Lifestyle Intervention for Weight Loss: a group-based program for Emiratis in Ajman, United Arab Emirates

Background: Lifestyle Intervention for Weight Loss (LIFE-8) is developed as a structured, group-based weight management program for Emiratis with obesity and type 2 diabetes. It is a 3-month program followed by a 1-year follow-up. The results from the first 2 years are presented here to indicate the possibility of its further adaptation and implementation in this region. Methodology: We recruited 45 participants with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. The LIFE-8 program was executed by incorporating dietary modification, physical activity, and behavioral therapy, aiming to achieve up to 5% weight loss. The outcomes included body weight, fat mass, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and nutritional knowledge at 3 months and 12 months. Results: We observed a reduction of 5.0% in body weight (4.8±2.8 kg; 95% CI 3.7–5.8), fat mass (–7.8%, P,0.01), and waist circumference (Δ=4±4 cm, P,0.01) in the completed participants (n=28). An improvement (P,0.05) in HbA1c (7.1%±1.0% vs 6.6%±0.7%) and FBG (8.2±2.0 mmol/L vs 6.8±0.8 mmol/L) was observed in participants with obesity and type 2 diabetes after the program. Increase in nutritional knowledge (,0.01) and overall evaluation of the program (9/10) was favorable. On 1-year follow-up, we found that the participants could sustain weight loss (–4.0%), while obese, type 2 diabetic participants sustained HbA1c (6.6%±0.7% vs 6.4%±0.7%) and further improved (P,0.05) the level of FBG (6.8±0.8 mmol/L vs 6.7±0.4 mmol/L). Conclusion: LIFE-8 could be an effective, affordable, acceptable, and adaptable lifestyle intervention program for the prevention and management of diabetes in Emiratis. It was successful not only in delivering a modest weight loss but also in improving glycemic control in diabetic participants

Preliminary phytochemical constituents and phytotoxic effect of Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth on Sorghum bicolor

The preliminary Phytochemical investigations and phytotoxic effects of aqueous leaf extracts of Albizia lebbeck on Sorghum bicolor was assessed. The result from phytochemical screening revealed that all the allelochemicals tested where found present except steroids and phlobatannins when petroleum ether, methanol and water extracts were used. Petroleum ether extract show the presence of amino acids, protein and glycosides while methanol and water extracts showed their absence. Alkaloids, anthraquinones and acids were found present when methanol was used and absent using petroleum ether and water extracts. These allelochemicals are all important allelopathic sources. The leaf extract slowed down the rate of growth of the radicle and plumule of Sorghum bicolor seeds when compared to control. But these inhibitions were not significantly different at 5% level. The degree of inhibition increased with increase of concentration of the extracts hence inhibitions were prominent at extract of higher concentrations.Keywords: Phytochemical constituents, Phytotoxic effects, Albizia lebbeck, Sorghum bicolo

A pharmaceutico-analytical study of Vidangarishta

In Ayurveda, Sandhana Kalpana is particular dosage form. In Sandhana Kalpana, Asava and Arishta are included. Arishta are self generated herbal fermentation formulation in traditional medicinal system; they are considered as unique and valuable therapeutics in Ayurveda. Through traditional knowledge in literature as well as in practice exists about Arishtas and Asavas. There was great efforts to document, preserve and improve knowledge for the betterment of mankind. Vidangarishta is prepared by traditional method with special reference to Sharangdhara Samhita. This is alcoholic medicaments prepared by allowing the decoction to undergoes fermentation with addition of honey. Vidangarishta keep for fermentation about one month. After fermentation process is completed, was tested according to both Ayurvedic and modern method. Vidangarishta commonly used for Krumi (worm infection) Vyadhi. Pharmaceutical and analytical study discussed in this research article

Effect of fermentation process on nutritional composition of condiments from seeds of P. Biglobosa, G. max and H. sabdariffa

