Combined effects of bee pollen supplementation and resistance training on aerobic capacity, muscular performance, antioxidant status, and bone metabolism markers in young men: A randomised controlled trial

@#Introduction: This study investigated the combined effects of bee pollen and resistance training on aerobic capacity, muscular performance, antioxidant status, and bone metabolism markers among young men. Methods: Forty young men were randomly assigned into four groups: sedentary control (C), bee pollen supplementation (BP), resistance training (RT), and combined bee pollen supplementation and resistance training (BPRT) groups. Bee pollen was consumed by participants in BP and BPRT groups (1500 mg daily for eight weeks). Resistance training was performed thrice per week for eight weeks in RT and BPRT groups. Participants’ anthropometry, aerobic capacity, isokinetic muscular peak torque (strength), and average power were measured. Concentrations of serum total antioxidant status (TAS), serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and serum C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (1CTP) were determined. Results: After eight weeks of intervention, there was a significant decrease in 1CTP in BP group. In RT group, significant increases were observed in both muscular strength and power. In BPRT group, significant increases in both muscular strength and power, and a significant decrease in 1CTP were observed after 8 weeks. There were no significant changes in aerobic capacity, serum TAS, SOD, and ALP in all the study groups. Conclusion: Resistance training using dumbbells and elastic bands seemed to elicit beneficial effects on muscular strength and power, while bee pollen supplementation alone reduced the level of bone resorption marker. In addition, combining bee pollen with resistance training seemed to offer additive benefit in muscular strength and power.

The study of social representations in children and adolescents: Lessons from a review of the literature / O estudo das representações sociais entre crianças e adolescentes: Lições de uma revisão de literatura / El estudio de las representaciones sociales de niños y adolescentes: Enseñanzas de una revista de literatura

An ad hoc review of the existing literature concerning the study of social representations (SRs; Moscovici, 1961/1976) in children and adolescents was conducted in order to put forward theoretical and methodological proposals on the study and development of SRs, and to highlight future directions. The review was performed using the PsycINFO database (up to September 2016), and included 60 eligible works. While the main part of the work sample does not mention theoretical and/or methodological implications (41.7%), other contributions highlight the necessity to take into account: (a) the active role of children/adolescents as well as their social interactions in the creation of SRs, (b) the relevance of studying SRs in these populations for developing the theory of SRs, (c) the expression of SRs in children's everyday actions, (d) the use of suitable methods for children/adolescents, and (e) the link between the psychology of development and the theory of SRs.

Foi realizada uma revisão da literatura existente sobre o estudo das representações sociais (RSs; Moscovici, 1961/1976) em crianças e adolescentes com a finalidade de apresentar propostas teóricas e metodológicas para o estudo do desenvolvimento das RSs, e de apontar futuras direções. Realizada a partir da base de dados PsycINFO (até setembro 2016) esta revisão incluiu 60 trabalhos. Enquanto a maior parte dos trabalhos analisados não menciona as suas implicações teóricas e/ou metodológicas (41,7%), outras contribuições salientam a necessidade de se considerar: (a) o papel ativo das crianças/adolescentes, assim como as suas interações sociais na elaboração de RSs; (b) a relevância de se estudar as RSs destas populações para o desenvolvimento da teoria das RSs; (c) a expressão das RSs nas ações cotidianas de crianças; (d) o uso de métodos adaptados à população de crianças/adolescentes e (e) a relação entre a psicologia do desenvolvimento e a teoria das RSs.

Una revista ad hoc de la literatura sobre el estudio de las representaciones sociales (RS; Moscovici, 1961/1976) de los niños y adolescentes ha sido realizada para profundizar las proposiciones teóricas y metodológicas de los estudios del desarrollo de las RSs, y para favorecer futuras orientaciones. Apoyándose en la plataforma PsycINFO (hasta septiembre de 2016), esta revista cuenta 60 investigaciones elegibles. La mayor parte de esos trabajos no evocan las consecuencias teóricas y/o metodológicas (41,7%). Pero otras contribuciones subrayan la necesidad de tomar en cuenta: (a) el papel activo de los niños/adolescentes, tanto como sus interacciones sociales, en la elaboración de la RSs, (b) la relevancia de estudiar las RSs de esas poblaciones para desarrollar la teoría de las RSs, (c) la expresión de las RSs en las acciones cotidianas de los niños, (d) el uso de metodologías adecuadas para niños/adolescentes, y (e) el vínculo entre la psicología del desarrollo y la teoría de las RSs.

