Understanding the China Blue Paper on Obesity Prevention and Control and policy implications and recommendations for obesity prevention and control in China / 中华预防医学杂志

With the rapid economic development and dramatic changes in lifestyle, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in China has been increasing significantly and become a serious public health threat. This article introduced the main contents of "China Blue Paper on Obesity Prevention and Control", aiming to facilitate understanding and applications of the "China Blue Paper on Obesity Prevention and Control" by policymakers, researchers and practitioners in related fields. Built upon these, recommendations were made for obesity screening, diagnosis, treatment and management, prevention and control policies and strategies, and future research priorities in China.

Erratum: Child health promotion program in South Korea in collaboration with US National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Improvement in dietary and nutrition knowledge of young children

The paper was printed with an error in the order of the authors.

Creating a school nutrition environment index and pilot testing it in elementary and middle schools in urban South Korea

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The role of a school's nutrition environment in explaining students' eating behaviors and weight status has not been examined in an Asian setting. The purpose of this study was to create a school nutrition environment index and to pilot test the index in elementary and middle schools in urban South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study used a mixed-methods approach. Environment assessment tools were developed based on formative research, which comprised literature reviews, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. Key elements from the formative research were included in the assessment tool, which consisted of a structured survey questionnaire for school dietitians. Fifteen school dietitians from 7 elementary and 8 middle schools in Seoul completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: The formative research revealed four main sections that guided a summary index to assess a school's nutrition environment: resource availability, education and programs, dietitians' perceptions and characteristics, and school lunch menu. Based on the literature reviews and interviews, an index scoring system was developed. The total possible score from the combined four index sections was 40 points. From the 15 schools participating in the pilot survey, the mean school nutrition-environment index was 22.5 (standard deviation ± 3.2; range 17-28). The majority of the schools did not offer classroom-based nutrition education or nutrition counseling for students and parents. The popular modes of nutrition education were school websites, posters, and newsletters. CONCLUSIONS: This paper illustrates the process used to develop an instrument to assess a school's nutrition environment. Moreover, it presents the steps used to develop a scoring system for creation of a school nutrition environment index. As pilot testing indicated the total index score has some variation across schools, we suggest applying this instrument in future studies involving a larger number of schools. Future studies with larger samples will allow investigation of the validity and reliability of this newly developed tool.

Child health promotion program in South Korea in collaboration with US National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Improvement in dietary and nutrition knowledge of young children

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Childhood obesity has become a global epidemic. Development of effective and sustainable programs to promote healthy behaviors from a young age is important. This study developed and tested an intervention program designed to promote healthy eating and physical activity among young children in South Korea by adaptation of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Mission X (MX) Program. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The intervention program consisted of 4 weeks of fitness and 2 weeks of nutrition education. A sample of 104 subjects completed pre- and post-surveys on the Children's Nutrition Acknowledgement Test (NAT). Parents were asked for their children's characteristics and two 24-hour dietary records, the Nutrition Quotient (NQ) at baseline and a 6-week follow-up. Child weight status was assessed using Korean body mass index (BMI) percentiles. RESULTS: At baseline, 16.4% (boy: 15.4%; girl: 19.2%) of subjects were overweight or obese (based on BMI≥85%tile). Fat consumption significantly decreased in normal BMI children (48.6 ± 16.8 g at baseline to 41.9 ± 18.1 g after intervention, P < 0.05); total NQ score significantly increased from 66.4 to 67.9 (P < 0.05); total NAT score significantly improved in normal BMI children (74.3 at baseline to 81.9 after the program), children being underweight (from 71.0 to 77.0), and overweight children (77.1 at baseline vs. 88.2 after intervention, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The 6-week South Korean NASA MX project is feasible and shows favorable changes in eating behaviors and nutritional knowledge among young children.

In vitro cytocompatibility of biomedical (Y0.95Eu0.05)2O3 nanomaterials / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Compared with organic fluorescent dyes and fluorescent proteins, rare earth nanomaterials have higher sensitivity, better optical stability, and lower cytotoxicity. OBJECTIVE: To investigate thein vitro cytocompatibility of (Y0.95Eu0.05)2O3 METHODS:(Y rare earth nanomaterial and the effect of amine functionalization on the material cytocompatibility. 0.95Eu0.05)2O3 nanomaterials were synthesized using sol-gel method, and underwent amine functionalization. Amine-functionalized samples (10, 25, 50, 100, 200 mg/L) and non-amine-functionalized (Y0.95Eu0.05)2O3 rare earth nanomaterial suspensions were co-cultured with vascular smooth muscle cels of Sprague-Dawley rats for 3 days. Cel proliferation was detected using Cel Counting Kit-8 assay. 100 mg/L amine-functionalized samples and non-amine-functionalized (Y0.95Eu0.05)2O3 rare earth nanomaterial suspensions were co-cultured with L929 cels for 48 hours. Cel apoptosis was observed using fluorescence staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:With increased mass concentration of material suspension, survival rate of vascular smooth muscle cels was gradualy reduced. At the mass concentration of 10, 25, 50 mg/L, cel survival rate was significantly higher in the amine-functionalized group than in the non-amine-functionalized group (P < 0.05). When the mass concentration of materials reached 200 mg/L, the cel survival rate decreased to 76% in the non-amine-functionalized group, but it was stil above 80% in the amine-functionalized group, showing significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). The growth of L929 cels was good and the number of apoptotic cels was less in the amine-functionalized group. Cels were sparse and the number of cel apoptosis was more in the non-amine-functionalized group, showing slight cytotoxicity. These data verified that amine-functionalization can improve cytocompatibility of (Y0.95Eu0.05)2O3 rare earth nanomaterial.

Growing global burden of chronic noncommunicable diseases and an alarming situation in China / 北京大学学报(医学版)

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of death globally,which kill more each year than all other causes combined.It is estimated that 63％ of global total deaths were due to NCDs.Nearly 80％ of NCD deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.China contributes the largest number of NCD patients and deaths.NCD rates have been increasing at an alarming rate over the past two decades in China and many other countries.Population-wide interventions can help reduce NCD burden and can be cost effective.Improved health care,early detection and timely treatment are also needed for reducing the impact of NCDs.Strong government commitment,adequate investment,and extensive involvement and collaboration of multiple diverse social sectors with health sectors are critical to fight the NCD burden in all countries,especially in low- and middle-income countries.