Management of Type 2 Diabetes: Current Strategies,Unfocussed Aspects,Challenges, and Alternatives

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accounts for >90% of the cases of diabetes in adults. Resistance to insulin action is the major cause that leads to chronic hyperglycemia in diabetic patients. T2DM is the consequence of activation of multiple pathways and factors involved in insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction. Also, the etiology of T2DM involves the complex interplay between genetics and environmental factors. This interplay can be governed efficiently by lifestyle modifications to achieve better management of diabetes. The present review aims at discussing the major factors involved in the development of T2DM that remain unfocussed during the anti-diabetic therapy. The review also focuses on lifestyle modifications that are warranted for the successful management of T2DM. In addition, it attempts to explain flaws in current strategies to combat diabetes. The employability of phytoconstituents as multitargeting molecules and their potential use as effective therapeutic adjuvants to first line hypoglycemic agents to prevent side effects caused by the synthetic drugs are also discussed.     

乳腺癌缺氧诱导因子-1α、Ki-67表达与超声声像特征的关系

目的探讨乳腺癌患者乳腺癌组织中的缺氧诱导因子-1α(HIF-1α)、Ki-67蛋白的表达与超声声像特征的关系。方法对110例乳腺癌患者进行超声检查,观察患者的毛刺征、肿块形态、钙化灶形态和血流显像分级等。取110例乳腺癌患者的乳腺癌组织,免疫组化法检测HIF-1α、Ki-67蛋白的阳性表达率。分析不同超声声像特征乳腺癌患者乳腺癌组织中HIF-1α、Ki-67蛋白的表达情况。结果110例乳腺癌患者中,43例既存在Ki-67蛋白阳性表达又存在HIF-1α蛋白阳性表达,35例仅存在Ki-67蛋白阳性表达,13例仅存在HIF-1α蛋白阳性表达,Ki-67、HIF-1α蛋白阴性表达患者共19例。乳腺癌患者乳腺癌组织中Ki-67蛋白的阳性表达率为70.91%(78/110),HIF-1α蛋白的阳性表达率为50.91%(56/110)。不同肿块形态、钙化灶形态、血流显像分级乳腺癌患者乳腺癌组织中Ki-67蛋白阳性表达率比较,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.05)。不同血流显像分级乳腺癌患者乳腺癌组织中HIF-1α蛋白阳性表达率比较,差异有统计学意义(P﹤0.05)。结论乳腺癌患者乳腺癌组织中HIF-1α的表达可能与血流显像分级有关,Ki-67的表达可能与肿块形态、钙化灶形态及血流显像分级有关。     

Sociodemographic determinants of Malaysian household’s use of and expenditure on alcohol: a regional comparison

Abstract

Aims: Alcohol consumption has become a serious public health concern. The objective of the present study is to investigate sociodemographic factors associated with alcohol consumption across regions of Malaysia.

Methods: Data are obtained from the Malaysian Household Expenditure Survey 2014, which contains 10,665 observations. Double-hurdle model is used to examine the consumption decision and amount decision of alcohol among households. Analyses are stratified by regions (Northern, East coast, Central and Southern).

Findings: Results show that age, household size, gender, ethnicity, marital status, education, employment status, location of residence and tobacco consumption are independently associated with alcohol consumption. Households headed by males and well-educated individuals are more likely to consume alcohol and also spend more compared with households headed by females and less-educated individuals. Being employed, non-Bumiputera and tobacco consumption seem to increase the likelihood of consuming alcohol. Household size is negatively associated with the amount spent on alcohol.

Conclusion: In conclusion, sociodemographic factors play an important role in determining alcohol consumption. It appears that factors associated with alcohol consumption vary across regions. Hence, policies that address regional differences in the sociodemographic factors associated with alcohol consumption are needed.     

The Association of Helicobacter pylori,Eradication, and Early Complications of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Obesity Surgery - Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is a common and effective bariatric surgery, with low postoperative complication rates. It is important to define modifiable risk factors for...     

Protective Role of Curcumin against N-Nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA)-Induced Toxicity in Rats

The present investigation was aimed at studying the possible role of curcumin against N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA)-induced toxicity in albino rats. Administration of NDEA to rats at a concentration of 0.1 mg/ml in drinking water ad libitum for 21 days produced toxicity in them, which was evident from histopathological changes in the rat livers, and increased levels of blood serum enzyme markers, i.e. aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase. In addition, the levels of oxidative stress markers like lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonyl (PCC), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity were elevated and the total glutathione (GSH) content was reduced in the livers. The administration of curcumin to rats at concentrations of 10, 20, and 40 mg/ml in drinking water along with 0.1 mg/ml of NDEA for 21 days effectively suppressed NDEA-induced toxicity and also resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in the levels of blood serum enzyme markers (AST, ALT, ALP, and LDH). Moreover, LPO, PCC, and GST activity were reduced and the GSH level was increased upon the administration of curcumin along with NDEA. The results obtained for the comet assay in rat hepatocytes and blood lymphocytes showed a significant dose-dependent decrease in the mean tail length. The micronucleus assay performed on rat hepatocytes also showed a dose-dependent reduction in the frequency of micronucleated cells along with curcumin administration. These results suggest that curcumin has a protective role against NDEA-induced toxicity in albino rats.