An 8-year Retrospective Review of Microbial Keratitis in A Secondary Referral Centre in Malaysia

Introduction: Microbial keratitis (MK) is an important cause for corneal blindness and understanding its risk factors enable us to improve management and minimise its complications. Methods: In this retrospective case review, medical records of all patients treated for MK from 2006 to 2013 was analysed to know the socio-demography, preceding risk factors, clinical characteristics, causative organisms and final visual outcome. Results: A total of 174 patients (180 eyes) were included in this study. Identifiable ocular risk factors included contact lens (CL) usage (85, 47.2%), ocular trauma (50, 27.8%), ocular surface disease (21, 11.6%), steroid use (6, 3.3%) and immuno-compromy (19, 10.5%). Association factors for presenting uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) were age group (p=0.013), size (p<0.001), location (p<0.001) and hypopyon (p<0.001). The predictors for final best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) were age group (p<0.001), nationality (p=0.020), occupation (p<0.001), CL use (p<0.001), ocular surface disease (p=0.048), size (p<0.001) and location (p<0.044), hospitalisation duration (p=0.002) and presenting UCVA (p<0.001). Conclusions: Contact lens was the most frequent predisposing risk factor for microbial keratitis, followed by ocular trauma. Understanding the association factors for presenting vision and predictors for final vision may help in the patients’ management and improve eventual outcome of microbial keratitis.

Open Globe Injury in Hospital Serdang - An 8-year Retrospective Review

Introduction: Open globe injury may lead to devastating visual outcome. Urgent management and subsequent follow-up is important to maximise recovery. More data on open globe injury in Malaysia is needed to identify risk groups and prognostic factors. This study was carried out to investigate open globe injury, the socio-epidemic profile, clinical characteristics and outcome of the open globe injury in the Hospital Serdang, Malaysia. Methods: All patients managed for open globe injury to Hospital Serdang from January 2006 to December 2013 were included in this retrospective case review. Student’s T-test was used to determine difference between means and chi-square for categorical data. P value of less than 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results: There were 155 patients managed for open globe injury with three of them had bilateral involvement. As such, there were 158 cases eligible for analysis in this study. The average age was 32.2 ± 16.5 years (mean ± standard deviation, SD). Male was at higher risk for open globe injury. Predictors for poor visual outcome were foreign nationality (p=0.047), lid laceration (0.008), type of injury (p=0.001), site of injury (p=0.008), RAPD (p<0.001), uveal prolapse (p<0.001), hyphaema (p=0.008), lens damage (p=0.010), vitreous loss (0.014), retinal detachment (p=0.011), intraocular foreign body (IOFB) (0.014) and poor presenting uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) (p<0.001). Conclusions: Occupational injury was a main cause of open globe injury in Hospital Serdang. Although in general the visual outcome is good, effort should be put to prevent work-related injury.

Dry Eye Among Patients at the Eye Clinic of A Secondary Referral Hospital

Introduction: Dry eye is a common but under-diagnosed problem in the general population. Lack of standardised diagnostic protocol causes prevalence of dry eye varied widely in different populations. Nevertheless, effective management rests largely on the accurate diagnosis and identification of the contributing risk factors. Methods: In a cross sectional study, socio-demographic, lifestyle and medical history data were collected from 157 respondents. A validated six-item questionnaire was used to determine the dry eye symptoms. Dry eye was determined by using Schirmer’s test. Fluorescein staining test and tear break up time (TBUT) test were performed to characterise the dry eye. Results: Using the Schirmer’s test, 33.8% of respondents had dry eyes. The likelihood of dry eye increased among Malay females in the seventh decade. The most frequently reported symptom was sensation of dryness of the eye. Although only 22.6% of dry eye cases were symptomatic, up to 47.2% of them may developed surface changes detectable by fluorescein dye test. Ethnicity (p=0.019) and diabetes mellitus (p=0.049) were significantly associated with dry eye. Conclusion: Dry eye could be subclinical but clinical tests in potential risk groups can lead to better detection of this condition and allow prescription of appropriate treatment for affected patients. Keywords: Dry eye symptoms; Dry eye syndrome

Seroprevalence of antibodies to measles, mumps, and rubella among Thai population: evaluation of measles/MMR immunization programme.

Stored serum specimens, from four regions of Thailand, of healthy children attending well baby clinics and of healthy people with acute illnesses visiting outpatient clinics were randomly sampled and tested for IgG antibody to measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). The immunity patterns of rubella and mumps fitted well with the history of rubella and MMR vaccination, seroprotective rates being over 85% among those aged over seven years. A high proportion of younger children acquired the infection before the age of vaccination. MMR vaccination should preferably be given to children at an earlier age. For measles, 73% seroprotective rates among children, aged 8-14 years, who should have received two doses of measles/MMR vaccine, were lower than expected. This finding was consistent with the age-group reported in outbreaks of measles in Thailand. The apparent ineffectiveness (in relation to measles) of MMR immunization of 1st grade students warrants further studies.

