An increase in physical activity is a key component for effective weight loss. It helps to control weight loss by using excess calories as well as boosting metabolism and lowering insulin levels. Physical activity also helps prevent many chronic diseases and improve the overall human health. The objective of this study was to assess weight loss practice using physical activity strategies among working women in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A total of 639 adult Malaysian working women were screened and 120 respondents were identified based on their experience of losing at least 10% of their highest lifetime body weight, which is a criterion for successful weight-loss. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information from 120 successful weight loss respondents. Physical activity was measured by using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short version. Results showed that 35.8% of women had low physical activity level; slightly above than one third of women (38.3%) had moderate activity level, while 25.8% women had high physical activity level.The most common physical activity monitoring strategies implemented were exercise at least 30 minutes per day (22.5%) and incorporate physical activity into daily life (21.7%). A total of 70.8% women regained weight after significant weight loss. A total of 40.0% who regained weight as compared to 25.7% of those who did not regain weight were physically inactive (p=0.138). There was no statistically significant different in daily sitting time between the two groups (p=0.627). As a conclusion, government working women in Kuala Lumpur have low to moderate physical activity levels. Majority women regained weight after significant weight loss. Common strategies to lose weight are exercise at least 30 minutes per day and incorporate physical activity into daily life. More education and promotion regarding the importance of physical activity should be done to all community members especially to the government working women.
Motor Activity ; Exercise

Double fracture-dislocations of the thumb are rare. Only a single case report of a simultaneous extra- articular fracture of the base of the first metacarpal and dislocation of the metacarpophalangeal joint has been previously reported. We report the second case report of this injury in a 20-year-old man. The patient had an excellent outcome after treatment.
Adult ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; surgery ; Male ; Metacarpal Bones ; injuries ; Metacarpophalangeal Joint ; injuries ; Thumb ; injuries

PURPOSE: To identify risk factors for interstitial cystitis (IC), a chronic bladder disorder that may have a significant detrimental impact on quality of life, in the general population and in individuals with depression. METHODS: This was a comparative study using a US claims database. Adults who had records of a visit to the health system in 2010 or later were included. The outcome was the development of IC within 2 years after the index date. The index date for the general population was the first outpatient visit, and for individuals with depression, it was the date of the diagnosis of depression. IC was defined using the concepts of ulcerative and IC. We included all medical conditions present any time prior to the index visit as potential risk factors. RESULTS: The incidence of IC was higher in individuals with depression than in the general population. Of the 3,973,000 subjects from the general population, 2,293 (0.06%) developed IC within 2 years. Of the 249,200 individuals with depression, 320 (0.13%) developed IC. The characteristics of the individuals who developed IC were similar in both populations. Those who developed IC were slightly older, more likely to be women, and had more chronic pain conditions, malaise, and inflammatory disorders than patients without IC. In the general population, subjects who developed IC were more likely to have mood disorders, anxiety, and hypothyroidism. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of IC was higher in individuals with depression. Subjects who developed IC had more chronic pain conditions, depression, malaise, and inflammatory disorders.
Adult ; Anxiety ; Chronic Pain ; Cystitis, Interstitial ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Mood Disorders ; Outpatients ; Quality of Life ; Risk Factors ; Ulcer ; Urinary Bladder

Background: Various truncal block techniques with ultrasonography (USG) are becoming widespread to reduce postoperative pain and opioid requirements in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The primary aim of our study was to determine whether the USG-guided serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) is as effective as the thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) in VATS. Our secondary aim was to evaluate patient and surgeon satisfaction, block application time, first analgesic time, and length of hospital stay. Methods: Patients in Group SAPB received 0.4 mL/kg bupivacaine with a USG-guided SAPB, and patients in Group TPVB received 0.4 mL/kg bupivacaine with a USGguided TPVB. We recorded the pain scores, the timing of the first analgesic requirement, the amount of tramadol consumption, and postoperative complications for 24 hours. We also recorded the block application time and length of hospital stay. Results: A total of 62 patients, with 31 in each group (Group SAPB and Group TPVB) completed the study. Between the two groups, there were no significant differences in rest and dynamic pain visual analog scale scores at 0, 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. The total consumption of tramadol was significantly lower in the TPVB group (P = 0.026). The block application time was significantly shorter in Group SAPB (P < 0.001). Conclusions An SAPB that is applied safely and rapidly as a part of multimodal analgesia in patients who undergo VATS is not inferior to the TPVB and can be an alternative to it.

