Effects of Early Wake-Up Time on Obesity in Adolescents.

Background: Although numerous studies have reported that obesity in adolescents is related to shorter sleep duration, few studies have reported the effect of sleep timing, particularly early wake-up time, on obesity. Objectives: To investigate the association between wake-up time and adolescent obesity. Methods: Using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VII data, 1301 middle school and high school students were selected and grouped according to BMI. Sleep timing and lifestyle factors were evaluated using self-reported questionnaires. Results: The mean bedtime and wake-up time were 00:09 am and 07:06 am, respectively. Despite similar bedtimes, the group with overweight/obesity woke up earlier than the group with underweight/normal weight. The BMI z-score and the overweight/obesity relative risk decreased as the wake-up time was delayed, even after adjustment for covariates. Participants who woke up before 06:50 am had a 1.82-fold higher risk of having overweight/obesity than those who woke up after 07:30 am. Participants who woke up late tended to sleep longer than those who woke up early. Conclusions: Waking up early is significantly associated with an increased BMI z-score in adolescents and may be a risk factor for overweight/obesity.

The influence of pituitary volume on the growth response in growth hormone-treated children with growth hormone deficiency and idiopathic short stature.

Purpose: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used for assessing the morphology of pituitary gland. The purpose of this study was 1) to determine whether the pituitary volume (PV) distinguish growth hormone (GH) deficiency from idiopathic short stature (ISS) and 2) to validate an association between PV and severity of GH deficiency and 3) to compare the PV between good and poor response groups in children with GH deficiency and ISS. Methods: Data were collected from the medical records of 152 children with short stature who underwent GH stimulation test, sella MRI, and GH treatment. Estimated PV were calculated using the formula of an ellipsoid. We compared the PV in patients with GH deficiency with that of patients with ISS. In addition, we assessed the association between PV and severity of GH deficiency, and growth response after treatment. Results: No difference was observed in the PV between patients with GH deficiency and ISS. The PV seemed to be smaller as the degree of GH deficiency was severe (P=0.082). The PV in good response group was smaller than that in poor response group in patients with GH deficiency (P< 0.005). The PV showed no association with responsiveness to GH treatment in patients with ISS (P=0.073). Conclusions: The measurement of PV cannot be used for differential diagnosis between GH deficiency and ISS. In patients with GH deficiency, the PV tend to be smaller as the severity of GH deficiency even though no statistical significance, and may be a good response predictor for GH treatment.

Bone Age Estimation and Prediction of Final Adult Height Using Deep Learning.

PURPOSE: The appropriate evaluation of height and accurate estimation of bone age are crucial for proper assessment of the growth status of a child. We developed a bone age estimation program using a deep learning algorithm and established a model to predict the final adult height of Korean children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1678 radiographs from 866 children, for which the interpretation results were consistent between two pediatric endocrinologists, were used to train and validate the deep learning model. The bone age estimation algorithm was based on the convolutional neural network of the deep learning system. The test set simulation was performed by a deep learning program and two raters using 150 radiographs and final height data for 100 adults. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant correlation between bone age interpreted by the artificial intelligence (AI) program and the reference bone age in the test set simulation (r=0.99, p<0.001). In the test set simulation, the AI program showed a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.59 years and a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 0.55 years, compared with reference bone age, and showed similar accuracy to that of an experienced pediatric endocrinologist (rater 1). Prediction of final adult height by the AI program showed an MAE of 4.62 cm, compared with the actual final adult height. CONCLUSION: We developed a bone age estimation program based on a deep learning algorithm. The AI-derived program demonstrated high accuracy in estimating bone age and predicting the final adult height of Korean children and adolescents.

Effect of catch-up sleep on obesity in Korean adolescents: a nationwide cross-sectional study.

