Science & Technology Development Journal - Health Sciences

Podocytes – potential biomarker for early diagnosis of pre-eclampsia

2022-05-26T21:47:57+00:00

Pre-eclampsia is a medical complication in pregnancy that occurs in about 5% of pregnant women, after the 20th week of gestation. This complication causes serious health effects on pregnant women, even death in both those women and their fetuses. Pre-eclampsia patients are characterized by gestational hypertension associated with proteinuria and histological evidence of glomerular injury. Many reports suggested certain biomarkers of pre-eclampsia, including a decreased VEGF (Vascular Epithelial Growth Factor) level or an increased sFlt-1 (VEGF receptor) level in serum, which is related to an increase in the risk of this issue. Pre-eclampsia might be associated with an increased risk of several kidney diseases for many years following diagnosis with this issue. Evidence showed that women with a history of pre-eclampsia might have a higher risk of kidney diseases such as end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) than women with healthy pregnancies. Other studies showed that podocytes might be involved in glomerular lesions in pre-eclampsia patients. Podocytes are specialized epithelial cells located on the surface of the glomerular capillary, which is part of the glomerular filter membrane along with the endothelial cells and the glomerular basement membrane. Podocytes have a responsibility to ensure the glomerular membrane’s selective permeability. Some methods recently are being developed to detect the podocytes in urine samples such as immunohistochemistry, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT – PCR), suggesting the potential application of those cells as biomarkers in the early diagnosis of pre-eclampsia. This review summarized the evidence about the role of podocytes in the pathological mechanism of pre-eclampsia, the risk of chronic kidney diseases as well as the potential predictive value of podocytes in the early diagnosis of pre-eclampsia.

Prevalence of medication adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at outpatient clinics, Thong Nhat hospital, Ho Chi Minh City

2022-04-17T21:32:30+00:00

Background: Medication adherence plays important role in diabetes mellitus treatment.

Objective: To investigate using of antihyperglycemic drugs, prevalence of medication adherence and risk factors associated with medication adherence.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 300 patients with type 2 diabetes at Thong Nhat hospital from 01/2021 to 06/2021. Patients were interviewed with a prepared questionnaire. Medication adherence was defined based on scores of Morisky questions: good adherence: MMAS = 8, moderate adherence: 6 ≤ MMAS < 8 and poor adherence: MMAS < 6.

Results: 47,7% patients were administrated with dual therapy; metformin and gliclazid were most commonly used (93,9% and 40,3%, respectively). The prevalence of medication adherence was 73,7%; proportion of good and moderate adherence were 19,7% and 54,0%, respectively. The odds of medication adherence in smoking group was 89% lower than non-smoking group (OR = 0,11; 95% CI: 0,03 – 0,38; p < 0,001); this figure in insulin group was 61% lower than group not using insulin (OR = 0,39; 95% CI: 0,2 – 0,79; p = 0,008) and the odds of adherence in male patients was 2,3 times higher than female patients (OR = 2,3; 95% CI: 1,19 – 4,44, p= 0,014).

Conclusions: Medication adherence prevalence of type 2 diabetes patients at Thong Nhat Hospital is moderate. Giving up smoking, consulting using drugs and importance of medication adherence may improve medication adherence for diabetes patients.

The correlation between refractive status and changes in higher-order aberration after small incision lenticule extraction for myopia and myopic astigmatism correction

2022-04-24T20:42:24+00:00

Purpose: To evaluate the correlation between patient’s refractive status and changes in high-order aberration after small incision lenticule extraction in correcting myopia and myopic astigmatism. Methods: Prospective, longitudinal observational study. Sixty-six eyes from 33 myopia or myopic astigmatism patients were enrolled in this study. Patients uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refractive status, central corneal thickness, corneal refractive power, optical zone, lenticule thickness and 3 higher-order aberration values in Zernike polynomial (spherical aberration, coma and total root mean square) were recorded before the surgery and at 3-month follow-up. Results: At 3-month follow-up, 100% of eyes achieved 20/20 uncorrected visual acuity. There were statistically significant increases of spherical aberration, coma and total root mean square after the surgery; with post-operation changes of spherical aberration, coma and total root mean square being 0,1689 ± 0,0867 µm, 0,1771 ± 0,0941 µm and 0,3271 ± 0,1035 µm, in order (p < 0,001). A linear correlation was found between pre-operation spherical equivalent with changes of spherical aberration (R = 0,449; p < 0,01) and total root mean square (R = 0,229; p = 0,05). Conclusion: Small incision lenticule extraction results in good visual outcome, however still induces increase of higher-order aberration, especially in patients with high refraction.