Huge amount of foreign reserve is spent annually on the import of food flavours into Nigeria despite the fact that traditional condiments also suitably play the same role as imported food flavours. In this study, the proximate and mineral composition of local condiment ‘Daddawa’ produced by the fermentation of the seeds of locust beans (Parkia biglobosa), soya beans (Glycine max) and roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) was determined by the AOAC methods. The lipid values for the three seeds range from 8.10±0.07 to 10.30±0.03% with H. Sabdariffa having the highest value. The crude protein value was 11.70±0.19% for P. biglobosa, 10.70±0.32% for H. Sabdariffa and 9.50±0.25 % for G. max. P. biglobosa had the highest value for carbohydrate (by difference) which was 70.50±0.35% when compared to the least value of 61.10±0.2 for H. sabdariffa. Potassium was the highest mineral with a value of 3923.3±0.38% for P. biglobosa, 3433.3±0.40 for H. Sabdariffa and 2666.6±0.30% for G. max. Calcium and magnesium were low in all the seeds with least value for calcium observed in H. sabdariffa (0.4±0.01%) while G. max had least value of 0.1±0.09% for magnesium. Although, potassium was the highest mineral, the value increased in the fermented seeds to a range of 5566.6±0.30 to 9433.3±0.35% and H. sabdariffa had the highest value of with a value of 9433.3±0.35% and the least value of 5566.6±0.30 for P. biglobosa. Glycine max had the highest value of 933.3±0.33% for sodium while P. biglobosa had the least value of 60.8±0.30%. Magnesium was the lowest mineral even after the fermentation of the seeds with a range of 0.3±0.03 to 0.8±0.01%. Uncontrolled fermentation of the three seeds increased some proximate composition of the condiments

A STUDY TO ASSESS THE CONTRAST SENSITIVITY OF THE HUMAN VISUAL SYSTEM IN PATIENTS WITH OR WITHOUT DIABETES IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objective: The objective of our study was to assess the variations in contrast sensitivity values of normoglycemic subjects and that of type II diabetic subjects of the same age group. It was also aimed at finding the visual acuities and study the associations of it with contrast sensitivity if any. Methods: It was a hospital-based comparative cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in the out-patient department of the Department of Ophthalmology, Saveetha Medical College, Hospital, Chennai. Visual Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity of 50 Type II Diabetic individuals and 50 age-equivalent control group subjects were measured using the Snellen’s chart and Pelli-Robson chart, respectively, during the months of January to March 2020. Results: Contrast Sensitivity measurements from 50 subjects with Non-Insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) were obtained. The subjects were the ones who had minimal or no diabetic retinopathy. It was observed that there is a significant association between reduced contrast sensitivity and Diabetes (P value<.00008). We also noted that CS may be reduced without corresponding loss of Visual Acuity. Hence, both visual acuity and contrast sensitivity measurements are helpful in the assessment of visual impairment due to diabetic eye disease. Conclusion: The contrast sensitivity can be seen as an early marker for visual impairment in diabetic eye care

A Contrapuntal Reading of Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha

Historical overview of prostitution in Japan Until the enactment of Anti-Prostitution Law in 1956, prostitutes were safely operating as the brothel districts had been licensed since 1589. Thus they were somewhat under the Japanese government’s protection (Leupp, 2003). However, even in previous centuries before the Anti-Prostitution Law enactment, sexual variability in the form of the sexual services the brothels offer, or the prostitutes’ personal business engagements were considered completely normal and a large part of daily life (Downer, 2001). Saburuko (serving girls) is the first ever documented sex workers in Japanese history which dates back to the 759 AD as found in the ancient Japanese book Ma‘nyōshu which translates to “A Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves”. According to this record, the Saburuko (described as wanderers) came from displaced families because of factional struggles that took place in Japan during the late 600s. They wandered and resorted to prostitution for survival (Stephenson, 2018)

Body mass index trajectories in young adulthood predict nonâ alcoholic fatty liver disease in middle age: The CARDIA cohort study

Background & AimsNonâ alcoholic fatty liver disease is an epidemic. Identifying modifiable risk factors for nonâ alcoholic fatty liver disease development is essential to design effective prevention programmes. We tested whether 25â year patterns of body mass index change are associated with midlife nonâ alcoholic fatty liver disease.MethodsIn all, 4423 participants from Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults, a prospective populationâ based biracial cohort (age 18â 30), underwent body mass index measurement at baseline (1985â 1986) and 3 or more times over 25 years. At Year 25, 3115 had liver fat assessed by nonâ contrast computed tomography. Nonâ alcoholic fatty liver disease was defined as liver attenuation â ¤40 Hounsfield Units after exclusions. Latent mixture modelling identified 25â year trajectories in body mass index per cent change (%Î ) from baseline.ResultsWe identified four distinct trajectories of BMI%Î : stable (26.2% of cohort, 25â year BMI %Π = 3.1%), moderate increase (46.0%, BMI%Π = 21.7%), high increase (20.9%, BMI%Π = 41.9%) and extreme increase (6.9%, BMI%Π = 65.9%). Y25 nonâ alcoholic fatty liver disease prevalence was higher in groups with greater BMI %Î : 4.1%, 9.3%, 13.0%, and 17.6%, respectively (Pâ trend <.0001). In multivariable analyses, participants with increasing BMI%Î had increasingly greater odds of nonâ alcoholic fatty liver disease compared to the stable group: OR: 3.35 (95% CI: 2.07â 5.42), 7.80 (4.60â 13.23) and 12.68 (6.68â 24.09) for moderate, high and extreme body mass index increase, respectively. Associations were only moderately attenuated when adjusted for baseline or Y25 body mass index.ConclusionsTrajectories of weight gain during young adulthood are associated with greater nonâ alcoholic fatty liver disease prevalence in midlife independent of metabolic covariates and baseline or concurrent body mass index highlighting the importance of weight maintenance throughout adulthood as a target for primary nonâ alcoholic fatty liver disease prevention.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142937/1/liv13603.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142937/2/liv13603_am.pd

