Seasonal Changes in Vitamin D Levels of Healthy Children in Mid-Latitude, Asian Urban Area / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

Purpose@#This study aimed to investigate the seasonal changes in vitamin D levels in a healthy pediatric population living in mid-latitude East Asian urban areas. @*Methods@#A pediatric population was selected from single secondary hospital visitors.Clinical data and serum vitamin D levels were collected retrospectively. Statistical analyses were performed based on the month of the blood sampling date, subject age, and vitamin D supplementation history. The data were categorized into three subgroups based on serum vitamin D levels—adequate (≥30 ng/mL), insufficient (20–29 ng/mL), and deficient (<20 ng/mL). @*Results@#Of the 481 patients, 172 had vitamin D supplementation history. More than 70% of the total study population had inadequate vitamin D levels (<30 ng/mL). The non-supplemented group and the supplemented group showed significantly uneven monthly distribution of the adequate, insufficient, and deficient subgroups. Only the nonsupplemented group showed significantly different average vitamin D levels in the summer months compared to the winter months. In the non-supplemented group, vitamin D levels were the lowest in March, the highest in August and September. Significant relevance was noted between vitamin D supplementation status and vitamin D serum level in February and March. There was no significant difference between different age groups in terms of the distribution of vitamin D levels. @*Conclusion@#Currently-widespread vitamin D replacement methods seem to have some effect on increasing the overall serum vitamin D levels, specifically during late winter when natural serum vitamin D levels plunge. However, they are unable to fully compensate the seasonal fluctuation.

Seasonal Changes in Vitamin D Levels of Healthy Children in Mid-Latitude, Asian Urban Area / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

Purpose@#This study aimed to investigate the seasonal changes in vitamin D levels in a healthy pediatric population living in mid-latitude East Asian urban areas. @*Methods@#A pediatric population was selected from single secondary hospital visitors.Clinical data and serum vitamin D levels were collected retrospectively. Statistical analyses were performed based on the month of the blood sampling date, subject age, and vitamin D supplementation history. The data were categorized into three subgroups based on serum vitamin D levels—adequate (≥30 ng/mL), insufficient (20–29 ng/mL), and deficient (<20 ng/mL). @*Results@#Of the 481 patients, 172 had vitamin D supplementation history. More than 70% of the total study population had inadequate vitamin D levels (<30 ng/mL). The non-supplemented group and the supplemented group showed significantly uneven monthly distribution of the adequate, insufficient, and deficient subgroups. Only the nonsupplemented group showed significantly different average vitamin D levels in the summer months compared to the winter months. In the non-supplemented group, vitamin D levels were the lowest in March, the highest in August and September. Significant relevance was noted between vitamin D supplementation status and vitamin D serum level in February and March. There was no significant difference between different age groups in terms of the distribution of vitamin D levels. @*Conclusion@#Currently-widespread vitamin D replacement methods seem to have some effect on increasing the overall serum vitamin D levels, specifically during late winter when natural serum vitamin D levels plunge. However, they are unable to fully compensate the seasonal fluctuation.

Relationships of physical fitness and obesity with metabolic risk factors in children and adolescents: Chungju city cohort study

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of physical fitness and obesity with metabolic risk factors in children and adolescents. METHODS: This cohort study was conducted in Chungju city, South Korea. Total 843 subjects were enrolled, including 193 elementary school 4th grade male (E4M), 189 elementary school 4th grade female (E4F) and 461 male-middle school students (M1M). The subjects were also classified into 2 groups by body mass index; normal weight (NW) group and overweight included obesity (OW/OB) group. Physical fitness was measured by shuttle run (cardiorespiratory fitness, CRF), sit and reach (flexibility), handgrip strength (muscular strength) and stand long jump (agility). RESULTS: The prevalence of OW/OB was respectively 33.7% (65 of 193) among E4M, 28.6% (54 of 189) among E4F, and 28.0% (129 of 461) among M1M. Hematocrit, white blood cell, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher, while high-density lipoprotein were lower in the OW/OB group than in the NW group. The OW/OB group presented significantly lower CRF (P<0.01) and lower agility, but higher muscular strength compared with NW group. CRF was negatively correlated with obesity indices and metabolic risk factors. After adjustments for potential confounders, odds ratios for 4th-5th grade CRF of OW/OB compared NW in the E4M, E4F, M1M, were 7.38 (95 % CI, 3.24-16.83), 4.10 (95% CI, 1.83-9.18), 16.06 (95% CI, 8.23-31.00) (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that CRF has negative correlation with OW/OB in children and adolescents of Chungju city. We suggest that improvement of CRF through regular physical activity would be an important method for reducing the metabolic risks of childhood obesity.

Two Cases of Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome in Adolescents Confirmed by Genetic Analysis

No abstract available.

