Low back pain education and short term quality of life: a randomized trial

Background  

Different interventions can reduce the burden of the chronic low back pain. One example is the use of a 'Back School Programme'. This is a brief therapy that uses a health education method to empower participants through a procedure of assessment, education and skill development. This study aimed to evaluate to what extent the programme could improve quality of life in those who suffer from the condition.     

DFNB40, a recessive form of sensorineural hearing loss, maps to chromosome 22q11.21-12.1

We report on a novel localization for a recessive form of deafness (DFNB), by linkage analysis in an Iranian consanguineous family. Affected individuals suffer from prelingual profound sensorineural hearing loss. Genome-wide analysis led to the characterization of a new locus, DFNB40, which maps to an approximately 9 Mb interval between markers D22S427 and D22S1144 at chromosome 22q11.21-12.1. Maximum lod score of 3.09 was obtained with D22S1174. Since the Bronx waltzer (bv) mouse mutant, characterized by waltzing behavior, deafness, and degeneration of cochlear inner hair cells, has been mapped to the syntenic region on murine chromosome 5, we suggest that DFNB40 and bv may result from orthologous gene defects.     

IL-10 Secretion and Sensitivity in Normal Human Intestine and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) deficiency in gene knockout mice causes chronic enterocolitis. We hypothesized that inflammation in human inflammatory bowel disease might result from innate alterations in the IL-10 pathway. Serum, supernatants, and mRNA of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMC) derived from inflamed (LPMC-i) and noninflamed colonic mucosa (LPMC-ni) were collected from patients with Crohn's colitis, ulcerative colitis, and controls. IL-10 protein concentrations and IL-10 mRNA were examined in response to PMA/CD3 or PHA stimulation. The response to rhIL-10 was assessed by inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-), IL-6, and interferon-gamma (IFN-) production. Serum IL-10 levels of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients were within the normal range. IL-10 concentrations in supernatants from LPMC-i were significantly lower than from LPMC-ni or PBMC. No difference was seen between samples from ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. IL-10 mRNA was detected in 0/4 LPMC-i samples compared to 1/6 LPMC-ni and 6/6 PBMC. RhIL-10 inhibited TNF-, IL-6, and IFN- synthesis in PBMC. This effect was strongly diminished in LPMC. Disease-specific alterations were not detected. Our data suggest that LPMC derived from inflamed colonic mucosa have a reduced ability to produce and to respond to rhIL-10. A disease-specific alteration in the IL-10 pathway, however, was not found.     

A randomized,double-blind placebo-controlled add-on trial to assess the efficacy,safety, and anti-atherogenic effect of spirulina platensis in patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus

The efficacy of spirulina platensis (S. platensis) as an add-on therapy to metformin and its effect on atherogenic keys in patients with uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) was evaluated. Sixty patients were randomly assigned to S. platensis (2 g/day) or placebo group for three months while continuing metformin as their usual treatment. The efficacy of S. platensis was determined using the pre- and post-intervention HbA1c levels (primary outcome) as well as tracking FBS and lipid profiles levels (TC, LDL-C, TG, and HDL-C) as secondary outcomes at the different treatment time points (0,30,60,90 days). During the three–month intervention period, supplementation with S. platensis resulted in a significant lowering of HbA1c (↓1.43, p < 0.001) and FBS (↓ 24.94 mg/dL, p < 001) levels. Mean TG in the intervention group was found to be significantly lower in the intervention group than in controls (p < 0.001). Total cholesterol (TC) and its fraction, LDL-C, exhibited a fall (↓41.36 mg/dL and ↓38.4 mg/dL, respectively; p < 0.001) coupled with a marginal increase in the level of HDL-C (↑3 mg/dL; p < 0.001). Add-on therapy with S. platensis was superior to metformin regarding long-term glucose regulation and controlling blood glucose levels of subjects with T2DM. Also, as a functional supplement, S. platensis has a beneficial effect on atherogenic keys (TG and HDL-C) with no adverse events.     

Goal setting is differentially related to change in fruit, juice, and vegetable consumption among fourth-grade children.

The impact of goal attainment in a dietary change program to increase fruit, 100% juice, and vegetable consumption was assessed among fourth-grade students. At each session, the students were given goals related to increasing fruit, juice, and vegetable consumption. Baseline consumption and postconsumption were assessed with up to 4 days of computerized dietary recalls. Analyses included regression models predicting postconsumption from the numbers of fruit-juice goals, vegetable goals, or total number of general goals attained, respectively. For students with low baseline fruit-juice preferences, attaining more fruit-juice goals resulted in increased post-fruit-juice consumption. Among those with low baseline vegetable consumption, attaining one vegetable goal was related to higher post-vegetable consumption. For boys and those with high baseline fruit, juice, and vegetable consumption, attaining three general goals was related to increased fruit, juice, and vegetable intake. The results show that goal attainment was somewhat effective in promoting dietary change among children.     

Concomitant cardiac and hepatic hemangiomas

Primary tumors of the heart are rare with a reported incidence of about 0.002% to 0.3% at autopsy. A cardiac hemangioma is a form of benign primary cardiac tumor that often presents with atypical clinical symptoms. Hemangiomas are generally isolated lesions. Here, we report a patient with previous hepatic hemangioma who later was found to have a large coexistent cardiac hemangioma presenting with cardiac compressive symptoms.     

Management of tandem occlusions in patients who receive rtPA

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - Tandem occlusions exist in 17–32% of large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes. A significant concern is bleeding when carotid stenting is performed in...     

Risk factors of gestational diabetes mellitus using results of a prospective population-based study in Iranian pregnant women

Aims

Early identification of at-risk groups is an important step in preventing gestational diabetes and its subsequent side effects. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors of gestational diabetes based on the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups criteria in Ahvaz.