Effectiveness and Practicality of eKTANG as a Digital Treat-ment for Diabetes and Relevant Influence Factors

Background: This work explored the effect of eKTANG, a new healthcare mode for diabetes patients, on diabetes management. Methods: Allowing general utilization of medical service and health management based on Internet, eKTANG obtained the precise data like blood glucose and blood pressure examined by an intelligent glucometer, from which doctors and the nursing team will promptly analyze the data and return feedback to the patients. In our study, overall 204 patients receiving eKTANG management over 3 months in First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University from May 2019 to Aug 2020 were enrolled as the research objects, with data collected from patient records. Results: Through the biochemical test on relevant indexes of blood glucose, it was observed that FBG, PBG, HbA1c, TG, TC, LDL levels after management were lower than before whereas HDL expression after were lower than before. Contrasted with substandard group, standard group performed younger age, lower proportion of the married, decreased proportion of microvascular and macrovascular complications, longer course of disease, more frequent glucose monitoring, declined time of hyperglycemia and time of alarms, elevated time of euglycemia, increased proportion of diet control, more amount of exercise and higher compliance, as the number of patients choosing oral medicine in standard group was more than substandard group. The course of disease and time of hyperglycemia were risk factors of HbA1c standard reaching whereas frequency of glucose monitoring (≥1 time/week) and time of euglycemia were protective factors. Conclusion: eKTANG effectively improved diabetes management.

Effect of dilute Ethanol Intake on DEHP (di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate)-induced Testicular Atrophy

Background: Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is the most commonly used as a plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), but recently, concern has arisen over the DEHP which may act as a reproductive toxicant to humans. On the other hand, ethanol is the most common supplement of beverages and foods, and so many persons ingest a large quantity of ethanol in daily life. However, interactions between ethanol and DEHP toxicity are not well known. Method: To investigate the effect of dilute ethanol ingestion on the DEHP induced testicular atrophy, rats were received a 1% (w/w) DEHP diet and 2.5 or 5% (v/v) ethanol water for 7 days. Result: The rats treated with DEHP-diet alone for 7 days were observed significant testicular weight loss. On the other hand, testicular weight loss was significantly suppressed in rats treated with DEHP diet and ethanol water. A significant negative correlation between relative testicular weight (as a percentage of body weight) and testicular MEHP concentration was found among rats treated with DEHP-free diet (Control) and DEHP diet alone. Most of the data plots for the DEHP diet plus ethanol water group were scattered above the regression line. Conclusion: These results suggest that dilute ethanol may be effective in preventing DEHP testicular atrophy. However, the mechanism of prevention is unknown and further research is needed.

Pharmaceutical Effects on Placental Morphology in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: The purpose of this study was to see how food organization and Metformin affected placental morphology in women with GDM. Methods: 66 GDMs were registered after providing informed consent permission. 35 patients of GDM through blood sugar levels 140 mg/dl remained allocated Set B (2500-3000Kcal/day and 30-minute walk three times a week). They remained reserved on diet control, while 34 patients of GDM through blood sugar levels >140 mg/dl have been delegated Set C and remained reserved on diet with tablet Metformin (550mg TDS). Lastly, 28 healthy pregnant women remained retained in Set A as controls. Placentas were stored and analyzed for morphology after delivery. Results: Heavy placentae thru extensive villous immature, charangoists, and syncytial knots were observed in set B, while fibrinoid necrosis and calcification were observed in set C. Placental and cord width were significant in Set B against A, but only cord width was relevant in Set C against A in gross morphology. In light microscopy, charangoists, infarction, and syncytial loops showed detected in sample 2 against with a villous maturity; moreover, charangoists and syncytial knots have been found in appendix B versus C placental width, but C versus A results were negligible. Conclusion: In comparison to the diet group, metformin exhibited beneficial benefits on placental morphology that were equivalent to normal controls.

