Tag: pubmed

Chin J Physiol. 2021 May-Jun;64(3):125-128. doi: 10.4103/cjp.cjp_106_20.

ABSTRACT

Completing an ultramarathon leads to an immediate postrace surge of erythropoietin (EPO). Patients with chronic liver disease may have high plasma EPO concentrations. This study aims to explore whether plasma EPO concentrations vary between hepatitis B virus carrier (HBVc) and non-HBVc runners during long distance running. Blood samples were collected from 8 HBVc and 18 non-HBVc runners at 3 different time points: 1 week before, immediately following, and then 24 h after the 100-km ultramarathon race. Samples were analyzed for plasma EPO levels. EPO concentration had a statistically significant rise immediately after the race (8.7 [7.1-11.9] mU·mL^-1 to 23.7 [14.8-37.2] mU·mL^-1, P < 0.001) and maintained the high levels 24 h after the race finished (16.7 [11.5-21.0] mU·mL^-1, P < 0.001) in all participants. The mean of EPO concentration was 8.9 (5.7-13.2) mU·mL^-1 in HBVc runners and was 8.7 (7.7-11.2) mU·mL^-1 in non-HBVc runners in the prerace. In HBVc runners, plasma EPO levels were no different at baseline (P = 0.657) and increased in the same fashion in response to ultramarathon compared with non-HBVc runners. Plasma EPO levels between the two groups were not statistically different at any time point. Prolonged endurance exercise led to a significant increase in EPO. A comparable increase in EPO levels was observed in HBVc and non-HBVc runners during and 24 h after 100-km ultramarathon. However, a small sample size might have affected the ability to detect a difference if it does exist.

PMID:34169917 | DOI:10.4103/cjp.cjp_106_20

Chin J Physiol. 2021 May-Jun;64(3):129-134. doi: 10.4103/cjp.cjp_2_21.

ABSTRACT

When irisin and adropin were discovered, it was popularly hoped that they would become therapies for metabolic disorders that threaten global health. However, contradictory results have been reported in the subsequent period. Irisin, induced by exercise or cold exposure, is believed to be a myokine that causes the browning of adipose tissue thus increasing energy expenditure. Adropin is thought to be beneficial for health by regulating blood flow, capillary density, and playing an active role in glucose and insulin homeostasis. However, there were no experimental studies investigating the simultaneous effect of exercise and cold exposure in humans. The purpose of this study was to investigate irisin and adropin responses in young healthy individuals performing aerobic exercise in different environmental temperatures. Twenty-seven young, healthy individuals participated in this study. Participants performed 40 min of aerobic running exercise in environmental temperatures of 0°C, 12°C, and 24°C. Venous blood samples were taken pre- and post-exercise. Irisin and adropin levels were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The principal findings showed that while serum irisin concentrations significantly increased after aerobic exercise was performed at an environmental temperature of 0°C, there was no significant difference between pre- and post-exercise recordings for physical activity performed at 12°C and 24°C. Adropin concentrations, however, remained unchanged between pre- and post-exercise at 0°C, 12°C, and 24°C. Interestingly, the exercise at 0°C caused an increase in adropin (12.5%), but this amount was not enough to be a statistically significant result. The findings of this study suggest that aerobic exercise in a cold environment causes greater irisin release. However, the combined effect of exercise and cold exposure may not be enough to statistically increase adropin level.

PMID:34169918 | DOI:10.4103/cjp.cjp_2_21

Biomed Instrum Technol. 2020 Jun 1;54(s1):53-63. doi: 10.2345/0899-8205-54.s3.53.

ABSTRACT

The requirements for the irradiation of healthcare products have been well established and implemented across the globe for several decades. The ISO 11137 series of standards gives the user the road map for designing a radiation process that will routinely deliver the required sterility assurance level so that product consistently meets specifications. The latest addition to the ISO 11137 series of standards should provide much-needed guidance around establishing a highly reproducible process based on a statistical analysis of the validated state of control. Most industries refer to this as “process control.”

