The aim of this study was to determine the appropriate cut-off values for visceral fat area and waist circumference (WC) associated with an increase in risk for obesity-related disorder, and to validate diagnostic criteria for abdominal obesity and the metabolic syndrome in a Korean adult population. We included 413 subjects (174 men and 239 women) for this study. Subjects were selected among Korean adults who visited the obesity clinic at St. Mary's Hospital and Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital from January 1999 to August 2005. All patients had computed tomography performed. The cut-off value, of visceral fat area associated with an increase risk of obesity-related disorder, according to the receiver operating characteristics curve, was 103.8 cm2 (sensitivity 74.5%, specificity 64.7%, p<0.001). The cut-off value for the WC was 89.8 cm in men (sensitivity 84.7%, specificity 91.7%, p<0.005) and 86.1 cm in women (sensitivity 83.9%, specificity 62.9%, p<0.001). Based on the results of this study, the visceral fat area associated with an increased risk of obesity-related disorder in Korea was 103.8 cm2 and the WC was 89.8 cm in men and 86.1 cm in women.

Introduction. Fatigue is a common symptom, but only a few effective treatments are available. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of the human placental extract solution, which has been known to have a fatigue recovery effect. Methods. A total of 315 subjects were randomly assigned to three groups: group 1 (with Unicenta solution administration), group 2 (with exclusively human placental extract administration, excluding other ingredients from the Unicenta solution), and the placebo group. Subsequently, solutions were administered for four weeks. Results. The fatigue recovery rate was 71.00% in group 1, 71.72% in group 2, and 44.21% in the placebo group, which show statistically significant differences between the group 1 and the placebo group (P value = 0.0002), and between group 2 and the placebo group (P value = 0.0001). Conclusion. The human placental extract solution was effective in the improvement of fatigue.

cagon-like peptide-1 and its potent agonist exendin-4 induce several immediate early response genes (IEGs) that code for transcription factors implicated in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. We recently observed that early growth response factor-1 (EGR-1), an IEG product, was required for transcriptional activation of Ccnd1 (cyclin D1) gene by exendin-4. Herein, the regulatory mechanism whereby exendin-4 activates the transcription of EGR-1 gene was investigated in the pancreatic ␤-cell line INS-1. Deletion analysis of rat EGR-1 promoter identified a critical region between Ϫ73 and Ϫ46 for the activation of EGR-1 in response to exendin-4. Mutation of the proximal putative cAMP response element (CRE, 5Ј-GTACGTCA-3Ј) located at Ϫ69 resulted in a significant decrease in the EGR-1 transcription, whereas the mutation of the distal putative CRE at Ϫ139 was without such an effect. In immune supershift assays using exendin-4-treated cells, binding of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylated on Ser 133 to the proximal CRE was increased. Employment of a CREB mutant containing Ala substitution at Ser 133 or a dominant negative CREB mutant that inhibits the binding of endogenous CREB to DNA significantly decreased the exendin-4-induced EGR-1 transcription. In experiments using specific protein kinase inhibitors, the effect of H-89 was more prominent than PD-98059, indicating the predominance of the PKA signaling over the MEK/ERK in induction of EGR-1. Therefore, it appears that the proximal CRE site is critical and the binding with CREB phosphorylated on Ser 133 is necessary for induction of the EGR-1 transcription by exendin-4.

[Purpose] The age at menarche in Korean women has been declining sharply. However, for the students who are just beginning to menstruate, taking pain medication might become a long-term habit continuing until adulthood. Therefore, this study investigated whether balance taping would be more helpful than medication in relieving the pain. [Subjects and Methods] Subjects of this study included 125 female students. The participants were assigned to the balance taping group, the control group, and the medication group. The medication group was given 1 dose of Tylenol (acetaminophen 500 mg) and the balance-taping group had taping applied, and the changes in pain were measured before the taping, as well as1 hour, 4 hours, 8 hours, and 24 hours after. The measurement was done two times for the repeatability of the result. [Results] The balance-taping group showed a difference in pain from 1 hour after the taping compared with the control group, and the pain was significantly reduced until 24 hours after the taping. The balance taping group showed a statistically significant difference in pain compared with the medication group from 4 hours after the taping, and it lasted until 24 hours after the taping. The results were similar in the second measurement as well. [Conclusion] Balance taping was shown to be effective in relieving menstrual pain. Balance taping could be an effective alternative to medication in relieving menstrual pain and distress.

