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Kaya Flanagan posted an update a month ago
This paper analyzes the way in which the EFSA has addressed the limitations that the essentiality of nutrients presents to the requirement of obtaining evidence from RCTs for the scientific substantiation of health claims. By redefining the requirements to affirm causality in the case of essentiality of nutrients, the EFSA has constrained the debate on the relevance of different methodologies in the field of nutrition research. However, avoiding this methodological debate does not settle the controversy as to whether the EFSA’s evidentiary hierarchy is the best for both investigating causal relationships in nutrition and for achieving social objectives such as fostering innovation and public health.
Choline supplementation (+Ch) improves cognitive function in impaired animals and humans. Chemotherapy-related cognitive deficits (CRCDs) occur in cancer patients, and these deficits persist following treatment, adversely impacting quality of life. To date, there are no approved treatments for this condition.
Because +Ch improves impaired memory, it was of interest to determine whether +Ch can attenuate spatial memory deficits induced by the chemotherapeutic agents doxorubicin (DOX) and cyclophosphamide (CYP).
Female BALB/C mice, 64 days of age, were trained in the Morris water maze and baseline performance determined on day 15. Following baseline assessment, mice were placed on +Ch diet (2.0% Ch) or remained on standard diet (0.12% Ch). Mice received intravenous injections of DOX (2.5 mg/kg) and CYP (25 mg/kg), or equivalent volumes of saline (0.9% NaCl), on days 16, 23, 30, and 37, and spatial memory was assessed weekly from day 22 to 71.
DOX and CYP produced a prolonged impairment in spatial memory as indicated by an increased latency to the correct zone (
< 0.05), and a decrease in time in the correct zone (
< 0.05), % of total swim distance in the correct zone (
< 0.05) and % entries to the correct zone (
< 0.05). These effects were attenuated by +Ch.
Although it remains to be determined whether this effect extends to other cognitive domains and whether +Ch is prophylactic or therapeutic, these findings suggest that +Ch may be an effective intervention for CRCDs.
Although it remains to be determined whether this effect extends to other cognitive domains and whether +Ch is prophylactic or therapeutic, these findings suggest that +Ch may be an effective intervention for CRCDs.Worldwide advances in computer techniques are not yet recognised in the practice of forensic medicine. A promising application is their use in making a three-dimensional reconstruction of the crime scene. This study analyses this technique in a homicide by firearm. Queries regarding the direction and number of shots, position of the victim inside the car when shot at and presence of the accused at the crime scene were answered by a scientific model. Similar reconstruction of the scene, nailing the accused in a heinous crime, has not previously been reported as a study or a case. The paper anticipates impetus to the growth of literature in criminology and forensic sciences. It will also expedite the delivery of justice based on scientific evidence in controversial causes of death.We report our experience with the use of a vascularized ulnar periosteal pedicled flap to treat forearm nonunion in children. Seven children underwent surgical treatment of radial diaphysis nonunion with this technique. The mean duration of nonunion prior to the flap was 9 months. BI-1347 Significant postoperative improvements were observed in pain severity (mean visual analogue scale score of 0.6), Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (mean score of 7.1) and grip strength (89% higher than preoperative status). Union was achieved in all patients, with a mean time to union of 3 months. One patient developed distal radioulnar synostosis as a postoperative complication. A vascularized ulnar periosteal pedicled flap is a reliable and versatile technique for treating forearm nonunion in children, associated with both good outcomes and low donor morbidity.Level of evidence IV.
Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors represent important tools in the therapeutic armamentarium against chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other B-lymphoproliferative disorders.
We describe herein a unique 65-year-old patient who presented with bilateral foot pain four months after starting treatment with ibrutinib for CLL. Of note, the patient had previously been diagnosed with gout, and was taking allopurinol prophylactically at the time of the event. Compliance with allopurinol was in excess of 99%. Yet, he was diagnosed with acute gout flare of bilateral first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints.
Ibrutinib dose was reduced by one third, and the patient’s gout flare up was treated with ibuprofen as needed. After symptoms abated, ibrutinib was continued at 2/3rds of the dose, with an excellent CLL control. The patient tolerated this dose without any further adverse effects.
We have reported a unique side effect of acute bilateral first MTP joint gout flare likely triggered by ibrutinib use for CLL whipatient was taking a xanthine oxidase inhibitor. The mechanism by which ibrutinib caused this phenomenon remains to be elucidated.
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a common and potentially debilitating adverse effect of chemotherapy. Refractory CINV can be particularly difficult to control. This report provides details on the implementation and evaluation of a pharmacist-led program for the management of refractory CINV in hematology and oncology clinics.
A pharmacist-led program open to adult outpatients with refractory CINV was implemented at University of Wisconsin. Pharmacists conducted baseline and follow-up assessments, provided patient education, and started, discontinued, and/or adjusted antiemetics as clinically necessary for all enrolled patients. Retrospective chart review was used to describe the proportion of patients whose CINV improved through pharmacist intervention, effect of the program on antiemetic adherence, categorization of pharmacist interventions, and duration of patient enrollment.
Forty-six patients were enrolled between February 2019 and January 2020. Forty-one patients (89.1%) had an overall reduction in their nausea and vomiting from baseline.