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.

The novel expression method of pediatric body composition: fat mass index and fat-free mass index / 소아과

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to assess the usefulness of fat-free mass index (FFMI) and fat mass index (FMI) as novel expression methods of body composition in children. METHODS: A total of 466 Second grade students-248 boys and 218 girls- from all elementary schools the Gwacheon City underwent anthropometric measures including bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and biochemical tests. The correlation coefficients between obesity indices, including FMI and FFMI, and metabolic risk factors, were assessed. Metabolic risk factors of children with increased FMI were compared with those of children with normal FMI. We compared FMI and FFMI percentile distribution between this study's subjects and the subjects of the Fukuoka body composition study. RESULTS: FMI was lower and FFMI was higher in this study's subjects compared to the subjects of the Fukuoka body composition study. FMI was correlated with other obesity indices and several metabolic risk factors. Metabolic risk was higher in children with increased FMI than in children with normal FMI. CONCLUSION: FMI and FFMI were useful indicators in comparing difference of body composition among children that had different body size and growth. High FMI was related to increase of metabolic risk in children.

C-reactive Protein, Obesity, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in 7 Years-old Korean Children

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a nonspecific, but sensitive marker of systemic immune response. Many studies have suggested that CRP levels are associated with obesity and cardiovascular risk factors not only in adults, but also in children. We assessed the inter-relationships between CRP, obesity, and cardiovascular risk factors in Korean children aged 7 years old. Methods: A total of 126 children (40 overweight and 86 normal weight children) were recruited from seven elementary schools in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Physical examinations including various obesity parameters were done. Fasting and post-prandial venous blood was withdrawn for the chemistry. The hsCRP was measured by the Nephelometry. Results: The hsCRP was associated with body weight, body fat (%), body mass index (BMI), waist circumferences, hip circumferences and waist/hip ratio (P<0.05). From the lowest to the highest quartile groups of hsCRP, mean fasting insulin levels (2.7+/-3.1micronIU/mL, 2.6+/-2.1micronIU/mL, 3.4+/-3.7micronIU/mL, and 4.2+/-3.6micronIU/mL, respectively)(P<0.05) and HOMA-IR levels (0.60+/-0.70, 0.59+/-0.49, 0.74+/-0.84, and 0.95+/-0.83, respectively)(P<0.05) increased. Serum lipid profiles were not associated with the hsCRP levels. Conclusion: In children aged 7 years old, the hsCRP was significantly associated with obesity and cardiovascular risk factors.

Relationship between Physical Activity, Dietary Habits and Overweight of 7-year-old Korean Children

Background: Recently, the prevalence of childhood obesity has increased dramatically, but the cause still remains incompletely understood. The goal of this study was to present a direction for treatment and prevention of childhood obesity on the basis of the data of physical activity energy expenditure, inactive time and dietary habits of Korean children. Methods: A total of 56 children were selected from 8 elementary schools in Seoul and Gwacheon-city. Children's physical activity pattern and dietary habits were obtained by questionnaire. The children wore accelerometer on their wrists from Friday to Tuesday over the whole weekend. Then, we calculated the activity energy expenditure using the activity counts recorded on the accelerometer. Results: Neither the physical activity energy expenditure (kcal/kg) nor the activity pattern showed a significant difference between the normal weight group and the overweight group. The overweight children spent more time watching TV and using the computer. The overweight group did not have breakfast and ate much more and faster in terms of dietary habit. Conclusion: This study suggests that bad habituations in diet and increase of inactivity time can play more important role than physical activity in causing overweight in 7-year-old children.

Children and Parental Factors Affecting Cholesterol Levels of First-grade Students in Elementary School in Gwacheon

BACKGROUND: Hypercholesterolemia is a risk factor of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome. Cholesterol level in childhood is related to the development of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. This study aimed to investigate cholesterol levels of first grade students in elementary school, to analyze the relationship between the children's cholesterol levels and those of parents' and to evaluate the factors influencing children's cholesterol levels. METHODS: In 2004, a sample of 108 first-graders in elementary school in Gwacheon city and their 216 parents were included in this study. Height, weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumference and blood pressure were measured and bio-chemical data were obtained. The children's birth weight, eating habits, physical activity, occupation, educational background, married status, mean monthly income of each family were obtained by questionnaire. RESULTS: The correlation coefficient between children's cholesterol and fathers' cholesterol was 0.331 (P<0.001). The correlation coefficient between children's cholesterol and mothers' cholesterol was 0.364 (P<0.001). The mean total cholesterol level in children differed significantly according to mother's smoking status, mother's overeating due to stress and mother's diet restriction tendency for weight control. In multiple linear regression analysis of children's cholesterol as dependent variable, the explanation power (R(2)) of the model including children's sex, father's age and cholesterol levels, mother's age and cholesterol levels was 0.281. The explanation power (R(2)) of the other model including variables of the previous model and children's fruit consumption, parent's eating out tendency, mother's smoking status, mother's other behavior during mealtime, mother's overeating due to stress and mother's diet restriction tendency for weight control was 0.388. In final model, only the parent's cholesterol levels had significant effect on children's cholesterol levels. CONCLUSION: It was parent's cholesterol level that affected significantly on the children's cholesterol level.

