Effects of an active break and postural shift intervention on preventing neck and low-back pain among high-risk office workers: a 3-arm cluster-randomized controlled trial

Objective:This study evaluated the effects of the promotion of active breaks and postural shifts on new onset of neck and low-back pain during a 6-month follow-up among high-risk office workers.Methods:A 3-arm cluster-randomized controlled trial with 6-month follow-up was conducted among healthy but high-risk office workers. Participants were recruited from six organizations in Bangkok, Thailand (N=193) and randomly assigned at cluster level into active break intervention (N=47), postural shift intervention (N=46), and control (N=100) groups. Participants in the intervention groups received a custom-designed apparatus to facilitate designated active breaks and postural shifts during work. Participants in the control group received a placebo seat pad. The primary outcome measure was new onset of neck and low-back pain during 6-month follow-up. Analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazard models.Results:One-hundred and eighty-six (96%) predominantly female participants were successfully followed up over six months. New onset of neck pain during the 6-month follow-up occurred in 17%, 17%, and 44% of the participants in the active break, postural shift, and control groups, respectively. For new onset of low-back pain, these percentages were 9%, 7%, and 33%, respectively. Hazard rate (HR) ratios after adjusting for biopsychosocial factors indicated a protective effect of the active break and postural shift interventions for neck pain [HR_adj 0.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20–0.98 for active break and HR_adj 0.41, 95% CI 0.18–0.94 for postural shift] and low-back pain (HR_adj 0.34, 95% CI 0.12–0.98 for active break and HR_adj 0.19, 95% CI 0.06–0.66 for postural shift).Conclusion:Interventions to increase either active breaks or postural shifts reduced new onset of neck and low-back pain among high-risk office workers.     

The effect of thermal stress on bonding durability of resin composite adaptation to the cavity wall

This study evaluated the effect of thermal stress on marginal sealing and cavity wall adaptation using two adhesive systems. Cylindrical cavities were prepared in superficial dentin of bovine incisors and bonded with Clearfil SE Bond or Single Bond adhesive. Cavities were bulk-filled with Photo Clearfil Bright or Filtek Flow resin composite and light-cured for 40 seconds. Specimens were thermocycled for 0, 500, or 5000 times. A dye penetration test was carried out to determine adaptation to the cavity wall. Dye penetration length was calculated as a percentage of the total cavity wall length. Clearfil SE Bond showed excellent marginal sealing and cavity wall adaptation regardless of composite type up to 500 cycles of thermal stress. As for the Single Bond groups, significantly greater marginal leakage occurred after 500 cycles. At 5000 cycles of thermal stress, both adhesive systems showed significantly decreased marginal integrity compared with the 0 cycle group.     

Transient elastography for predicting esophageal/gastric varices in children with biliary atresia

Background  

Transient elastography (TE) is an innovative, noninvasive technique to assess liver fibrosis by measuring liver stiffness in patients with chronic liver diseases. The purpose of this study has been to explore the accuracy of TE and clinical parameters in predicting the presence of esophageal/gastric varices in children with biliary atresia (BA) following portoenterostomy.     

Molecular markers for detection and differentiation of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in human blood samples by pyrosequencing

PCR amplification coupled with pyrosequencing was used to measure molecular markers that could be used to detect and differentiate Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in human blood samples. The detection rates were in agreement with the results of Giemsa-stained film microscopy, which is the current gold standard for detection. This method provides an exciting alternative for malaria diagnosis.     

HNF1A mutation in a Thai patient with maturity-onset diabetes of the young: A case report

