Muscle power and physical activity are associated with bone strength in older men: The osteoporotic fractures in men study

The purpose of these analyses was to explore whether physical activity score, leg power or grip strength were associated with tibia and radius estimates of bone strength, cortical density, or total bone area. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) was used to compare tibial and radial bone volumetric density (vBMD, mg/cm³), total (ToA, mm²) and cortical (CoA, mm²) bone area, and estimates of bone compressive strength (bone strength index, BSI) and bending strength (polar strength strain index, SSIp) in a subset (n = 1171) of men (≥ 65 years) who participated in the multi-site Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study. Physical activity was assessed by questionnaire (PASE), leg power by Nottingham Power Rig, and grip strength by a hand-held Dynamometer. Participants were categorized into quartiles of PASE, grip strength or leg power. The model was adjusted for age, race, clinic, weight, and limb length. In the tibia, BSI (+ 7%) and SSIp (+ 4%) were highest in the most active physically quartile compared to the least active (p < 0.05). At the 4% site of the tibia, men with the greatest leg power had both greater ToA (+ 5%, p < 0.001) and BSI (+ 5.3%, p = 0.086) compared to men with the least leg power. At the 66% site of the tibia, the men with the highest leg power, compared to the men with the lowest leg power, had greater ToA (+ 3%, p = 0.045) SSIp (+ 5%, p = 0.008). Similar results were found at both the distal and midshaft of the radius. The findings of this study suggest the importance of maintaining levels of physical activity and muscle strength in older men to prevent bone fragility.     

Davallialactone Reduces Inflammation and Repairs Dentinogenesis on Glucose Oxidase–induced Stress in Dental Pulp Cells

IntroductionThe chronic nature of diabetes mellitus (DM) raises the risk of oral complication diseases. In general, DM causes oxidative stress to organs. This study aimed to evaluate the cellular change of dental pulp cells against glucose oxidative stress by glucose oxidase with a high glucose state. The purpose of this study was to test the antioxidant character of davallialactone and to reduce the pathogenesis of dental pulp cells against glucose oxidative stress.MethodsThe glucose oxidase with a high glucose concentration was tested for hydroxy peroxide (H₂O₂) production, cellular toxicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, induction of inflammatory molecules and disturbance of dentin mineralization in human dental pulp cells. The anti-oxidant effect of Davallilactone was investigated to restore dental pulp cells' vitality and dentin mineralization via reduction of H₂O₂ production, cellular toxicity, ROS formation and inflammatory molecules.ResultsThe treatment of glucose oxidase with a high glucose concentration increased H₂O₂ production, cellular toxicity, and inflammatory molecules and disturbed dentin mineralization by reducing pulp cell activity. However, davallialactone reduced H₂O₂ production, cellular toxicity, ROS formation, inflammatory molecules, and dentin mineralization disturbances even with a long-term glucose oxidative stress state.ConclusionsThe results of this study imply that the development of oral complications is related to the irreversible damage of dental pulp cells by DM-induced oxidative stress. Davallialactone, a natural antioxidant, may be useful to treat complicated oral disease, representing an improvement for pulp vital therapy.     

Drug induced hepatitis with anti-tubercular chemotherapy: Challenges and difficulties in treatment.

Tuberculosis is a major health burden worldwide. In Nepal, it is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Although better drugs are available for managing tuberculosis, treatment failure is one of the common problems encountered. Among the various causes which can cause treatment interruption, drug induced hepatotoxicity is a common cause. Isoniazid and Pyrazinamide are the common drugs causing hepatotoxicity. Upon occurrence of hepatotoxicity, the hepatotoxic drugs should be stopped and reintroduced as per the available guidelines. The healthcare professional should also counsel the patients for recognizing the early symptoms due to hepatotoxicity which could prevent morbidity. Key words: Adverse effects, Hepatotoxicity, Tuberculosis.     

A common symptom of an uncommon disease

Cancer of the colon is the second most common visceral cancer in the United States (lung cancer is the first). It is usually diagnosed in patients older than 40 years, with a peak incidence at 70 years of age. Rarely, are cases seen in the pediatric population. In this study, we report a case of a 13-year-old girl with an 11-month history of intermittent abdominal pain whose diagnosis was delayed due to vague symptoms and a low index of suspicion for this condition.     

