Topical anti-aging agents: state-of-the-art review

Skin aging can be divided into intrinsic and extrinsic aging. Even though it is inevitable, symptoms of skin aging are a common concern for patients. As a result, there is a surge in the making of anti-aging cosmeceuticals. However, there is a lack of evidence-based data to support the usage of topical preparations as anti-aging treatments. Therefore, further studies are needed to explore topical treatment options for skin aging. This literature review discusses the mechanism of commonly used topical anti-aging agents and their adverse reactions

Association between blood glucose levels at admission and severity of COVID-19 patients

Hyperglycemia can be experienced by corona virus disease (COVID-19) patients due to the invasion of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) into pancreatic cells or other mechanisms such as insulin resistance, counter-regulatory, stress induction, and glucocorticoid therapy. Hyperglycemia can stimulate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines leading to an increase in the disease severity.  Based on the clinical and laboratory criteria, the severity of COVID-19 patients is classified into asymptomatic, mild, moderate, severe, and critical. This study aimed to investigate the association between blood glucose levels at admission and the severity of COVID-19 patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). It was a cross-sectional study using secondary data from COVID-19 patients in Pondok Kopi Jakarta Islamic Hospital from April to June 2021. This study involved 340 patients with comorbid DM (n=78) and without comorbid DM (n=262). The Mann-Whitney and Spearman correlation test were used. A significant difference between random blood glucose levels in comorbid DM patients and patients without comorbid DM (p<0.05). However, there is a weak correlation between random blood glucose levels and severity with comorbid DM (r=0.112) and without comorbid DM (r=0.129). In conclusion, a positive and weak correlation between blood glucose levels at admission and the severity of COVID-19. The severity increases as the blood sugar level increases. Further study needs to be performed considering other comorbid conditions

Reconsidering the limited role of right heart catheterization on severe pulmonary hypertension-due to progressive interstitial lung disease in young male patient : a case report

Pulmonary hypertension (PH)-associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD) develops as a consequence of progressive underlying lung disease or disproportionately to the underlying disease. The PH investigation by right heart catheterization (RHC) for defining PH severity is recommended in patients with ILD who show more severe symptoms than expected from lung disease, appearance of right heart failure, and clinical deterioration not matched by the declining lung function. In patient with progressive ILD, RHC is only considered if it affects the future treatment such as lung transplantation or enrollment in clinical trial/registry. The decision to undertake the RHC in progressive ILD was still fraught with doubts. Here we reported a young adult male patient with ILD whom developed progressive signs and symptoms.  By RHC, he had severe precapillary PH with hemodynamic parameters indicated the presence of pulmonary vascular disease. A PH-specific treatment, sildenafil citrate, was administered, and patient responded well and was clinically stable during the addition of sildenafil citrate. This case highlights the clinical implication of performing RHC in progressive ILD, which can change the treatment decision by PH-specific drugs. Therefore, the RHC decision making in patient with progressive ILD need reconsideration

Evaluation of patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea in a low-middle income country: Lagos experience

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common chronic disorder that decreases the quality of life of patients. It is an underdiagnosed medical condition in Nigeria. This study aimed to describe the clinical presentations and validate the sleep apnea screening questionnaires with a home sleep study for the diagnosis of patients with suspected OSA seen in Lagos. This was a descriptive cross sectional study carried out on adult patients with suspicion of OSA referred to the Respiratory Clinic of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. A proforma was used to obtain information and also data from home polysomnography was obtained for each patient. We selected 22 patients. The commonest presentations include snoring (20 or 90.9%), daytime somnolence (16 or 72.7%) and choking while sleeping (12 or 54.5%). The commonest comorbidities were hypertension (16 or 72.7%) and obesity (6 or 27.3%). The STOP-Bang  score identified more patients with a high clinical probability for OSA than the Epworth score (20 and 12 patients respectively). Polysomnography showed evidence of sleep apnea in most suspected patients with severity ranging from mild, to moderate to severe disease (3 or 13.6%, 3 or 13.6%, and 10 or 45.5% respectively). The use of combined Epworth and STOP-Bang questionnaires combination is great tool in identifying patients with suspected cases of OSA based on clinical presentations that will eventually benefit in a resource-limited environment like Lagos. There should be increased awareness of the use of this readily available and cheap questionnaire among physicians in Lagos for ease of OSAS diagnosis for many patients

Effects of 7-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-chroman-4-one on serum levels of antioxidant enzymes in hyperlipidemic rats

