ABSTRACT
Background: Use of glucosamine as an alternative treatment for osteoarthritis is becoming more frequent, including in those who have diabetes at the same time. The results from in vitro and animal studies propose that glucosamine may inversely affect glucose metabolism. However, the recommended dose of oral glucosamine in healthy people or diabetics did not have such effects consistently. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of glucosamine on glycemic control and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients
Methods: Fifty-four patients with type 2 diabetes participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The participants were assigned to receive 1500 mg glucosamine hydrochloride or placebo for 12 weeks. After determining their baseline characteristics, body mass index and dietary intake components, fasting blood glucose and fasting insulin were measured at weeks of 0, 8, and 12. Indices of insulin function including quantitative insulin sensitivity check index [QUICKI] and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR] were calculated by specific formulas. Independent t-test and general linear model repeated measures were used to analyze the data
Results: In the glucosamine group, the means of fasting blood glucose and insulin were 107.31 +/- 24.07 mg/dl and 8.75 +/- 4.37 [micro]u/ ml, respectively at baseline, which reached 112.38 +/- 31.50 and 9.10 +/- 4.17 at week 12. In the placebo group, the mean for fasting blood glucose and insulin were 103.84 +/- 24.15 and 9.79 +/- 4.02 at the beginning of the study, which reached to 111.40 +/- 26.43 and 8.58 +/- 3.68 at week 12. The results showed that there were no significant differences in fasting blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR and QUICKI indices at all the studied time points [weeks of 0, 8 and 12] within or between the groups
Conclusion: Twelve weeks of a normal recommended dose of glucosamine supplements may not have adverse effects on glycemic control and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients
ABSTRACT
Background: Although enteral feeding solutions are used to reduce the morbidity and mortality in many malnourished and hospitalized patients, microbial contamination of these products may lead to severe infections, especially in immune suppressed ones. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality of commercial enteral feedings in two hospital settings in Shiraz
Methods: Twenty commercial enteral feedings were collected immediately after preparation and then homogenized and serially diluted on the same day. MPN methods were used to evaluate the total viable count and Escherichia coli count. They were also tested for total coliform [pour plate method] and the presence of coagulase positive staphylococci. The results were compared with standard limits
Results: All samples had a total viable count lower than 10[4] colony forming units [CFU] per g [the maximum recommended level of FDA standard].For all enteral feedings, coliform counts were not detectable [<10 CFU/g].Escherichia coli counts were also lower than those of Brazilian legislation [<3 CFU/g]. Coagulase positive staphylococci were recovered just from one sample [5%]
Conclusion: Freshly prepared commercial enteral feeding samples h ad a cceptable m icrobial q uality. S uch p roducts are considered to be more acceptable than hospital prepared ones. However, further steps involved in the preparation and administration of commercial feedings can be sources of microbial contamination. Thus implementation of hygienic practices and monitoring procedures during preparation and administration can be suggested
ABSTRACT
Background: Job satisfaction is an emotional and positive feeling which results from job assessment or experiences. It is always considered as a problem in some organizations. Despite the important role of nutrition therapy in patients care, dietitians' job satisfaction is less taken into account. The aim of the present study was to determine the amount of job satisfaction among dietitians in Fars province, Iran
Methods: In this study, job satisfaction of 95 dietitians was evaluated through demographic and job satisfaction questionnaires. They were sent by e-mail or face-to-face referral for participants. Job satisfaction level was classified into 6 different categories including very satisfied, fairly satisfied, slightly satisfied, slightly dissatisfied, fairly dissatisfied and very dissatisfied. The data were analyzed by SPSS software using independent sample t-test, oneway ANOVA and Pearson correlation test. Statistical differences were considered significant at P<0.05
Results: The results showed that 72.6% of the participants were satisfied with their job condition but 27.4% were dissatisfied. The mean score of job satisfaction of dietitians was 57% +/- 10.54 [from the maximum score of 100], indicating the participants 'slight satisfaction. Moreover, the highest and lowest scores were related to the nature of work and salary, respectively
Conclusion: Since the level of job satisfaction affects other institutional variables such as efficiency, motivation, performance, absenteeism or burning out, it is suggested that authorities of Health Ministry provide a condition in which job satisfaction is increased by applying appropriate techniques