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.     

Corrective exercise for intrinsic foot muscles versus the extrinsic muscles to rehabilitate flat foot curving in adolescents: randomized-controlled trial

Sport Sciences for Health - Extrinsic and intrinsic foot muscles actively support the foot’s arches, particularly the medial longitudinal arch. Previous studies have focused on strengthening...     

活体异体结膜缘和羊膜移植治疗化学性眼外伤造成的角膜缘干细胞缺失(英文)

目的:评价利用活体异体结膜缘和羊膜移植治疗化学性眼外伤造成的角膜缘干细胞缺失的临床效果。方法:从2005-07/2007-12,本研究包括了9名男性化学性眼外伤患者(10眼)。所有患者接受了亲属活体异体结膜缘和羊膜移植,2例眼接受了睑缝术。用环孢菌素和泼尼松龙进行全身性免疫抑制。结果:在3例眼中观察到完全角膜上皮化(30%),其中1例在术后1.5mo出现免疫排斥,角膜溶解引起穿孔,加大全身性免疫抑制剂量来控制病情。3例眼中植片无法在角膜表面重新形成上皮,被定为原发性失败。其余4眼有部分上皮形成,但上皮细胞无法完全覆盖角膜表面。术前最佳矫正视力从手动到1m处数指,术后最佳矫正视力从光感到20/80。有5眼视力得到改进,不需其他治疗。手术失败的主要原因为干眼症和持续性炎症。结论:对于能控制泪量和眼部炎症的病例,亲属活体异体角膜缘和羊膜移植是治疗化学性眼外伤造成的角膜缘干细胞缺失最佳方法之一。     

Computer-aided dermoscopy for diagnosis of melanoma

Background

Recently, it has been observed that Video Display Terminals (VDTs) usage for long periods can cause some dermatological manifestations on the face. An analytical cross-sectional study was designed in order to determine this relationship.

Methods

In this study, 600 office workers were chosen randomly from an organization in Tehran (Iran). The subjects were then divided into two groups based on their exposure to VDTs. 306 workers were considered exposure negative (non VDT user) who worked less than 7 hours a week with VDTs. The remainders 294 were exposure-positive, who worked 7 hours or more with VDTs. The frequency of dermatologic manifestations was compared in these two groups.

Results

In the exposure-positive and exposure-negative groups, the frequency of these dermatologic manifestations were 27 and 5 respectively. After statistical analysis, a P.value of < 0.05 was obtained indicating a statistically significant difference between these two groups for dermatological manifestations.

Conclusion

According to our study, there is a relationship between dermatologic manifestations on the face and exposure to VDTs.     

Correlation of nerve root pain with dermatomal sensory threshold and back pain with spinal movement in single level lumbar spondylosis

We studied 27 patients with low back pain and unilateral L5 or S1 spinal nerve root pain. Significant radiological changes were restricted to the symptomatic root level, when compared with controls. Low back and leg pain were graded on a visual analogue scale. Dermatomal quantitative sensory tests revealed significant elevations of warm, cool and touch perception thresholds in the affected dermatome, compared with controls. These elevations correlated with root pain (warm v L5 root pain; r = 0.88, p < 0.0001), but not with back pain. Low back pain correlated with restriction of anteroposterior spinal flexion (p = 0.02), but not with leg pain. A subset of 16 patients underwent decompressive surgery with improvement of pain scores, sensory thresholds and spinal mobility. A further 14 patients with back pain, multilevel nerve root symptoms and radiological changes were also studied. The only correlation found was of low back pain with spinal movement (p < 0.002). We conclude that, in patients with single level disease, dermatomal sensory threshold elevation and restriction of spinal movement are independent correlates of sciatica and low back pain.     

The effects of nitric oxide on the acquisition and expression of nicotine-induced conditioned place preference in mice

In the present study, the possible role of nitric oxide on the conditioned place preference (CPP) induced by nicotine in mice was investigated. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of nicotine (1 mg/kg) and the nitric oxide (NO) precursor, L-arginine (200 and 500 mg/kg), produced significant place preference. However, injection of mecamylamine (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg; i.p.) or the NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor, L-Nitro-amino-methyl-ester, L-NAME (5-20 mg/kg; i.p.), had no effect. Ineffective doses of nicotine in combination with ineffective doses of L-arginine produced significant place preference. Administration of L-arginine (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg; i.p.) on the test day reduced the expression of nicotine-induced place preference. Nicotine injection (0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 mg/kg) on the test day reduced the expression of place preference induced by L-arginine, while both mecamylamine (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg) and L-NAME (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) inhibited the acquisition of place preference induced by nicotine (1 mg/kg) and L-arginine (200 mg/kg). Moreover, neither of the antagonists reduced the expression of nicotine- or L-arginine-induced place preference. It is suggested that nitric oxide may play an important role in nicotine-induced place preference.     

Publication rate of General Surgery abstracts presented at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress

Background

A commonly used metric for evaluating the quality and impact of presentations at a scientific meeting is the frequency with which the findings presented are published as full research papers in peer‐reviewed journals. The purpose of this study was to determine the full article publication rates of abstract presentations for General Surgery and related sub‐specialities at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress (RACS ASC) from 2010 to 2014.

Methods

All General Surgical (including its sub‐speciality groups) abstracts presented at the RACS ASC from 2010 to 2014 were identified from the ANZ Journal of Surgery. We determined the rates of full paper publication, time to publication, journals of publication and specialty rates of conversion. Full article publications were identified using the PubMed, MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases.

Results

A total of 1386 abstracts were identified, of which 356 (26%) were converted to full paper publications. The number of abstracts presented annually increased from 206 in 2010 to 386 in 2014, but the percentage of abstracts converted to full paper publications did not follow any temporal trend. The majority (74%) of full papers were published within 2 years of the abstract presentation.

Conclusion

In total, 26% of General Surgery abstracts presented at the RACS ASC from 2010 to 2014 were converted to full paper publications. This could provide a baseline against which to judge the quality of presentations at other national General Surgical congresses, as well as at future RACS ASC meetings.