Pharmacokinetics of digoxin in patients with atrial fibrillation: role of the classic co-variables

This work was performed to study the pharmacokinetics of digoxin in patients suffering from atrial fibrillation [AF] after optimization of all the known classic factors contributing to inter-patient variability in serum digoxin levels, to detect if any variability in serum digoxin levels still exists or this variability is only a function of the classic co-variables so that their optimization will diminish or eliminate it. Twenty male patients suffering from AF, were selected from the Critical Care Medicine Department, Cairo University Hospitals to be enrolled in the study. A patient is initially considered to be a candidate for this study when digoxin therapy was indicated. Patients were selected to have non-significant variations in their demographics and pretreatment clinical data. Blood samples were drawn from each patient at specified intervals and the serum fractions were separated and assayed for digoxin, using digoxin enzyme multiple immunoassay technique [Emit 2000]. The results revealed unpredictable variability in serum digoxin levels among patients at each sampling time and a marked inter-patient variability in mean serum digoxin levels among individuals throughout the twenty four hours, [P value: 0.0001].Considerable inter-patient variability was also evident in digoxin pharmacokinetics. Digoxin was rapidly absorbed after dosage administration, with C[max] occurring at 0.5 to 1.0 hour in all patients. Mean T[max] was 0.575 +/- 0.18 hr. Digoxin C[max] varied from 0.86 to 6.72 ng/ml with a mean value of 3.99 +/- 1.91 ng/ml. AUC also varied greatly among patients [from 6.16 ng hr/ml to 112.14 ng hr/ml] with a mean value of 49.47 +/- 30.344 ng/hr/ml. The elimination half-life [t[1/2]] varied from 0.86 days to 7.16 days with a mean value of 2.66 +/- 1.45 days. The overall mean oral clearance also showed a great variability among patients with a mean of 9.3 +/- 8.7 ml/hr/kg [CV: 92.9%]. In conclusion: variability in serum digoxin concentrations and digoxin pharmacokinetics existed in spite of careful patient selection and optimization of all the classic co-variables known to affect digoxin concentrations, suggesting the presence of other unstudied factors; the recently evolving genetic factors might contribute to this variability

Efficacy and safety of percutaneous metallic mitral valvuloplasty in rheumatic mitral stenosis at Siriraj Hospital.

Mitral stenosis is an important problem that leads to heart failure and stroke in Thailand. The options of treatment at present are either surgical or balloon mitral commissurotomy. However, the cost of balloon is very expensive. To reduce the expense of the procedure, the authors prospectively did a study using a new device called the metallic valvulotome in symptomatic severe mitral stenosis to assess the safety, feasibility and immediate outcomes. Fifty-seven patients were included in the study. The successful outcome achieved by the metallic valvulotome was 96.2 per cent in patients in whom the procedure was actually performed. The mean transmitral gradient, left atrial pressure and pulmonary artery pressure were significantly decreased and the mitral valve area was also significantly increased. Three cases failed the procedure due to inappropriate position of the septal puncture. No death occurred in the study and complications of the procedure included only two cases of hemopericardium. In the future, it is believed that this new innovative device will provide improvement and reduce the cost of the procedure in patients with severe mitral stenosis.

Acute and follow-up results of laser angioplasty: single center experience.

Excimer laser angioplasty was used to treat total occluded coronary arteries and instent restenosis lesions with high success rate. To assess immediate and long-term results of patients treated with excimer laser, we analyzed demographic information and the immediate results of 44 patients who underwent ELCA. The patients were followed up and assessed for clinical restenosis. The initial success rate of ELCA was 86.4 per cent which is comparable to plain balloon angioplasty performed during the same period. Clinical restenosis was 29 per cent. In conclusion, ELCA for patients with coronary artery disease can be performed with initial high success rate and reasonable long-term restenosis.

B-cell Prolymphocytic Leukemia Involving Entire Female Genital Tract: A case report

Prolymphocytic leukemia is a chronic lymphoproliferative disorder, characterized by prominent splenomegaly, prolymphocytes accounting for more than 55% of circulating lymphocytes, no significant peripheral lymphadenopathy and short term survival with terminal fatal multi-organ failure. We report a case of B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia in a 57-year-old woman who presented with easy bruising and arthritis for 1 year and low abdominal pain for 2 months. Physical examination revealed gingival hypertrophy and mild splenomegaly. On peripheral blood smears the leukocytes were markedly increased in number due to leukemic cells that count about 62% of leukocytes. The bone marrow aspiration smear and biopsy revealed diffuse infiltration of medium to large prolymphocytes having moderate amount of basophilic cytoplasm, round to oval nuclei with coarse chromatin, and prominent nucleoli. Abdominal pain aggravated despite chemotherapy, and pelvic computed tomography (CT) revealed a huge lobular pelvic mass which had increased in size on the follow-up CT. Total hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy was performed. Microscopic findings included massive infiltration of prolymphocytic cells in the uterus, upper vaginal wall, bilateral ovaries, and bilateral mesosalpinges. On immunohistochemistry, the leukemic cells showed B cell gamma light chain phenotype.