Relationship between high plasma leptin concentrations and metabolic syndrome in obese pre-pubertal children

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between serum leptin levels and metabolic syndrome, fasting insulin level and anthropometric index in obese pre-pubertal children. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was carried out on obese children. SUBJECTS: A study was made of 41 obese children (aged 6-9 y) and the same number of non-obese children (control group), matched by age and sex. METHODS: Body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio (WHR) and blood pressure were determined in each child. Serum leptin, glucose, insulin, lipid profile, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA) and fibrinogen were all measured. RESULTS: The serum leptin level was significantly higher in obese children (15.47 vs 4.73 ng/ml). In the obese group, leptin showed a positive correlation with BMI (P<0.001), insulin (P<0.001), triglycerides (P<0.05), PAI-1 (P<0.05) and t-PA (P<0.05), and correlated negatively with SHBG (P<0.01), apolipoprotein A-I (P<0.05) and high-density lipoproteins cholesterol (HDL-C) (P<0.05). Corrected for BMI and WHR, leptin (P partial=0.002) is only an independent predictive factor for basal insulin. Using multivariant regression analysis, only insulin (P partial=0.003) and BMI (P partial=0.018) were independent predictive factors for leptin. CONCLUSION: For this age group, high leptin resistance may be another component of metabolic syndrome, and may be involved in its etiopathogenesis. The involvement of leptin in this syndrome may be indirect, modulating the insulin's action.     

Endothelial activation and systemic inflammation in obese asthmatic children

Asthma and obesity are prevalent disorders, each with a significant impact on the public health. The causality relating obesity and asthma has not been established. The objective of this article is to investigate whether asthma could exacerbate the endothelial activation and to determine the relationship between systemic inflammation and endothelial activation in obese asthmatic children. Eighty-nine children (10-16 years old) were divided according to their diagnosis (asthma, obese nonasthmatic, and obese asthmatic children). Twenty healthy children formed the control group. Three adhesion molecules (E-selectin, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in serum samples. The levels of sICAM-1 were significantly higher in obese nonasthmatic and obese asthmatic children versus control and lean asthmatic children (414.7+/-154.7, 434.9+/-181.1, 238.6+/-117.8, and 351.2+/-153.5 ng/mL, respectively). No difference was observed between obese nonasthmatic and obese asthmatic groups. No difference of the levels of CRP, E-selectin, and sVCAM-1 was found among the study groups. Correlation analysis showed that E-selectin associated significantly with body mass index (BMI), CRP and the other two adhesion molecules. CRP depended on BMI. sICAM-1 associated with CRP, BMI, and triglycerides. Correlations were verified in multiple regression analysis models in the whole study groups: CRP levels depended on sICAM-1, E-selectin, and sICAM-1 concentrations depended on BMI. Correlations were verified in asthmatic subjects: CRP depended on sICAM-1. These results confirmed the endothelial activation in obese children. Mild nonallergic asthma in our study did not exacerbate the endothelial activation in obese or lean asthmatic children. Significant association between systemic inflammation and endothelial activation was observed in asthmatic children.     

慢性炎性反应与儿童肥胖及代谢综合征

The prevalence of overweight and metabolic syndrome is increasing in young people. Body fat produces a number of inflammatory cytokines, such as C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-6, etc, which lead to chronic subclinical inflammation. Chronic subclinical inflammation in childhood and adolescents is as-sociated with obesity,which closely related with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance at all ages. This feature of the diseases provides an opportunity for the early identification of target groups and the use of ap-propriate lifestyle intervention can effectively interrupt the pathological processes at early stages.     

雌激素膜受体与内皮型一氧化氮合酶

目前对雌激素膜受体的研究主要集中在其对内皮型一氧化氮合酶(eNOS)的快速调节方面,虽然对膜受体的结构还不完全清楚,但是对膜受体激活eNOS效应涉及的信号通路以及G蛋白偶联受体在信号转导通路中所起的作用已经有了较深的认识,本文就近年关于雌激素膜受体调节eNOS的研究进展作一综述。     

慢性炎性反应与儿童肥胖及代谢综合征

The prevalence of overweight and metabolic syndrome is increasing in young people. Body fat produces a number of inflammatory cytokines, such as C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-6, etc, which lead to chronic subclinical inflammation. Chronic subclinical inflammation in childhood and adolescents is as-sociated with obesity,which closely related with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance at all ages. This feature of the diseases provides an opportunity for the early identification of target groups and the use of ap-propriate lifestyle intervention can effectively interrupt the pathological processes at early stages.     

慢性炎性反应与儿童肥胖及代谢综合征

The prevalence of overweight and metabolic syndrome is increasing in young people. Body fat produces a number of inflammatory cytokines, such as C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-6, etc, which lead to chronic subclinical inflammation. Chronic subclinical inflammation in childhood and adolescents is as-sociated with obesity,which closely related with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance at all ages. This feature of the diseases provides an opportunity for the early identification of target groups and the use of ap-propriate lifestyle intervention can effectively interrupt the pathological processes at early stages.     