PMID:34169973 | DOI:10.2345/0899-8205-54.s3.53

Indian J Pharmacol. 2021 May-Jun;53(3):229-233. doi: 10.4103/ijp.IJP_669_18.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to assess the short-term cardiometabolic outcomes in type 2 diabetes patients receiving empagliflozin in a tertiary referral center. Three hundred and fifteen consecutive patients started on empagliflozin were followed for a 4-month period after local ethics committee approval for a range of outcomes. Data were recorded on Microsoft Excel and transposed to SPSS for further analysis. Empagliflozin treatment resulted in statistically significant reductions in weight, glycosylated hemoglobin, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures along with favorable lipid profile outcomes over a 4-month period. The rates of discontinuation of the medications due to genomycotic infections were extremely low at 0.6% with no episodes of severe hypoglycemia or euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis. Empagliflozin therapy, either in addition to other oral agents or insulin, seems to result in favorable outcomes in cardiometabolic risk factors in the immediate short term. Long-term follow-up of this cohort will shed light on cardiovascular outcomes and adverse effects in our population in real-world clinical practice.

PMID:34169909 | DOI:10.4103/ijp.IJP_669_18

Neurol India. 2021 May-Jun;69(3):686-691. doi: 10.4103/0028-3886.319217.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is an enzymatic marker whose genetic polymorphism might predispose to acute ischemic stroke (AIS) via vascular endothelial dysfunction. It has a potential role in atherosclerosis, making it a plausible risk factor for stroke. Prior studies have failed to prove a conclusive relationship between eNOS polymorphism and AIS.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to find an association between the presence of eNOS polymorphism (Glu298Asp) and the risk of developing AIS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 307 subjects including 153 AIS cases and 154 healthy controls. The eNOS (Glu298Asp) polymorphism was identified in EDTA blood by PCR amplification of the target region followed by restriction enzyme digestion, and genotyping on Agarose gel. GG, GT and TT genotypes were obtained. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 20.

RESULTS: A significant association was found between the presence of TT genotype and the risk of AIS (Odd’s ratio (OR): 2.43, P-value = 0.038). There was no significant association between the TT genotype and the traditional stroke risk factors. However, the TT genotype was significantly associated with the presence of altered consciousness (OR: 5.27, 95% CI: 1.59-17.04, P-value = 0.003) and with the occurrence of seizures at presentation (OR: 7.98, 95% CI: 1.99-32.09, P-value = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant association between the presence of eNOSpolymorphism (Glu298Asp) and the risk of AIS, and the TT genotype may predispose to a more severe initial presentation of ischemic stroke.

PMID:34169869 | DOI:10.4103/0028-3886.319217

Indian J Pharmacol. 2021 May-Jun;53(3):207-212. doi: 10.4103/ijp.ijp_1013_20.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Meropenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the two most common nosocomial pathogens causing ventilator-associated pneumonia. To combat this resistance, different combinations of antibiotics have been evaluated for their efficacy in laboratories as well as in clinical situations.

AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of combined colistin and meropenem against meropenem-resistant isolates of A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa by checkerboard method.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty meropenem-resistant isolates of A. baumannii (n = 25) and P. aeruginosa (n = 25) from endotracheal aspirates were studied. The MIC of colistin and meropenem was found using the microbroth dilution method. The fractional inhibitory concentration was calculated for the combination of antibiotics by checkerboard assay and the antibiotic interactions were assessed. Fisher’s exact test was carried out for statistical comparison of categorical variables.

RESULTS: A synergistic effect between colistin and meropenem was observed in 18/25 (72%) and 6/25 (24%) isolates of Acinetobacter baumannnii and P. Aeruginosa, respectively, with fractional inhibitory concentration indices of ≤0.5. None of the tested isolates exhibited antagonism.

CONCLUSION: Our results showed that combinations of colistin and meropenem are associated with improvement in minimum inhibitory concentration and may be a promising strategy in treating meropenem-resistant A. baumannii respiratory tract infections.

PMID:34169905 | DOI:10.4103/ijp.ijp_1013_20

Dan Med J. 2021 Jun 11;68(7):A11200805.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 has disrupted normal life and resulted in an online transformation of teaching. Little is known about how these changes affected academic stress in students. This study examined the role of changes of teaching methods on academic stress among university students during the first lockdown in Denmark.

METHODS: The cross-sectional survey was part of the international “COVID-19 International Student Well-being Study” and included responses on socio-economic characteristics, infection worries, academic stress, work capacity and satisfaction with teaching from 1,541 Danish health and medical science university students in May-June 2020. Changes in academic stress were analysed using descriptive statistics and multi-variable analyses using stepwise logistic regression.

