Body fat percent by bioelectrical impedance analysis and risk of coronary artery disease among urban men with low rates of obesity: the Indian paradox.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between body fat percent and prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and coronary risk factors in subjects with low rates of obesity. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We randomly selected 850 men, aged 25 to 64 years. The survey methods were questionnaire and bioelectrical impedance analysis for body composition. Subjects were divided into high-fat (n = 357), over-fat (n = 230), normal-fat (n = 200) and under-fat (n = 63) based on criteria of body-fat percent analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of CAD and the coronary-risk factors hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes, mellitus and sedentary lifestyle were significantly associated with high and moderate body fat percent despite low body-mass index (23.6+/-4.1 kg/m2). Mean total cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure were significantly associated with high and moderate body fat percent. The prevalence of smoking was weakly but inversely associated with high body-fat percent. Mean HDL cholesterol was positively associated with high body-fat percent. Body mass index was positively associated with high body-fat percent. CONCLUSIONS: High and moderate body-fat-percent subjects were associated with high prevalence of CAD and the coronary-risk factors hypertension, diabetes mellitus, higher body-mass index and sedentary lifestyle.     

Meta-analysis of self-gripping mesh (Progrip) versus sutured mesh in open inguinal hernia repair

BackgroundThis metaanalysis was designed to systematically analyse all published randomized controlled trials comparing self-gripping mesh (ProGrip) and sutured mesh to analyse early and long term outcomes for open inguinal hernia repair.MethodsA literature search was performed using the Cochrane Colorectal Cancer Group Controlled Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase and Science Citation Index Expanded. Randomized trials comparing self-gripping mesh with sutured mesh were included. Statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager Version 5.2 software. The primary outcome measures were hernia recurrence and chronic pain after operation. Secondary outcome measures included surgical time, wound complications and perioperative complications.ResultsFive randomized trials were identified as suitable, including 1170 patients. There was no significant difference between the two types of mesh repairs in perioperative complications, wound haematoma, chronic groin pain and hernia recurrence. Wound infection was lower in self gripping mesh group compared to sutured mesh but this was not statistically significant (risk ratio (RR) 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.30–1.06, P = 0.08). The duration of operation was significantly shorter with self-gripping mesh compared to sutured mesh with a mean difference of ?5.48 min [?9.31, ?1.64] Z = 2.80 (P = 0.005).ConclusionSelf-gripping mesh was associated with shorter operative time compared to sutured mesh. Both types of mesh repairs have comparable perioperative and long term outcomes.     

Ureteric reconstruction for the management of transplant ureteric stricture: a decade of experience from a single centre

This study was conducted to review the outcomes of patients who had undergone surgical repair of a ureteric stricture following renal transplantation. All patients who developed a ureteric stricture and underwent ureteric reconstruction following renal transplantation, between December 2003 and November 2013, were reviewed. One thousand five hundred and sixty renal transplants were performed during the study period. Forty patients required surgical repair of a ureteric stricture (2.5%, 25 male, median age 48 [14–78]). The median time to stricture was 3 [1–149] months. 19 patients were reconstructed by reimplantation to the bladder, 18 utilized a Boari flap, two were a pre‐existing ileal conduit and one was an anastomosis to a native ureter. In one patient, reconstruction was impossible and consequently an extra‐anatomic stent was used. Two patients required re‐operation for restricture and kinking. Median serum creatinine at 12 months following surgery was 148 [84–508] μmol/l. There was no 90‐day mortality. Eleven grafts were lost at the time of this study, a median time of 11 [1–103] months after reconstruction. The incidence of ureteric stricture following renal transplant is low. Surgical reconstruction of the transplant ureter is the optimal treatment and is successful in the majority of patients.     

Non‐HLA‐matched 3rd party vascular allograft in renal transplant may lead to sensitization against donor HLA

3rd party donor vessels are often used for vascular reconstruction in organ transplantation. While current practice ensures that 3rd party vessels are blood group matched, HLA matching to the non‐intended recipient is not performed. This practice potentially sensitizes the recipient and may reduce their future chance of renal transplant from a larger pool of donors. We examined our cohort of renal transplant recipients who received non‐HLA‐matched 3rd party vessels for the de‐novo development of donor‐specific HLA antibodies. Our institution's Human Tissue Authority (HTA) blood vessel registers were examined to identify stored donor vessels and their non‐intended recipients. Donor vessel HLA status was cross‐referenced with the recipient HLA status. Between 2004 and 2014, five patients were identified that received 3rd party non‐HLA‐matched vessels for vascular reconstruction during renal transplantation. Three patients (60%) subsequently developed donor‐specific HLA antibodies. These data provide evidence that use of non‐HLA‐matched stored 3rd party vascular grafts may lead to sensitization in the recipient. Where time permits, HLA matching should be performed to avoid this allogeneic response. Laboratories monitoring DSA should be aware of any patient receiving a non‐HLA‐matched 3rd party vascular graft, and recipients may benefit from increased post‐transplant immunological vigilance.     

The impact of clinical pharmacist and ID intervention in rationalization of antimicrobial use

What is known and objective

There is little research on the impact of implementing and monitoring antimicrobial policy in Saudi hospitals. The purpose of this study is to measure the impact of the clinical pharmacist (CP) and infectious disease consultant (ID) interventions on the use of three antimicrobials (caspofungin, imipenem, meropenem) in hospitalized patients in the King Abdullah Medical City hospital.

Methods

The study was carried out in the King Abdullah Medical City, in Mekkah, Saudi Arabia. The hospital is a tertiary center that provides CCU, CSICU, Cardiac, Hematology, ICU, Medical, Neuroscience, Oncology, and specialized surgery services. The use of three antimicrobials (caspofungin, imipenem, meropenem) was reviewed by the clinical pharmacist for four periods, pre and post implementation of policy. Relevant data were collected in four periods. In the first period, before policy implementation, data were collected retrospectively to be used as baseline status reference, and in the three remaining periods that followed data were collected prospectively, and compared to baseline data, to evaluate the role of clinical pharmacist and ID interventions in optimizing antimicrobial therapy.

Results and discussion

Caspofungin duration of therapy was not affected significantly by the intervention. Statistically significant reduction in antimicrobial therapy duration was observed in imipenem (37%) and meropenem (37%) from baseline, which indicate a better control on antimicrobial use and reduction in antimicrobial resistance.

What is new and conclusion

The impact of the clinical pharmacist and ID interventions, in reducing antimicrobial therapy duration using imipenem and meropenem, is clear from the result presented above. However, lack of restriction and follow up in the antimicrobial policy in case of negative culture makes antimicrobial use uncontrollable in these cases. Establishing good and accepted policy may help reduce consumption and total cost of therapy.     

Theoretical and Experimental in vitro Antifungal and Antitumor Activities of Organotin(IV) Derivatives of 3-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-methylacrylic acid

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal - Di- and triorganotin(IV) derivatives of 3-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-methylacrylic acid (HL), i.e., [n-Bu2SnL2] (1), [Me2SnL2] (2), [n-Bu3SnL]n (3) [Me3SnL]n (4) and...