Hyperlipidemia triggers oxidative stress caused by an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant levels due to the excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The increase of ROS can decrease antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). 7-OH-2-(4-OH-3-Methoxyphenyl)-chroman-4-one is exogenous antioxidants isolated from mahogany seeds (Swietenia macrophylla King). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the 7-OH-2-(4-OH-3-methoxyphenyl)-chroman-4-one on serum levels of SOD, CAT, and GPx in hyperglycemic rats. Thirty-six male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) were divided into the following six groups: (N) normal group, (HL) hyperlipidemia group, (P) hyperlipidemia group with simvastatin, F10, F30, and F90 hyperlipidemia group with 7-OH-2-(4-OH-3-methoxyphenyl)-chroman-4-one 10, 30 and 90 mg/200g body weight (BW), respectively.  Hyperlipidemia was induced by feed enriched with cholesterol and cholic acid. Treatments were administered orally by gavages. After 4 weeks of treatments, blood sample was drawn and serum levels of SOD, CAT, and GPx enzymes were analyzed using a spectrophotometric method. Serum levels of SOD, CAT, and GPx in hyperlipidemic rats treated with 7-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-chroman-4-one at dose 10, 30 and 90 mg/200g BW were higher than HL group. In addition, no significantly different on serum SOD and CAT between group F90 and group P was observed (p>0.05

The correlation between stress level and eating disorder syndrome in preclinical medical students at Faculty of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Nusa Cendana, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara

Nowdays with various kinds of needs and demands in life that must be met at any time can cause stress of someone. Medical students are often experience high level of stress due to the demands of high education standards requirements. Continous chronic stress can affect eating behaviour lead to the potential cause of eating disorder syndrome (EDS). This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between stress level and EDS in preclinical medical students of Nusa Cendana University, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. It was an analytic observational with a cross sectional design conducting on the preclinical medical students by filling out depression anxiety stress Scale (DASS-42) and eating attitude test (EAT-26) questionnaires. Respondents were selected by the probability sampling method with a stratifies random sampling technique. A total 141 respondents who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited. Bivariate analysis by using the Wilcoxon Theta correlation test was performed. Among respondents involved in this study, 13 (9.2%) respondents did not experience stress and 128 (90.8%) experienced stress including 43 (30.5%) mild stress, 68 (48.3%) moderate stress, and 17 (12.3%) severe stress. The EDS was observed in 15 (10.6%) respondents. A significant moderate correlation between stress level and EDS was indicated (θ = 0.58). In conclusion, there is correlation between stress level and EDS on preclinical medical students of Nusa Cendana University, Kupang

Protective effect of corncob extract cream on guinea pig (Cavia porcellus sp) skin pigmentation exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) rays

Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays exposure causes skin inflammation and pigmentation lead to decrease skin lightness. Corncobs (Zea mays) contain flavonoids which can act as antioxidant to prevent free radicals and protect the skin pigmentation. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of corncob extract cream on skin pigmentation exposed to UVB rays. This pre-posttest control group study was applied to 25 guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus sp) randomly divided into five groups. Corncob extract cream was given every day 20 min before and 4 h after UVB exposure. The UVB exposure total dose was 780 mJ/cm2. Mexameter examination was carried out on the 1st day and 28th day after treatment. There were significantly differences in the lightness level and the mean melanin index (MI) difference of guinea pigs before and after intervention on various groups (p0.05). However, significantly different of the MI was observed on positive control group (-4.01), corncob 40% group (-2.72), and corncob 30% group (-2.03) (p<0.05). In conclusion, corncob extract cream can inhibit the skin pigmentation due UVB rays exposure

Acute compartment syndrome of the forearm after trans-radial approach to percutaneous coronary intervention: a case report

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) through transradial pathway is associated with lower risk of severe vascular problems comparing to transfemoral. It is reported that the acute compartment syndrome (ACS) in forearm is significant lower comparing to leg. A 47 y.o. male with ACS following a transradial approach of PCI due to inferior myocardial infarction was reported. The patient experienced pain and swelling in his right forearm for 7 hr after the procedure and was later brought to hospital and treated with emergency of fasciotomy. The patient showed good post-fasciotomy recovery on the first 2 wk and showed good DASH score after 4 wk. Quick diagnosis with prompt treatment makes a better outcome for the patient. Consequently, a high level of awareness to make the diagnosis as quickly and accurately management as possible could prevent morbidity caused by late and unrecognized management compartment syndrome eventually could make a better clinical outcome