Cardiovascular and renal outcomes with canagliflozin according to baseline diuretic use:a post hoc analysis from the CANVAS Program

Aims The CANVAS Program identified the effect of canagliflozin on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) differed according to whether participants were using diuretics at study commencement. We sought to further evaluate this finding related to baseline differences, treatment effects, safety, and risk factor changes.Methods and results The CANVAS Program enrolled 10 142 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus and high cardiovascular risk. Participants were randomized to canagliflozin or placebo and followed for a mean of 188 weeks. The primary outcome was major cardiovascular events, a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke. Secondary outcomes included multiple cardiovascular, renal, and safety events. In this post hoc subgroup analysis, participants were categorized according to baseline use of any diuretic. The effect on outcomes was compared using Cox proportional hazards models, while risk factor changes were compared using mixed-effect models. At baseline, 4490 (44.3%) participants were using a diuretic. Compared with those not using a diuretic, participants using a diuretic were more likely to be older (mean age +/- standard deviation, 64.3 +/- 8.0 vs. 62.5 +/- 8.3), be female (38.9% vs. 33.4%), and have heart failure (19.6% vs. 10.3%) (all P-difference &lt; 0.0001). The effect of canagliflozin on major cardiovascular events was greater for those using diuretic at baseline than for those who were not [adjusted hazard ratio 0.65 (95% confidence interval 0.54-0.78) vs. adjusted hazard ratio 1.13 (95% confidence interval 0.93-1.36), P-heterogeneity &lt; 0.0001]. Changes in most risk factors, including blood pressure, body weight, and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, were similar between groups (all P-difference &gt; 0.11), although the effect of canagliflozin on haemoglobin A1c reduction was slightly weaker in participants using compared with not using diuretics at baseline (-0.52% vs. -0.64%, P-heterogeneity = 0.0007). Overall serious adverse events and key safety outcomes, including adverse renal events, were also similar (all P-heterogeneity &gt; 0.07).Conclusions Participants on baseline diuretics derived a greater benefit for major cardiovascular events from canagliflozin, which was not fully explained by differences in participant characteristics nor risk factor changes.</p

Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms Modify Cardiometabolic Response to Vitamin D Supplementation in T2DM Patients

There is conflicting evidence on the favorable effects of vitamin D supplementation on metabolic profile in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and this might be due to genetic variations in vitamin D receptors (VDRs). Thus, we studied the metabolic effects of a 12-month vitamin D supplementation in T2DM patients according to VDR polymorphisms. A total of 204 T2DM subjects received 2000 IU vitamin D3 daily for 12 months. Serum 25(OH)D and metabolic profiles were measured at baseline and after 12 months. VDR polymorphisms (Taq-I, Bsm-I, Apa-I and Fok-I) were identified using TaqMan genotyping assays. Vitamin D supplementation significantly increased HOMA β-cell function (p = 0.003) as well as significantly decreased triglycerides, total and LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.001). The lowest increment in 25(OH)D levels was detected in patients with Fok-I CC genotypes (p < 0.0001). With vitamin D supplementation, Taq-I GG genotype carriers showed significant improvements in triglycerides, LDL- and total cholesterol, insulin, HbA1c and HOMA-IR (p < 0.005, 0.01, < 0.001, < 0.005, 0.03 and 0.01, respectively). Similarly, Bsm-I TT genotype carriers showed significant improvements in triglycerides (p = 0.01), insulin and HOMA-IR (p-values < 0.05). In conclusion, improvements in metabolic profile due to vitamin D supplementation is influenced by VDR polymorphisms, specifically for carriers of Taq-I GG and Bsm-I TT genotypes