RESULTS: A considerable part (39%) of students reported academic stress due to COVID-19. One third reported that their study workload had increased significantly due to the COVID-19 outbreak and that they were concerned about their ability to complete the academic year. Factors associated with academic stress were female sex, young age, bachelor level, knowing a COVID-19 patient and being worried about becoming infected, whereas immigration background, sufficient financial resources and living arrangements were not.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the COVID-19 outbreak has influenced university students’ academic stress. It is important to set up structures to support students’ mental health and educational trajectory during the pandemic.

FUNDING: none.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.

PMID:34169831

Neurol India. 2021 May-Jun;69(3):547-559. doi: 10.4103/0028-3886.317240.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a heterogeneous disorder comprising of clinical subtypes and many risk factors, also alluded to as cerebrovascular disorders (CVDs). Increase in the global burden of stroke in developed and developing countries has been alarming. To galvanize the efforts towards the prevention and treatment, there is a need for robust data on the burden of stroke.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the burden of stroke, a systematic review of community-based studies was conducted.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Systematic search of PubMed and Google Scholar for studies from January 1960 to December 2018 was done. The articles were screened and the data was retrieved and sorted into incidence, prevalence and mortality rates. Meta-analysis was done on Medcalc statistical software version 19.2.6.

RESULTS: Prevalence rate of stroke for total population inclusive of urban and rural population, varied from 44.54 to 150/100000.For the urban population prevalence rate was 45 to 487/100000 and 55 to 388.4/100000 for rural population. The incidence rate varied from 33 to 123/100000 in the urban population and in the rural population it was estimated to be 123.57/100000. The 30 days case fatality rate of stroke varied from 41.08% to 42.06% in urban population and 18% to 46.3%.in the rural population.

CONCLUSIONS: Systematic review and meta-analysis reveal that the stroke burden in India is quite high.

PMID:34169841 | DOI:10.4103/0028-3886.317240

Neurol India. 2021 May-Jun;69(3):665-669. doi: 10.4103/0028-3886.317239.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Dental implantation is thought to be associated with enhancement of neuro-cortical sensorimotor activity which has been lost due to an edentulous state. Such changes are either feeble or absent after the placement of a conventional denture. In the present study, we test this hypothesis using blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) activity on functional MRI (fMRI) as a bio-surrogate.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: fMRI was performed in 12 consecutive edentulous subjects (mean age = 59.2 years) after the placement of a conventional complete denture (CD) and subsequently after intraoral dental implantation (IOD). The semi-quantitative data of the BOLD activity was compiled to depict the activation seen in both scenarios in six anatomical regions. Statistical analysis was done to evaluate the significance of enhancement in BOLD activity in these regions in patients having an IOD as compared to those having a CD.

RESULTS: The enhancement of BOLD activity on fMRI after placement of an IOD was much more significant as compared to that noted with CD. Using Wilcoxon’s signed-rank test the nonparametric data showed a significant positive elevation in global and regional assigned mean ranks of BOLD activity.

CONCLUSION: Intraoral implantation leads to a significant elevation in the BOLD activity of the sensorimotor cortex as compared to the placement of a conventional CD.

PMID:34169865 | DOI:10.4103/0028-3886.317239

J Nutr Educ Behav. 2021 Jun 21:S1499-4046(21)00607-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2021.04.466. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE(S): Assess the quality of water language in California school district wellness policies and examine how language quality relates to school drinking water access.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

PARTICIPANTS: Random sample of 240 schools selected from all California public schools, stratified by geography and grades served.

VARIABLES MEASURED: Policies (2016-2018) were coded for quality (strength and comprehensiveness) using an adapted school wellness policy tool. School administrators completed phone interviews about drinking water access on their campus.

ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics (eg, means, standard deviations) summarized school-level characteristics and main outcomes. Mixed-effects linear regression models were used to examine the relationship between the strength and comprehensiveness of water policy language and water access.

RESULTS: On a scale of 0-100, mean strength was 11.3 (SD, 5.7), and mean comprehensiveness was 28.8 (SD, 8.7). There was an inverse association between the quality of water language in policies and excellence in drinking water access in schools.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The strength and comprehensiveness of water language in California school district wellness policies were low. Districts would benefit from improving the quality of water language in their wellness policies and examining challenges to implementing policies.

PMID:34167919 | DOI:10.1016/j.jneb.2021.04.466