慢性炎性反应与儿童肥胖及代谢综合征

The prevalence of overweight and metabolic syndrome is increasing in young people. Body fat produces a number of inflammatory cytokines, such as C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-6, etc, which lead to chronic subclinical inflammation. Chronic subclinical inflammation in childhood and adolescents is as-sociated with obesity,which closely related with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance at all ages. This feature of the diseases provides an opportunity for the early identification of target groups and the use of ap-propriate lifestyle intervention can effectively interrupt the pathological processes at early stages.     

慢性炎性反应与儿童肥胖及代谢综合征

The prevalence of overweight and metabolic syndrome is increasing in young people. Body fat produces a number of inflammatory cytokines, such as C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-6, etc, which lead to chronic subclinical inflammation. Chronic subclinical inflammation in childhood and adolescents is as-sociated with obesity,which closely related with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance at all ages. This feature of the diseases provides an opportunity for the early identification of target groups and the use of ap-propriate lifestyle intervention can effectively interrupt the pathological processes at early stages.     

慢性炎性反应与儿童肥胖及代谢综合征

The prevalence of overweight and metabolic syndrome is increasing in young people. Body fat produces a number of inflammatory cytokines, such as C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-6, etc, which lead to chronic subclinical inflammation. Chronic subclinical inflammation in childhood and adolescents is as-sociated with obesity,which closely related with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance at all ages. This feature of the diseases provides an opportunity for the early identification of target groups and the use of ap-propriate lifestyle intervention can effectively interrupt the pathological processes at early stages.     

慢性炎性反应与儿童肥胖及代谢综合征

The prevalence of overweight and metabolic syndrome is increasing in young people. Body fat produces a number of inflammatory cytokines, such as C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-6, etc, which lead to chronic subclinical inflammation. Chronic subclinical inflammation in childhood and adolescents is as-sociated with obesity,which closely related with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance at all ages. This feature of the diseases provides an opportunity for the early identification of target groups and the use of ap-propriate lifestyle intervention can effectively interrupt the pathological processes at early stages.     

慢性炎性反应与儿童肥胖及代谢综合征

The prevalence of overweight and metabolic syndrome is increasing in young people. Body fat produces a number of inflammatory cytokines, such as C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-6, etc, which lead to chronic subclinical inflammation. Chronic subclinical inflammation in childhood and adolescents is as-sociated with obesity,which closely related with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance at all ages. This feature of the diseases provides an opportunity for the early identification of target groups and the use of ap-propriate lifestyle intervention can effectively interrupt the pathological processes at early stages.     

慢性炎性反应与儿童肥胖及代谢综合征

62届美国糖尿病协会 (ＡＤＡ)年会于 2 0 0 2年 6月 14～ 18日在美国旧金山举行 ,脂代谢紊乱 (脂毒性 )与 2型糖尿病 (Ｔ2ＤＭ)发病机制间的相关研究仍是本届大会关注的焦点之一 ,现就有关内容简述如下。1　脂毒性与胰岛素抵抗 (ＩＲ)ＩＲ是Ｔ2ＤＭ的发病环节之一。血循环中游离脂肪酸 (ＦＦＡｓ)升高 ,可在多个层面影响葡萄糖代谢 ,使胰岛素 (ＩＮＳ)作用的靶组织如肝脏、肌肉表现为ＩＲ。1.1　脂毒性与肝脏ＩＲ　内脏脂肪增加可导致肝脏ＩＲ ,其主要机制可能是内脏脂肪细胞释放的ＦＦＡｓ、肿瘤坏死因子 (ＴＮＦ) α、白介素 (ＩＬ) 6及…     

Serum leptin is associated with metabolic syndrome in obese and nonobese Korean populations

Leptin is mainly secreted from adipose tissue and is known to be associated with cardiovascular diseases. However, there are not many studies on the association between serum leptin and metabolic syndrome. The objective of this study was to determine the association between serum leptin and metabolic syndrome among the Korean adult population. The study population consisted of 3,272 Koreans (men: 1,915, women: 1,357) 30 to 84 years of age who had visited the Health Examination Center. Leptin levels were divided into quintiles and metabolic syndrome was defined by NCEP ATP III. The serum leptin levels increased as the number of components present for metabolic syndrome increased. Controlling for age, smoking, exercise, and LDL cholesterol, subjects with high leptin levels were more likely to have an elevated risk of metabolic syndrome than those with lower levels in both men and women. Subjects in the highest leptin quintile were found to have a higher risk of having metabolic syndrome than those in the lowest quintile (OR = 11.51 for men; OR = 4.65 for women). After further adjustment of the BMI, the risk of metabolic syndrome still increased slightly for men but not for women in increasing leptin categories. This association of leptin levels and metabolic syndrome did not change after stratification into obese and nonobese weight status. Serum leptin is associated with metabolic syndrome in Korean populations independent of body mass index. Thus, the reduction of circulating leptin may confer cardiovascular and metabolic protective effects regardless of weight status.     

