Correlations of Leptin, Adiponectin and Leptin/Adiponectin Ratio with Metabolic Disorders in the Childhood Obesity / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: To investigate the correlation of the serum leptin, adiponectin, and leptin/adiponectin ratio with metabolic disorders in the childhood obesity. METHODS: Fifty children (25 obese and 25 non-obese) were recruited in the pediatric outpatient clinic of Chosun University Hospital from January 1st to June 30th 2005. Adiponectin, leptin, anthropometric parameters, glucose, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and insulin levels were measured. The correlations of leptin and adiponectin levels with anthropometric parameters, glucose, insulin and lipids were analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Insulin and leptin levels of the obese group were significantly higher than those of the non-obese group (p<0.05, p<0.001 respectively). HDL-cholesterol and adiponectin levels of the obese group were significantly lower than those of the non-obese group (p<0.005, p<0.05 respectively). In the obese group, leptin level was positively correlated with BMI and the percentage of body fat, but negatively correlated with adiponectin level. Moreover, adiponectin level of the obese group was negatively correlated with BMI and the percentage of body fat, but positively correlated with leptin level. In the non-obese group, only insulin level was positively correlated with adiponectin. In the obese group, leptin/adiponectin ratio was positively correlated with the percentage of body fat and leptin level. Also, leptin/adiponectin ratio was positively correlated with BMI and the percentage of body fat in the non-obese group. CONCLUSION: Leptin, adiponectin, and leptin/adiponectin ratio did not appear to have a major role linking various metabolic disorders in the childhood obesity, even though they were strongly associated with obesity indices. Also, leptin/adiponectin ratio was associated with obesity indices even in non-obese children.

A Case of Neonatal Rhinitis Presenting Cyanosis after Birth

Neonatal rhinitis is characterized by watery or mucous coryza and nasal mucosa edema without anatomical anomaly in neonate. The recognition and treatment of this disease is important, because neonates breathe through nose obligatory, and mismanagement of this can result in poor feeding or even death from respiratory distress. It is essential to rule out maternal syphilis infection, and anatomical anomalies such as choanal atresia, and tracheoesophgeal fistula before diagnosis is made. A newborn male infant with neonatal rhinitis is reported with a brief review of literature. He showed cyanosis 3 hours after his birth, watery and mucoid coryza, and mucosal edema examined by flexible nasoscopy.

The Long-term Follow-up Studies of Childhood Obesity after Puberty / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: We studied the prevalence and long-term trend of childhood obesity after puberty to help in managing and treating obesity. METHODS: We surveyed obesity index of children at age 13 and 17 who was diagnosed as obesity at their age 7. 1,559 students consisting of 753 boys and 806 girls had followed up since 1992 until 2002. Obesity was defined as the obesity index over 20 percent. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity was 3.1% at age 7, 7.1% at age 13 and 13.0% at age 17, which increased significantly with getting older in age in both sex. Among obese children at age 7, 67.5 percent remained obese at age 17. 66.6% of the obese boys at age 7 and 68.4% of the obese girls at age 7 remained obese at age 17. The proportion of severe obesity in obese boys was increased as they were old, but not in obese girls. The progression to moderate and severe obesity at age 17 was prominent for obese boys at age 7, compared to the obese girls. 12.7% of normal weight boys at age 7 and 9.8% of normal weight girls at age 7 became obese at age 17. CONCLUSION: We think that the prevention and treatment of obesity during puberty is as important as those in the childhood.

