U-shaped relationship between depression and body mass index in the Korean adults.

BACKGROUND: Although a number of studies have examined the relationship between depression and obesity, it is still insufficient to establish the specific pattern of relationship between depression and body mass index (BMI) categories. Thus, this study was aimed to investigate the relationship between depression and BMI categories. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted for a cohort of 159,390 Korean based on Kangbuk Samsung Health Study (KSHS). Study participants were classified into 5 groups by Asian-specific cut-off of BMI (18.5, 23, 25 and 30kg/m2). The presence of depression was determined by Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scales (CES-D)≥16 and≥25. The adjusted odd ratios (ORs) for depression were evaluated by multiple logistic regression analysis, in which independent variable was 5 categories of BMI and dependent variable was depression. Subgroup analysis was conducted by gender and age. RESULTS: When normal group was set as a reference, the adjusted ORs for depression formed U-shaped pattern of relationship with BMI categories [underweight: 1.31 (1.14-1.50), overweight: 0.94 (0.85-1.04), obese group: 1.01 (0.91-1.12), severe obese group: 1.28 (1.05-1.54)]. This pattern of relationship was more prominent in female and young age group than male and elderly subgroup. BMI level with the lowest likelihood of depression was 18.5kg/m2 to 25kg/m2 in women and 23kg/m2 to 25kg/m2 in men. CONCLUSIONS: There was a U-shaped relationship between depression and BMI categories. This finding suggests that both underweight and severe obesity are associated with the increased risk for depression.

Clinical association between serum γ-glutamyltransferase levels and the development of insulin resistance in Korean men: a 5-year follow-up study.

AIMS: In recent years, γ-glutamyltransferase has emerged as a predictor of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, the metabolic syndrome and hypertension. However, it is not yet certain whether γ-glutamyltransferase is a predictor for insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal association between baseline γ-glutamyltransferase level and the development of insulin resistance in Korean men. METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study, involving 22 931 healthy Korean men without baseline insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, HOMA-IR < 2.7) for 5 years. We checked the HOMA-IR serially to monitor the development of insulin resistance (incidence of HOMA-IR ≥ 2.7). A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine hazard ratios for insulin resistance by quartile groups of baseline serum γ-glutamyltransferase levels. RESULTS: During 81 208.6 person-years of follow-up, 3856 (16.8%) cases of insulin resistance developed between 2006 and 2010. After adjusting for multiple covariates, including baseline HOMA-IR, the hazard ratios (95% CI) for incident insulin resistance comparing the second to the fourth quartile of baseline serum γ-glutamyltransferase levels with the first quartile were 1.19 (1.06-1.33), 1.38 (1.23-1.53) and 1.58 (1.41-1.77), respectively (P for trend < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that serum γ-glutamyltransferase level could be a predictor of the development of insulin resistance in Korean men.

Enantioselective Relieving Activity of α-Methylbenzylphenylureas toward Bensulfuron-methyl Injury to Rice (Oryza sativa).

Optically active α-methylbenzylphenylureas were tested for their relieving activities toward just-germinated rice seedlings injured by bensulfuron-methyl (methyl 2- [[[[[(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)amino]carbonyl]amino]- sulfonyl]methyl]benzoate) in an agar test to evaluate the chiral requirement and enantioselectivity. Many kinds of derivatives of the α-methylbenzylphenylureas exhibited strong relieving activity without any affect on root growth at the highest concentration tested. Six compounds with an (S)-configuration were more active than daimuron. The log k' values of the most potent derivatives ranged from 0.42 to 0.65. A relatively strong parabolic relationship between the log k' value and the activity has only been found in the case of the (S)-enantiomers containing halogen atoms. The enantioselectivity of the chiral pairs was very high, and the chirality-activity function followed a Pfeiffer relationship, increasing the selectivity with increasing potency. Among them, the 2,3-Cl2, 2-F-4-CH3, 4-COOEt, 2-Cl and 2,5-F2 derivatives were highly enantioselective with a significantly high relieving activity. These results suggest that while hydrophobicity performed an important role, chirality and the mode of substitution essentially contributed to the activity.

Enantioselective Herbicidal Activity of Chiral α-Methylbenzylphenylureas against Cyperaceae and Echinochloa Paddy Weeds.

Optically active α-methylbenzylphenylureas were synthesized and tested for their herbicidal activities against barnyardgrass and Cyperaceae paddy weeds in a greenhouse to evaluate the cross intergenus phytotoxicity between rice and barnyardgrass and the enantioselective phytotoxicity to the weeds. Several compounds controlled the growth of the weeds, and a suitable enantiomer for successful weed control was dependent on the type of weed and on the substituent at the aniline moiety. The (R)-2-isoPr and (R)-2-tert-Bu derivatives significantly controlled barnyardgrass and both annual and perennial Cyperaceae paddy weeds. The (R)-2-Et and (R)-2-CF3 derivatives showed the strong herbicidal activity against perennial Cyperaceae paddy weeds, while the (S)-enantiomers of the unsubstituted and fluoro derivatives were active against barnyardgrass. The enantioselectivity of the most potent compounds was high.