The role and efficacy of exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) in the treatment of luminal Crohn's disease (CD) has been well established over the last 2 decades. Consequently, in many centers nutritional therapy is now considered first line therapy in the induction of remission of active CD. However, the use of nutritional therapy in complicated CD has yet to be fully determined. This article aimed to review case reports and clinical trials published in the last decade that have considered and evaluated nutritional therapy in the setting of complicated CD in children and adults. Published literature focusing upon the use of nutritional therapy as part of medical therapy in the management of complicated CD were identified and reviewed. Although there continue to be various interventions utilized for complicated CD, the currently available literature demonstrates that nutritional therapies, especially EEN, have important roles in the management of these complex scenarios. Further assessments, involving large numbers of patients managed with consistent approaches, are required to further substantiate these roles.
Adult ; Child ; Crohn Disease ; Enteral Nutrition ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Phenobarbital ; Remission Induction

AIM:To determine whether there was a significant relationship between eye iris color with axial length, intraocular pressure, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, macular thickness and choroidal thickness.METHODS:A prospective cross-sectional study involving 92 eyes of 92 healthy volunteers.These were divided into dark colored-eye (DCE) and light-colored eye (LCE) groups according to iris color.The RNFL and macular thicknesses were analysed with standard optical coherence tomography (OCT) protocol while choroidal thickness was analysed with electronic data interchange (EDI) protocol in all subjects.Choroidal thickness was measured at the fovea, 1500 μm nasal and 1500 μm temporal to the fovea in a horizontal section.RESULTS:Of the 92 eyes included, 62 (67.4%) were dark-colored while 30 (32.6%) were light-colored.The mean age was 29.22±5.86y in the subjects with DCE and 28.86±6.50y in those with LCE.No significant difference was detected in mean age, axial length, macular thickness, choroidal thickness and intraocular pressure (IOP) between the groups (P>0.05).However, RNFL thicknesses varied depending on the quadrant measured, and were lower in both global and the nasal and temporal quadrants for individuals with LCE (P≤0.022).CONCLUSION:No significant differences were found in IOP, macular thickness and choroid thickness between individuals with DCE and LCE.Meanwhile, the RNFL thickness is lower.

Malaria is still a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The increase in lipid peroxidation reported in malaria infection and antioxidant status may be a useful marker of oxidative stress during malaria infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of antioxidant enzymes against toxic reactive oxygen species in patients infected with Plasmodium vivax and healthy controls. Malondialdehyde levels, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were determined in 91 P. vivax patients and compared with 52 controls. Malondialdehyde levels, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were 8.07+/-2.29 nM/ml, 2.69+/-0.33 U/ml, and 49.6+/-3.2 U/g Hb in the patient group and 2.72+/-0.50 nM/ml, 3.71+/-0.47 U/ml, and 62.3+/-4.3 U/g Hb in the control group, respectively. Malondialdehyde levels were found statistically significant in patients with vivax malaria higher than in healthy controls (P<0.001). On the other hand, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were found to be significantly lower in vivax malaria patients than in controls (P<0.05). There was an increase in oxidative stress in vivax malaria. The results suggested that antioxidant defense mechanisms may play an important role in the pathogenesis of P. vivax.
Adult ; Animals ; Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Biological Markers/metabolism ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase/metabolism ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Malaria, Vivax/*metabolism/parasitology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; *Oxidative Stress ; Plasmodium vivax/*metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; Young Adult

Primary hyperparathyroidism due to ectopic parathyroid adenomas can pose diagnostic and management challenges, especially when imaging studies have localised the lesions to different sites. We report a case of symptomatic hypercalcaemia due to a mediastinal parathyroid adenoma. Ultrasonography identified a nodule posterior to the right thyroid gland. However, computed tomography and technetium-99m sestamibi scintigraphy revealed an ectopic parathyroid adenoma located in the anterior mediastinum. The adenoma was successfully removed through a median sternotomy. However, postoperatively, the patient developed prolonged symptomatic hypocalcaemia, possibly due to suppression of the normal parathyroid gland function, although the presence of concomitant hungry bone syndrome was possible. The histopathology of the mediastinal mass was consistent with a parathyroid adenoma.
Calcium ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; etiology ; Hyperparathyroidism ; diagnosis ; Hypocalcemia ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Parathyroid Glands ; pathology ; Parathyroid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi ; pharmacology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

We evaluated the activity of methanolic extracts of Melaleuca cajuputi flowers against the filarial worm Brugia pahangi and its bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia. Anti-Wolbachia activity was measured in worms and in Aedes albopictus Aa23 cells by PCR, electron microscopy, and other biological assays. In particular, microfilarial release, worm motility, and viability were determined. M. cajuputi flower extracts were found to significantly reduce Wolbachia endosymbionts in Aa23 cells, Wolbachia surface protein, and microfilarial release, as well as the viability and motility of adult worms. Anti-Wolbachia activity was further confirmed by observation of degraded and phagocytized Wolbachia in worms treated with the flower extracts. The data provided in vitro and in vivo evidence that M. cajuputi flower extracts inhibit Wolbachia, an activity that may be exploited as an alternative strategy to treat human lymphatic filariasis.
Adult ; Aedes ; Biological Assay ; Brugia pahangi ; Elephantiasis, Filarial ; Flowers* ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Melaleuca* ; Methanol* ; Microscopy, Electron ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Wolbachia

