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Background: The role of lipid metabolism in obesity and cancer manifestations cannot be underestimated, but whether alterations in lipid metabolism can manipulate the vasculature to promote obesity among breast cancer (BC) survivors is yet to be clearly understood. This study quantified plasma lipid and particle sizes using high-throughput proton (1H) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and tested their associations with obesity among breast cancer (BC) survivors. Methods: A total of 348 (225 premenopausal and 123 postmenopausal) BC survivors enrolled from five hospitals in Korea were included. We assessed thirty-four plasma lipid biomarkers using 1H NMR, and obesity status was defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m2 or greater. Generalized linear and logistic regression models were applied to estimate the least-square means of BMI (kg/m2) and odds ratio (OR)s of obesity, respectively, and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI)s across plasma lipid levels. Results: Mean (SD) values of BMI was 23.3 (3.2) kg/m2 and 90 (25.9%) had BMI of ≥ 25 kg/m2. BMI levels increased with increasing total triglycerides (TG), TG in lipoproteins and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) subfractions. However, BMI levels decreased with increasing tertiles of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (C) and HDL particle size (HDL-p). Similar associations were observed in the logistic regression models. The increasing and decreasing BMI trends with TG and HDL profiles respectively were predominantly limited to premenopausal BC survivors. Conclusions: Increasing levels of plasma total TG and TG in lipoproteins were associated with increasing levels of BMI among premenopausal BC survivors. High HDL-C levels and large HDL-p were inversely associated with obesity among premenopausal BC survivors. Due to the cross-sectional design of this study, longitudinal studies are necessary to examine the association between obesity and lipid profile among BC survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ambient fine particulate matter is a rising concern for global public health. It was recently suggested that exposure to fine particulate matter may contribute to the development of diabetes and dyslipidaemia. This study aims to examine the potential associations of ambient particulate matter exposure with changes in fasting glucose and lipid profiles in Koreans.Method: We used the data from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC), a nationwide database representative of the Korean population. A total of 85,869 individuals aged ≥20 years were included. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to assess the associations between exposure to particulate matter and changes in fasting glucose and lipid profiles at 2-year intervals after adjusting for confounders.Results: Significant associations were observed between an increase in interquartile range for particulate matter < 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) and elevated levels of fasting glucose and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p for trend = 0.015 and 0.010, respectively), while no association for particulate matter sized 2.5-10 μm in diameter (PM10-2.5) was noted after adjusting for the other covariates. Sub-group analyses showed stronger associations in individuals who were older (≥60 years) or physically inactive.Conclusions: Fine particulate matter exposure affects worsening fasting glucose and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, with no evidence of an association for coarse particulate matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies have examined tracking pattern of blood lipids level during long follow-up periods in Western countries. However, there have been few such studies in Asian populations. Methods: The Kangwha Study is a community-based prospective cohort study that started in 1986 on Kangwha Island, South Korea. A total of 432 participants (47% men) were enrolled in the study, during which serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels were measured for each participant at least once during adolescence (12-16 years of age) and again at least once during adulthood (25-35 years of age). The tracking patterns of the blood lipid levels were determined using Spearman correlation coefficients and tracking coefficients from generalized estimating equations. Results: The Spearman correlation coefficients between lipid measurements ranged from 0.12 to 0.73 depending on the lipid profile and measurement time interval; all were significant (p < 0.05). The magnitude of the coefficients tended to decrease as the time interval increased. When adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, and blood pressure, the tracking coefficients were 0.58 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.54-0.63) for total cholesterol, 0.39 (95% CI: 0.31-0.48) for triglycerides, and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.47-0.56) for HDL cholesterol. In a subgroup analysis by sex, the tracking coefficients were higher for women than for men, except for HDL cholesterol. Conclusions: The tracking patterns of blood lipids from adolescence to adulthood were notable. This study supports the importance of measuring lipids during adolescence for identifying high-risk individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity is a public health concern in many countries due to its increasing prevalence. Euiiyin-tang is an herbal medicine formula often used as a clinical treatment for obesity. It acts to eliminate humidity and purify the blood, the causes of obesity identified by the theoretical framework of Korean medicine. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Euiiyin-tang in treating obesity.Methods/design: This study is a randomised, double-blinded and placebo-controlled, multicentre trial. It has two parallel arms: the Euiiyin-tang group and the placebo group. A total of 160 obese adult women will be enrolled in the trial. The participants will be randomly divided at a 1:1 ratio at visit 2 (baseline). The participants will be administered Euiiyin-tang or placebo for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint is the change in weight occurring between baseline and post-treatment. The secondary outcomes include average weight reduction, changes in body fat, waist and hip circumferences, body mass index, and lipid profile, and the results of questionnaires such as the Korean version of Obesity-related Quality of Life, the Korean version of Eating Attitudes Test, the Social Readjustment Rating Scale, and the Stress Reaction Inventory.Discussion: The present study will provide research methodologies for evaluating the efficacy and safety of Euiiyin-tang in patients with obesity. In addition, it will provide evidence of correlation between obesity and Sasang constitutional medicine.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01724099 . Registered on 2 November 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]