Neuroprotective effects of Bouea macrophylla leaf extract against amyloid-beta peptide-induced toxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells

2022-05-24T21:19:37+00:00

Purpose: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia, which is thought to be caused by the abnormal buildup of proteins including amyloid-beta (A) in and around brain cells. In efforts to discover new strategies for AD therapy, natural products have aroused interest in the research community and in the pharmaceutical industry for their neuroprotective activity, targeting different pathological mechanisms associated with AD. A wide variety of natural products from different origins have been evaluated preclinically and clinically for their neuroprotective mechanisms in preventing and attenuating the multifactorial pathologies of AD. Our initial previous study demonstrated the chemical constituents from the leaves of the Bouea macrophylla Griff (B. macrophylla) could serve as source of bioactive compounds with potential antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer properties. However, their neuroprotective effects on A-induced cytotoxicity has not been described yet. Methods: In our continuing search for bioactive from the leaves of B. macrophylla, we herein describe its cytotoxicity against a neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) anti-A aggregation potential, and neuroprotective potential. Results: Thioflavin T assay revealed that the inhibition potential of ethanolic extract was 60.65% at 50 μg/mL compared to the positive control group (p < 0.05), while neuroprotective effects were elaborated against Aβ-induced SH-SY5Y cells at 25 μg/mL. In order to validate these neuroprotective effects, the ethanol extract revealed reductions in the intracellular ROS (reactive oxygen species) level in H2O2-treated SH-SY5Y cells and mitochondrial dysfunctions in Aβ-induced SH-SY5Y cells at 25 μg/mL. Consclusions: The overall results have provided scientific insights of utilizing B. macrophylla as a potential anti-Aβ and neuroprotection agent containing secondary metabolites which may be pharmacologically relevant.

Symptomatic colonic lipoma: Report of two cases in Binh Dan Hospital

2022-04-24T20:54:03+00:00

Colonic lipomas are benign tumors resulting from the proliferation of mature fat cells. Gastrointestinal lipomas are rare, often asymptomatic, and most are detected through diagnostic imaging devices such as colonoscopy and abdominal-pelvic computed tomography. Lipomas of the colon were first reported by Bauer in 1757 and are most often located in the ascending colon near cecum. Approximately 90% of colonic lipomas are located in the submucosa. The remainder of these tumors is intramucosal in origin. The reported incidence of colonic lipoma ranges from 0,2% to 4,4%. These fatty tumors are rarely greater than 2 cm in size and are rarely symptomatic. Lipomas that grow more than 4 cm in size can lead to obstruction and intussusception requiring surgical or endoscopic resection. Colonic lipomas may be challenging to diagnose as they may be asymptomatic for a long time or misdiagnosed as other's conditions. Atypical etiologies of intestinal obstruction should be considered in patients with persistent intermittent abdominal discomfort. Even though benign, some abdominal tumor conditions may be presented as cases of emergency care. Symptomatic colonic lipomas can be managed by endoscopy or surgery. Polypectomy through endoscopy is the treatment choice for lipomas considered of low complication risk. These are lipomas with less than 2 cm diameter or pedunculated lipomas with a thin tail. When greater than 2 cm, surgery represents the standard therapeutic option for lipomas. In this report, we present two cases of symptomatic colonic lipomas: one case of splenic flexure lipoma and one case of lipoma in the sigmoid colon. Both cases have been noted with intestinal obstruction. Those two patients performed laparoscopic colectomy. The operation and post-operative recovery were satisfactory. Both of the patients were discharged after taking seven days of post-operative care. Through this article, we would like to introduce the incidence, clinical features, diagnostic facilities, and surgical treatment of this benign tumor.