Journal of Medicine and Life最新文献

Dapagliflozin is a pharmacological drug commonly used to manage type 2 diabetes by inhibiting the sodium-glucose cotransporter in the proximal renal tubules. The primary objective of this research was to develop a topical ointment formulation containing dapagliflozin and assess its efficacy in treating psoriasis using an imiquimod-induced psoriasis model. A total of 16 Swiss albino mice, with weights ranging from 24 to 30 grams, were allocated randomly into six groups, each group including ten animals. The study assessed the effects of various concentrations of dapagliflozin ointment on levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-17, and IL-37, as well as on erythema, scaling, and epidermal thickness. Dapagliflozin ointment significantly reduced these cytokine levels and disease scores, indicating anti-psoriatic and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, when applied topically, dapagliflozin ointment had strong efficacy against imiquimod-induced psoriatic skin inflammation, suggesting its potential as a novel therapeutic option for psoriasis treatment.

Bronchial asthma, a common chronic respiratory disease, should be managed and controlled correctly to prevent symptoms and maintain a good quality of life. Viral upper respiratory infections, especially the widespread COVID-19 virus, can exacerbate asthma. This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 severity (mild, moderate, severe) on asthma control compared to a control group without COVID-19. Asthma control was assessed using Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores and spirometry before and after COVID-19 infection. Statistical analysis revealed a significant decline (P = 0.001) in asthma control following mild to moderate COVID-19 recovery, evidenced by increased asthma symptoms, lower ACT scores, difficulty managing asthma, and increased need for asthma medication.

Chronic pain (CP) significantly impacts quality of life and poses an increasing economic burden on healthcare systems worldwide. This study investigates the relationship between blink rate during saccadic eye movements and pain perception in patients with CP. Ninety-two patients with CP (24 men, 68 women) were assessed using eye-tracking technology during horizontal and vertical saccadic tasks. Pain perception was evaluated using the Central Sensitization Inventory - Part A and the McGill Pain Questionnaire, and anxiety levels were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The results revealed a significant correlation between blink rates in horizontal and vertical tasks (ρ = 0.668, P < 0.001). However, there was no correlation between blink rate and age, pain perception, or anxiety scores. Conversely, measures of pain perception were positively correlated with each other and with anxiety scores. These findings suggest that while blink rate may reflect oculomotor function, it is not directly influenced by pain perception or anxiety in patients with CP. The present study highlights the potential of eye tracking for the comprehensive assessment and management of patients with CP.

This secondary analysis of the CAPTAIN-RTMS trial data focused on the significance of quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) indices as indicators of recovery in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). By focusing on the delta alpha ratio (DAR), delta theta/alpha beta ratio (DTABR), and theta beta ratio (TBR), this study explored the shifts in brainwave activity as a response to an integrative treatment regimen of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with the neurotrophic agent Cerebrolysin. Findings revealed significant increases in DAR and DTABR, suggesting changes in neurophysiological dynamics after treatment. However, variations in TBR were inconclusive in providing clear electrophysiological insights. These results indicate that further research is necessary to describe and understand the underlying mechanisms of brain recovery and to develop refined treatment frameworks for patients with TBI.

Endometriosis is a benign chronic disease with a major impact on a woman's quality of life, mainly due to painful physical symptoms. Endometriosis is also a common cause of infertility caused by low ovarian reserve, distorted pelvic anatomy, and severe local inflammation with a direct negative impact on the quality of oocytes, embryos, and endometrium. We conducted a retrospective study between January 2019 and December 2023, including women with a history of surgery for endometriosis who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) to achieve pregnancy. Their reproductive outcome was compared with a group of patients with documented tubal obstruction. The aim of our study was to identify the factors associated with a positive impact on the pregnancy rate, specifically age, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), ovarian stimulation protocol, and types of gonadotropins used. We analyzed a group of 175 patients with endometriosis compared with 189 patients with tubal obstruction. The average age was similar between the two groups but with a difference in the average AMH value (1.63 ± 1.09 ng/mL vs. 2.55 ± 1.67 ng/mL). The most utilized ovarian stimulation protocol in both groups was the short gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist. The clinical pregnancy rate was 27.2% in the endometriosis group and 54.7% in the tubal obstruction group. Our study revealed that treatment with corifollitropin alfa in the endometriosis group was associated with a higher clinical pregnancy rate. AMH and age proved to be significant independent factors for the reproductive outcome.