Influence of Solvent Composition on the Miscibility and Physical Stability of Naproxen/PVP K 25 Solid Dispersions Prepared by Cosolvent Spray-Drying

Purpose  

To investigate the influence of solvent properties on the phase behavior and physical stability of spray-dried solid dispersions containing naproxen and PVP K 25 prepared from binary cosolvent systems containing methanol, acetone and dichloromethane.     

National Scale-up of Zinc Promotion in Nepal: Results from a Post-project Population-based Survey

The World Health Organization and the United Nations Children''s Fund recommend using a new oral rehydration solution (ORS) plus zinc supplementation for 10-14 days for the treatment of diarrhoea in children aged less than five years. The Social Marketing Plus for Diarrhoeal Disease Control: Point of Use Water Disinfection and Zinc Treatment (POUZN) project in Nepal was one of the first zinc-promotion projects to move beyond pilot efforts into a scaled-up programme with national-level reach. This study used data from a survey conducted in 26 districts in Nepal in 2008 to examine zinc-use behaviour, knowledge, and beliefs of caregivers of children aged less than six years, other diarrhoea-treatment practices, and recollection of project communication messages. The results of the survey indicated that, by six months following the onset of a zinc-promotion campaign, the majority (67.5%) of children (n=289), aged less than six years, with diarrhoea were treated with ORS, and 15.4% were treated with zinc. Over half (53.1%) of all caregivers (n=3,550) interviewed had heard about zinc products; most (97.1%) of those who had heard of zinc knew that zinc should be used for the treatment of diarrhoea. Zinc-related knowledge and behaviours were positively associated with recall of communication messages. Children whose caregivers recalled the mass-media message that zinc should be used for 10 days [odds ratio (OR)=2.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.85-2.19] and whose caregivers perceived that zinc is easy to obtain (OR=1.76, 95% CI 1.49-2.09) were more likely to be treated with zinc for 10 days, along with ORS. The findings demonstrated that mass media play an important role in increasing caregivers’ knowledge about zinc and encouraging trial and correct use. Future efforts should also focus on understanding the factors that motivate providers to continue recommending antibiotics and antidiarrhoeals instead of zinc. These findings are being used for informing the design and implementation of zinc programmes in other developing countries with a high prevalence of diarrhoea.Key words: Child health, Diarrhoea, Diarrhoea, Infantile, Knowledge, attitudes, and practices, Oral rehydration solutions, Oral rehydration therapy, Zinc, Nepal     

Structure–Activity Relationship and Evaluation of Phenethylamine and Tryptamine Derivatives for Affinity towards 5-Hydroxytryptamine Type 2A Receptor

Among 14 subtypes of serotonin receptors (5-HTRs), 5-HT_2AR plays important roles in drug addiction and various psychiatric disorders. Agonists for 5-HT_2AR have been classified into three structural groups: phenethylamines, tryptamines, and ergolines. In this study, the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of phenethylamine and tryptamine derivatives for binding 5-HT_2AR was determined. In addition, functional and regulatory evaluation of selected compounds was conducted for extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and receptor endocytosis. SAR studies showed that phenethylamines possessed higher affinity to 5-HT_2AR than tryptamines. In phenethylamines, two phenyl groups were attached to the carbon and nitrogen (R³) atoms of ethylamine, the backbone of phenethylamines. Alkyl or halogen groups on the phenyl ring attached to the β carbon exerted positive effects on the binding affinity when they were at para positions. Oxygen-containing groups attached to R³ exerted mixed influences depending on the position of their attachment. In tryptamine derivatives, tryptamine group was attached to the β carbon of ethylamine, and ally groups were attached to the nitrogen atom. Oxygen-containing substituents on large ring and alkyl substituents on the small ring of tryptamine groups exerted positive and negative influence on the affinity for 5-HT_2AR, respectively. Ally groups attached to the nitrogen atom of ethylamine exerted negative influences. Functional and regulatory activities of the tested compounds correlated with their affinity for 5-HT_2AR, suggesting their agonistic nature. In conclusion, this study provides information for designing novel ligands for 5-HT_2AR, which can be used to control psychiatric disorders and drug abuse.