Effect of intermittent fasting 16:8 and 14:10 compared with control-group on weight reduction and metabolic outcomes in obesity with type 2 diabetes patients: A randomized controlled trial.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: To compare the percent weight change and metabolic outcomes among diabetic participants with obesity on intermittent fasting (IF) 16:8, IF 14:10, or normal controlled diets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to randomize participants into three groups. Each group followed IF 16:8, IF 14:10, according to the protocol 3 days/week for 3 months or a control group. RESULTS: A total of 99 participants completed the study. The percentage weight change from baseline was -4.02% (95% CI, -4.40 to -3.64) in IF 16:8, -3.15% (95% CI, -3.41 to -2.89) in IF 14:10, and -0.55% (95% CI, -1.05 to -0.05) in the control group. The percentage weight loss from baseline was significantly more in both IF groups (P < 0.001, both) when compared with the control group. Weight loss was significantly more in the IF 16:8 group than in that of the IF 14:10 group (P < 0.001). Metabolic outcomes (decrease in FBS and HbA1C, and improvement in lipid profiles) were significantly improved from baseline in both IF groups in comparison with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Either IF 16:8 or 14:10 had a benefit in the percentage weight change, glucose and lipid profiles in obese diabetic patients compared with the control group when consumed for 3 days a week for 3 months.

Comparison between calcaneus quantitative ultrasound and the gold standard DXA in the ability to detect osteoporosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a prevalent comorbidity in patients with COPD that is usually underrecognized and hence, undertreated. Compared to the gold standard dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), calcaneus quantitative ultrasound (QUS) is less expensive, more portable, and more accessible, especially in less developed countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of calcaneus QUS to screen and prescreen for osteoporosis in patients with COPD. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 67 males older than 50 years with clinically stable COPD. DXA scans of the lumbar spine (L2-4) and femoral neck were performed. QUS of the right calcaneus (AOS-100) was used to assess the broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), speed of sound (SOS), osteo sono-assessment index (OSI), and T-score. When the T-score was ≤ - 2.5, osteoporosis was diagnosed by both DXA and QUS. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients (71.6%) had DXA T-scores ≤ - 2.5 at either the lumbar spine or femoral neck. All QUS parameters (BUA, SOS, OSI, and T-score) could discriminate DXA-determined osteoporosis (the area under the curve varied from 0.64 to 0.83). The QUS T-score was significantly moderately correlated with the DXA T-score at both the femoral neck (r = 0.55) and lumbar spine (r = 0.52). The sensitivity and specificity of QUS in identifying osteoporosis were 10.4% and 94.7%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 83.3% and 29.5%, respectively. When a QUS T-score of 0.09 was used as the cutoff, the sensitivity exceeded 90%, and 15% of the DXA scans were not warranted. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity and specificity of calcaneus QUS were not sufficient for QUS to be used as an alternative to DXA for osteoporosis screening. However, QUS may be useful for prescreening before DXA to identify COPD patients who have either a high or low likelihood of osteoporosis. Consequently, QUS reduces the need for DXA referral.

No difference in learning outcomes and usability between using controllers and hand tracking during a virtual reality endotracheal intubation training for medical students in Thailand.

PURPOSE: We developed a virtual reality (VR) endotracheal intubation training that applied 2 interaction modalities (hand-tracking or controllers). It aimed to investigate the differences in usability between using hand tracking and controllers during the VR intervention for intubation training for medical students from February 2021 to March 2021 in Thailand. METHODS: Forty-five participants were divided into 3 groups: video only, video with VR controller training, and video with VR hand tracking training. Pre-test, post-test, and practice scores were used to assess learning outcomes. The System Usability Scale (SUS) and User Satisfaction Evaluation Questionnaire (USEQ) questionnaires were used to evaluate the differences between the VR groups. The sample comprised 45 medical students (undergraduate) who were taking part in clinical training at Walailak University in Thailand. RESULTS: The overall learning outcomes of both VR groups were better than those of the video group. The post-test scores (P=0.581) and practice scores (P=0.168) of both VR groups were not significantly different. Similarly, no significant between-group differences were found in the SUS scores (P=0.588) or in any aspects of the USEQ scores. CONCLUSION: VR enhanced medical training. Interactions using hand tracking or controllers were not significantly different in terms of the outcomes measured in this study. The results and interviews provided a better understanding of support learning and training, which will be further improved and developed to create a self-learning VR medical training system in the future.

Correlation Between Mini Nutritional Assessment and Anthropometric Measurements Among Community-Dwelling Elderly Individuals in Rural Southern Thailand.