Insulin is the cornerstone of treatment in type 1 diabetes mellitus. However, because of its protein structure, insulin has to be administered via injection, and many attempts have been made to create oral formulations, especially using nanoparticles (NPs). The aim of this study was to compare the hypoglycemic effect of insulin-loaded NPs to that of subcutaneous insulin in an in vivo rat model of diabetes. We used biodegradable D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate-emulsified, chitosan-capped poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) NPs loaded with soluble human insulin in a dose of 20 IU/kg body weight, and examined the physical characteristics of NPs in vivo and in vitro. Serum glucose levels were reduced after 6 h, but the difference was not significant compared to subcutaneous insulin; at 12 h and 24 h, insulin levels were significantly higher in rats treated with NPs than in rats treated with subcutaneous insulin. There was no significant difference in serum insulin levels at 12 h and 24 h compared to non-diabetic rats. Our findings suggest that chitosan-based NPs are able to maintain good glycemic control for up to 24 h and can be considered a potential carrier for oral insulin delivery.

Post-combustion alopecia presents a complex medical challenge with implications spanning dermatological and psychiatric disorders. The use of hair transplantation has proven to be a significant improvement for this condition. However, the current management involves various techniques, each with advantages and disadvantages. Progressive skin expansions, surgical scar reduction, and skin grafts containing hair follicles yield unsatisfactory aesthetic outcomes and have limited applicability as a first-line treatment for fire victims. So far, follicular unit extraction (FUE) has proven to be one of the most versatile procedures in such cases, having the potential to restore a natural anatomical profile closely resembling the pre-traumatic appearance that led to the traumatic alopecia. Additionally, it contributes to the improvement of associated psychiatric comorbidities, facilitating proper social reintegration and enhancing overall quality of life. This report focuses on a case of post-combustion alopecia and severe facial distortion due to third-degree burns resulting in severe psychiatric comorbidities, which benefited from a proper social reintegration and improvement of the quality of life after three consecutive sessions of FUE for scalp and eyebrow hair.

Renal calculi are a common clinical presentation. While ultrasound (US) is a widely used imaging modality for kidney stone diagnosis due to its accessibility and lower cost, its accuracy compared to computerized tomography (CT), the gold standard, remains understudied. This cross-sectional study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound for detecting and characterizing kidney stones compared to computed tomography (CT). Fifty-six patients with suspected kidney stones based on flank pain underwent abdominal ultrasound to assess stone presence, size, location, and the severity of any hydronephrosis (kidney swelling). These findings were then confirmed with a subsequent non-contrast CT scan. There was a fair agreement between US and CT (Kappa = 0.368) for detecting the stone location. The US could not detect 7 (12.5%) stones, being less sensitive in the middle and upper calyx compared to CT. There was a fair agreement between the US and CT (Kappa = 0.394) for detecting the severity of hydronephrosis. The US was less sensitive to moderate and severe hydronephrosis compared to CT. The abdominal ultrasound demonstrated excellent reliability for stone size measurement (intraclass correlation = 0.924), with CT measurements only slightly larger on average (mean difference 0.9 mm). Although abdominal ultrasound provides reliable stone size assessment, its capacity to accurately localize stones and assess hydronephrosis severity is limited.

Stunting remains a critical public health issue in Indonesia, particularly in the province of East Nusa Tenggara. This region, characterized by its archipelagic dryland geography, has reported the highest prevalence of stunting among children under five from 2007 to 2021. The study aimed to examine the relationship between various characteristics of children under five and household factors with the occurrence of stunting. This observational study, with a cross-sectional design, used secondary data from the 2021 Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey, covering 7,835 children under five. We analyzed the data to identify patterns and relationships, using univariate analysis to display percentage distributions and bivariate analysis through multiple binary logistic regression tests. The results of the multiple logistic regression test showed that indicators of family characteristics such as age, gender, low birth weight, body length, possession of birth certificates, and receiving complementary feeding were all related to stunting. Additionally, household factors such as toilet type, National Health Insurance coverage, ownership of a Prosperous Family Card, and residential area were significant determinants. Factors contributing to stunting in dryland areas include a range of elements from both family characteristics-such as age, gender, birth certification, low birth weight, and initial body length, to the introduction of supplementary feeding-and household indicators, including the use of specific types of latrines (Plengsengan and Cemplung types without covers), health insurance coverage, possession of Prosperous Family Cards, and the family's residential area.