Effect of auricular acupuncture on weight reduction in a sample of obese children

Introduction: Growing evidence that obese children are at greater risk for several metabolic disturbances, including glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, the metabolic syndrome, and diabetes mellitus, as well as for cardiovascular disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. There are numerous therapies for obesity, including pharmacotherapy, acupuncture therapy, dietary therapy, exercise therapy, and surgical therapy. The auricular acupuncture therapy is one of the regional acupuncture therapies which have treated various diseases through a needle insertion on the auricle. Its effects can be explained by a relationship between the original functions of nerves distributed on the auricle and internal organs. Recent studies have indicated that acupuncture can reduce body weight in patients with simple obesity, as well as lower their Body Mass Index [BMI] and waist-to-hip ratio

Objective: The objective of this study is to study the effect of auricular acupuncture on weight reduction, BMI, BMIP, lipid profile, fasting insulin and lepin levels, in a sample of obese children

Sample: The study was conducted on 34 obese children [6-12] years attending the outpatient-s clinics of the National Research Center, these subjects were divided randomly into 2 groups Group A, were subjected to auricular acupuncture, balanced low caloric diet. Group B, were subjected to sham auricular acupuncture, balanced low caloric diet. In both groups, acupuncture and sham acupuncture were given twice weekly over the course of 12 weeks

Results: There were significant reductions in weight, BMI, HC, WC, Cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and insulin resistance in group A after treatment and they were more than reduction in group B [p value < 0.001]. There were significant reduction in insulin and leptin in group A after treatment and they were more than reduction in group B [p value 0.005], [p value 0.09] respectively. So acupuncture therapy in combination with diet restriction was found to be effective for weight loss and also reduction of the obesity- associated risks factors, such as dyslipidemia

Effects of anti sperm antibodies on infertility in Egyptian couples

Immunoinfertility is one of several causes of infertility in humans. Dozens of sperm antigens have been isolated and characterized in association with infertility. Chronic infection, vasectomy, heavy metals and testicular cancer and torsion may induce the production of anti sperm antibodys [ASAs]. They may be responsible for decreased motility and sperm penetration of cervical mucus, and the blockage of the acrosome reaction and the sperm-egg interaction. This study was conducted to determine the ASAs levels in couples with primary and secondary infrtility. Sixty couples were examined, group A included 29 couples with primary infertility, group B included 21 couples with secondary infertility and group C included 10 couples having children which were taken as a control group. Serum prolactin, progesterone, testosterone, FSH and TSH concentrations were normal for all females. Semen analysis for all males was done and the results were within normal ranges. ASAs levels were significantly increased in both groups of primary and secondary infertility

