Nutritional status of obese hypercholesterolemic adults

The study was conducted to collect information regarding food and nutrient intake of hypercholesterolemic adults (male n = 30, female n = 20). The Body Mass Index (BMI) of the respondents indicated that 70% of them had a BMI more than 26. The food intake of the respondents was recorded for three consecutive days using 24 hour dietary recall and questionnaire method. The intake of cereals, sugar and oil was significantly higher than the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) prescribed for Indians, whereas intake of pulses was at par with RDI. The consumption of green leafy and other vegetable and roots and tubers was significantly lower among both male and female respondents. The intake of protein was at par with recommended dietary allowance (RDA), but fat and energy intake were significantly higher in both male and female respondents. The subjects were given diet counselling and this received a good response from the respondents.     

Tools for discovery: gene expression enterprise solutions

Expression profiling in drug discovery is a highly collaborative process requiring robust, centralized databases and exhaustive exploration of expanding libraries of expression experiments. In this review, state-of-the-art data analysis tools that identify relationships between gene expression and biological activities are described. Informatics workflow, system scalability and regulatory compliance issues are discussed in the context of expression data management.     

The influence of teent (Capparis decidua) on human plasma triglycerides,total lipids and phospholipids

Teent is an unripe fruit of Ker (Capparis decidua) a xerophytic bush. It contains 15.1% protein and 42.88% fibre. Being a rich source of fibre, the process for preparation of teent powder and other recipes were standardized for feeding hyperlipidemic subjects. The diet of 15 hyperlipidemic adults (40-60 yrs.) was supplemented with teent for three months and plasma triglycerides, total lipids and phospholipids were analysed before and at the end of the experiment. Significant reductions in plasma triglycerides, total lipids and phospholipids concentration were noticed.     

Prospective results of a standardized algorithm based on hemodynamic status for managing pediatric solid organ injury

BACKGROUND: Controversy surrounds the need for ICU admission, prolonged bed rest, and the duration of activity restrictions for children sustaining blunt trauma. Adult literature supports management based on hemodynamic status, not CT grade. STUDY DESIGN: A 3-year prospective study of a standardized management algorithm for hemodynamically normal pediatric patients with blunt liver or spleen injury was performed. Patient selection was based on vital signs, irrespective of injury grade on CT. Patients requiring ICU admission for nonliver or nonspleen injury were excluded. Patients were admitted to a surgical ward with serial hematocrit levels. Discharge occurred 48 hours postinjury if patients had no abdominal tenderness, tolerated a regular diet, and had a stable hematocrit. Patients were allowed noncontact activity, including school, after discharge. Patients were followed up at 1 month with ultrasonographic imaging. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients sustained blunt liver or spleen injury. Forty-five patients were excluded for other injuries (Glasgow Coma Scale < 13, 32 of 45); the remaining 44 patients had a mean age of 8.9 years (range 2 to 17 years), Injury Severity Score 10.6 (range 4 to 33), liver grade 2.1, and splenic injury grade 2.3. Mechanisms of injury were predominately motor vehicle collisions (59%). All patients were managed nonoperatively without transfusion; 43 of 44 patients completed the algorithm. Mean observation was 55.2 +/- 12.3 hours. One-month followup occurred in 33 of 44 patients, with one complication detected and no delayed bleeding. CONCLUSION: Management of pediatric solid organ injury should be guided by hemodynamic status and not injury grade on CT. Hemodynamically normal children can be safely managed without intensive care monitoring, do not need prolonged hospitalization, and can resume school on discharge.     

Bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis: a clinician's reference to patient management

Bisphosphonates (BPs), as inhibitors of osteoclasts, are widely used in the management of metastatic bone disease and in the prevention of osteomalacia and osteoporosis. Recent cases of bone necrosis of the jaws have been associated with the use of bisphosphonate therapy. A case is presented of a patient with osteonecrosis of the maxilla with a history of long-term bisphosphonate therapy for metastatic breast cancer. The authors treated the patient and suggest appropriate patient management guidelines with reference to current knowledge. Although a definitive treatment for bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis has not yet been established, clinicians must be aware of the pharmacologic properties of several bisphosphonates currently available and their indications, susceptible risk factors in the development of osteonecrosis of the jaws, the clinical signs and symptoms, and recommendations for patient management, including prevention and early recognition. BPs, potent inhibitors of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption, were first introduced more than 20 years ago. Since then, they have been used widely in the management of bone diseases, including hypercalcemia related to malignancy, myeloma-related bone disease, Paget's disease and osteoporosis. They have also been shown to inhibit tumor cell proliferation and inhibit angiogenesis. These additional features have made BPs useful in the treatment of metastatic disease, including breast and prostate cancer, resulting in a rise in the medical use of these drugs. However, recent reports suggest that BPs, particularly the nitrogen-containing BPs pamidronate (Aredia) and zoledronic acid (Zometa), both manufactured by Novartis of East Hanover, NJ, are capable of causing bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw (BON). With 2.5 million patients treated with pamidronate and/or zoledronate worldwide, BON occurs in about one per 10,000 treated patients (Novartis, unpublished data, 2004). Currently, the total number of reported cases associated with alendronate (Fosamax, Merck and Co. Inc., White-house Station, NJ) the most commonly prescribed oral bisphosphonate, is approximately 170 worldwide (C. Arsver, oral communication, March 2006). This corresponds to a spontaneous BON incidence of approximately 0.7 cases per 100,000-years exposure. However, there is insufficient data to determine why the osteonecrosis reported seems to particularly affect the jaw, with a slightly higher rate in the mandible than the maxilla. This report concerns the management of a patient with BON. Information provided includes: the pharmacologic properties of the several bisphosphonates currently available; the pathobiological mechanism; the clinical presentation of the oral lesions; and recommendations for the oral management of patients who have received BP therapy, with consideration of a preventative approach based on current knowledge.