Effects of Consuming Yellowstripe Scad versus Salmon on Lipid Profile, Fasting Glucose, Body Weight Status and Blood Pressure among Healthy Overweight Malaysian Adults

Introduction: This is a preliminary result of an on-going randomised cross-over trial to compare the effects of consuming yellowstripe scad (YSS) and salmon, both rich in omega-3 fatty acids, on lipid profile, fasting glucose, body weight status, and blood pressure among healthy overweight adults. Methods: Fifty healthy overweight Malaysians aged 21-55 years were recruited voluntarily through advertisements. During the first period of intervention, subjects were randomised equally to receive eight weeks of either steamed whole YSS fish (YSS group) or salmon fillet (salmon group), three days per week, obtaining approximately 7000 mg EPA+DHA per week. The diets were switched after an eight-week washout period. Lipid profile, fasting glucose, body mass index, and blood pressure were evaluated before and after each intervention period. Results: The mean ages of YSS group (n=25) and salmon (n=25) group were 30.6?±9.1 and 27.9?±7.1 years respectively. Both groups had no statistically significant differences on socio-demographic characteristics (p>0.05). After the first intervention period, there was a significant increase in total cholesterol within the YSS group (p0.05). Both YSS and salmon groups had significantly higher HDL-cholesterol levels after 8 weeks compared to baseline (p0.05). However, there was a significant effect of time on diastolic blood pressure (p<0.05). Conclusion: These preliminary findings indicate that YSS and salmon may have similar beneficial effects on HDL-cholesterol level among healthy overweight adults. The second intervention period is on-going to confirm these finding

Oral Solubilized Ursodeoxycholic Acid Therapy in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) with oral solubilized formula in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, patients with probable or definite ALS were randomized to receive oral solubilized UDCA (3.5 g/140 mL/day) or placebo for 3 months after a run-in period of 1 month and switched to receive the other treatment for 3 months after a wash-out period of 1 month. The primary outcome was the rate of progression, assessed by the Appel ALS rating scale (AALSRS), and the secondary outcomes were the revised ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS-R) and forced vital capacity (FVC). Fifty-three patients completed either the first or second period of study with only 16 of 63 enrolled patients given both treatments sequentially. The slope of AALSRS was 1.17 points/month lower while the patients were treated with UDCA than with placebo (95% CI for difference 0.08-2.26, P = 0.037), whereas the slopes of ALSFRS-R and FVC did not show significant differences between treatments. Gastrointestinal adverse events were more common with UDCA (P < 0.05). Oral solubilized UDCA seems to be tolerable in ALS patients, but we could not make firm conclusion regarding its efficacy, particularly due to the high attrition rate in this cross-over trial.

Clinical Efficacy of Mizolastine in the Treatment of Dermatographism / 药物流行病学杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of mizolastine in the treatment of dermatographism. Method:32 patients were randomly allocated to two groups.Their efficacy was compared with ketotifen.A two-period cross trial was adopted.Result:The clinical efficacy of mizolastine in the treatment of dermatographism corresponded to ke- totifen,the ADRs were markedly lower than ketotifen.Conclusion:Mizolastine is effective in the treatment of dermatogra- phism.