Effect of whole-body vibration on abdominal thickness and sitting ability in children with spastic diplegia.

OBJECTIVE: Reduced muscle and bone mass, improper muscle function, and varying degrees of mobility dysfunctions are the main complications of cerebral palsy (CP). Many children with CP also present with poor abdominal muscle activation. Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a unique approach for enhancing strength and motor abilities in several clinical conditions. This study aimed to determine the influence of a 12-week WBV intervention on the thickness of the abdominal muscles and the sitting ability of children with diplegia. METHODS: A total of 30 children with spastic diplegic CP (aged 4-6 years) were randomly divided into two groups (control and experimental). The control group received a selected physical therapy program for 1 h, and the study group received WBV training for 10 min in addition to the same selected program for the control group for 3 times/week over a period of 12 weeks. Thereafter, abdominal muscle thickness and sitting ability were measured using ultrasonography and the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88, sitting domain). RESULTS: Post treatment values revealed significant improvement in the measured variables in favour of the experimental group (p < 0.05), as there was improvement in the thickness of the four abdominal muscles compared to the control group (external oblique: F = 38.783; internal oblique: F = 99.547; transverse abdominis: F = 111.557, and rectus abdominis: F = 129.940, p < 0.05). Additionally, the study group showed a significantly greater improvement in GMFM-88 values compared to the control group (F = 129.940, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: WBV can be a viable strategy for improving sitting ability and abdominal muscle thickness among children with spastic diplegia.

Plasma endoglin in Type2 diabetic patients with nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic nephropathy may be a common complication of diabetes mellitus. Endoglin is glycoprotein located on cell surfaces of endothelial cells and is part of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF- ß) receptor. Endoglin expression is enhanced in endothelial cells during injury and inflammation. The aim of this study was to estimate the plasma level of soluble endoglin (sEng) in type 2 diabetic patients (with and without nephropathy). Also to explore its availability as marker for disease progression. METHODS: In this study, sixty eight patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were included; the patients were sub-grouped to normoalbuminuria without nephropathy and moderately increased albuminuria (microalbuminuria) with nephropathy groups with 13 individuals as control group. Plasma soluble endoglin level was determined using ELISA technique. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile, and creatinine were determined using colorimetric assay, whereas glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated. RESULTS: The plasma level of sEng of both normoalbuminuria group 1 and microalbuminuria group 2 were significantly higher when compared to control group. While, the plasma level of sEng in microalbuminuria group 2 was nonsignificant lower when compared to normoalbuminuria group 1. Also, there was a significant positive association between plasma level of sEng and HbA1c, HDL-C and urinary albumin concentration in normoalbuminuria group. CONCLUSION: Plasma level of soluble Endoglin is markedly increase prior to alteration in endothelial function, and increases to lesser extent with the developing of diabetic nephropathy which indicated disease progression and development of vascular abnormalities.

Does the Type of Toeing Affect Balance in Children With Diplegic Cerebral Palsy? An Observational Cross-sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to find out effect of toeing on balance in children with diplegic cerebral palsy. METHODS: An observational study was conducted. Thirty children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, aged 5 to 8 years, participated in this study. They were classified into 2 groups: group A was children with out-toeing, and group B was children with in-toeing. Foot progression angle was measured by using dynamic footprint, and balance was evaluated using Biodex Balance System equipment. The outcome of interest was postural control (overall stability, anteroposterior stability, and mediolateral stability). RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference for the tested variables of interest between the 2 tested groups. Multiple pairwise comparison tests revealed that there was significantly better overall stability, anteroposterior stability, and mediolateral stability (P < .05) in group A. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that children with out-toeing have higher balance and stability than children with in-toeing.

Lansoprazole halts contrast induced nephropathy through activation of Nrf2 pathway in rats.

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is an important cause of acute kidney injury characterized by significant mortality and morbidity. To date, there is no successful protective regimen for CIN especially in poor kidney function patients. Lansoprazole has been shown to exert antioxidant action through induction of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. The aim of the present study is to investigate the potential of lansoprazole to activate Nrf2 pathway in the kidney and consequently to protect against oxidative stress induced by iodinated contrast media. Lansoprazole, at a dose of 100 mg/kg, showed a significant induction of Nrf2 mRNA after 3 h. Administration of contrast media induced significant increase in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, histological deterioration, and reduction in total antioxidant capacity. Moreover, it instigated the defensive Nrf2 gene expression and immunoreactivity. In addition, there were overexpression of HO-1, caspase 3, p53 and IL6 genes and downregulation of Bcl2 gene. Pre-treatment with lansoprazole (100 mg/kg) ameliorated the nephrotoxicity parameters and oxidative stress, improved histological lesions, and hijacked apoptotic and inflammatory markers that were provoked by contrast media. In conclusion, lansoprazole attenuates experimental CIN which might be due to activation of Nrf2 antioxidant defence pathway. These findings highlight the potential benefit of incorporating lansoprazole in the protective regimen against CIN especially for susceptible patients.