PurposeThe aim of our study was to assess left ventricle and right ventricle systolic and diastolic functions in obese adolescents with metabolic syndrome using conventional echocardiography and pulsed-wave tissue Doppler imaging and to investigate carotis intima-media thickness, and asymmetric dimethyl arginine levels.MethodsA total of 198 obese adolescents were enrolled in the study. The obese patients were divided into metabolic syndrome group and non-metabolic syndrome group. All subjects underwent laboratory blood tests, including asymmetric dimethyl arginine, complete two-dimensional, pulsed, and tissue Doppler echocardiography, and measurement of the carotid intima-media thickness.ResultsObese adolescents were characterised by enlarged left end-diastolic, end-systolic and left atrial diameters, thicker left and right ventricular walls compared with non-obese adolescents. The metabolic syndrome group had normal left ventricle systolic function, impaired diastolic function, and altered global systolic and diastolic myocardial performance. In the metabolic syndrome obese group patients, left ventricle mass was found positively correlated with body mass index, waist and hip circumferences, diastolic blood pressure, age, and waist-to-hip circumference ratio. The carotid intima-media thickness was found positively correlated with waist and hip circumferences and total cholesterol levels. Asymmetric dimethyl arginine levels were found positively correlated with systolic blood pressure, waist-to-hip circumference ratio, and diastolic blood pressure.ConclusionsThe results of this study demonstrate that metabolic syndrome in adolescence is associated with significant changes in myocardial geometry and function. In addition, it has been associated with a high level of asymmetric dimethyl arginine concentration and thicker carotid intima-media thickness reflecting endothelial dysfunction.

Objectives The present study assessed the obese adolescents’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) based on both adolescent-reported and maternal-reported questionnaires to clarify adolescent-related psychiatric factors, maternal psychiatric factors, and body mass index (BMI) percentile variables that independently affect the quality of life (QoL). Methods A total of 190 adolescents (120 females and 70 males) were included in the study. The impact of clinical and psychiatric factors on the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory-Child Version (PedsQL-C) scores was analyzed using hierarchical linear regression methods. Results The final models showed that only the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale-Child Version major depressive disorder scores negatively predicted the physical, psychosocial, and total health scores of the PedsQL-C. The psychosocial scores of the PedsQL-P were negatively predicted by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire emotional, and Conners’ Parent Rating Scale-Revised-Short Form (CPRS-R-S) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) index scores. The PedsQL-P total scores were negatively predicted by the CPRS-R-S ADHD index scores. Conclusions The findings of this study indicate that the adolescents’ psychiatric symptoms and BMI percentile played a significant role in the PedsQL subscale functioning of obese adolescents compared to maternal psychiatric symptoms.

Background: The aim of our study was to assess left and right ventricle systolic and diastolic functions in female adolescents with vitamin D deficiency using conventional echocardiography and pulsed-wave tissue Doppler imaging and to investigate carotid intima media thickness and asymmetric dimethylarginine levels. Methods: Sixty-six female adolescents were enrolled in this study. The female adolescents were divided into a vitamin D deficiency group (n: 34) and a control group (n: 32). All subjects underwent laboratory blood tests, including asymmetric dimethyl arginine, complete two-dimensional, pulse, and tissue Doppler echocardiography, and measurement of the carotid intima-media thickness. Results: The vitamin D-deficient female adolescent group had normal left and right ventricle systolic and diastolic functions and normal global systolic and diastolic myocardial performance. In the patients with vitamin D deficiency, the carotid intima-media thickness was higher than that in the controls. In the patients within the vitamin D deficiency group, vitamin D was found to be positively correlated with magnesium and negatively correlated with phosphorus and left atrial dimension. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that vitamin D deficiency in female adolescence is associated with normal myocardial geometry and function. Although it has been associated with normal levels of asymmetric dimethyl arginine concentration, high measured carotid intima-media thickness may reflect endothelial dysfunction.

Ovarian tumors and cysts are rarely seen in children.