Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA
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In women after menopause, the incidence of diabetes mellitus increases. Increased insulin resistance (IR), decreased glucose effectiveness (GE), and the first and second phases of insulin secretion (FPIS and SPIS), are the four most important factors that trigger glucose intolerance and diabetes (diabetogenic factor [DF]). In the cross-sectional study, we enrolled nondiabetic women between the ages of 45 and 60 years to observe the changes in DFs during the perimenopausal period and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of diabetes in menopausal women. ⋯ The IR and FPIS did not change during perimenopause. Increased SPIS may compensate for the decrease in GE, which is probably one of the reasons for the higher incidence of diabetes in menopausal women.
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While surgery has been the standard treatment for patients with severe primary mitral regurgitation (PMR), the role of surgery for severe secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) remained debated. We therefore investigated the prognostic differences of surgery for patients with either severe PMR or SMR. ⋯ Mitral valve surgery for patients with heart failure and severe MR was associated with better survival in patients with PMR, but not in those with SMR.
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Nurses are a high-risk group for overweight and obesity due to high stress, low-labor medical work, irregular diet, and lack of exercise. There is scarce information on relationship between job characteristics and overweight and obesity among nurses. This study aimed to answer the question. Does the nature of the work including job position, seniority relate to overweight and obesity among nurses? Their incidence was also investigated. ⋯ Our findings suggest that policies should be set up to achieve the goal of workplace health promotion. Health plans focusing on these factors may help nurses avoid obesity and overweight. The director of the hospital should keep track of the health checkup database to confirm the benefits of its long-term implementation.
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Controlled Clinical Trial
Early oral diet may enhance recovery from benign gynecologic surgery: A prospective study in single medical center.
Early dietary intake enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). There remains a gap in the recognition and implementation of early diet after surgery in medical institutions in Taiwan. This study aimed to investigate whether early oral intake after benign gynecologic surgery results in favorable outcomes in Taiwanese patients. ⋯ Patients who underwent benign gynecologic surgery tolerated an early oral diet well without an increase in complications. Laparoscopic surgery and lower pain scores also enhanced postoperative recovery.
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Progesterone-stimulated rapid suppression of phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-activated sustained membrane Ca 2+ influx is revealed by Mn 2+ quenching fura-2 fluorescence. Ca 2+ influx suppression results in immunosuppression of T-cell proliferation. Downregulation of protein kinase C (PKC) activity by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) enhances the PHA-activated increase in sustained intracellular Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+ ] i ) via Ca 2+ influx in T cells. Conventional PKC (cPKC) inhibitors also enhance the [Ca 2+ ] i increase in resting T cells caused by progesterone. This study explores whether cPKC activation by progesterone results in suppression of Ca 2+ influx in resting T cells. ⋯ Nongenomic membrane activation of cPKCβII by progesterone causes immunosuppression via negative regulation of Ca 2+ influx into human resting T cells. This prevents resting T-cell activation and proliferation, which protects the fetus from maternal immune attack while decreasing maternal autoimmune disease flare-ups during pregnancy. Thus, cPKCβII modulators might provide a new therapeutic approach to balancing T-cell tolerance and immunity.