Impact of nutrition on serum levels of docosahexaenoic acid among Omani children with autism

ObjectivesAutism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder of early childhood. Dietary supplementation of the ω-3 fatty acid (docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) during prenatal and postnatal life is considered a protective dietary intervention strategy to minimize the risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To our knowledge, no relevant studies have been conducted in the Middle East investigating the status of DHA among children with autism during early childhood. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum levels and dietary intake status of DHA among Omani children recently diagnosed with ASD.MethodsThe present case–control study involved 80 Omani children (<5 y), 40 cases and 40 controls matched for age and sex. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake of all the participants, while serum levels of DHA were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography.ResultsOur results showed that children with ASD had lower dietary consumption of foodstuff containing DHA, as well as lower serum levels of DHA than controls.ConclusionThe present finding from Oman supports the view of other studies that there are low serum levels of DHA among children with ASD.     

Low folate and vitamin B12 nourishment is common in Omani children with newly diagnosed autism

ObjectiveArab populations lack data related to nutritional assessment in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), especially micronutrient deficiencies such as folate and vitamin B12.MethodsTo assess the dietary and serum folate and vitamin B12 statuses, a hospital-based case–control study was conducted in 80 Omani children (40 children with ASDs versus 40 controls).ResultsThe ASD cases showed significantly lower levels of folate, vitamin B12, and related parameters in dietary intake and serum levels.ConclusionThese data showed that Omani children with ASDs exhibit significant deficiencies in folate and vitamin B12 and call for increasing efforts to ensure sufficient intakes of essential nutrients by children with ASDs to minimize or reverse any ongoing impact of nutrient deficiencies.     

Five-Year Outcomes and Toxicities Using 3-Dimensional Conformal External Beam Radiation Therapy to Deliver Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation

BackgroundLimited 5-year data exist on clinical outcomes and toxicities for patients undergoing 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) APBI.Patients and MethodsTwo hundred five patients were treated with 3D-CRT APBI between August, 2000 and December, 2011. Cases with > 1 year of follow-up were analyzed for cosmesis, chronic toxicities, and clinical outcomes. Outcome by American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Consensus Panel (CP) group were also compared. Rates of excellent and good cosmesis for 3D-CRT were evaluated over time for stability.ResultsOne hundred ninety-two patients were evaluated; median follow-up was 4.8 years (range, 1.0–11.2 years). Seventy-two patients (37.5%) were categorized as ASTRO CP subgroup ‘suitable,' 89 (46.4%) ‘cautionary,' and 31 (16.1%) ‘unsuitable.' At 5 years, the rate of IBTR, regional recurrence, distant metastases, cause-specific survival, and overall survival were 0%, 0%, 2%, 99%, and 92%, respectively. Thirty-seven percent of patients had excellent cosmesis, 44% good cosmesis, 15% fair cosmesis, and 4% poor cosmesis. No statistically significant differences in excellent (37% vs. 37%; P = .99) or good (49% vs. 37%; P = .28) cosmesis were noted between patients with < 5 years follow-up and those with ≥ 5 years follow-up. The rates of grade III fibrosis and telangiectasia were 7.5% and 7.6%, respectively.ConclusionIn the largest group of patients published to date using 3D-CRT to deliver APBI, no local recurrences were noted at 5 years. More than 80% of patients had excellent or good cosmesis.     

放射治疗电子射野影像系统的系统摆位误差的评估(英文)

Objective:The aim of this work was to quantify the extent of set-up errors to conduct a quality assurance(QA)aspect of treatment delivery,verification of the treatment field’s position on different days using electronic portal.Methods:This study was carried out on 12 patients,treated for pelvis tumor;and total of 240 images obtained by electronic portal image device(EPID)were analyzed.The EPIs acquire using EPID attached to the Siemens linear accelerator.The anatomy matching software(Theraview)was used and displacement in two dimensions were noted for each treatment field to study patient setup errors.Results:The percentages of mean deviations less than 5 mm in X direction were 65%&92%,from 5–10 mm were 31%&19%and more than 10 mm were 11%&9%for A/P and lateral direction respectively.The percentages of mean deviations less than 5 mm in Y direction were 65%&63%,from 5–10 mm were 33%&28%and more than 10 mm were 22%&29%.The mean deviations in 2D-vector errors were≤5 mm in 47%and 46%,5–10 mm in 36%and 37%and>10 mm in37%and 37%of images in the A/P and lateral direction respectively.Conclusion:The results revealed that the ranges of set up errors are immobilization method to improve reproducibility.The observed variations were not within the limits..     

Design and synthesis of thienopyridines as novel templates for acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

New dual binding site acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors have been designed and synthesized as a new drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) through the binding to both catalytic and peripheral sites of the enzyme. Therefore, a series of thienopyridine analogs of tacrine were synthesized and investigated for their ability to inhibit the activity of AChE in comparison with tacrine. All the compounds were found to inhibit AChE activity, especially compounds 7b and 11a, which were found to be more potent than tacrine.     

Amino Acid and Acylcarnitine Profiles in Premature Neonates: A Pilot Study

Objective

To investigate the longitudinal changes in amino acid (AA) and acylcarnitine (AC) profiles of preterm neonates over the first 2 wk of life, and to detect any significant deviation from full term values that requires change of cut-off values used for detection of metabolic disorders in preterm neonates.

Methods

This observational analytical longitudinal study was conducted on 131 premature neonates (gestational age ranged from 27 to 36 wk) and 143 healthy full-term neonates. Dried blood spots were taken on the 5th and 14th postnatal day from the premature neonates and on day 5 from full term neonates for neonatal screening. Samples were analyzed for AA and AC using tandem mass spectrometer.

Results

Most AA significantly decreased on day 14 compared to day 5 among preterm neonates (p?<?0.05). The combined values of total carnitine (TC), total acylcarnitine (tAC) and short-chain acylcarnitines on day 5 among preterm neonates were statistically significantly higher compared to the day 14 sample (p 0.0001), whereas no statistically significant difference was found regarding the values of medium-, long-chain acylcarnitines, tAC/FC, and FC/TC (p?>?0.05). The levels of AA of preterm neonates were statistically significantly higher than that of the controls (p?<?0.05). The values of TC, tAC, short-, medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines, were significantly higher than those of the controls (p?<?0.05). The reference ranges for preterm neonates were determined using the 1st and 99.9th percentiles.

Conclusions

AA and AC showed an age-related distribution of their concentrations. This underlines the importance of using appropriate reference values when working with a prematurely born population.