Hepatic glycogenosis in type 1 diabetes mellitus mimicking Mauriac syndrome / 소아과

Hepatic glycogenosis in type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) can be caused by poor glycemic control due to insulin deficiency, excessive insulin treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis, or excessive glucose administration to control hypoglycemia. Mauriac syndrome, which is characterized by hepatomegaly due to hepatic glycogenosis, growth retardation, delayed puberty, and Cushingoid features, is a rare diabetic complication. We report a case of hepatic glycogenosis mimicking Mauriac syndrome. A 14-year-old girl with poorly controlled type 1 DM was admitted to The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital for abdominal pain and distension. Physical examination revealed hepatomegaly and a Cushingoid face. The growth rate of the patient had decreased, and she had not yet experienced menarche. Laboratory findings revealed elevated liver enzyme levels. A liver biopsy confirmed hepatic glycogenosis. Continuous glucose monitoring showed hyperglycemia after meals and frequent hypoglycemia before meals. To control hyperglycemia, we increased insulin dosage by using an insulin pump. In addition, we prescribed uncooked cornstarch to prevent hypoglycemia. After strict blood glucose control, the patient's liver functions and size normalized. The patient subsequently underwent menarche. Hepatic glycogenosis is a complication of type 1 DM that is reversible with appropriate glycemic control.

Cerebral salt-wasting syndrome after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in adolescents: 3 case reports

Cerebral salt-wasting syndrome (CSWS) is a rare disease characterized by a extracellular volume depletion and hyponatremia induced by marked natriuresis. It is mainly reported in patients who experience a central nervous system insult, such as cerebral hemorrhage or encephalitis. The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion is a main cause of severe hyponatremia after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, whereas CSWS is rarely reported. We report 3 patients with childhood acute leukemia who developed CSWS with central nervous system complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The diagnosis of CSW was made on the basis of severe hyponatremia accompanied by increased urine output with clinical signs of dehydration. All patients showed elevated natriuretic peptide and normal antidiuretic hormone. Aggressive water and sodium replacement treatment was instituted in all 3 patients and 2 of them were effectively recovered, the other one was required to add fludrocortisone administration.

Serum lipid profiles and glycemic control in adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate serum lipid profiles and glycemic control in adolescents and young adults with type 1diabetes mellitus (T1DM). METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 29 Korean young adults and adolescents with T1DM. The median age was 17 years (range, 10-25 years) and 18 (62.1%) were female. We compared the lipid profiles of patients with dyslipidemia and those without dyslipidemia. Correlations between glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipid profiles (total cholesterol [TC], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], and triglyceride [TG]) were determined by linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 29 patients with T1DM, 11 (37.9%) were classified as having dyslipidemia due to the following lipid abnormality: TC> or =200 mg/dL in 8 patients, LDL-C> or =130 mg/dL in 4 patients, TG> or =150 mg/dL in 2 patients, and HDL-C< or =35 mg/dL in 2 patients. Compared to patients without dyslipidemia, patients with dyslipidemia were more likely to have higher values of HbA1c (median, 10.6%; range, 7.5%-12.3% vs. median, 8.0%; range, 6.6%-10.0%; P=0.002) and a higher body mass index z score (median, 0.7; range, -0.57 to 2.6 vs. median, -0.4; range, -2.5 to 2.2; P=0.02). HbA1c levels were positively correlated with TC (P=0.03, R2=0.156) and TG (P=0.005, R2=0.261). CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of adolescents and young adults with T1DM had dyslipidemia. We found a correlation between poor glycemic control and poor lipid profiles in those patients.

Serum ferritin level is higher in male adolescents with obesity: results from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010

PURPOSE: Previous reports show an association between high serum ferritin levels and metabolic syndrome (MS) in adults. In adolescents, little information is available with obesity and serum ferritin levels. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. Data were obtained from the 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (K-NHANES) conducted during 2010 by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare. A total of 849 subjects aged 10-18 years participated in the 2010 survey. A body mass index (BMI) > or =95th percentile for age and sex or a BMI > or =25 was used to diagnose as obesity. RESULTS: The weighted prevalence of obesity was 13.4% (62/462) in male and 8.5% (33/387) in female. We observed significantly higher serum ferritin in male than in female (mean+/-standard error [SE], 50.5+/-2.3 microU/L vs. 30.6+/-1.3 microU/L; P<0.0001). In male, serum ferritin is positively correlated with age (P<0.0001). White blood cell (WBC) count, serum fasting blood sugar, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, insulin, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and ferritin levels were higher and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were lower in the obesity than in the normal group. In female adolescents, WBC count, TG, insulin, and HOMA-IR were higher and HDL were lower in the obesity than in the normal group. In male, serum ferritin levels showed positive association with obesity (beta=21.196, P=0.016). CONCLUSION: Serum ferritin levels appear to be associated with obesity in Korean male adolescents.