Carotid artery stiffness in obese children with the metabolic syndrome

Obesity and overweight have been associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness and stiffness in adults and children. Overweight and obesity have also been associated with an increased prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS). The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that obese children with the MS have increased rigidity of their arteries compared with obese children without the MS. We studied 100 obese children (age range 6 to 14 years; 61 males, 39 females) consecutively seen in the outpatient clinic of a hospital department of pediatrics. Anthropometric measures and biochemical tests were performed in all children. Quantitative B-mode ultrasound scans were used to measure intima-media thickness and diameters of the common carotid artery. Common carotid arterial stiffness was significantly higher in the group of obese children with the MS (n = 38) at 1.29 +/- 0.06 mm (values log transformed) versus 1.12 +/- 0.04 mm (p <0.03) compared with those without the MS (n = 62). These differences persisted even after adjustment for age, gender, and C-reactive protein. Obese children with the MS had significantly higher plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein (1.57 +/- 0.06 microg/L, values log transformed) compared with obese children without the MS (1.38 +/- 0.05 microg/L, p <0.03). In conclusion, obese children who met the diagnostic criteria for the MS had higher common carotid artery stiffness and higher C-reactive protein plasma concentrations than obese children without the MS.     

Hyperhomocysteinemia correlates with insulin resistance and low-grade systemic inflammation in obese prepubertal children

Obesity is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease frequently associated with hypertension, dyslipemia, diabetes, and insulin resistance. Higher homocysteine (Hcy) levels are observed in the hyperinsulinemic obese adults and suggest that Hcy could play a role in the higher risk of cardiovascular disease in obesity. We analyzed total Hcy levels in obese prepubertal children and their possible association with both metabolic syndrome and various inflammatory biomarkers and leptin. We studied 43 obese children (aged 6-9 years) and an equal number of nonobese children, paired by age and sex. The obese subjects presented significantly elevated values for insulin (P = .003), C-reactive protein (P = .033), and leptin (P < .001). No significant differences were found in Hcy levels between the obese and nonobese children. However, Hcy concentration was significantly higher in the hyperinsulinemic obese children than in the normoinsulinemic group (P = .002). Using multivariant regression analysis, in the obese group, corrected for age and sex, the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (P partial = .001) and leptin (P partial = .02) are independent predictive factors for Hcy. In the control group, corrected for age and sex, the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (P partial = .005) and leptin (P partial = .031) also are independent predictive factor for Hcy. Increased plasma Hcy, particularly in hyperinsulinemic obese children, may be causally involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and/or cardiovascular disease, both of which are common in obesity.     

Persistent wheezing in very young children is associated with lower respiratory inflammation

Despite advances in understanding the pathophysiology of asthma, morbidity and mortality in pediatrics continue to rise. Little is known about the initiation and chronicity of inflammation resulting in asthma in this young population. We evaluated 20 "wheezing" children (WC) (median age 14.9 mo) with a minimum of two episodes of wheezing or prolonged wheezing > or = 2 mo in a 6-mo period with bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Comparisons were made with six normal controls (NC) (median age 23.3 mo) undergoing general anesthesia for elective surgery. BAL fluid cell counts and differentials were determined. The eicosanoids, leukotriene (LT) B(4), LTE(4), prostaglandin (PG)E(2), and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) and the mast cell mediators, beta-tryptase and PGD(2), were evaluated by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). WC had significant elevations in total BAL cells/ml (p = 0.01), as well as, lymphocytes (LYMPH, p = 0.007), macrophages/monocytes (M&M, p = 0.02), polymorphonuclear cells (PMN, p = 0.02), epithelial cells (EPI, p = 0.03), and eosinophils (EOS, p = 0.04) compared with NC. Levels of PGE(2) (p = 0.0005), 15-HETE (p = 0.002), LTE(4) (p = 0.04), and LTB(4) (p = 0.05) were also increased in WC compared with NC, whereas PGD(2) and beta-tryptase were not. This study confirms that inflammation is present in the airways of very young WC and may differ from patterns seen in adults with asthma.     

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in obese Turkish children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and the other metabolic features in obese children. METHODS: We have studied 169 obese children and adolescents (body mass index>95th percentile), 100 prepubertal and 69 pubertal, aged between 7 and 18 years. Each subject was submitted to an oral glucose tolerance test. The diagnosis of impaired glucose tolerance, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome were defined according to modified WHO criteria adapted for children. RESULTS: Metabolic syndrome was found in 27.2%, with a significantly higher rate among adolescents aged 12-18 years (37.6%) than among children aged 7-11 years (20%) (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome by sex. The prevalences of insulin resistance, glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes were 29, 19 and 2% among prepubertal children and 56.5, 27.5 and 4.3% among pubertal group, respectively. The prevalence of fasting hyperinsulinemia in pubertal group was significantly higher than prepubertal children (p < 0.001). Hyperinsulinemia was also more frequent in pubertal children with significant difference (20% versus 43.7%, p < 0.001). Hypertension was significantly more common in adolescents (31.8%) than children (15%) with obesity, as expected (p < 0.013). Overall, dyslipidaemia in prepubertal and pubertal groups was identified in 42 and 55%, respectively, with no significant differences (p = 0.085). CONCLUSIONS: Type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome prevalences among adolescents are quite high in the urban area of Konya, central Anatolia, with abnormal lipid profiles, obesity and nutritional mistakes.