Background: Adolescents have weekday/weekend sleep discrepancies and may compensate for weekday sleep debt through sleep extension on weekends. Objective: We investigated the effects of total sleep duration on weekdays/weekends on obesity and determined if weekend catch-up sleep has an ameliorating effect on obesity in Korean adolescents. Methods: Using data from the KNHANES VII, 1,306 middle and high school students were assessed for total sleep duration on weekdays, weekends, and the entire week, as well as weekend sleep extension. Participants were classified into four groups according to weekend sleep extension. Results: Total sleep duration and weekend sleep duration were negatively associated with body mass index z-score. Increased weekend sleep duration and sleep extension on weekends decreased the relative risk of overweight/obesity with each 30 min increment, reducing the risk by a factor of 0.39 and 0.93, respectively. The risk of overweight/obesity in adolescents who slept less than 6 h on weekdays increased by a factor of 1.93 when they slept for less than 3 h on weekends. Conclusion: Weekend catch-up sleep had a negative dose-dependent association with obesity in Korean adolescents. Sleeping longer on weekends may be associated with a decreased risk of obesity, even if the adolescent obtains less sleep during weekdays. However, further prospective studies are needed to establish the causality between extended weekend sleep and obesity.

Association between Weight Status and Mental Health among Korean Adolescents: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

This study explored the relationship between adolescents' weight status and mental health problems. It specifically investigated the weight perceptions of obese adolescents and the effect on their mental health. This cross-sectional study was based on the data of adolescents aged 12-18 years from the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (2010-2019). Data regarding anthropometric measurements, health conditions, and socioeconomic status were extracted, and the associations between weight status (actual, perceived, or misperceived) and mental health conditions (depressed mood, perceived stress, and suicidal ideation) were analyzed using complex sample multiple logistic regression after adjusting for possible confounders. A total of 5683 adolescents (53.1% boys and 46.9% girls) were included in this study, with a mean age of 15.1 years. Among the participants, actual, perceived, and misperceived status of being overweight were observed in 20.8%, 32.7%, and 18.4%, respectively. Additionally, depressed mood, perceived stress, and suicidal ideation were observed in 9.1%, 25.7%, and 7.4% of Korean adolescents, respectively, with higher prevalences in girls for all three conditions. Actual weight status was not significantly associated with mental health conditions in either sex. Furthermore, girls who perceived themselves to be overweight, regardless of their actual body weight, or who had overestimated their actual weight were more likely to have experienced depressed mood and stress, while boys who perceived themselves to be underweight were more likely to have experienced suicidal ideation than participants with an average weight perception or an accurate recognition of their weight status. Conversely, in overweight/obese participants, perceived weight status was not associated with mental health conditions. In conclusion, perceived weight status and its discrepancy with actual body weight were more strongly associated with an increased risk of mental health problems than actual weight status itself among Korean adolescents. Therefore, adolescents' perceptions of their body image and weight-related attitude should be assessed to promote their mental health.

Assessment of the fit of lithium disilicate crowns at various locations fabricated by three different methods using the triple-scan protocol.

AIM: The present study aimed to evaluate the marginal and internal fit of lithium disilicate crowns at various locations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A typodont maxillary left first molar was prepared for a lithium disilicate crown, scanned, and a master die fabricated. Three groups were created according to fabrication method (n = 10): conventional impression and press method (group C); scanning of definitive cast and milling method (group D); and intraoral scanning and milling method (group I). Assessment was performed using the triple-scan protocol. At the buccopalatal and mesiodistal sections, the absolute marginal discrepancy (AMD), marginal gap (MG), axial internal gap (AI), and line angle internal gap (LI) were measured. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc Tukey HSD tests were used for statistical analysis (α = 0.05). RESULTS: AMD values were significantly lower in group C than in groups D and I (P < 0.05). MG values in group C were significantly lower than those in the buccal and distal areas in group D and all areas in group I (P < 0.05). AI values in the buccal and palatal areas in group D were significantly lower than those in the mesial and distal areas in group D and all areas in groups C and I (P < 0.05). LI values were significantly lower in group C than in groups D and I (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: All three methods were clinically acceptable except for the marginal fit of the intraoral scanning and milling method, which was on the borderline of a clinically acceptable fit. (Int J Comput Dent 2023;26(1): 37-0; doi: 10.3290/j.ijcd.b3818305).