PURPOSE: To investigate the seroprevalence of toxocariasis in patients diagnosed as schizophrenia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-eight schizophrenic patients hospitalized at The Elazig Psychiatric Hospital were included in the study. Anti-Toxocara IgG and/or IgM antibodies were determined by using commercial Toxocara canis IgG and/or IgM ELISA kit. RESULTS: Seropositivity for T. canis was detected in 45 (45.9%) of 98 patients and 2 (2.0%) of 100 control subjects the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The seroprevalence was 40.4% (19 cases) and 51.0% (26 cases) for female and male subjects, respectively (p=0.3). When the seropositive and seronegative schizophrenic patients were compared with respect to the age group environment they were living in, occupation period of follow up and number of hospitalizations, there were no differences between the two groups (all, p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the schizophrenic state seems to present a high risk for Toxocara infection in Turkey.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth/blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Immunoglobulin M/blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Schizophrenia/*blood/parasitology ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Toxocara/*growth & development/immunology ; Toxocariasis/*blood/epidemiology ; Turkey/epidemiology

Bone health status was investigated in 178 free-living Chinese post-menopausal women in Kuala Lumpur. Body mass index (BMI), body composition (using whole body DXA), calcium intake and serum 25-OH vitamin D status were measured along with biochemical markers of bone turnover, that is, pro-collagen Type 1 N-terminal peptide (P1NP), osteocalcin (OC) and C-telopeptide ß cross link of Type 1 collagen (CTX- β). Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using DXA (Hologic, USA) at the lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip. Results showed that osteopenia was present in 50% of the subjects at the spine and 57.9% at the femoral neck. Osteoporosis was diagnosed in 10% of the subjects at both the femoral neck and spine. A total of 29.3% of the subjects had high levels of CTX- ß. Mean serum level of 25-OH vitamin D was 60.4+15.6 nmol/L and 50.6% of the subjects had hypovitaminosis D (defined as <50 nmol/l). Mean total calcium intake of the subjects was 497 + 233 mg, of which only 14% met the RNI for calcium with the additional intake of calcium supplements. Body fat was also significantly correlated (r=0.181, p<0.05) with BMD at the spine but not BMD at the femoral neck. Lean body mass was positively correlated with BMD at the spine (r=0.289, p<0.001) and femoral neck (r=0.295, p<0.001). CTX-β was negatively correlated with BMD at the spine (r= -0.235, p<0.001), whereas P1NP (r=-0.215, p<0.001) and osteocalcin (r=-0.265, p<0.001) were both negatively correlated with BMD at the femoral neck. Generally, the study found that women with osteopenia had higher levels of bone turnover markers, less lean body mass and lower calcium intake than women with normal BMD. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the majority of free living Chinese post-menopausal women in Kuala Lumpur have low calcium intake, low 25-OH vitamin D status and low bone mass and elevated biochemical markers of bone turnover.

AIM:To evaluate the potential posterior segment effects of topical application of brimonidine-purite 0.15％ through measurement of choroidal thickness (CT) in healthy eyes using enhanced depth imaging spectraldomain optical coherence tomography (EDI-SD-OCT).METHODS:Thirty-two eyes of 32 healthy subjects were included in this prospective,placebo controlled interventional clinical trial.They received one drop of topical preservative-free artificial tears as placebo for the first day and one drop of brimonidine-purite 0.15％ for the second day.Intraocular pressure,ocular perfusion pressure (OPP),and EDI-SD-OCT were performed at baseline,at 1,3 and 5h after the treatments.RESULTS:Compared to the measurements obtained at baseline,the CT measurements obtained after the topical application of brimonidine-purite 0.15％ significantly increased at the sub-fovea (P=0.001),at temporal 1500 μm to the fovea (P=0.003) and at nasal 1500 μm to the fovea (P=0.003).Choroidal thickness was unchanged in placebo group during the study (P ＞0.05).There was no significant reduction in the OPP in both groups (P ＞0.05).There were no adverse events during the study.CONCLUSIONS:Contrary to expectations,topical administration of brimonidine-purite 0.15％ resulted with thickening of sub-foveal,temporal and nasal CT.This might be related to altered auto-regulation mechanisms in choroidal vessels.

During the past two decades, management of blunt solid organ injuries had shifted from conventional surgery to more conservative approach, namely nonoperative management (NOM).[1] The non-operative approach mainly depends on the trauma experience of surgeons and the institution, quality of radiographic imaging and its interpretation.[2-5] If the surgeon decides to observe the patients by NOM, close monitoring of vital signs and frequent physical examinations must be done accordingly with radiological evaluations if needed.

Introduction: Distal radial fracture is a commonly encountered fracture. This study aims to study the epidemiology of distal radial fracture and factors affecting the patients’ functional outcome one to two years after the injury. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. The records of patients, fulfilling the radiographical diagnosis of distal radial fracture, and aged 18 and above, who presented to our Emergency Department from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2018 were retrieved. According to AO classification, we grouped our patients into A (extra-articular), B (partial articular) and C (complete articular). Patients with congenital abnormalities were excluded. Epidemiological data and relevant medical history were obtained and tabulated. A Malaysian language translation of Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire was used to assess the functional outcome. Results: Out of 168 patients’ data retrieved, only 110 patients’ data were found complete for purposes of this study. The mean DASH score was 13.7 ± 7.87 approximately one to two years post-injury regardless of treatment method. Increasing age was associated with higher DASH score with r=0.407(p<0.001). Several variables had significantly better functional outcome: male gender (p=0.01), Type A fracture configuration (p=0.007) and non-operational treatment (p=0.03). There was no significant difference between treatment modalities in Type A fracture (p=0.094), but Type B (p=0.043) and Type C (p=0.007) had better outcome without surgery. There was no significant difference between different ethnic groups, open or closed fracture and mechanism of injury. Conclusion: Better functional outcome after sustaining distal radial fracture was associated with young age, male gender, type A fracture and treated non-operatively. Interestingly, more complex fracture pattern had better functionality were observed without surgery.