Self-care Behaviours and Technology utilised during COVID-19:Systematic Review (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Self-care behaviours are essential for people living with chronic conditions. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has imposed additional complications into their daily routines. Few studies have analysed how self-care behaviours have changed during COVID-19 and the role of digital technology, especially amongst people with chronic conditions. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to review how self-care behaviours have changed for people with chronic conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what technology they have adopted to manage their conditions during that period. METHODS A systematic review was conducted using narrative synthesis. Data were extracted from PubMed, MEDLINE, Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE), PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Google Scholar, included studies from December 2019 onwards. Eligible studies focused on adults diagnosed with chronic conditions undertaking any self-care tasks in line with the middle-range theory of self-care of chronic illness (i.e. self-care maintenance, monitoring, and management). Methodological quality of included articles were assessed with a modified version of McMaster Critical Review Forms for Quantitative or Qualitative studies. RESULTS In total, 36 primary research articles were included. Changes to self-care behaviours during COVID-19 amongst people with chronic conditions were organised according to middle-range theory of self-care of chronic illness focusing on self-care maintenance (i.e. medication adherence, physical activity, diet control), self-care monitoring (i.e. monitoring signs and symptoms), and self-care management (i.e. consultations with health care providers). Positive self-care behaviours observed include: individuals trying to maintain good glycaemic control during COVID increased their medication adherence in 27% of studies, and diet control improved in 50% of studies. Negative self-care behaviours observed include: decline in physical activities and increased sedentariness observed in 65% of studies; poor diet control in 57% of studies, and self-monitoring of health status dropped in 43% of studies. Use of technology to support self-care of chronic conditions during COVID were reported in 26 studies. Actual utilisation of telehealth in place of physical consultations during COVID was observed in 50% of studies and other digital technology (e.g. social media apps, smartphone apps, online platforms, web browsing )were used in 50% of studies. Telehealth was discussed and recommended as the default technology in delivering future health care services during COVID-19 and beyond in 77% of studies. CONCLUSIONS The review highlighted the necessity to re-think how models of self-care should continue to address the demands of chronic conditions while being responsive to the imminent threats of infectious diseases. Perhaps the silver lining of COVID-19 is that adoption of digital technology (especially telehealth) amongst a vast cross-section of people with chronic conditions is possible. Future research should investigate effective ways to incorporate evidence-based digital health tools into these new models of self-care that address the challenges of chronic and infectious conditions.

Influence of Immunocastration and Diet on Meat and Fat Quality of Heavy Female and Male Pigs

Two experiments were carried out; one with female pigs and the other with male pigs destined for Teruel dry-cured ham production, to evaluate the effect of immunocastration (entire gilts-EG vs. immunocastrated gilts-IG and surgically castrated males vs. immunocastrated males-IM) and diet (control vs. high energy vs. low crude protein and amino acids) on meat quality and fat composition. Fifteen meat samples and eight fat samples of each treatment were analyzed in both experiments. In the case of males, six fat samples per treatment were analyzed to determine boar taint. Immunocastration is a good strategy in gilts intended for dry-cured ham production because improves meat composition; however, in males, immunocastration impairs the results of pork chemical composition compared with surgical castration. The IG presented a lower polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids ratio than EG, improving fat technological quality. Diets had little effect on pork or fat quality in gilts, but a high-energy level using oilseeds and a low-crude-protein and -amino-acids diet from 80 to 137 kg of body weight could be interesting in IM to maintain or increase fat consistency, respectively. Moreover, in general, immunocastration is effective in avoiding boar taint in males.

Effect of Whole or Ground Flaxseed Supplementation on Fatty Acid Profile, Fermentation, and Bacterial Composition in Rumen of Dairy Cows

Flaxseed is rich in α-linolenic acid (ALA) and can increase omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid in the milk of dairy cows. However, the response of rumen fermentation to different forms of flaxseed supplementation is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different forms of flaxseed on the fatty acid profile, fermentation, and composition of bacteria in the rumen of dairy cows. In total, 30 Holstein dairy cows were selected and randomly assigned into three groups (10/group). Cows were fed a basal diet (control check; CK) or basal diets supplemented with either 1,500 g per day whole flaxseed (WF) or 1,500 g per day ground flaxseed (GF). The WF group had the highest ALA content in rumen fluid, whereas no difference was found between the CK and GF groups. However, the molar proportion of acetate increased in the WF and GF groups and was the highest in the GF group, and a similar trend was shown by propionate, isobutyrate, butyrate, isovalerate, and valerate (CK < WF < GF). The abundance of Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, and Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group also showed the same trend (CK < WF < GF). Different forms of flaxseed release ALA by different mechanisms in the rumen, and the molar proportions of volatile fatty acids and the bacterial composition were potentially influenced mainly by the amount of ALA released into the rumen.