Association between early glycemic management and diabetes complications in type 1 diabetes mellitus: A retrospective cohort study.

AIMS: To investigate the association between early HbA1c levels near diagnosis and future glycemic management, and analyzed risk factors of complications in people with T1DM. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 201 children and adolescents with T1DM. Patient data including sex, age at diagnosis, duration of disease, HbA1c levels, HbA1c variability during the follow-up period, and diabetes complications and comorbidities were collected. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period of patients was 16.4 years. HbA1c levels in all three examined time points after diagnosis (first year, second year, and first two years) were significantly associated with recent HbA1c level, and second-year HbA1c was most closely correlated with recent HbA1c level. Elevated second-year HbA1c was a risk factor of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and retinopathy, and increased variability of HbA1c was significantly related to various microvascular complications. When HbA1c is stratified into quartiles, the subjects of each quartile trend to stay within that quartile over the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Early HbA1c levels were closely associated with recent HbA1c levels and diabetes complications in patients with T1DMs. Strict glucose management after diagnosis and reducing variability of HbA1c may prevent future diabetes complications and comorbidities.

Combination therapy of liothyronine and levothyroxine for hypothyroidism-induced dilated cardiomyopathy.

Thyroid hormone plays a vital role in regulating human metabolism. They affect the functions of major organs, such as the brain, liver, skeletal muscle, and heart. Hypothyroidism can lead to dilated cardiomyopathy and decreased heart function. In this report, we describe a case of a teenage boy who developed dilated cardiomyopathy due to hypothyroidism and was considered to undergo heart transplantation. Levothyroxine monotherapy was initiated but produced no improvement. Thereafter, a combination therapy of liothyronine and levothyroxine was administered, and heart function was gradually restored; he recovered completely after 6 months. Cardiac myocytes respond more specifically to liothyronine than to levothyroxine. Therefore, we suggest that liothyronine and levothyroxine combination therapy should be considered rather than levothyroxine monotherapy for hypothyroidism accompanied by heart disease.

Characteristic Sleep Patterns and Associated Obesity in Adolescents.

Poor sleep adversely affects health and may cause obesity. Poor sleep includes short sleep duration, low quality of sleep, and sleep discrepancy. Although most studies have focused on the association between sleep duration and obesity, poor sleep is a significant risk factor for obesity. Adolescents have characteristic sleep patterns which correspond to poor sleep. Adolescents sleep late due to various biological and psychosocial factors; also, they wake up early to be on time for school. This causes them to sleep less. To make up for this sleep debt, adolescents sleep more on non-school days, which causes sleep discrepancies. Therefore, since adolescents have characteristic sleep patterns, an in-depth investigation is needed to identify whether poor sleep is a risk for obesity. This article presents an overview of the characteristic sleep patterns of adolescents, and reviews studies on the association of each sleep pattern with obesity.

Management of Central Precocious Puberty in Children with Hypothalamic Hamartoma.

Hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) is a rare, congenital, and benign lesion of the tuber cinereum, typically presenting with central precocious puberty (CPP), gelastic seizure, and developmental delay. This study aimed to investigate CPP in HH patients and compare clinical features between before and after gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist treatment. A total of 30 HH patients under 18 years of age who visited Severance Children's Hospital between January 2005 and May 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Fourteen patients were male (46.7%) and sixteen (53.3%) were female, with a mean age at diagnosis was4.2 ± 2.9 years. During follow-up, 24 patients (80.0%) were diagnosed with CPP, 15 patients (50.0%) had gelastic seizure, and 13 patients (43.3%) had developmental delay. The gelastic seizure was significantly associated with sessile type HH rather than pedunculated type HH (85.7% vs. 18.8%, p = 0.001). After GnRH agonist treatment, discrepancies between bone age and chronological age decreased (3.3 ± 1.3 years to 2.0 ± 1.7 years, p = 0.002). Additionally, height standard deviation score for bone age was increased, and predicted adult height increased significantly in females, while males showed an increasing trend. Clinical symptoms of HH were closely associated with the location of HH, and GnRH agonist treatment was safe and effective in the management of CPP caused by HH.