Introduction This study aimed to examine whether administration of coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant, improves insulin resistance in patients with prediabetes. The study design was a pilot single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Methods This pilot single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included a total of 80 adults (aged ≥20 years) with impaired glucose tolerance. After the initial screening visit, subjects were assigned to either the experimental (n = 40) or placebo (n = 40) group via simple randomization. Insulin resistance was represented as the insulin resistance index estimated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Results After the 8-week treatment period, the coenzyme group exhibited a significant decrease in the HOMA-IR (P < .001). The free oxygen radical and coenzyme Q10 concentrations were found to correlate significantly (P < .001). However, no significant changes in fasting blood glucose, insulin, and glycated hemoglobin levels were observed in either group. Additionally, no adverse events occurred in either group. Conclusion Patients with prediabetes who were administered coenzyme Q10 showed a significant reduction in HOMA-IR values. Therefore, administration of coenzyme Q10 in patients with impaired glucose tolerance may slow the progression from prediabetes to overt diabetes.

PurposeThe aim of this study was to study the appropriate cut-off value of visceral fat area (VFA) and waist-to-height ratio (WTHR) which increase the risk of obesity-related disorders and to validate the diagnostic criteria of abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome in Korean children and adolescents.Materials and MethodsA total 314 subjects (131 boys and 183 girls) were included in this study. The subjects were selected from Korean children and adolescents who visited three University hospitals in Seoul and Uijeongbu from January 1999 to December 2009. All patients underwent computed tomography to measure VFA.ResultsThe cut-off value of VFA associated with an increase risk of obesity-related disorder, according to the receiver operating characteristics curve, was 68.57 cm2 (sensitivity 59.8%, specificity 76.6%, p=0.01) for age between 10 to 15 years, and 71.10 cm2 (sensitivity 72.3%, specificity 76.5%, p<0.001) for age between 16 to 18 years. By simple regression analysis, the WTHR corresponding to a VFA of 68.57 cm2 was 0.54 for boys and 0.61 for girls, and the WTHR corresponding to a VFA of 71.10 cm2 was 0.51 for boys and 0.56 for girls (p=0.004 for boys, p<0.001 for girls).ConclusionBased on the results of this study, VFA which increases the risk of obesity-related disorders was 68.57 cm2 and the WTHR corresponding to this VFA was 0.54 for boys and 0.61 for girls age between 10-15 years, 71.70 cm2 and the WTHR 0.51 for boys and 0.56 for girls age between 16-18 years. For appropriate diagnostic criteria of abdominal obesity and obesity-related disorders in Korean children and adolescents, further studies are required.

Calcium and magnesium that are associated with insulin resistance play an antagonistic role with each other in cells. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between hair mineral concentrations and insulin resistance in Korean adult males. A total of 123 male subjects (63 patients with metabolic syndrome and 60 normal control patients) were recruited and fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, as well as HDL cholesterol levels, HOMA-IR, and hair mineral concentrations were measured. The ratio of calcium/magnesium in hair showed a significantly positive correlation with the HOMA-IR (r = 0.191, P = 0.038) and insulin (r = 0.198, P = 0.031). The result of multiple regression analysis after adjusting the age also showed a significant correlation of the Ca/Mg ratio with HOMA-IR (R² = 0.115, P = 0.047). The hair chromium concentration was lower in the metabolic syndrome group than in the control group, and it showed a significantly negative correlation with the fasting blood glucoseand the triglyceride. The result of this study showed that insulin resistance increased as the ratio of Ca/Mg increased, or as the chromium concentration in hair decreased.

Endotoxins are known to be associated with the occurrence of various chronic diseases. This study was conducted to investigate the role of endotoxins in the pathogenesis of colon polyps through a case-control study. A total of 145 subjects (74 subjects in the polyp group and 71 subjects in the control group) had undergone a colonoscopy. Age, body mass index (BMI) and endotoxin levels were found to be significantly higher in the polyp group than in the control group. The endotoxin level was still significantly higher in the polyp group than in the control group, even after age and BMI had been adjusted (polyp group 0.108 ± 0.007 EU/mL, control group 0.049 ± 0.008 EU/mL, P < 0.001). In subgroup analysis, the endotoxin level significantly increased in accordance with the number of colon polyps (one-polyp group, 0.088 ± 0.059 EU/mL; two-polyp group, 0.097 ± 0.071 EU/mL; three-or-more-polyp group, 0.149 ± 0.223 EU/mL). The endotoxin levels also significantly increased in groups with tubular adenoma with high-grade dysplasia (hyperplastic polyp group, 0.109 ± 0.121 EU/mL; tubular adenoma with low grade dysplasia group, 0.103 ± 0.059 EU/mL; tubular adenoma with high grade dysplasia group, 2.915 ± 0.072 EU/mL). In conclusion, the serum level of endotoxins is quantitatively correlated with colon polyps.