Effect of non-esterified fatty acids on insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk in polycystic ovary syndrome

Introduction: Insulin resistance (IR) and obesity coexist in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and contribute to increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. An intrinsic insulin signalling defect is present in skeletal muscle of PCOS and it affects insulin mediated glucose transport in the presence of lipid in vitro studies.Methods: The effect of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) on IR, postprandial lipids and cardiovascular risk in obese women with PCOS compared to controls was examined by lowering NEFA levels with acute overnight acipimox and chronic 12 week tredaptive therapy. Additional studies included elevating NEFA by lipid infusions and improving NEFA metabolism by moderate intensity exercise.Results: Effective lowering of NEFA with overnight acipimox therapy improved fasting and postprandial IR in PCOS. It enhanced chylomicron clearance with reduced overnight VLDL production. A rebound rise in NEFA following chronic tredaptive therapy worsened fasting and postprandial IR. However, despite this, tredaptive had the counterintuitive effect of lowering fasting and postprandial triglycerides without effecting endothelial function and hsCRP.PCOS women were found to be less tolerant to acutely induced lipaemia than controls with an exaggerated fall in their rate of glucose disposal during a hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp. Exercise improved cardiovascular fitness and cardiovascular risk in PCOS. Exercise enhanced fasting insulin sensitivity and the rate of glucose disposal during the saline and hyperlipidaemia. Unlike controls, the platelets from PCOS subjects were more susceptible to platelet agonists and less responsive to platelet antagonists in induced hyperlipidaemia, triggering platelet hyper-activation that was not corrected by a supraphysiological dose of insulin.Conclusions: These studies demonstrate the definite role of NEFA in the pathophysiology of IR in PCOS and support the in vitro findings of high NEFA reducing insulin mediated glucose transport. This work also supports the concept that platelet insulin resistance in PCOS during lipaemia might increase cardiovascular risk in these patients

An Alternative Electrode System for Monitoring Belousov-Zhabotinsky Chemical Oscillations

The capability of copper-platinum (Cu/Pt) electrode system as a BelousovZhabotinsky (BZ) chemical oscillation monitor was compared with that of the normally used SCE/Pt electrode system, by testing it on three BZ systems, which were obtained by varying the oscillator in the combination bromate, oscillator and malonic acid. The oscillators, used separately, were cerium(IV), manganese(II) and ferroin [iron (II)-1,10- phenanthroline complex].Cu/Pt electrode gave essentially identical values of oscillation characteristics (oscillation period, peak potential, induction period, peak width) except peak potentials. This indicated that the Cu/Pt electrode system would be more useful than the SCE/Pt electrode system (which had chloride leakage problem), in electrical applications of chemical oscillations, such as electrical switches, which would depend only on the on/off frequency

A Potential Model for Chemical Oscillations

Oscillation characteristics: induction period, oscillation period, peak potential, and total oscillation time of Belousov-Zhabotinsky systems, which consisted of bromate - oscillator [Ce4+ or Mn2+ or ferroin] - malonic acid were deter- mined using SCE/Pt and Cu/Pt electrodes. The solution potential requirements for appearance of chemical oscillations were determined by finding the concentra- tion limits of the reactants, bromate and malonic acid, and measuring the corres-ponding solution reduction potentials. A chemical oscillation model was proposed

Responsibilities of Origin Countries for Their Migrant Workers

If migrant workers are well managed and are well protected against abuse and exploitation, they can be of great benefit to both the origin (labour sending) and destination (labour receiving) countries. In reality, the situation is rendered complex by that fact that many do not enter the destination countries legally. While international migration can be a positive experience for migrant workers, many suffer poor working and living conditions, including low wages, unsafe working environments, a virtual absence of social protection, denial of freedom of association and workers‟ rights, discrimination and xenophobia. The origin and destination countries share the responsibilities to protect the rights of migrant workers. But their respective responsibilities are different. Myanmar is a major labour sending country and it is responsibility for protecting the migrant workers. Therefore the government should amend the Law Relating to Overseas Employment, 1999 including strong and practical migration protection policy