PURPOSE: The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) can be applied to assess nutrition status among community-dwelling elderly individuals by health care professionals. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation of MNA score and anthropometric measurements, gait speed, and handgrip strength among elderly community members. The secondary outcome was to compare the performance of the MNA-SF with the full MNA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional study with 176 elderly individuals aged ≥60 years living in rural southern Thailand. The MNA-SF and full MNA scores were obtained by using the standard form in the Thai version of the MNA. We collected anthropometric measurements, gait speed, handgrip strength, and MNA data. RESULTS: There was a significant positive correlation between body weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-height ratio, waist-to-hip ratio, mid-upper arm circumference, calf circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, handgrip strength and full MNA total score using the partial correlation coefficient after controlling for age and sex. The MNA-SF had sensitivity of 78.79%, specificity of 81.82%, PPV of 50%, NPV of 94.35%, LR+ of 4.33, LR- of 0.26, accuracy of 81.25% and AUC 0.901 when using the full MNA as a reference standard. CONCLUSION: The MNA correlated with many anthropometric measurements. The MNA-SF had a high specificity, NPV and accuracy of more than 80% when compared with the full MNA.

Correlation of body visceral fat rating with serum lipid profile and fasting blood sugar in obese adults using a noninvasive machine.

Increased visceral fat is associated with an increased mortality rate. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a noninvasive method to assess visceral fat that is easily accessible and avoids exposure to radiation. It is unknown how a visceral fat rating from a noninvasive machine correlates with the serum lipid profile and fasting blood sugar (FBS). The aim of this research is to study the correlation of the visceral fat rating obtained by a noninvasive method with the serum lipid profile and FBS. This cross-sectional study involved 90 obese adults, ranging in age from 18 to 60 years old. The visceral fat rating was measured by BIA. The results demonstrated that significant positive correlations were found between the serum triglycerides and visceral fat rating (r = 0.287, P = 0.006) and between the FBS and visceral fat rating (r = 0.210, P = 0.047). There was a negative correlation between the serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and visceral fat rating (r = -0.322, P = 0.002). In conclusion, statistically significant positive correlations were found between the serum triglycerides and visceral fat rating and between the FBS and visceral fat rating, and a negative correlation was found between the serum HDL-cholesterol and visceral fat rating.

Comparison of geriatric assessment tools for frailty among community elderly.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is an important condition in elderly individuals because it increases disability, morbidity, and mortality. The definition frailty from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) criteria is used worldwide and defined as fulfilling 3 out of the 5 phenotypic criteria that indicate compromised energetics: weakness, slowness, low level of physical activity, self-reported exhaustion, and unintentional weight loss. OBJECTIVE: This research aims to study the validity of 5 screening methods, e.g., Clinical Frailty Scale, simple FRAIL questionnaire, PRISMA-7 questionnaire, Time Up and Go Test (TUG), and Gérontopôle frailty screening tool (GFST), and compare those results with the definition of frailty by using the CHS criteria for screening frailty. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study. The sample was 214 elderly individuals, aged ≥60 years, and living in the community. We used 5 screening tests and the Fried phenotype (CHS criteria) as a reference standard. Analysis of the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, LR+, LR-, and accuracy of each screening was compared with the Fried phenotype (CHS criteria). RESULTS: The prevalence of frailty of elderly individuals in the community was 11.7% when using the Fried phenotype (CHS criteria). The Clinical Frailty Scale has sensitivity 56%, specificity 98.41%, PPV 82.35%, NPV 94.42%, LR+ 35.28, LR- 0.45, and accuracy 93.46%. The simple FRAIL questionnaire has sensitivity 88%, specificity 85.71%, PPV 44.90%, NPV 98.18%, LR+ 6.61, LR- 0.14, and accuracy 85.98%. The PRISMA-7 questionnaire has sensitivity 76%, specificity 86.24%, PPV 42.22%, NPV 96.45%, LR+ 5.52, LR- 0.28, and accuracy 85.05%. TUG has sensitivity 72%, specificity 82.54%, PPV 35.29%, NPV 95.71%, LR+ 4.12, LR- 0.34, and accuracy 81.31%. The GFST has sensitivity 88%, specificity 83.56%, PPV 41.51%, NPV 98.14%, LR+ 5.37, LR- 0.14, and accuracy 84.11%. CONCLUSIONS: The simple FRAIL questionnaire and GFST have the highest sensitivity compared with the CHS criteria. All screening tests in this study have an accuracy of more than 80% compared with the CHS criteria.