BACKGROUND Maturity-onset diabetes of the young(MODY) is the most common form of monogenic diabetes. The disease is transmitted in autosomal dominant mode and diabetes is usually diagnosed before age 25 year. MODY 3 is caused by mutation of hepatocyte nuclear factor(HNF) 1 A genes and is the most common MODY subtype. Diagnosis of MODY 3 is crucial since glycemic control can be accomplished by very low dose of sulfonylurea. In this report we described a Thai MODY 3 patient who had excellence plasma glucose control by treating with glicazide 20 mg per day and insulin therapy can be discontinued.CASE SUMMARY A 31-year-old woman was diagnosed diabetes mellitus at 14 years old. The disease was transmitted from her grandmother and mother compatible with autosomal dominant inheritance. Sanger sequencing of proband's DNA identified mutation of HNF1 A at codon 203 which changed amino acid from arginine to cysteine(R203 C). This mutation was carried only by family members who have diabetes. The patient has been treated effectively with a combination of oral hypoglycemic agents and must include a very low dose of glicazide(20 mg/d). Insulin therapy was successfully discontinued.CONCLUSION We demonstrated a first case of pharmacogenetics in Thai MODY 3 patient. Our findings underscore the essential role of molecular genetics in diagnosis and guidance of appropriate treatment of diabetes mellitus in particular patient.     

Selective Fe(ii)-fluorescence sensor with validated two-consecutive working range using N,S,I-GQDs associated with garlic extract as an auxiliary green chelating agent

The goal of this work was to use the pyrolysis process to synthesize graphene quantum dots doped with garlic extract (as N,S-GQDs) and simultaneously co-doped with iodine (as I-GQDs). XPS, HR-TEM, FE-SEM/EDX, FT-IR, fluorescence, and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy were used to characterize the N,S,I-GQDs and analyze their morphological images. The quantum yield of N,S,I-GQDs was found to be 45%, greater than that of undoped GQDs (31%). When stimulated at 363 nm, the N,S,I-GQDs display a strong fluorescence intensity at a maximum wavelength of 454 nm. Using N,S,I-GQDs as a fluorescence quenching sensor for screening tests with various metal ions, it was discovered that they are extremely selective towards Fe²⁺ over Fe³⁺ and other ions. Thus, solution pH, concentration of N,S,I-GQDs, quantity of garlic extract, EDTA and AgNO₃ concentration as masking agents, reaction duration under ultrasonic aid, and tolerable limit of Fe³⁺ presence in the target analyte were all optimized for Fe²⁺ detection. A highly sensitive detection of Fe²⁺ was obtained using a linear curve with y = 141.34x + 5.5855, R² = 0.9961, LOD = 0.11 mg L⁻¹, and LOQ = 0.35 mg L⁻¹. The method precision, given as RSDs, was determined to be satisfactory at 1.04% for intra-day analysis and 3.22% for inter-day analysis, respectively. As a result, the selective determination of trace amounts of Fe²⁺ in real water samples using such labile multi-element doped GQDs in conjunction with garlic extract as a green chelating agent to maintain its enhanced sensitivity was successfully applied with good recoveries ranging from 89.16 to 121.45%.

The goal of this work was to use the pyrolysis process to synthesize graphene quantum dots doped with garlic extract (as N,S-GQDs) and simultaneously co-doped with iodine (as I-GQDs).     

Antiproliferative and proapoptotic actions of okra pectin on B16F10 melanoma cells

The proliferation and apoptosis of metastatic melanoma cells are often abnormal. We have evaluated the action of a pectic rhamnogalacturonan obtained by hot buffer extraction of okra pods (okra RG‐I) on melanoma cell growth and survival in vitro. We added okra RG‐I containing an almost pure RG‐I carrying very short galactan side chains to 2D (on tissue culture polystyrene, tPS) and 3D (on poly(2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate), polyHEMA) cultures of highly metastatic B16F10 mouse melanoma cells. We then analyzed cell morphology, proliferation index, apoptosis, cell cycle progression and the expression of adhesion molecules. Immunostaining and western blotting were used to assay galectin‐3 (Gal‐3) protein. Incubation with okra RG‐I altered the morphology of B16F10 cells and significantly reduced their proliferation on both tPS and polyHEMA. The cell cycle was arrested in G2/M, and apoptosis was induced, particularly in cells on polyHEMA. The expression of N‐cadherin and α5 integrin subunit was reduced and that of the multifunctional carbohydrate‐binding protein, Gal‐3, at the cell membrane increased. These findings suggest that okra RG‐I induces apoptosis in melanoma cells by interacting with Gal‐3. As these interactions might open the way to new melanoma therapies, the next step will be to determine just how they occur. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.