Motor Function and Manual Ability in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Primary Report

Abstract This descriptive study aims to describe the motor type, topographical distribution and motor function of lower limbs, and the manual ability of upper limbs. Cerebral Palsy (CP) describes a group of disorders in the development of movement and posture in the developing brain. This study was carried out during 2015 on 60 CP children. Multiple sources of assessment were used, including medical records of patients at the Physical Medicine Department in 550 Bedded Mandalay Children’s Hospital. Children were grouped according to motor type, topographical pattern, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) scales. During the study period, 60 CP children (29 males and 31 females) aged 4-12 years were observed, with a mean (SD) age of 7.7 (3.7) years. In this study, spastic CP was the most common type (80%) and more specifically, bilateral CP (70%) was more common than unilateral (10%). With respect to the GMFCS classification, level II (30%), and to the MACS classification, level II (38.3%), was the most common. This study is only a hospital based, descriptive study and therefore there are many limitations. We are trying to establish a neuro-clinic, as well as a development clinic, with few resources and man power. This research team is in the first few steps of developing a coordinated, multidisciplinary team to help children with cerebral palsy and developmental delay. The significance of the study results will help to educate the community about the role of early intervention, the earlier the better, for children with cerebral palsy

Assessment of risk factors for breast and ovarian cancer in UMS students

Cancer is a major public health problem and the third leading cause of death in Malaysia . Breast and ovarian cancers are the first and fourth most common cancer among women in Peninsular Malaysia. Our aim is to assess the risk factors in healthy young adult female students from UMS and will act as an input for further prevention of breast and ovarian cancer. Total 278 Medical and Nursing students from Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences were participate in this study. Assessing the hereditary risk factor, total 12.34% gives positive result for history of breast tumour in first degree relatives and for ovarian tumour total 1.8% gives positive results in first degree relatives. An overall mutation frequency of 2.3%, in woman who had at least one first-degree relative with breast cancer diagnosed at age <50 years ( Hartge et al. (1999) . The lifetime risk of breast cancer among female mutation carriers was 82% and lifetime risks of ovarian cancer were 54% for BRCA1 and 23% for BRCA2 mutation carriers. Risk reducing options are available to women with a strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer. These options include high-risk screening, chemoprevention, and prophylactic surgery. In our study, 63.7% is not meeting with WHO recommendation for Metabolic Equivalent Task (MET) and remaining 36.3% meets WHO recommendation. By using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPQA)Score protocol,only 2.6 % of Medical students showed Health Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) active,36.4 % showed minimally active and 60.9% showed inactive. Among nursing students only 5.5% showed HEPA active, 35.4% showed minimally active and 59.1% are inactive. Primary prevention through behavioural and life style modification is a cost-effective means of preventing the large burden cancer has on societies world-wide

Role of Immunopathology in Clinical Course of Malaria: A Review

Malaria is a major health problem in various parts of the world especially affecting the tropical countries. It affects the vital organs causing severe complicated malaria. Clinical syndromes like severe cerebral anaemia, coagulation abnormalities, respiratory distress and severe anaemia can increase the mortality of malaria infected cases. Variation in individual susceptibility and severity and type of clinical presentations of malaria raises the need for study of both the parasite and host immune reactions as well as the contribution of inflammatory cytokines in malaria pathogenesis. This study explored the immunopathological basis and advances of severe malaria and their importance in pathogenesis of malaria and its complications. Previous and ongoing studies indicate that changes in endothelium during the sequestration of parasites in organs causes disruption of endothelial barrier function leading to serious effects of malaria. Parasite and host factors contribute to disturbance of cytokine regulation and escape of parasites from the immune system of the host. Immunopathological changes and dysregulation of cytokine production play central role in pathogenesis and disease severity in malaria