Effects of Resistance Training and Aerobic Exercise on Insulin Sensitivity in Overweight Korean Adolescents: A Controlled Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND: Data on the impact of resistance training on insulin resistance in overweight or obese children are inconclusive. METHODS: Thirty overweight South Korean adolescents (mean age of 13.10 years) were divided by sex, and then randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups, which were the diet only (DO), diet with aerobic exercise (AE), or diet with resistance training (RT) group. Physiologic and metabolic parameters were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks of exercise training and diet modification. RESULTS: Both exercise groups (aerobic and resistance) showed significant improvements in their insulin area under the curve and insulin sensitivity index values when compared to their baseline values while the DO group showed no significant changes in these variables. Age-, sex-, and body mass index (BMI)-adjusted intergroup comparison analyses showed a marked reduction in BMI and a significant reduction in muscle mass in the AE group when compared to the RT group and the DO group, respectively. CONCLUSION: A 12-week exercise training program of either resistance or aerobic activity improved insulin sensitivity in overweight adolescents, although it failed to show superiority over a DO program. Aerobic exercise decreased both body weight and BMI, and it was noted that this group also had a significant reduction in muscle mass when compared to the DO group.

Neurologic Manifestations of Churg-Strauss Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is characterized by disseminated vasculitis with multi-organ involve-ment. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and the types of neurologic involvement in a series of patients with CSS. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 16 patients (seven men and nine women, age = 41.9 (18.6) with CSS who were examined at Seoul National University Hospital. The diagnosis of CSS was based on the presence of asthma, peripheral eosinophilia (more than 10% eosinophiles), and histopathological or clinical findings of vasculitis. RESULTS: Of the 16 patients, 12 (75%) had neurologic involvement. Nine (56%) had neurologic symptoms as initial presentations of CSS. Peripheral neuropathy was detected in nine patients (56%) ; six had multiple mononeu-ropathy, and three had distal symmetric polyneuropathy. Three patients (19%) had cerebral infarctions; in two of them, a delayed diagnosis of CSS caused the recurrence of ischemic stroke. Corticosteroid therapy combined with immuno-suppressive agents usually yielded improvement or stabilization of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Neurologic involvement is common in CSS, usually manifesting as peripheral neuropathy. Neurologic symptoms are important initial manifesta-tions at the time of diagnosis of CSS. Furthermore, cerebral involvement is not uncommon; thus any neurologic symp-toms in patients with asthma or eosinophilia prompts an aggressive diagnostic approach to CSS.

Neurologic Manifestations of Churg-Strauss Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is characterized by disseminated vasculitis with multi-organ involve-ment. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and the types of neurologic involvement in a series of patients with CSS. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 16 patients (seven men and nine women, age = 41.9 (18.6) with CSS who were examined at Seoul National University Hospital. The diagnosis of CSS was based on the presence of asthma, peripheral eosinophilia (more than 10% eosinophiles), and histopathological or clinical findings of vasculitis. RESULTS: Of the 16 patients, 12 (75%) had neurologic involvement. Nine (56%) had neurologic symptoms as initial presentations of CSS. Peripheral neuropathy was detected in nine patients (56%) ; six had multiple mononeu-ropathy, and three had distal symmetric polyneuropathy. Three patients (19%) had cerebral infarctions; in two of them, a delayed diagnosis of CSS caused the recurrence of ischemic stroke. Corticosteroid therapy combined with immuno-suppressive agents usually yielded improvement or stabilization of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Neurologic involvement is common in CSS, usually manifesting as peripheral neuropathy. Neurologic symptoms are important initial manifesta-tions at the time of diagnosis of CSS. Furthermore, cerebral involvement is not uncommon; thus any neurologic symp-toms in patients with asthma or eosinophilia prompts an aggressive diagnostic approach to CSS.

A Case of Transfusion Induced Malaria Presenting as a Fever of Unknown Origin / 감염

We report a case of a 39 year-old woman with transfusion-induced malaria presenting as fever of unknown origin. She had been well until 2 months ago when lower abdominal pain developed. Pelvic ultrasonography revealed an ovarian mass and an operation was performed. Two weeks after the operation, she developed a fever. Peripheral blood smear revealed developmental stages of Plasmodium vivax. The patient had received two units of whole blood during the operation, which was later proven to have been donated by a asymptomatic soldier who contracted tertian malaria while serving near the DMZ, an endemic area of malaria in South Korea. Considering such a case, malaria should be included in the differential diagnosis of post-transfusion febrile episodes.