An observational study on pneumococcal and influenza vaccination status of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: India has more than sixty million subjects with diabetes. Diabetes confers an increased risk of developing and dying from infectious diseases with an enhanced susceptibility to morbidity, mortality and hospitalizations due to influenza and pneumococcal disease. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for all individuals with diabetes.Methods: Around 249 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled in the study. All patients were asked a detailed history about diabetes, its duration, type of diabetes and the vaccinations for influenza and pneumococcus, who suggested vaccination and the reasons for declining the vaccination if it had been medically advised. Any other co-morbid condition such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, COPD, hypothyroidism and CKD were noted.Results: Vaccination rates for influenza in patients aged 50 or more were higher (7.6% of 172 patients) as compared to those aged <50 years (0% of 77); (p=0.013) whereas pneumococcal vaccination rates were 8.1% as against 1.3% (p=0.036) respectively. In males the vaccination rates for influenza were 4.7% compared to females (5.8%); (p=0.675), whereas for pneumococcus the respective vaccination rates were 6.2% for male and 5.8% for female (p=0.903). Vaccination uptake among male and female were almost same. Patients having chronic kidney disease on dialysis were having highest vaccination rate.Conclusions: The poor vaccination uptake for influenza and pneumococcus in patients with diabetes, calls for intensive efforts aimed at increasing coverage

A Review of the Pharmacological and Clinical Profile of Newer Atypical Antipsychotics as Treatments for Bipolar Disorder: Considerations for Use in Older Patients.

Bipolar disorder prevalence rates vary in the older adult population (defined as age ≥ 65 years), ranging from 1% in community dwellers to as high as 8-10% in hospital inpatients. Although older agents, including lithium and valproic acid, offer significant antimanic efficacy, as supported by a recent randomized controlled trial (RCT), there is growing interest in using atypical antipsychotics to treat bipolar disorder in older adults. Newer atypical antipsychotics are of interest based on their tolerability and efficacy in the general adult bipolar population. The aim of this review was to systematically examine efficacy and tolerability of newer atypical antipsychotics for older adult bipolar disorder (OABD). We conducted a systematic search utilizing the MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library electronic databases, with the aim of identifying all RCTs comparing newer atypical antipsychotics approved by the US FDA since 2002 (including brexpiprazole, cariprazine, lurasidone, iloperidone, asenapine, paliperidone, and aripiprazole) with placebo or another comparator, in the treatment of any phase of bipolar disorder (including mania, depression or mixed episodes while used as an acute or maintenance treatment) in older adults (\u3e 65 years). We found no RCT data on any of the examined agents. Hence, we changed our search criteria to include studies with a lower age cut-off (≥ 55 years), as well as the inclusion of post hoc studies. Two post hoc studies on lurasidone suggest its reasonable safety and efficacy profile in the acute and maintenance treatment of OABD; however, there are no pharmacoeconomic data on the use of lurasidone in the treatment of OABD. Research data from open-label studies on oral asenapine and aripiprazole as add-on therapy suggest that these two agents are adequately tolerated and improved symptoms of depression and mania in OABD; hence, there is an urgent need to conduct RCTs on these two agents. Lastly, we found no studies for the treatment of OABD with brexpiprazole, cariprazine, iloperidone, or paliperidone

Updates in the understanding and treatments of skin & hair disorders in women of color

AbstractSkin of color comprises a diverse and expanding population of individuals. In particular, women of color represent an increasing subset of patients who frequently seek dermatologic care. Acne, melasma, and alopecia are among the most common skin disorders seen in this patient population. Understanding the differences in the basic science of skin and hair is imperative in addressing their unique needs. Despite the paucity of conclusive data on racial and ethnic differences in skin of color, certain biologic differences do exist, which affect the disease presentations of several cutaneous disorders in pigmented skin. While the overall pathogenesis and treatments for acne in women of color are similar to Caucasian men and women, individuals with darker skin types present more frequently with dyschromias from acne, which can be difficult to manage. Melasma is an acquired pigmentary disorder seen commonly in women with darker skin types and is strongly associated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation, genetic factors, and hormonal influences. Lastly, certain hair care practices and hairstyles are unique among women of African descent, which may contribute to specific types of hair loss seen in this population, such as traction alopecia, trichorrhexis nodosa and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA)

1H-NMR, 1H-NMR T2-edited, and 2D-NMR in bipolar disorder metabolic profiling

CAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL E NÍVEL SUPERIORFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOThe objective of this study was to identify molecular alterations in the human blood serum related to bipolar disorder, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and chemometrics. Methods. Metabolomic profiling, employing 1H-NMR, 1H-NMR T2-edit51CAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL E NÍVEL SUPERIORFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL E NÍVEL SUPERIORFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOsem informação2014/18938-

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Temporal Phase Relation of Circadian Neural Oscillations Alters RFamide-Related Peptide-3 and Testicular Function in the Mouse

In order to study the effect of the temporal synergism of neural oscillations on reproductive regulation and the response of RFamide-related peptide-3 (RFRP-3; a mammalian ortholog of avian gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone), expression of immunoreactive RFRP-3 in the neurons of the dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus was monitored in sexually immature and mature laboratory mice (study I). In study II, the effects of serotonin and dopamine precursors (5-hydroxytryptophan and L-dihydroxyphenylalanine; injected daily, 8 or 12 h apart, for 13 days in 3-week-old mice) on testicular activity and immunoreactive RFRP-3 neurons were studied until 24 days after treatment. Results indicate high levels of expression of immunoreactive RFRP-3 in the sexually immature and 8-hour mice (simulating gonadal suppression), while a low level was noted in mature and 12-hour mice (simulating gonadal stimulation). These findings not only suggest the modulation of gonadal development in mice (during the course of puberty attainment) by changing the temporal phase relation of serotonergic and dopaminergic oscillations (as in some seasonally breeding species), but also demonstrate an inverse correlation of RFRP-3 neurons and gonadal activity in both control and experimental conditions

Lichen planus pigmentosus in linear and zosteriform pattern along the lines of Blaschko

Lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP) is a variant of lichen planus (LP) reported in various ethnic groups. It occurs predominantly in the third or fourth decade of life and is characterized by the insidious onset of dark-brown macules in sun exposed areas and flexural folds. Rarely, has it been described in a linear or segmental distribution. Herein we describe a case of LPP with lesions lateralized to right side of body along the lines of Blaschko, in a linear and zosteriform pattern