Background: Various truncal block techniques with ultrasonography (USG) are becoming widespread to reduce postoperative pain and opioid requirements in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The primary aim of our study was to determine whether the USG-guided serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) is as effective as the thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) in VATS. Our secondary aim was to evaluate patient and surgeon satisfaction, block application time, first analgesic time, and length of hospital stay. Methods: Patients in Group SAPB received 0.4 mL/kg bupivacaine with a USG-guided SAPB, and patients in Group TPVB received 0.4 mL/kg bupivacaine with a USGguided TPVB. We recorded the pain scores, the timing of the first analgesic requirement, the amount of tramadol consumption, and postoperative complications for 24 hours. We also recorded the block application time and length of hospital stay. Results: A total of 62 patients, with 31 in each group (Group SAPB and Group TPVB) completed the study. Between the two groups, there were no significant differences in rest and dynamic pain visual analog scale scores at 0, 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. The total consumption of tramadol was significantly lower in the TPVB group (P = 0.026). The block application time was significantly shorter in Group SAPB (P < 0.001). Conclusions An SAPB that is applied safely and rapidly as a part of multimodal analgesia in patients who undergo VATS is not inferior to the TPVB and can be an alternative to it.

Dedifferentiated fat cells (DFATs) isolated from mature adipocytes have a multilineage differentiation capacity similar to mesenchymal stem cells and are considered as promising source of cells for tissue engineering. Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) and low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) have been reported to stimulate bone formation both in vitro and in vivo. However, the combined effect of BMP9 and LIPUS on osteoblastic differentiation of DFATs has not been studied. After preparing DFATs from mature adipose tissue from rats, DFATs were treated with different doses of BMP9 and/or LIPUS. The effects on osteoblastic differentiation were assessed by changes in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineralization/calcium deposition, and expression of bone related genes; Runx2, osterix, osteopontin. No significant differences for ALP activity, mineralization deposition, as well as expression for bone related genes were observed by LIPUS treatment alone while treatment with BMP9 induced osteoblastic differentiation of DFATs in a dose dependent manner. Further, co-treatment with BMP9 and LIPUS significantly increased osteoblastic differentiation of DFATs compared to those treated with BMP9 alone. In addition, upregulation for BMP9-receptor genes was observed by LIPUS treatment. Indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, significantly inhibited the synergistic effect of BMP9 and LIPUS co-stimulation on osteoblastic differentiation of DFATs. LIPUS promotes BMP9 induced osteoblastic differentiation of DFATs in vitro and prostaglandins may be involved in this mechanism.

PURPOSE: The association between autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) and vitamin D deficiency is controversial. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] and anti-thyroid antibody levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 25(OH)D3, anti-thyroid antibodies, and thyroid function measured in 304 patients who visited the endocrinology clinic were analyzed. The patients were subgrouped into the AITDs or non-AITDs category according to the presence or absence of anti-thyroid antibodies. The relationship between anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) and 25(OH)D3 was evaluated. RESULTS: The patients with elevated anti-thyroid antibodies had lower levels of serum 25(OH)D3 than those who did not (12.6+/-5.5 ng/mL vs. 14.5+/-7.3 ng/mL, respectively, p<0.001). Importantly, after adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index, a negative correlation (r=-0.252, p<0.001) was recognized between 25(OH)D3 and TPOAb levels in the AITDs group, but this correlation did not exist in the non-AITDs group (r=0.117, p=0.127). 25(OH)D3 level was confirmed as an independent factor after adjusting for co-factors that may affect the presence of TPOAb in the AITDs group. CONCLUSION: 25(OH)D3 level is an independent factor affecting the presence of TPOAb in AITDs. The causal effect of 25(OH)D3 deficiency to AITDs is to be elucidated.
Antibodies ; Body Mass Index ; Endocrinology ; Humans ; Methods ; Peroxidase* ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune* ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

