Seasonal Patterns of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease.

PURPOSE: To identify the relationship between the incidence of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease and seasonality. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed, including patients with a confirmed diagnosis of VKH whose month of disease onset was available. Information on patients was entered retrospectively into a database and analyzed according to the month and season. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in the analysis. There was a statistically significant deviation from expected values in the incidences of VKH per season (P = .043). The most common season for the onset of VKH was fall, with 50% of the patients presenting in this season, while spring was the least common season for VKH presentation, with 12.5% of the patients presenting in this season. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the onset of VKH in Puerto Rico follows a seasonal pattern, with most cases occurring during the fall.

Characteristics, Upon Presentation, of a Cohort of Patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease in Puerto Rico.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical features, upon initial presentation, of a cohort of patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease who live in Puerto Rico. METHODS: A retrospective medical record review of patients with VKH was performed. The demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients who met the diagnostic criteria for VKH were identified and included in the analysis. The median age at presentation was 41 years; 68.2% were female, and all patients were Hispanics. Bilateral disease was present in 90.9% of patients, and 59.1% of patients were categorized as having probable VKH. A headache was reported in 54.5% of patients and was the most common complaint at the time of presentation; the second most common complaint was tinnitus, which was present in 22.7% of patients. Vitiligo, alopecia, and meningismus were each preset in 9.1% of patients while hearing loss and aseptic meningitis were each reported in 4.5% of patients. Seventy-seven percent of patients had either topical or systemic corticosteroid use prior to the initial encounter. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that in Puerto Rico, patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease may have a distinctive prevalence of characteristics at the presentation when compared to other ethnic groups, including other Hispanic cohorts.

Efecto del consumo de quinua (Chenopodium quinoa) como coadyuvante en la intervención nutricional en sujetos prediabéticos / Effect of quinua (Chenopodium quinoa) consumption as a coadjuvant in nutritional intervention in prediabetic subjects

Introducción: la quinua es un pseudocereal que contiene hidratos de carbono de bajo índice glucémico, fibra alimentaria, proteínas de alto valor biológico, fitoesteroles y ácidos grasos n-3 y n-6, y que ha suscitado interés en la intervención nutricional de la prediabetes. Este estudio aleatorizado (2:1), controlado con placebo y doble ciego, evaluó los efectos de la quinua sobre el índice de masa corporal (IMC), hemoglobina glicada (HbA1c), glucemia basal (GB) y el grado de saciedad y plenitud en pacientes prediabéticos. Material y método: se aleatorizaron (2:1) 30 pacientes en dos ramas a estudio: el producto Kuska Active (quinua procesada) y placebo (maltodextrina). El periodo de ingesta fue de 28 días. Antes de iniciar el tratamiento y a los 28 días se determinó el IMC, HbA1c y la GB. La sensación de saciedad y plenitud se evaluó mediante escala visual analógica (EVA). Para demostrar la eficacia de la quinua procesada Kuska Active sobre las variables a estudio se realizó ANOVA para medidas repetidas con dos factores a estudio (factor intrasujeto: tiempo y factor intersujeto: producto consumido). Resultados: finalizaron el estudio un total de 29 pacientes (placebo, n = 10; quinua, n = 19). Se detectó en el grupo quinua procesada una disminución significativa en los valores de IMC (p < 0,05) y HbA1c (p < 0,001) y un aumento en la sensación de saciedad y plenitud (p < 0,001). No se encontraron diferencias significativas en los niveles de GB desde el momento basal hasta el periodo postingesta. Conclusiones: los resultados muestran que la quinua procesada disminuye el IMC y los niveles de HbA1c, mantiene los niveles de GB y aumenta la sensación de saciedad y plenitud en pacientes prediabéticos (AU)

Introduction: Quinoa is a pseudocereal containing low glycemic index carbohydrates, dietary fiber, high biological value protein, phytosterols, and n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, which has generated interest in prediabetes nutritional interventions. This randomized (2:1), placebo-controlled, double-blind study evaluated the effects of processed quinoa on body mass index (BMI), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and the satiation and fullness (complete) degree in prediabetic patients. Material and method: Thirty patients were randomized (2:1) in two study arms: Kuska Active product (processed quinoa) and placebo (maltodextrin), with an intake period of 28 days. BMI, HbA1c and FPG were determined before starting treatment and at 28-day intake. Satiety and fullness sensation were just assessed by visual analog scale (VAS) at the day 28. ANOVA was performed for repeated measures with two factors to study (within-subject factor: time; intersubject factor: product consumed) to demonstrate the effectiveness of processed quinoa on the study variables. Results: Twenty-nine patients (placebo, n = 10; quinoa, n = 19) completed the study, and the quinoa group shows a significant decrease in BMI (p < 0.05) and HbA1c values (p < 0.001), and an increase in the satiation and fullness (complete) degree (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found in FPG levels from baseline to post-intake period. Conclusions: The results show that processed quinoa intake during 28 days decreases BMI and HbA1c levels, maintains FPG levels, and increases the satiation and fullness (complete) degree in prediabetic patients (AU)

Digestion-resistant maltodextrin effects on colonic transit time and stool weight: a randomized controlled clinical study.

PURPOSE: Increased awareness of the importance of dietary fibre has led to increased interest in "functional" fibre components like digestion-resistant maltodextrin (RMD). This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study assessed the effects of RMD in the colonic transit time (CTT) and defecation characteristics (frequency, stool volume and consistency). METHODS: Sixty-six healthy adult volunteers (32 men) who did not have a daily defecation habit had a 7-day run-in period before the 21-day intervention period with RMD or placebo. CTT and segmental CTT (SCTT) were assessed by a single abdominal X-ray film taken at the end of both periods after radiopaque marker ingestion. Defecation characteristics and intestinal functions were also assessed, which were self-reported by patients. Intragroup comparisons were evaluated by Student's paired t test, Bonferroni test and Chi-square test, while time comparisons by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and time-by-treatment interaction by repeated-measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Fifty-seven subjects were assessed for CTT (placebo, n = 28; RMD, n = 29). In the RMD group, the total CTT, left SCTT and rectosigmoidal SCTT decreased significantly compared to baseline (p < 0.01 each; -13.3, -4.7, -8.7 h, respectively). Significant differences between groups were observed in total CTT and left SCTT. Significant time-by-treatment interaction was observed in the RMD group for stool volume (p = 0.014), increasing 56 % compared to baseline (p < 0.01), while remained unchanged in the placebo group. Stool consistency was improved only in the RMD group (p < 0.01). No adverse effects related to study products were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that RMD improved CTT, stool volume, stool consistency and some intestinal functions in a healthy population.

Case-based reasoning (CBR) for multicomponent analysis using sensor arrays: application to water quality evaluation.

This paper reports by the first time the use of a simple, convenient and improved method of artificial intelligence (case-based reasoning, CBR) for multicomponent analysis, involving the data treatment afforded by electrochemical sensor arrays. The suitability of this method has been shown in aqueous solutions containing mixtures of ions of different nature and concentration, being applied in this case to a rapid recognition and evaluation of mineral water samples chosen as an illustrative example. The convenience of such a procedure opens the way to dispose of a versatile tool applicable for obtaining analytical information about ions present in a wide range of other multicomponent systems, and also to ascribe properties inherent to the examined samples.