Identifying effective strategies for identifying and treating these obesity related co-morbidities in children are crucial to the prevention of future cardiovascular disease and poor health outcomes. This review discusses the pathophysiologic connections between obesity, metabolic disease and cardiovascular risk. Current evidence and recommendations for screening and treatment for the metabolic consequences of pediatric obesity are reviewed.”
“Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease click here (NAFLD) is a very common condition among obese patients that may lead to the enlargement of the liver, that in turn impairs the access to the gastro-esophageal

junction during laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Omega-3

polyunsaturated fatty acids (Omega-3 PUFAs) supplementation has been shown to reduce nutritional hepatic steatosis. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a 4-week course of oral Omega-3 PUFAs supplementation on the volume of the liver.

20 morbidly obese patients were administered oral Omega-3 PUFAs (1,500 mg daily) for 4 weeks before undergoing the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) without any dietary restriction. The volume of the left hepatic MK-2206 lobe was estimated by liver ultrasonography at baseline and at the end of treatment. The degree of difficulty to access the gastro-esophageal junction was appreciated subjectively by the operating surgeon.

All patients completed the study and no side effect was reported. The mean volume of the left hepatic lobe decreased by 20 % from 598 +/- 97 to 484 +/- 118 cm(3) after the treatment (p = 0.002). The access to the gastro-esophageal junction was reported as simple, with easy retraction of

the left hepatic Stem Cell Compound Library in vitro lobe by the operating surgeon in all cases.

This study demonstrates that a 4-week course of oral Omega-3 PUFAs supplementation results in a significant reduction in liver size that facilitates the LRYGBP.”
“Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is used as the first-line systemic treatment for severe, widespread or refractory cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) in many countries. However HCQ is not an approved drug in Japan. For the establishment of HCQ therapy as the alternative treatment for CLE in Japan, we conducted a pilot study in Japanese patients with refractory CLE by administrating HCQ, and evaluated the improvements in the skin lesions using the Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI). We administrated HCQ to seven CLE cases, including four systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cases. The skin lesions of the four cases improved dramatically, and their mean CLASI activity index decreased significantly following HCQ treatment.