Effect of Genistein and Soy Protein on Lipids Metabolism in Ovariectomized Rats

Postmenopausal women or ovariectomized rats are associated with increased cholesterol levels, which are risk factors of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. Increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome after menopause might be associated with estradiol deficiency. Harmful effect of estradiol hampers the casual usage of hormone to prevent the metabolic syndrome. Soy protein has been reported to show several beneficial effects on health, however it is unclear which components of soy protein is responsible for anti-obesity and hypocholesterolemic effects. Soy isoflavones, genistein and daizein, are suggested to have anti-obesity and hypocholesterolemic effects but with inconsistency. The present study investigated the effect of supplementation of genistein (experiment I) and soy protein containing isoflavones (experiment II) to high fat diet on body weight gain, food intake, liver and fat tissue weight and the lipid levels in ovariectomized rats. Plasma and hepatic lipid contents and the mRNA levels of genes encoding lipid metabolism related proteins, such as CPT1 and HMGR were measured. Ovariectomy increased body weight, fat tissue weight and plasma and hepatic lipid levels which increase the risk of metabolic syndrome. Soy protein could improve plasma and hepatic lipids levels. Soy protein also increased hepatic CPT1 and HMGR mRNA levels. Plasma and hepatic lipids levels could not be decreased by dietary genistein alone. In contrast, lipids levels could be decreased by isoflavone-fortified soy protein, suggesting that the ingestion of soy protein enriched with isoflavone gives more benefit for protecting postmenopausal women from metabolic syndrome.

Effect of Ovariectomy and Genistein on Hepatic Mitochondrial Function

Women with menopause or rats with ovariectomy is associated with increased body weight, body fat and insulin resistance, which are components of metabolic syndrome. Increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome after menopause might be associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, since mitochondrial oxidative and phosphorylation activity is strongly correlated with insulin sensitivity. Although estradiol replacement prevents the metabolic syndrome, harmful effect of estradiol hampers the casual usage to prevent the metabolic syndrome. It has been reported that genistein has a mild estrogenic activity, decreases fat mass in mice and has an antidiabetic role in diabetic rats. Although insulin resistance is closely related to mitochondrial functions, there has not been yet any study in regard to the effect of dietary genistein on mitochondrial function in the insulin resistant female subjects induced by ovariectomy or similar situation. The present study investigated whether the supplementation of genistein in the high fat diet affected the mitochondrial function of high fat fed ovariectomized rats. Female Sprague Dawley rats (8 weeks old) were assigned to the following groups: sham-operated + high fat diet (S, n = 6); sham-operated + high fat diet with 0.1% genistein (S + G, n = 7); ovariectomized + high fat diet (OVX, n = 8); ovariectomized + high fat diet with 0.1% genistein (OVX + G, n = 8). Ovariectomy significantly increased body weight compared with S group. Genistein consumption in ovariectomized (OVX + G) rats decreased body weight gain compared with OVX rats. Liver weights were increased by ovariectomy. The hepatic mitochondrial protein density expressed as mg per g liver was lower in the OVX group than in the S group. However, OVX + G group showed the increased mitochondrial protein density similar to the level of S group. When mRNA levels of genes related to mitochondria such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 (PGC-1) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit III (COX III) were measured, there were decreases in the mRNA levels of PGC-1 and COX III in S + G, OVX and OVX + G group. The activity of cytochrome c oxidase was not different between groups. We could observe the decrease in succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity per g liver in OVX rats. Genistein supplement increased SDH activity. In conclusion, genistein supplementation to the OVX rats enhanced mitochondrial function by increasing mitochondrial protein density and SDH activity. The improvement in mitochondrial function by genistein can contribute to the improvement in metabolic syndrome.

Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) expression is associated with intestinal type of gastric carcinoma

Increased expression of glucose transporter1 (GLUT1) has been reported in many human cancers. We hypothesized that the degree of GLUT1 might provide a useful biological information in gastric adenocarcinoma. RT-PCR and immunostaining were used to analyze GLUT1 expression in gastric cancer. RT-PCR showed GLUT1 expression was not largely detected in normal gastric tissue but was detected in cancerous gastric tissue of counterpart. By immunohistochemistry, GLUT1 protein was absent in normal gastric epithelium and intestinal metaplasia. 11 of 65 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma had specific GLUT1 immunostaining in a plasma membrane pattern with varied intensities. GLUT1 protein did not show any significant correlation with tumor stage and nodal metastasis (p+AD4-0.05 by Mann-Whitney test). However, the positive immunostaining for GLUT1 is associated with intestinal differentiation (p+AD0-0.003). Our results suggest that GLUT1 protein is associated with intestinal type of gastric cancer.

Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) expression is associated with intestinal type of gastric carcinoma

Increased expression of glucose transporter1 (GLUT1) has been reported in many human cancers. We hypothesized that the degree of GLUT1 might provide a useful biological information in gastric adenocarcinoma. RT-PCR and immunostaining were used to analyze GLUT1 expression in gastric cancer. RT-PCR showed GLUT1 expression was not largely detected in normal gastric tissue but was detected in cancerous gastric tissue of counterpart. By immunohistochemistry, GLUT1 protein was absent in normal gastric epithelium and intestinal metaplasia. 11 of 65 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma had specific GLUT1 immunostaining in a plasma membrane pattern with varied intensities. GLUT1 protein did not show any significant correlation with tumor stage and nodal metastasis (p+AD4-0.05 by Mann-Whitney test). However, the positive immunostaining for GLUT1 is associated with intestinal differentiation (p+AD0-0.003). Our results suggest that GLUT1 protein is associated with intestinal type of gastric cancer.