Sasa borealis extract exerts an antidiabetic effect via activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase

Leaf of Sasa borealis, a species of bamboo, has been reported to exhibit anti-hyperglycemic effect. However, its antidiabetic mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, we examined whether an extract of S. borealis activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and exerts anti-hyperglycemic effects. Treatment with the S. borealis extract increased insulin signaling and phosphorylation of AMPK and stimulated the expression of its downstream targets, including PPARalpha, ACO, and CPT-1 in C2C12 cells and PPARalpha in HepG2 cells. However, inhibition of AMPK activation attenuated insulin signaling and prevented the stimulation of AMPK target genes. The S. borealis extract increased glucose uptake in C2C12 cells and suppressed expression of the gluconeogenic gene, PEPCK in HepG2 cells. The extract significantly reduced blood glucose and triglyceride levels in STZ-induced diabetic mice. The extract enhanced AMPK phosphorylation and increased Glut-4 expression in the skeletal muscle of the mice. These findings demonstrated that the S. borealis extract exerts its anti-hyperglycemic effect through activation of AMPK and enhancement of insulin signaling.

Neonatal Seizures in Preterm Infants / 대한소아신경학회지

PURPOSE: Neonatal seizures are the most prominent feature of neonatal neurologic dysfunction, and the lifespan risk for seizures is highest in the neonatal period, especially in preterm infants. This study was aimed to find and analyze the risk factors and clinical profiles of seizures in preterm infants. METHODS: Sixteen cases of preterms with seizures were retrospectively reviewed between Mar. 2009 and Feb. 2012. RESULTS: The average gestational age was 30.3+/-4.1 weeks and 11 patients (68.7%) experienced seizures within 1 week after the birth. Eight cases (50%) had a perinatal asphyxia during the delivery and 7 cases (43.8%) had a history of perinatal maternal illness. Various types of seizures were observed of which subtle seizures were the most common (50%). Electroecephalographies were performed in 12 cases, which showed abnormal findings in 9 cases (75%). Neuroimaging studies were performed in 16 cases and showed abnormal findings in 10 cases (62.5%). Thirteen patients were discharged in the improved state and 3 patients expired. Eight cases had normal outcome, while 3 cases showed developmental delay. Prognosis was unknown in 2 cases due to follow up loss. CONCLUSION: Neonatal asphyxia is the most important risk factor. Furthermore, infants with a history of perinatal maternal illness appear to be at risk for neonatal seizures. EEG is a sensitive method for assessing seizure activity and prognosis. Monitoring high risk infants with asphyxia and a history of perinatal maternal illness, and early postnatal tracing with EEG is required to detect and manage high risk preterms.

Prevalence of Viruses with Diarrhea among Hospitalized Children West Gyeonggi Province / 소아감염

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate epidemiological data of the viral pathogens obtained from stool exams and provide information on the regional prevalence of infectious diarrheal disease west in Gyeonggi Province, Korea. METHODS: We enrolled a cohort of children <10 years of age admitted for treatment of acute diarrhea at Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea. In total, 310 fecal specimens, documented to be free of common bacterial pathogens, were collected from pediatric patients during a 12-month period from January to December 2009 and were tested for the presence of rotavirus, parechovirus, adenovirus, astrovirus, enterovirus, and norovirus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. RESULTS: The most common virus was parechovirus (16%), followed by adenovirus (15%), astrovirus (14%), rotavirus (13%), and enterovirus (5%). Interestingly, only one of the specimens was positive for norovirus. Single infection cases were detected in 173 (55.8%) of the 310 children, whereas mixed viral infections were detected in 10 (3.2%) of the same children. Viral gastroenteritis generally showed a double peak of incidence. Parechovirus, rotavirus, and adenovirus shared a similar pattern of peak incidence with overall viruses; however, astrovirus infections occurred more frequently in the spring. Eighty-five percent of the confirmed viral gastroenteritis cases developed in under 24 months. CONCLUSION: The results support the importance of parechovirus, adenovirus, astrovirus, and enterovirus as causative agents of diarrhea in children, which may be underestimated by current routine diagnostic testing.

Clinical Study of Influenza B-Associated Myositis / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: Influenza B-associated myositis is an infrequent and poorly known complication of influenza B virus infection in children. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and laboratory manifestations, diagnosis, and outcomes of influenza B-associated myositis in Korean children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted in patients aged <16 years who had been diagnosed with influenza B-associated myositis at the Catholic University Bucheon Saint Mary's Hospital between April 2010 and May 2010. RESULTS: Overall, 16 cases were analyzed. Influenza B-associated myositis typically occurred in preschool-aged children with a 3:1 male predominance. The mean age was 4.6 years (range, 3 to 7 years). The median interval between onset of influenza infection and onset of influenza B-associated myositis was 3 days (range, 1 to 7 days). Only the calf muscles were involved in all patients. Blood creatine phosphokinase concentration was elevated in most patients. Median duration to clinical recovery was 3 days (range, 1 to 4 days). No patient had rhabdomyolysis, renal failure, or related sequelae. All patients had a favorable outcome without administration of antiviral drugs. CONCLUSION: Clinical and laboratory findings of influenza B-associated myositis are very characteristic and allow a rapid diagnosis during the influenza season. Outcomes of influenza B-associated myositis are good with only proper supportive treatment.