ABSTRACT
Background: receptor for advanced glycation end products [RAGE] plays a causative role in diabetes. Garlic [Allium sativum] belongs to compounds with anti-glycation activity that can be considered as probable therapeutic approaches in delaying or preventing the onset of diabetes complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of garlic on the RAGE expression and proinflammatory cytokines secretion in peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMCs] from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Materials and Methods: the PBMCs were isolated from 20 patients with fasting blood sugar level above 126 mg/dl and treated with R10 fraction and whole garlic extract in presence or absence of glycated albumin. The expression of RAGE was detected using flow cytometry and the proinflammatory cytokines secretion was evaluated by ELISA
Results: glycated albumin increased RAGE expression and proinflammatory cytokines secretion. Treatment with whole garlic extract significantly reduced TNF-alpha and IL-1beta secretion and RAGE expression by PBMCs but R10 fraction augmented the proinflammatory cytokines and RAGE expression in absence or presence of glycated albumin
Conclusion: downregulation of RAGE expression was associated with decreased secretion of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha from PBMCs after treatment with whole garlic, while R10 fraction of garlic significantly augmented RAGE expression and proinflammatory cytokines secretion. These data indicates that modulation of RAGE expression may be one plausible reason for the garlic effects on proinflammatory cytokines secretion
ABSTRACT
Background: Noise is one of the most pervasive hazards in industrial settings. This retrospective study was carried out to assess the effects of noise exposure on hearing status, blood lipids and blood pressure of employees of a local fireclay mine
Methods: Two hundred and forty male workers were studied. Data on audiometric measurements, blood lipids and blood pressure were derived from the workers' medical records and analyzed. Furthermore, area noise measurements were performed. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0
Results: Workers were exposed to a mean noise level of 91 +/- 15 dB. The means of triglyceride [TG], total cholesterol [TC], systolic and diastolic blood pressure [SBP and DBP] were within the normal range for the first three years of the study. However, a slight, non-significant increase in TG level was noted in 2010. Most of the participants [63.6%] suffered from moderate hearing loss [HL]. About 23.6% and 12.7% of the employees had developed severe and mild HL, respectively. A statistically significant difference was noted in the number of workers with high-frequency noise-induced HL. Furthermore, a statistically significant association was found between the mean of highfrequency HL and log-transformed TG values in 2009 and 2010
Conclusions: High frequency HL could be used as a biomarker for identifying workers exposed to excessive noise levels. Highfrequency HL developed over a 4-year exposure to noise was associated with hypertriglyceridemia. Implementing a hearing conservation program seems to be mandatory to prevent further increases in the number of workers who are already in the severe HL group
ABSTRACT
Our study aims to investigate the effectiveness of other treatment methods for burn related scarring and to determine the possibility of their routine administration in similar clinical settings. Through a prospective study, 66 patients were enrolled to receive either the conventional pressure garment therapy [PGT] and Silicone [control group] or exercise and physiotherapy [case group]. Patients were visited regularly to be examined for the status of their scars' regression, limbs' dysfunction, and joint motion. Then, these two groups were compared to determine the efficacy of exercise and physiotherapy as an alternative to the conventional treatment with PGT. After about 20 months follow-up, decreased articular range of motion [ROM] was: 16 [51.5%] cases compared to 5 [15%] of controls had mild, 11 [35.5%] of the cases compared to 13 [39.5%] of the controls had moderate; and 4 [13%] of the cases compared to 15 [45.5%] of the controls had severe decreased ROM which revealed statistically significant difference [P<0.01]. At the same time, Vancouver Scar Scale score was: 15 [48%] of the cases and 6 [18%] of the controls had mild Scar Scale, 12 [39%] of the cases and 14 [42.5%] of the controls had moderate score and 4 [3%] of the cases and 13 [39.5%] of the controls had severe score which revealed a statistically significant difference [P<0.05]. Our study showed that physical therapy and exercise are more effective than PGT, in management of burn hypertrophic scar, hence could be an alternative in cases that conventional therapy cannot be used for any reason
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Burns/complications , Compression Bandages , Physical Therapy Modalities , Silicone Gels , Pressure , Prospective Studies , Case-Control Studies , Injury Severity Score , Treatment Outcome , Wound Healing/physiologyABSTRACT
R-Baux score has obtained an acceptable validity and accuracy in predicting burn-related mortality. However, its usage and efficacy among pediatric burn patients has not been well documented. The aim of this study was to employ Pediatrics-Baux [P-Buax] score as modified version of R-Baux score in these patients to determine how it could be applicable in this population. Through a prospective study, 870 pediatric burn patients were enrolled. P-Baux and R-Baux scores were calculated for each patient and they were categorized to different groups according to these scores. Mortality and further death probability were measured for each subject and then analyzed by logistic regression model to reveal how they change in relation with age in pediatric burn patients. R-Baux score for 95% probability of death revealed a mean of 73 among patients of this study. Also P-Baux score was measured in these patients with inhalation injury which showed to be 55 for 95% probability of death. Results showed that age had a positive prognostic value in contrast to the negative prognostic value of Total Body Surface Area [TBSA] and inhalation injury. Our analysis showed that in children under the age of 15 years, age has a positive prognostic value while TBSA and inhalation injuries had negative prognostic values in relation to mortality. Hence, in contrast to the adult population, burn injury related mortality may be predicted by modified R-Baux score as [TBSA - age + [18xR]] which could be named as P-Baux score