Nutrition Interventions to Manage Sarcopenia: An Appraisal of the Existing Evidence

Sarcopenia is a common condition that can lead to serious adverse events in older adults. However, sarcopenia can be prevented and treated and nutrition plays a major role in its management. This article aims to appraise the scientific evidence on nutritional interventions to prevent and treat sarcopenia in older adults, highlighting the effect of an adequate caloric and protein intake, protein and amino-acid supplementation, micronutrients, and phospholipids. Unfortunately, clinical trials assessing the effect of these interventions on sarcopenia or muscle parameters are scarce, and the majority were not conducted in sarcopenic individuals.

New Drug Approvals by FDA: An Update

Bringing a drug into the market is an arduous task, and involved testing from preclinical safety to clinical trials. With its understanding of the science used to create new products, testing and manufacturing procedures, and the diseases and conditions that new products are designed to treat, FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) provides scientific and regulatory advice needed to bring new therapies to market. This article provides an overview of the steps involved during development of a drug and its launch into the market.

Pathologic Complete Response in Locally Advanced Rectal carcinoma after Neo-adjuvant chemo radiation –A Single Institutional Study

The study aims to assess pathologic complete response (pCR) and its clinical significance in patients treated with pre-operative chemo-radiotherapy for locally advanced rectal carcinoma in Regional Cancer Centre, Trivandrum, during 2008-2012 (n= 114), followed-up till 2014. Pre-operative radiation was given using external beam radiation (50.4Gy in 28#), with concurrent chemo radiation. 94% had tumor down staging and 14% had a complete response to pre-operative chemo radiation. In pCR group, histological subtype was well differentiated adeno in 45%, moderate in 45%, poorly-differentiated in 5% and remaining 5% showed carcinoma of other histologic types. The corresponding values among non-pCR group were 48% (well), 40% (moderate), 7% (poorly differentiated) and 5% (others), respectively. 95% had no recurrence in pCR and 81% in non-pCR group.

Carboxytherapy – Non-Invasive Method in Dermatology, Aesthetic Dermatology and some other Branches of Medicine

Carboxytherapy- therapeutically applied carbon dioxide injections have been used in balneotherapy since 1932. In the last four years however, this treatment modality has become the centre of attention as a unique method applicable in dermatology, aesthetic dermatology, anti-aging medicine. Many clinics of aesthetic medicine promote this unique method as minimum invasive and non-aggressive, comfortable for the patient and producing excellent effects without the risk of undesired side effects. In aesthetic dermatology this method may be applied as a rejuvenation modality and is employed mainly due to its classic vasodilatation effect and its capacity to foster intradermal collagen restructuring.

A Report to Show the Prevalence of Malaria, Hiperension and Diabetes in OGBONICHA, ALOMA,OGBULU and IBOKO Communities OFU, LGA, KOGI State

Urinalysis, Malaria Parasite test, blood pressure checks and body mass index was calculated for the People of Ogbonicha, Aloma, Ogbulu and Iboko, diagnoses made and drugs administered. 403 Persons benefited from this scheme out of which 55 were children and 348 adults. 16 persons had malaria (3.97%), 186 suffered from high blood pressure (46.15%) with the highest being 210/120 mmhg.11 were diabetic (2.73%).

External Quality Assessment of Laboratories Performance in AFB Microscopy in Tigray Region, North Ethiopia 2016

Background: In several countries with a high incidence of tuberculosis (TB), direct sputum smear microscopy remains the most cost effective tool for diagnosing patients with infectious tuberculosis and for monitoring their progress on treatment. The objective of the current study was to assess the quality of laboratory service in AFB microscopy of Tigray Region. Randomly selected health facilities were participated in the external quality assessment. Data was entered and analysed using SPSS version 20. Results: Between December 2015 and February 2016, a total of 80 laboratories were participated. Most (87%) of the laboratories have continuous electric supply. Only 70% of the health facilities have continuous pipe water and 56.5 % have no separate table for smear preparation, staining, microscopy and recording. From the distributed panel slides, 91% of the Health facilities were scored 100% concordant results but 9% of the health facilities were scored discordant results. The main reasons for discordant results were shortage of training, non-functional microscope, have no lens cleaning and using of unfiltered carbol fuchsin reagent. Conclusions: The performance of health facilities for smear microscopy reading and smear quality were relatively low in this study area, because smear positivity rate and annual negative slide volume of the health facilities were below the standard. Therefore Strengthening the EQA program and technical support on smear quality indicators are recommended to ensure for better quality diagnostic service of tuberculosis