Prediction of Insulin Resistance by Modified Triglyceride Glucose Indices in Youth.

The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, derived from a combination of fasting glucose and triglycerides, has been suggested as a useful marker for insulin resistance (IR), in addition to modified TyG indices that combine obesity parameters. This study investigated the association and utility of TyG and modified TyG indices for IR prediction in youth. Based on the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, the data of 3728 youth aged 10-19 years were analyzed. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of tertiles 2 and 3 for each parameter were calculated and compared with tertile 1 as a reference. To compare the parameters for identifying IR, receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. The ORs and 95% CIs for insulin resistance (IR) progressively increased across tertiles of each parameter. Overall, all modified TyG indices presented higher ORs and AUC than the TyG index. The TyG-body mass index standard deviation score showed the largest AUC for IR detection in all subjects. In conclusion, TyG and modified TyG indices could be used as valuable markers for the prediction of IR in youth. Moreover, modified TyG indices had better diagnostic accuracy than the TyG index.

Ten-Year Trends of Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence and Nutrient Intake among Korean Children and Adolescents: A Population-Based Study.

PURPOSE: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) comprises a cluster of risk factors for future cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Only a few recent studies have reported the trend in the prevalence of MetS in youth. This study aimed to analyze trends in the prevalence of MetS and nutrient intake in the last 10 years and investigate the changes in MetS components among Korean children and adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the data of 9513 children and adolescents aged 10-19 years from the 2008-2017 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Diagnosis of MetS was based on the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and modified National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) criteria. RESULTS: Based on the IDF criteria, MetS prevalence increased from 1.53% in 2008 to 3.19% in 2017 (p=0.007). Based on the NCEP-ATP III criteria, MetS prevalence increased from 2.18% in 2008 to 3.19% in 2017; however, the increase was not statistically significant. Daily calorie and fat intakes increased significantly during the study period. Among the risk factors that MetS comprises, the prevalence rates of central obesity, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and high fasting glucose levels increased significantly. CONCLUSION: Over the last 10 years, the prevalence of MetS has grown significantly with increasing calorie and fat intake in Korean children and adolescents. Central obesity and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and fasting glucose levels have worsened. Therefore, active support and close monitoring are required to control MetS and prevent further increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases.

Vitamin D status is associated with bone mineral density in adolescents: Findings from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Vitamin D is a factor that regulates calcium and bone metabolism. However, the clinical effect of vitamin D on bone mineral density (BMD) remains controversial. We hypothesized that sufficient vitamin D is required to maintain optimal BMD in adolescents. Based on the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, data of 1063 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years were analyzed. The association of vitamin D status and other variables, such as body mass index (BMI), calcium intake, physical activity, lean mass, and fat mass, with BMD Z-scores in the lumbar spine, whole body, total femur, and femur neck were examined. We defined vitamin D deficiency as < 12 ng/mL, vitamin D insufficiency as 12 to 20 ng/mL, and sufficiency as > 20 ng/mL according to the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) level. The mean 25-OHD concentration of subjects was below normal, at 16.28 ng/mL. Subjects with vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency comprised 20.5%, 58.6%, and 20.9% of all subjects, respectively. The vitamin D sufficient group had higher BMD Z-scores compared to the insufficient group, and the insufficient group had higher BMD Z-scores compared to the deficient group. In linear regression analysis, 25-OHD level, BMI, calcium intake, physical activity, lean mass, and fat mass were positively associated with BMD Z-scores. 25-OHD level was positively associated with BMD Z-scores, even after adjusting for other factors. This study suggests that vitamin D status is positively associated with BMD in adolescents; therefore, maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels during adolescence is crucial to prevent low BMD.

Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin Is Associated with Obesity and Dyslipidemia in Prepubertal Children.

Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is associated with age, sex, and puberty. The association of SHBG with various diseases has been suggested nowadays, however, the relationships in prepubertal children have not been sufficiently investigated. This study analyzed the relationship of SHBG with body mass index (BMI) and plasma lipid levels in prepubertal children. We evaluated the association of SHBG with BMI among the 693 prepubertal children subdivided into normal, overweight, and obese groups, with plasma lipid levels among the children subdivided into normal and dyslipidemia groups. The obese and overweight group had lower SHBG levels than the normal BMI group in both sexes. The dyslipidemia group included subjects with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), high triglycerides (TG), or a high atherogenic index of plasma (AIP); this group had lower SHBG than the normal lipid group. SHBG was positively correlated with HDL-C, and negatively correlated with TG and AIP. After adjusting for BMI, SHBG was positively correlated with HDL-C and negatively correlated with TG and AIP in all groups. In conclusion, SHBG levels are closely correlated with BMI in prepubertal children. SHBG may play a meaningful role in the decrease in HDL-C and increase in TG during prepubertal age.

Association of Vitamin D Status and Physical Activity with Lipid Profile in Korean Children and Adolescents: A Population-Based Study.

Dyslipidemia is one of the important influencing factors of cardiovascular health in the youth, and thus, assessment of its etiology is important. We aimed to investigate the association of dyslipidemia with vitamin D and physical activity in Korean children and adolescents. Data of 3183 subjects aged 12-18 years in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. Participants were divided into subgroups according to sex, body mass index, 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, and lipid profile. The mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was 16.15 ng/mL, which was below normal. In total, 79.3% of the subjects had vitamin D deficiency. Females had lower vitamin D levels and a higher incidence of dyslipidemia compared to males. Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. The low HDL-C group consisted of a higher proportion of subjects with vitamin D deficiency and low physical activity. This study suggests that vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in Korean children and adolescents. Vitamin D deficiency and low physical activity are related with low HDL-C levels. Maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels and physical activity may help prevent dyslipidemia.

Setting the Sagittal Condylar Inclination on a Virtual Articulator Using Intraoral Scan of Protrusive Interocclusal Position and Cone Beam Computed Tomography.

The articulator is a prerequisite device for the analysis of occlusion and prosthodontic treatment, and it is required to simulate patient jaw movements. This article describes the technique to obtain sagittal condylar inclination (SCI) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) data and intraoral scan of the protrusive interocclusal position. The SCI can be used on a virtual articulator in a computer-aided design software, and it can assist in the fabrication of prosthesis which is harmonious with the mandibular movement of individual patient.

Spin-orbit torque in a bulk perpendicular magnetic anisotropy Pd/FePd/MgO system.

Spin-orbit torques, including the Rashba and spin Hall effects, have been widely observed and investigated in various systems. Since interesting spin-orbit torque (SOT) arises at the interface between heavy nonmagnetic metals and ferromagnetic metals, most studies have focused on the ultra-thin ferromagnetic layer with interface perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Here, we measured the effective longitudinal and transverse fields of bulk perpendicular magnetic anisotropy Pd/FePd (1.54 to 2.43 nm)/MgO systems using harmonic methods with careful correction procedures. We found that in our range of thicknesses, the effective longitudinal and transverse fields are five to ten times larger than those reported in interface perpendicular magnetic anisotropy systems. The observed magnitude and thickness dependence of the effective fields suggest that the SOT do not have a purely interfacial origin in our samples.