Combined approach for management of diabetic foot ulcer

Diabetic foot ulcers occur as a result of peripheral neuropathy, microvascular and macrovascular arterial disease, suboptimal glycemic control and foot infections. Peripheral neuropathy has the greatest risk of foot ulceration. In fact, every year 5 percent of diabetic patients develop foot ulcers and 1 percent requires amputation. Combined approach for management of diabetic foot ulcers in the form of strict diabetic control, correction of associated diabetic complications, such as neuropathy and/or angiopathy, hyperlipidemia, and infection, surgical intervention in the form of ulcer cleaning, debridment, dressing and skin coverage with the suitable mean, with the aid of physical therapy in the form of electric stimulation and low power laser irradiation has been reported to achieve the shortest and the maximum success of diabetic foot ulcers management. Low power laser irradiation has been reported to cause biological effects on tissue healing by increasing production of collagen by fibroblasts and stimulation of keratinocyte activity and microcirculation with increase of lymphatic drainage. Electric stimulation increases tissue collagenase, enhance vascularization, regional blood flow and tissue oxygen levels; also increase macrophage migration to the site of ulcer. In this study 20 diabetic patients with foot ulcers were Selected from general medicine, surgery departments and out patient diabetes clinic in Matareya Teaching Hospital. All patients were subjected to history taking with special emphasis on duration of diabetes, presence or absence of neuropathy and/or angiopathy. Physical examination included neurological and vascular examination as well. Local examination of the foot included: circumference and depth of ulcer, and measurement of foot oedema. Investigations included: Laboratory investigations [fasting and 2 hours post-prandial blood sugar, glycated haemoglobin, lipid profile, liver and kidney functions]. Electrodiagnostic tests included: nerve conduction study [motor and sensory before and after treatment] was carried out for common peroneal and posterior tibial nerve. Six patients were subjected to surgical procedures for coverage of their ulcers and the rest of the patients were managed conservatively medically together with laser irradiation and electric stimulation. The mean of total surface area of ulcer before treatment was 20 +/- 12.9 cm[2]. While the depth was 2.09 +/- 1.09 mm and after treatment both were zero [complete healing]. Mean duration of healing was 4.7 +/- 2.75 months. Statistical significant improvement of laboratory investigations was recorded after three months of treatment. Statistical significant improvement in edema, sense of pain and nerve conduction velocity [motor and sensory] of common peroneal and posterior tibial nerve was evident after treatment. Good results were obtained by work of Combined team including physician for meticulous control of blood glucose, hyperlipidemia, control of infection and other associated complications of diabetes mellitus, surgeon for ulcer debridment and doing skin flap for necessary cases, clinical pathologist for the laboratory investigations; physiatrist to evaluate the neurophysiological function of motor and sensory components of both common peroneal and posterior tibial nerves before and after treatment. Physiotherapist for local evaluation of ulcers [area and depth], edema and sense of pain and application of the physical therapy program in the form of laser irradiation and faradic stimulation sessions

C - Peptide inThalassemic Patients

Thalassemia is one of the commonest hemolytic diseases, especially in the Middle East region. In spite of the use of the iron chelation therapy, serious complications due to iron overload still occur in the thalassemic patients. Endocrinal complications are among the serious complications of hemosiderosis. In this study, the C-peptide level in thalassemic patients was measured. The C-peptide level was found to be high in three cases representing 10% of the cases but it was statistically nonsignificant

Plasma homocysteine levels in cerbrovascular strokes

Seventy adult subjects were included in this study and subdivided into four groups: The first group included 10 healthy lean subjects as a control group, the second group included 20 patients with high risk factors as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and/or smoking, the third group included 20 patients with cerebrovascular stroke and having one or more of the risk factors, while the fourth group included 20 patients with stroke having none of the above-mentioned risk factors. This study showed that homocysteine was significantly elevated in the three different groups of patients compared with the control group. Although homocysteine levels were higher in both groups of patients with stroke compared with the non- stroke patients with risk factors, the difference was not statistically significant. Also, this study showed that there were significant elevated levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin in both groups of patients with risk factors compared with the control group or the group of patients with stroke, but without having risk factors other than hyper homocysteine. In addition, the study showed that there was a significant positive correlation between homocysteine and age, body mass index [BMI], blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol and low lipoprotein cholesterol

Bacterial multiresistance in clinical practice

Over a period of one year, 202 isolates with antibiotic multiresistant pattern [> 5 antibiotics] were selected from different samples received at Ain Shams University Hospitals laboratories. Pure cultures of isolates were identified by cultural characters and biochemical reactions using conventional methods, modified micro well plates and the new technique of agar plates incorportated with chemical substrate. Susceptibility tests were performed by disk diffusion method and by minimum inhibitory concentration using microdilution broth technique. Multiresistant strains were isolated mainly from wound specimens [46.5%] and urine [45.5%]. They were mostly Ps. pyocyaneus [36.6%] followed by Klebsiella [22.7%] and Staph. aureus [17.8%]. Gram negative organisms showed high resistance [> 90%] towards ampicillin / sulbactam [unasyn], cephalexin and nalidixic acid. Also they shared Staph. aureus in their resistance [> 90%] towards amoxycillin and ampicillin. Such results indicate that an alarming increase in antibiotic resistance has taken place among both gr -ve and gr +ve isolates