PURPOSE: Recently, many studies on febrile convulsions again suggest that the degree of pyrexia may be related to the recurrence of febrile convulsions. In a previous study, we advocated that a low body temperature during the initial febrile convulsions is associated with an increase of recurrent febrile convulsions. Therefore, we have expanded the study by including 246 febrile convulsions during 6 years and investigated risk factors and especially the relationship between pyrexia and the recurrence rates. METHODS: Children with febrile convulsions were divided into three groups according to the degree of fever. Group I showed body temperatures higher than 39.5 degrees, group II from 38.5 to 39.4 degrees, and group III lower than 38.4 degrees. Then, we analyzed the recurrence rates of febrile convulsions. RESULTS: There occurred recurrent febrile convulsions in 19(41.3%) children with family history of febrile convulsion and 5(35.7%) children whose first-degree relatives diagnosed epilepsy. In group I, 5(13.5%) infants aged 6-18 months and 5(19.2%) aged 19-30 months had recurrent febrile convulsions. In group II, 22(36.1%) infants aged 6-18 months and 8(24.2%) aged 19-30 months had recurrent febrile convulsions. In group III, 21(42.0%) infants aged 6-18 months and 8(38.1%) aged 19-30 months had recurrent febrile convulsions. CONCLUSION: Children with a lower degree of pyrexia and also younger age at the onset of the first febrile convulsion were more susceptible to recurrent febrile convulsios than otherwise.
Body Temperature ; Child ; Epilepsy ; Fever* ; Humans ; Infant ; Recurrence* ; Risk Factors ; Seizures, Febrile*

PURPOSE: Furcation involvement in the molars is difficult to treat, and has been recognized as a risk factor for tooth loss. Although periodontal regenerative therapies, including guided tissue regeneration and various types of bone grafts, have been applied to furcation defects, the effects of these treatments are limited, especially in large class III furcation defects. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effect of reciprocal autologous root transplantation on periodontal wound healing and regeneration in class III furcation defects in dogs. METHODS: Furcation defects (7 mm wide and 6 mm high) were surgically created after root separation of the unilateral third and fourth premolars in 4 dogs. Eight furcation defects were randomized to receive either reciprocal autologous root transplantation (test) or no further treatment (control). In the test group, the mesial and distal roots were transplanted into the distal and mesial extraction sockets, respectively. The animals were sacrificed 10 weeks after surgery for histologic evaluation. RESULTS: The healing pattern in the control group was characterized by extensive collapse of the flap and limited periodontal regeneration. New bone formation in the test group (3.56±0.57 mm) was significantly greater than in the control group (0.62±0.21 mm). Dense collagen fibers inserting into the residual cementum on the transplanted root surfaces were observed in the test group. Slight ankylosis was observed in 2 of the 4 specimens in the test group on the mesiodistal sides where the root-planed surfaces faced the existing bone. Root resorption (RR) was detected in both the control and test groups. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, it can be concluded that reciprocal autologous root transplantation was effective for bone regeneration in class III furcation defects in dogs. However, further studies are required to standardize the approach in order to prevent unwanted RR prior to clinical application.
Animals ; Ankylosis ; Bicuspid ; Bone Regeneration ; Collagen ; Dental Cementum ; Dogs ; Furcation Defects* ; Guided Tissue Regeneration ; Models, Animal ; Molar ; Osteogenesis ; Periodontal Diseases ; Periodontal Ligament ; Pilot Projects ; Regeneration ; Risk Factors ; Root Resorption ; Tooth Loss ; Transplants ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*