The Prevalence and Associated Factors of Constipation in the School-aged Children / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: Constipation in childhood is a significant problem, however, understanding of its epidemiology has been limited in Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of constipation in school-aged children, helping to manage and prevent it. METHODS: This cross-sectional, descripsive observational prevalence study included children (2 grade, 1st and 6th grade) who were attending two elementary schools in Gwangju. The prevalence of constipation, associated symptoms, and risk factors were evaluated by questionnaire. A child was considered to be constipated when he or she defecated two or less times per week. RESULTS: The prevalence of constipation was 15.4%. There is no significant difference between both sexes and grades. Of the causes of constipation, there was statistically significant difference in exercise deficiency, frequent intake of convenience food, long-time watching TV, unbalanced diet and enuresis history between constipation and normal group. Especially, long-time watching TV, exercise deficiency, and enuresis history were risk factors for development of constipation. Only 27.1% of children with constipation were treated by laxative and enema. CONCLUSION: Even though the prevalence of constipation was high, more than half of them was not treated at all. We should endeavor to educate the children and their parents to prevent constipation by evaluating the feeding and behavioral habit completely, and treating them properly.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Snoring in School-Aged Children

PURPOSE: We studied the prevalence of snoring and its association with diseases, obesity and environmental factors, as well as sleep disturbance arising from snoring, in school-aged children. METHODS: The survey was performed by a special questionnaire on 1,707 children at elementary schools from 1 to 30 July 2001 in Gwangju City. The prevalence of snoring, associated factors, and sleep disturbance were evaluated. RESULTS: 266(16.5%) of the children snored at least once a week. 73(4.3%) of the children snored almost every day. Regarding the associated factors of snoring : There was a statistically significant difference between snoring and nonsnoring groups due to gender, obesity, sinusitis, tonsillar hypertrophy, bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis. Of them, male gender, tonsillar hypertrophy, and obesity were significant risk factors for development of snoring. Especially, the odds ratio increased to 1.048(CI, 1.004-1.659), 1.748(CI, 1.175-2.599), and 2.266(CI, 1.300-3.950) in children with an obesity index of 20-29%, 30-49%, >or=50%, respectively. There was a statistically significant association of snoring with decreased sleep duration, sleep talking, and drowsiness during the day as a result of sleep disturbance. CONCLUSION: 16.5% of school-aged children snored at least once a week. The association of snoring with tonsillar hypertrophy, obesity and gender as risk factors was demonstrated in this study.

A Case of Methylmalonic Acidemia in a 6-month-old Infant / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

Methylmalonic acidemia is a rare congenital autosomal recessive metabolic disease. It is caused by blocking in the pathways of isoleucine, valine, threonine, methionine, cholesterol and odd-chain fatty acids to succinyl CoA, resulting in the increase of L-methylmalonyl CoA and methylmalonic acid. In most cases, there are symptoms such as recurrent vomitings, lethargy and laboratory abnormalities including metabolic acidosis and hyperammonemia from the neonatal period. We had a 6-month-old infant with methylmalonyl acidemia who presented with recurrent vomiting episodes since 3 months of age, failure to thrive and developmental delay. The laboratory findings showed hyperammoninemia and ketotic metabolic acidosis. Plasma amino acid analysis showed nonspecific finding. Urine organic acid ananysis by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry detected large amount of methylmalonic acid excreted in the urine. We restrained the supply of protein in the amount of 1~1.5 g/kg of body weight a day using leucine, isoleucine and valine-r-estrained milk and administered vitamine B12, in the amount of 1mg per day. During the follow-up in the outpatient clinic, He could control his head and showed increased muscle strength.

A Case of Miller-Dieker Syndrome

Miller-Dieker Syndrome consists of severe type I lissencephaly and a characteristic abnormal facial appearance at birth and may progress to severe neurologic defects such as intractable seizure and growth failure. This syndrome is associated with microdeletion of p13.3 in the distal portion of chromosome 17. Lissencephaly is a brain malformation manifested by a smooth cerebral surface, thickened cortical mantle, and microscopic evidence of incomplete neuronal migration. We diagnosed Miller-Dieker syndrome in a case in which there are charcteristic craniofacial appearance and neurologic symptoms and type I lissencephaly on the MRI. : We confirmed this syndrome with the a microdeletion of p13.3 portion in the short arm of chromosome 17 by the FISH method. We have experienced a baby with this syndrome, who showed characterisic craniofacial abnormalities and a microdeletion of p13.3 portion in the short arm of chromosome 17. Then we report this rare case with brief review of literature.