Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on the physique of school-age children in Japan.

Purpose: Schools in Japan were closed nationwide from March to May 2020 because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Many suspect that this school closure affected children's mental and physical health. We investigated changes in school-age children's physiques to determine the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown and restrictions on their health.

Impact of childhood growth and obesity curves in school health examinations.

Background: With the revision of the Japanese School Health and Safety Law in 2016, the use of growth and obesity curves has been recommended. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of growth and obesity curve creation in elementary and junior high schools using government-issued software in Japan between 2016 and 2019.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted with school nursing teachers in elementary and junior high schools in Osaka, Japan.

Regional disparities in obesity/emaciation and income in schoolchildren in Osaka City.

Background: We assessed the association between socioeconomic status at residential area-level in the 24 wards of Osaka City, differentiated by indices of mean income-related deprivation, and inequalities in childhood obesity and emaciation.

Methods: Data from representative samples of 26 474 schoolchildren (first and fifth grades of elementary school, and third grade of junior high school [i.e.

Microvascular endothelial function in Japanese early adolescents.

Endothelial dysfunction is the early predictive factor for the development of atherosclerosis and future cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. The prevalence of endothelial dysfunction in children and early adolescents is increasing worldwide. Peripheral arterial tonometry is a noninvasive technique for assessing peripheral microvascular function and is used as a validated marker of endothelial function.

Evaluation of uric acid levels, thyroid function, and anthropometric parameters in Japanese children with Down syndrome.

Down syndrome, caused by trisomy 21, is characterized by congenital abnormalities as well as mental retardation. From the neonatal stage through adolescence, patients with Down syndrome often have several complications. Thus, it is important to attain knowledge of the prevalence of these comorbidities in children with Down syndrome.

Development of waist circumference percentiles for Japanese children and an examination of their screening utility for childhood metabolic syndrome: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Background: In Japan, waist circumference (WC) percentiles to screen for childhood metabolic syndrome (MetS) are unavailable. The objectives of this study were to develop WC and WC-to-height ratio (WC/Ht) percentile curves by age and sex for Japanese children, and to test their utility in screening for MetS in children with obesity who are otherwise healthy.

Methods: The WC and WC/Ht percentiles were developed using the LMS method of summarizing growth standards, which monitors changing skewness (L), medians (M), and coefficients of variation (S) in childhood distributions.

Association of thyroid hormones with obesity and metabolic syndrome in Japanese children.

Obesity is associated with health consequences, and thyroid dysfunction may be an adaption to the increased energy expenditure in obesity. With the rising prevalence of obesity in childhood, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome may also increase. In the current study, we have shown gender differences in the association of thyroid hormones with obesity, and attempted to elucidate the relationship between thyroid hormones and anthropometric parameters and biochemical data in obese Japanese children.

α-Tocopherol status and expression of α-tocopherol transfer protein in type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats.

Vitamin E, a critical fat-soluble vitamin antioxidant, is expressed on cell membranes and prevents propagation of lipid peroxidation. α-Tocopherol transfer protein (α-TTP) is a cytosolic protein located in the hepatocytes that acts as the principal regulator of the circulating α-tocopherol levels. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, caused by insulin resistance.

Association of uric acid with obesity and endothelial dysfunction in children and early adolescents.

Background: Hyperuricemia in adults is known to be associated with hypertension, the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the factors associated with hyperuricemia in obese children and early adolescents and to investigate the threshold serum level of uric acid (UA) for the metabolic syndrome in children.

Methods: We assessed anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, body composition and biochemical data in 1,559 obese children.

Delayed onset congenital hypothyroidism in a patient with DUOX2 mutations and maternal iodine excess.

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH), one of the most common congenital endocrine disorders, causes irreversible intellectual disability in untreated patients. Today, the vast majority of patients receive early diagnosis and treatment in the context of newborn screening for CH, and achieve satisfactory cognitive development. However, a subset of patients with delayed onset are undetectable by newborn screening, and miss benefit from early intervention.

HLA-class II and class I genotypes among Japanese children with Type 1A diabetes and their families.

Objective: To determine the HLA-DRB1, DQB1, DPB1, A, C, and B genotypes among Japanese children with autoimmune type 1 diabetes.

Methods: Four hundred and thirty patients who were GADAb and/or IA-2Ab-positive (Type 1A) were recruited from 37 medical centers as part of a nationwide multicenter collaborative study. DNA samples from 83 siblings of the children with Type 1A diabetes and 149 parent-child trios were also analyzed.

Altered expression of both β-carotene 15,15' monooxygenase and lecithin:retinol acyltransferase in obese Zucker rats.

Retinol and its active derivative retinoic acid have an important role in development, reproduction, immunity, and cell proliferation/differentiation. Obesity and dyslipidemia are risk factors for cardiovascular disease that may affect hepatic homeostasis. It is unclear whether the expression of retinol-related proteins is affected and influences the retinol status in obesity and dyslipidemia.

Quantitative study on cerebral blood volume determined by a near-infrared spectroscopy during postural change in children.

Aim: To investigate changes in cerebral blood volume during standing in healthy children with or without abnormal cardiovascular responses.

Methods: We studied 53 children (age, 10-15 years). Cerebral oxygenated haemoglobin (oxy-Hb) and deoxygenated Hb (deoxy-Hb) were non-invasively and continuously measured using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) (NIRO 300, Hamamatsu Photomedics, Shizuoka, Japan) during active standing.

Expression of beta-carotene 15,15'-monooxygenase gene and retinol status in type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats.

The vitamin A status has been studied in type 2 diabetes and it is known that plasma retinol levels of patients with type 2 diabetes are elevated. However, the details of vitamin A metabolism in type 2 diabetes are unclear. beta-Carotene exhibits biological activity as provitamin A and beta-carotene 15,15'-monooxygenase (BCM) cleaves beta-carotene to form retinal.

Criteria for medical intervention in obese children: a new definition of 'obesity disease' in Japanese children.

The Committee of the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity reported the new criteria for 'obesity disease' for Japanese adults in 2000. We defined the criteria for the diagnosis of obesity in children with medical problems, corresponding to the 'obesity disease' criteria in adults. Obesity in childhood was defined as follows: percentage of overweight (POW) and body fat exceeded the criteria.

Efficacy of high sodium intake in a boy with instantaneous orthostatic hypotension.

We report the case of a 14-year-old boy with instantaneous orthostatic hypotension (INOH) with symptoms of orthostatic intolerance. We investigated the effect of high sodium intake on hemodynamics and circulatory responses to orthostatic stress using Portapres. Moreover, a multifrequency bioelectrical impedance method was used to confirm increased plasma volume.

Nutritional status of beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol and retinol in obese children.

We investigated the concentrations of beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, and retinol in obese children, together with assessment of the influence of relative body weight and plasma lipids. A lower plasma beta-carotene level was observed in the obese children, and plasma beta-carotene was inversely correlated with the relative body weight, but not with plasma total lipids. In contrast, the plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration was correlated with plasma total lipids, but not with the severity of obesity.