Ursolic Acid-Induced Elevation of Serum Irisin Augments Muscle Strength During Resistance Training in Men

Ursolic acid (UA), a type of pentacyclic triterpenoid carboxylic acid purified from natural plants, can promote skeletal muscle development. We measured the effect of resistance training (RT) with/without UA on skeletal muscle development and related factors in men. Sixteen healthy male participants (age, 29.37+/-5.14 years; body mass index=27.13+/-2.16 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to RT (n=7) or RT with UA (RT+UA, n=9) groups. Both groups completed 8 weeks of intervention consisting of 5 sets of 26 exercises, with 10~15 repetitions at 60~80% of 1 repetition maximum and a 60~90-s rest interval between sets, performed 6 times/week. UA or placebo was orally ingested as 1 capsule 3 times/day for 8 weeks. The following factors were measured pre-and post-intervention: body composition, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), irisin, and skeletal muscle strength. Body fat percentage was significantly decreased (p<0.001) in the RT+UA group, despite body weight, body mass index, lean body mass, glucose, and insulin levels remaining unchanged. IGF-1 and irisin were significantly increased compared with baseline levels in the RT+UA group (p<0.05). Maximal right and left extension (p<0.01), right flexion (p<0.05), and left flexion (p<0.001) were significantly increased compared with baseline levels in the RT+UA group. These findings suggest that UA-induced elevation of serum irisin may be useful as an agent for the enhancement of skeletal muscle strength during RT.

Corrigendum to: Ursolic Acid-Induced Elevation of Serum Irisin Augments Muscle Strength During Resistance Training in Men

The original version of this article contained misspelled name of author. The name of Figueroa Arturo is replaced with Arturo Figueroa.

Endoscopic Removal of Foreign Bodies in Upper GI Tract in Children

PURPOSE: The foreing bodies in the upper GI tract are chiefly caused by accidental swallowing and rarely provoke symptoms. It is recommended to remove the foreign bodies if they produce symptoms or remain in GI tract for long duration or complications are expected to bring about. Nowadays the development of pediatric therapeutic endoscopy enables the removal of the foreign bodies in upper GI tract easily. METHODS: A clinical study of 30 cases of pediatric patients with the foreign bodies in the upper gastrointesinal tract diagnosed by the endoscopy at Seoul Red Cross hospital from January 1991 to December 1995 was perforemed. RESULTS: 1) The ages ranged from 1 year to 9 years and the male to female ratio was 2.3:1. 2) The types of ingested foreign bodies were coins (63.3%), audiokeys (10.0%), plastic toy (3.3%), earphone cap (3.3%), metal (3.3%), screw (3.3%), and battery (3.3%). Eighteen cases (60.0%) were located in the 1st narrowing part of the esophagus and 10 cases (33.3%) were in the stomach 3) Presenting symptoms were asymptomatic in 46.7%, dysphagia in 20.0%, vomiting in 16.7%, sore throat in 10.0%, and poor oral intake in 10.0%. The most common symptom in the cases of gastric foreign bodies was asymptomatic (90%), and common symptoms in the cases of 1st esophageal foreign bodies were dysphagia (33.3%), vomiting (27.8%) and asymptomatic (27.8%). 4) Abnormal endoscopic findings were erosive gastritis (16.7%), erosive esophagitis (6.7%), esophageal ulcer (3.3%), esophagitis (3.3%), and pharyngeal necrosis (3.3%) in order. CONCLUSIONS: The upper GI endoscope is a safe and essential method to diagnose and treat foreign bodies in the upper GI tract in pediatric patients.

Measles Hepatitis in Children

PURPOSE: Measles infection in children has been known to have many complications including hepatitis. But there has been no appropriate study about measles hepatitis in children. So we studied to facilitate the understanding of measles hepatitis in children by analyzing their clinical features and laboratory findings. METHODS: We investigated 164 patients who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Seoul Red Cross Hospital due to measles from January 1985 to December 1994. We excluded other factors such as hepatitis A, B, C virus, Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus which could also result in hepatitis. According to the presence and the absence of coexistent complications 22 measles hepatitis patients were divided into two groups in which clinical characteristics and laboratory findings were analyzed as well. RESULTS: 1)Of total 164 patients there were 26 patients(15.9%) with measles hepatitis. 2)The ratio of male to female was 1.8:1. The range of age distribution was 6 months to thirteen years, and patients from 6 months to 3 years of age occupied 50% of the total patients. 3)The mean values of serum AST and ALT levels were 151+/-17.6 IU/L and 185+/-36.6 IU/L, espectively. And they were detected at 4.4+/-2.4 days after the first symptoms of measles were developed. 4)Major clinical characteristics were diarrhea in 22.7%, vomiting in 13.6%, hepatomegaly in 9.1%, and splenomegaly in 4.5%. Jaundice was not detected. 5)There was no difference between two groups in terms of serum albumin, globulin, bilirubin, AST and ALT(p>0.05). 6)Elevated serum AST and ALT levels returned to normal values within 2 weeks in 87.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Measles hepatitis develops with favorable outcome. Liver function test may well be done in cases of measles infection because hepatic dysfunction does not uncommonly occur in measles infection. Further study for the difference of the incidence of measles hepatitis according to the measles epidemics should be performed.

The gastrofiberscopic findings in pediatric patients

We observed 240 cases ranging in age from 3 months to 15 years seen by gastrofiberoscopy in the department of pediatrics of Seoul Red Cross Hospital from March 1990 to October 1992 and following results were obtained. 1) The male to female ratios in total cases and in 89 patients complaining of abdominal pain for more than one month were 0.94:1 and 1.02:1 respectively. The most prevalent age group was 10~12 years in both groups. 2) The indication in the order of frequency were chronic abdominal pain (37.1%), acute abdominal pain (32.5%), vomiting (7.9%), hematemesis and melena (5.4%), follow-up study (6.3%), further evaluation (3.8%), chest discomfort (2.5%), foreign body removal (2.1%), nausea (1.2%), dysphagia (0.8%) and abdominal mass (0.4%). 3) The common endoscopic findings in the 225 cases excluding follow-up ones were gastritis (34.7%), duodenitis (14.2%), ulcer (11.6%), esophagitis (7.6%) and foreign body (2.2%). 4) The common endoscopic findings in cases of chronic abdominal pain were gastritis (42.7%), duodenitis (16.9%) and ulcer (7.9%). 5) There was no complication except mild sore throat.