The objective of the present study was to summarize the prevalence and influencing factors of metabolically healthy obese (MHO) and metabolically obese but normal weight (MONW) among people ≥ 18 years old in the general population worldwide. We searched for studies of the prevalence of MHO and MONW published in English and Chinese up to October 2013. Pooled prevalence estimates were calculated by a random-effects model according to a Q test. The effects of gender, region, age, sample size, smoking, and alcohol consumption on MHO and MONW were analyzed. Differences between subgroups were assessed by chi-square test. Publication bias was estimated by Egger's test. Studies of MHO and MONW showed heterogeneity (I(2)=99.4% and I(2)=99.7%, respectively). The overall prevalence of MHO and MONW was 7.27% (95% CI 5.92-8.90%) and 19.98% (95% CI 16.54-23.94%), respectively. American populations had the highest MHO prevalence and European populations the highest MONW prevalence. Different patterns of MHO and MONW were observed in the subgroup analysis with respect to gender, age, sample size, smoking, alcohol consumption, and metabolically healthy criteria. The prevalence of both MHO and MONW were affected by gender, region, age, sample size, smoking, alcohol consumption, and metabolically healthy criteria, but studies showed high heterogeneity.

The successful reduction of postoperative discomfort is of great significance. This review aims to evaluate the efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for the reduction of complication caused by impacted mandibular third molars extraction. An extensive literature search up to October 2013 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed through CENTRAL, PubMed, Embase, Medline, and CNKI. Six RCTs in which involves 193 participants are included in the meta-analysis. Among them, three RCTs exhibit a moderate risk of bias, while the other three show a high bias risk. Compared with placebo laser/control group, pain is significantly reduced with LLLT on the first day (mean difference [MD] = -2.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] -4.46 to -0.79, P = 0.005). The superiority of LLLT in pain control persists on the second day (MD = -2.34, 95% CI -4.61 to -0.06, P = 0.04) and the third day (MD = -3.40, 95% CI -4.12 to -2.68, P < 0.00001). Moreover, LLLT reduces an average of 4.94 mm (MD = 4.94, 95 % CI 1.53 to 8.34, P = 0.004) of trismus compared with placebo laser irradiation in the first 3 days. On the seventh day, the superiority of LLLT also persists (MD = 3.24, 95% CI 0.37 to 6.12, P = 0.03). In the first 3 days after surgery, extraoral irradiation (MD = -0.69, 95% CI -1.30 to -0.08, P = 0.03) and intraoral combined with extraoral irradiation (MD = -0.65, 95% CI -1.15 to -0.15, P = 0.01) reduced facial swelling significantly. On the seventh day, the intraoral combined with extraoral irradiation group (MD = -0.32, 95% CI -0.59 to -0.06, P = 0.02) still showed benefit in relieving facial swelling. However, because of the heterogeneity of intervention and outcomes assessment and risk of bias of included trials, the efficacy is proved with limited evidence. In the future, well-designed RCTs with larger sample size will be required to provide clearer recommendations.

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Nobiletin (NOB), a naturally occurring small-molecule compound abundant in citrus peels, has displayed potential lipid-lowering and circadian-enhancing properties in preclinical studies. However, the requirement of specific clock genes for the beneficial effects of NOB is not well understood. In the current study, mice with a liver-specific deletion of the core clock component, Bmal1—Bmal1LKO—were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) ad libitum for eight weeks, while NOB (200 mg/kg) was administered by daily oral gavage from the fifth week and throughout the last four weeks. NOB decreased liver triglyceride (TG) alongside the decreasing mRNA levels of de novo lipogenesis (DNL) genes in both Bmal1flox/flox and Bmal1LKO mice. NOB increased serum very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels in Bmal1LKO mice, which was consistent with higher liver Shp and lower Mttp mRNA expression levels, the key genes that facilitate VLDL assembly and secretion. NOB decreased liver and serum cholesterol levels in the Bmal1flox/flox mice, consistent with lower Hmgcr and higher Cyp7a1, Cyp8b1, Gata4 and Abcg5 mRNA levels in the liver. In contrast, in the Bmal1LKO mice, NOB increased Hmgcr mRNA levels and had no effect on the above-mentioned genes related to bile acid synthesis and cholesterol excretion, which might contribute to the elevation of liver and serum cholesterol levels in NOB-treated Bmal1LKO mice. NOB inhibited hepatic DNL and decreased liver TG levels in HFD-fed mice independently of liver Bmal1, whereas liver-specific Bmal1 depletion reversed the beneficial effects of NOB on liver cholesterol homeostasis. The complex interactions between NOB, the circadian clock and lipid metabolism in the liver warrant further research.