Socioeconomic position and risk of short-term weight gain: Prospective study of 14,619 middle-aged men and women

Background  

The association between socioeconomic position in middle age and risk of subsequent, short-term weight gain is unknown. We therefore assessed this association in a prospective population based cohort study in Norfolk, UK.     

Effects of Racial Match on Asian American Mental Health Consumer Satisfaction

This study investigated the effects of consumer–provider racial match on consumer service satisfaction and treatment outcomes (i.e., Client Satisfaction Questionnaire and GAF-Posttest) of 96 outpatient consumers, 66 of whom were adults and 30 of whom were parent/caregivers of child consumers. Data was obtained by telephone interviews over a 6-week period. After controlling for four other variables, client satisfaction was higher for racially matched consumers. Racially matched child consumers also had higher GAF-Posttest scores. Implications of these findings are discussed.     

Comparison of effects of parathyroidectomy and ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate (EHDP) administration upon bone synthesis of hydroxyproline and urinary excretion of hydroxyproline in rats

Summary Disodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate (EHDP) may impair mineralization and reduce turnover of bone. However, its administration has been shown to lead to an accumulation of osteoid in both man and the rat. Using rats, the effects of surgical parathyroidectomy and administration of EHDP (30 mg EHDP/kg body weight by subcutaneous injection daily for 5 days) upon bone composition, uptake of³H-proline into hydroxyproline in bone and the subsequent urinary excretion of labelled and unlabelled hydroxyproline have been compared. Both parathyroidectomized (PTX) rats and EHDP-treated animals accumulated more hydroxyproline in bone and excreted less total urinary hydroxyproline than sham-PTX control animals, the changes induced by EHDP being of greater magnitude than those induced by surgical parathyroidectomy. Skeletal buildup of hydroxyproline was associated with decreased catabolism of mature collagen rather than enhanced synthesis of hydroxyproline in bone. EHDP administration, although decreasing urinary excretion of newly synthesised hydroxyproline, did not alter the skeletal synthesis of hydroxyproline as measured by uptake of³H-proline. In all parameters measured, responses to EHDP were similar in PTX and sham-PTX rats. It is concluded that depression of parathyroid hormone mediated bone turnover may have contributed to, but did not fully account for, the lowering of bone turnover and changes in bone composition induced by EHDP in sham-PTX rats in the present experiment.     

Lymphangioma of the conjunctiva and nasal cavity in a child presenting with diffuse subconjunctival hemorrhage and nosebleeds

A 4-year-old girl had extensive subconjunctival hemorrhage in the right eye. She had recurrent minor nosebleeds starting at 6 months. Visual acuity was 20/20. Anterior segment examination showed diffuse, blood-filled, multilobulated cystic channels in the conjunctiva. Bleeding resolved, leaving transparent cystic channels. Conjunctival lymphangioma can manifest as temporary subconjunctival lymphangioma.     

A Review of the Cardiovascular Benefits and Antioxidant Properties of Allicin

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a category of chronic noncommunicable diseases causing high global mortality and has been a heavy social burden in many countries. In the search of chemicals that arise from natural food source, allicin is one such ingredient from garlic that was discovered with the potential to provide beneficial effects to the cardiovascular system. From the pharmacokinetic studies, allicin is known to be hydrophobic and can be readily absorbed through the cell membrane without inducing any damage to the phospholipid bilayer and then rapidly metabolized to exert pharmacological effects that are important to the cardiovascular system. It was found to provide cardio‐protective effects by inducing vasorelaxation and alleviating various pathological conditions of CVD, including cardiac hypertrophy, angiogenesis, platelet aggregation, hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia. Allicin was also discovered to further protect the cardiovascular system by enhancing the antioxidant status by lowering the level of reactive oxygen species and stimulating the production of glutathione. Other pharmacological benefits such as anticancer and antimicrobial activities were also discussed. It is concluded that allicin can be potentially developed into a health product for the cardiovascular system. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.