; Waist Circumference

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Chang-Chul-Eui-Ee-In-Tang ([see text], CCEET), modififi ed CCEET (MCCEET), and Semen Coicis (SC, a major component of CCEET) on energy and glucose homeostasis. The possible mechanism of action of CCEET was also determined.

METHODSA total of 100 Sprague Dawley female rats were randomly assigned to 5 groups, with 20 in each group. Rats in 4 groups were fed with a high fat diet supplementation (2 g/kg body weight), and water extracts of CCEET, MCCEET, SC, and cellulose (negative control), respectively. The last group was fed with a low-fat diet as a positive control.

RESULTSCCEET and MCCEET decreased body weight and body fat (mesenteric and retroperitoneal fat) more than SC. This decrease was due to decreased energy intake and increased energy expenditure and fat oxidation. The improvement in energy homeostasis was associated with the enhancement of the hypothalamic leptin signalling pathway involving potentiating the phosphorylation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription-3, as well as attenuating the phosphorylation of 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Both CCEET and MCCEET improved glucose tolerance without changing serum insulin levels during an oral glucose tolerance test but MCCEET had a better effect than CCEET.

CONCLUSIONSBoth CCEET and MCCEET safely exerted anti-obesity effects by enhancing energy balance in female rats with diet-induced obesity; MCCEET showed a better effect on glucose homeostasis.

Adenylate Kinase ; metabolism ; Adipose Tissue ; drug effects ; Animals ; Anti-Obesity Agents ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Calorimetry ; Diet ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Energy Metabolism ; drug effects ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Homeostasis ; drug effects ; Hypothalamus ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Leptin ; metabolism ; Motor Activity ; drug effects ; Obesity ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the association of rs9939609 polymorphism of the fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO) with overweight or obesity in Hazakh children.

METHODSPCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to determine the rs9939609 polymorphism in 141 patients with overweight or obesity and 138 healthy controls. Height and weight were measured for body mass index (BMI). Serum lipid levels including total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure, plasma glucose levels, and plasma insulin were also determined.

RESULTSThe genotype distributions of both groups were in the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The frequencies of AA, AT and TT were 0.071, 0.511 and 0.418 in the overweight or obesity group, and 0.029, 0.428 and 0.543 in the controls (Chi-square = 5.74, P= 0.057). However, the frequency of AA+ AT genotype in case group (0.582, 82/141) was higher than that in the controls (0.457, 63/138)(Chi-square = 4.368, P= 0.037). The A allele frequency in the case group (0.326) was higher than that in the controls (0.243) (Chi-square = 4.772, P= 0.029). In both groups, the plasma glucose levels of individuals with AA+ AT genotype (4.88± 0.51 mol/L) was higher than those with TT genotypes (4.68± 0.56 mol/L)(P= 0.026). Logistic regression analysis showed that the A allele of the FTO gene was an independent risk factor for overweight or obesity (OR= 0.527; 95%CI: 0.319-0.869).

CONCLUSIONThe A allele of the fat mass and obesity associated gene might be a risk factor of overweight or obesity in Hazakh children in Xinjiang.

Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO ; Analysis of Variance ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; China ; ethnology ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Proteins ; genetics

PURPOSE: This study sought to determine whether abdominal obesity is a risk factor for impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and hypertriglyceridemia and to verify whether moderate effect of abdominal obesity on the relationship between IFG and hypertriglyceridemia in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used for the analysis. The study population included 5,938 subjects aged 20 year old drawn from non-diabetic participants in a health examination survey. The subjects were classified according to the presence of abdominal obesity based on waist circumference, IFG based on their fasting blood glucose level, and hypertriglyceridemia on their fasting triglyceride. RESULTS: The multivariate-adjusted odds ratios for the occurrence of hypertriglyceridemia were 2.91 in the abdominal obesity group as compared with the nonobesity group and 1.31 in subjects with IFG compared with the normoglycemia controls. Abdominal obesity was found to be positively moderated in the interaction between waist circumference and fasting blood sugar. CONCLUSION: The moderate effect between abdominal obesity and IFG contributes to the development of hypertriglyceridemia in Korea.
Adult ; Aged ; Blood Glucose/*metabolism ; Fasting/blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia/*blood/*pathology ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity, Abdominal/*physiopathology ; Triglycerides/blood ; Waist Circumference/physiology ; Young Adult