Evaluation of cottonseed bioactive peptides supplementation on performance, egg quality, and total antioxidant activity of serum in laying hens

Background A study was undertaken to assess the effect of bioactive peptides derived from cottonseed (BPC) supplementation on productive performance, egg quality, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of serum and yolk in laying hens. A total of seventy-two 22-week-old Bovans White hens were randomly allocated to 12 cages to have similar cage body weight (1520 ± 5 g). The dietary treatments consist of basal diet (control) and basal diet supplements with 5 g BPC/kg of diet. Recording data initiated after 2 weeks. Results In the second week, hens fed diets containing BPC had significantly higher egg mass and egg weight (P < 0.05). Final BW was significantly higher in laying hens fed diets containing BPC (P < 0.05). The percentage of egg white protein as one of the highest quality proteins available was significantly higher in laying hens fed diets supplemented with BPC (P < 0.05). Hens fed diets containing BPC had significantly higher TAC compared with control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions The results indicated that addition of BPC to Bovans White hens at peaking period, receiving nutrient adequate diets, could induce favorable influences on egg quality and TAC of egg.

The Treatment Pattern and Economic Burden of Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia in China: A Study based on a Patient-Survey

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the treatment pattern and economic burden of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) in China, and to evaluate the incidence rate of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) of HoFH patients and their families.Methods: Patients with HoFH diagnosed and treated in Beijing An’Zhen Hospital was included. A questionnaire was developed to investigate and capture the relevant variables of the participants.Results: A total of 120 HoFH patients were investigated, and the number of children (age under 18) was 1.2 times more than adults (age above 18). There were 113 patients with basic medical insurance (including 61 patients with new rural cooperative medical insurance), 4 patients with commercial insurance and 3 patients without any insurance. There were 35 patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), including 29 adults and 6 children. Only 6 pediatric patients achieved their low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) treatment targets, and all 54 adult patients did not achieve it. The most commonly used treatment method was diet control with lipid-lowering drugs (16.67%), followed by diet control and lipid-lowering drugs using separately (16.67%). The proportion of patients whose annual personal income reached GDP per capita in 2019 was only 2.5%. The total economic burden of disease was 5,529,100 CNY / year, including direct medical costs of 3,427,200 CNY / year, direct non-medical costs of 1,504,500 CNY / year and indirect costs of 611,300 CNY / year; the per capita economic burden of disease was 46,100 CNY / year, including direct medical costs of 28,600 CNY / year, direct non-medical costs of 12,500 CNY / year and indirect costs of 5,100 CNY / year. There were 32 families with CHE due to the disease, accounting for 26.67%.Conclusion: Patients with HoFH in China are generally at young age, and the economic burden of disease for the family is heavy. The existing treatment is not effective, and it is easy to cause premature death due to ASCVD.

Anti-Sarcopenic Obesity Effects of Lonicera caerulea Extract in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice

Sarcopenic obesity is a combination of sarcopenia and obesity. Although several herbal extracts showed improvement on sarcopenia and obesity, respectively, there are few studies on sarcopenic obesity. Lonicera caerulea (honeysuckle berry, HB) can ameliorate metabolic disorders including obesity. However, its effects on sarcopenic obesity have not been reported yet. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether HB extract might have any beneficial effects on sarcopenic obesity in high-fat diet-induced mice. Forty-eight mice were classified into six groups and treated for eight weeks: (1) NC, normal diet control; (2) HC, high-fat diet control; (3) PC, high-fat diet with orlistat; (4) HB100, high-fat diet with HB extract at 100 mg/kg; (5) HB200, high-fat diet with HB extract at 200 mg/kg; and (6) HB400, high-fat diet with HB extract at 400 mg/kg. Body weight, fat accumulation, muscle mass, muscle strength, and mRNA expression of muscle atrophy were monitored. Compared with the HC group, HB administration showed anti-obesity properties. It reduced body weight gain and modulated serum biochemical parameters and tissue antioxidant enzymes. HB also increased muscle strength and muscle mass of hind legs. In addition, it decreased mRNA expression levels of Atrogin1 and MuRF1 as markers of muscle atrophy but increased PGC1α and SIRT1 as markers of muscle growth. These results suggest that HB might be effective in preventing sarcopenia associated with obesity.