Barriers to and facilitators of long term weight loss maintenance in adult UK people: a thematic analysis

Adult obesity and overweight is affecting every region of the world and is described as one of today's most significant and neglected public health problems. The problem has taken the shape of an epidemic not only because the prevalence of obesity has witnessed a dramatic progress in a short period of time, but also because obesity has paved the way for increased risks for morbidity and mortality associated with it. It has been predicted that about half of the adult men and more than a quarter of adult women would be obese by 2030 in the UK and this figure could rise up to 50% in 2050 for whole of the adult UK population. Although a modest 5-10% weight loss maintained in the long term can significantly decrease health risk, few people engage in weight loss activities. Against this background, this review paper aims to investigate the reasons helping and/or hindering adults in the UK maintain weight loss in the long term; using online and organizational data sources and thematically analyzing the data. Self-body perception, enhanced self-confidence, social support, self-motivation, incentives and rewards, increased physical activity levels and healthy eating habits facilitated people in maintaining weight loss in the long term and overall quality of life. Extreme weather conditions, natural phenomena such as accidents, injuries and ill-health, work commitments, inability for time management and to resist the temptation for food constrained the successful long-term weight loss maintenance

Reversible germ cell toxicity of sulphasalazine and ampicillin combination in male rats

The antifertility effect of ampicillin [AMP, 40 mg/kg] and sulphasalazine or salicylazosulfapyridine [SASP, 300, 450 and 600 mg/kg] in male rats has been reported earlier. The combination of AMP and SASP is generally used in certain pathological conditions, but the combined effect of these two drugs on the fertility is not clear. So, the aim of this study was to investigate the antifertility effect of ampicillin and sulphasalazine combination in male rats. In the present study, forty rats were randomly divided into five groups [n=8]. Group 1 served as the control, while Group 2 and 3 received AMP and SASP at the doses of 20 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg respectively. Moreover, group 4 and 5 received the combination of SASP [100 mg/kg] and AMP [10 mg/kg]. However, for evaluating the reversible effect of the combination, a washout period of 30 days was given in group 5. After 45 days of drug treatment, each rat was sacrificed. The testes, seminal vesicles and epididymis were dissected and weighed. Furthermore, fertility tests, sperm characteristic analysis, histopathological studies, testosterone assay and tissue biochemistry were performed. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and in case ANOVA shows statistical differences, post hoc analysis was performed. A decrease in parameters related to fertility of males such as sperm count, sperm motility, fertility ratio, serum testosterone level, glycogen and protein content in sexual organs was observed. Although AMP and SASP significantly [p<0.001] reduced the reproductive activity separately, but their combination was found to be impairing the reproductive activity at a considerably lower dose. However, on withdrawing the treatment, all these parameters were restored which was confirmed by the histopathological analysis of the testis. The combination produces synergistic antifertility effect in male rats and the effect was reversible. The dose and efficacy of results could be extrapolated in future clinical trials

Role of locking plates in treatment of difficult ununited fractures: a clinical study / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To present our experience in treatment of difficult ununited long bone fractures with locking plate.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Retrospective evaluation of locking plate fixation in 10 difficult nonunions of long bone fractures was done. Fixation was done with locking plate for femoral shaft fracture (3 patients), supracondylar fracture of femur (gap nonunion), fracture of clavicle, fracture of both forearm bones (radius and ulna) fracture of ulna, fracture of shaft of humerus, fracture of tibial diaphysis and supracondylar fracture of humerus (one patient each). Five fractures had more than one previous failed internal fixation. One patient had infected nonunion which was managed by debridement with cast immobilization followed by fixation with locking plate at six weeks. Seven fractures were atrophic, two were oligotrophic, and one was hypertrophic. Fibular autograft was used in 2 cases and iliac crest cancellous bone graft used in all the patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Minimum follow-up was 6 months (range, 6 months to 2.5 years). Average time for union was 3.4 months (range 2.5 to 6 months). None of the patients had plate-related complications or postoperative wound infections.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Along with achieving stability with locking compression plate, meticulous soft tissue dissection, acceptable reduction, good fixation technique and bone grafting can help achieve union in difficult nonunion cases. Though locking plate does not by itself ensure bony union, we have found it to be another useful addition to our armamentarium for treating difficult fracture nonunions.</p>