• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.555-563
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• 2021

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the pancreatic fat fraction (PFF) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children with and without obesity and to correlate PFF with body mass index (BMI) z-score, hepatic fat fraction (HFF), and ultrasonography-derived pancreato-perihepatic fat index (PPHFI). Methods: This prospective study included 45 children with obesity and 19 without obesity (control group). PFF and HFF were quantitatively assessed using the abdominal multi-echo Dixon method for MRI. The PPHFI was assessed using transabdominal ultrasonography. Anthropometric, MRI, and ultrasonographic characteristics were compared between the two groups. Correlations between PFF, HFF, PPHFI, and BMI z-scores in each group were also analyzed. Results: The PFF, HFF, PPHFI, and BMI z-score were higher in the group with obesity than in the control group (PFF: 6.65±3.42 vs. 1.78±0.55, HFF: 19.5±13.0 vs. 2.31±1, PPHFI: 3.65 ±1.63 vs. 0.94±0.31, BMI z-score: 2.27±0.56 vs. 0.42±0.54, p<0.01, respectively). PFF was correlated with BMI z-scores, PPHFI, and HFF in the obesity group, and multivariate analysis showed that PFF was strongly correlated with BMI z-score and PPHFI (p<0.05). The BMI z-score was strongly correlated with PFF in the control group (p<0.01). Conclusion: These results suggest that MRI-derived PFF measures are associated with childhood obesity. PFF and PPHFI were also highly correlated in the obesity group. Therefore, PFF may be an objective index of pancreatic fat content and has the potential for clinical utility as a non-invasive biomarker for the assessment of childhood obesity.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.6-15
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate non-invasive behavioral pain assessment of dogs after surgery, and the analgesic effects of butorphanol after intestinal anastomosis in dogs. In this study, five dogs in the Control Group were anesthetized, but did not undergo surgery. Five dogs in the Analgesic Group were undergone intestinal anastomosis and treated with butorphanol. Five dogs in the Non-analgesic Group were also undergone intestinal anastomosis without analgesic treatment. The dogs in the Analgesic Group received butorphanol (0.4 mg/kg, IM) before and immediately after operation, while dogs in Control and Non-analgesic Groups received isovolumetric doses of sterile saline. The behavior of dogs were videotaped for 400 mins after anesthesia, during which time a researcher interacted with the dog once per each 80 mins. At each interaction, the researcher recorded behavioral pain score, using University of Melbourne Pain Scale. Interactive and non-interactive behaviors were observed and quantitated by a single observer using focal continuous sampling method. Vocalizations were obtained during 400 mins after anesthesia, and duration of call, intensity, pitch, 1-4 Formant were analyzed. Surgery affected an increasing of pain score. During interactions with researcher, greeting behaviors were decreased after surgery. Differences between Analgesic group given analgesic or that given a placebo drug were readily understood using quantitative behavioral measurements and vocalization. Significant difference between Analgesic group given butorphanol or that the given placebo drug was apparent(p< 0.05).