An ecologically-controlled exoskeleton can improve balance recovery after slippage.

The evolution to bipedalism forced humans to develop suitable strategies for dynamically controlling their balance, ensuring stability, and preventing falling. The natural aging process and traumatic events such as lower-limb loss can alter the human ability to control stability significantly increasing the risk of fall and reducing the overall autonomy. Accordingly, there is an urgent need, from both end-users and society, for novel solutions that can counteract the lack of balance, thus preventing falls among older and fragile citizens. In this study, we show a novel ecological approach relying on a wearable robotic device (the Active Pelvis Orthosis, APO) aimed at facilitating balance recovery after unexpected slippages. Specifically, if the APO detects signs of balance loss, then it supplies counteracting torques at the hips to assist balance recovery. Experimental tests conducted on eight elderly persons and two transfemoral amputees revealed that stability against falls improved due to the "assisting when needed" behavior of the APO. Interestingly, our approach required a very limited personalization for each subject, and this makes it promising for real-life applications. Our findings demonstrate the potential of closed-loop controlled wearable robots to assist elderly and disabled subjects and to improve their quality of life.

Alkylglycerols reduce serum complement and plasma vascular endothelial growth factor in obese individuals.

Alkylglycerols (AKGs), isolated or present in shark liver oil have anti-inflammatory properties. Complement 3 (C3) and 4 (C4) participate in lipid metabolism and in obesity, contributing to the metabolic syndrome and to the low-grade inflammation associated with obesity. In a randomized, controlled, crossover study, 26 non-diabetes obese individuals were assigned two preparations with low (LAC, 10 mg AKGs) and high (HAC, 20 mg AKGs) AKG content. Intervention periods were of 3 weeks preceded by 2-week washout periods in which shark liver oil was avoided. Cholesterol, C3, C4, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) decreased in a linear trend (P < 0.01) from baseline (control) to LAC and HAC. Values after HAC were significantly lower (P < 0.05) versus both baseline and after LAC. No adverse effects were observed or reported. Data from this pilot study open a promising field for the study of the beneficial effects of AKGs on cardiovascular risk factors in obese individuals.

Impact of different criteria on type 2 diabetes remission rate after bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) achieve similar type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remission rates. Since a great variability exists in defining T2DM remission, an expert panel proposed partial and complete remission criteria that include the maintenance of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycosylated hemoglobin (A1c) objectives for at least 1 year. The 2-year T2DM remission rate and time needed to reach it after LSG or LRYGB were compared using different remission criteria. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of 55 T2DM subjects operated on with LSG (n = 21) or LRYGB (n = 34). Four models for defining remission were used: Buchwald criteria (FPG <100 mg/dl or A1c <6 %), American Diabetes Association (ADA) complete (FPG <100 mg/dl plus A1c <6 % maintained for at least 1 year), ADA partial (FPG <125 mg/dl with A1c <6.5 % maintained for at least 1 year), and ADA complete without time requirement. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable, except for higher A1c levels in the LSG group. The remission rate ranged from 43.6 % using ADA complete remission to 92.7 % with Buchwald criteria, with no differences between surgical procedures. Differences were found in the time to achieve remission only when ADA complete remission criteria (5.1 ± 2.9 months LRYGB and 9.0 ± 3.8 months LSG, p = 0.014) and ADA without time requirement criteria (4.9 ± 2.7 months LRYGB and 8.4 ± 3.9 months LSG, p = 0.005) were used. CONCLUSIONS: T2DM remission rate varies widely depending on the criteria used for its definition. Remission occurred sooner after LRYGB when the strictest criteria to define remission were used.

Malnutrición extrema en una lactante de origen etíope con síndrome de Down / Extreme malnutrition in an infant of Ethiopian origin with Down’s syndrome

La observación de una lactante de origen etíope con síndrome de Down y malnutrición grave permite reflexionar sobre las condiciones sociales y sanitarias de Etiopía y las causas que han posibilitado que se llegue a esa situación extrema (AU)

Observation of an Ethiopian infant with Down’s syndrome with severe malnutrition, and reflection on the effect that the social and health conditions in Ethiopia had on the causes leading to this extreme situation (AU)

Impact of restrictive (sleeve gastrectomy) vs hybrid bariatric surgery (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) on lipid profile.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated the impact of hybrid versus purely restrictive bariatric surgery on lipid profile, with the results being contradictory. The effect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) on lipid profile was compared. METHODS: A nonrandomized prospective cohort study was conducted on severely obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Indication for the type of surgical procedure was based on clinical criteria. Patients on lipid-lowering drugs and those that could not be matched for age, sex, and body mass index were excluded. Finally, 51 patients who underwent LSG and 51 undergoing LRYGB completed this study. RESULTS: During the first year post-surgery, no differences in percentage of excess weight loss and triglyceride reduction were found between groups. After LRYGR, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations fell significantly (125.9 ± 29.3 to 100.3 ± 26.4 mg/dl, p < 0.001), whereas no significant changes were observed in the LSG group (118.6 ± 30.7 to 114.6 ± 33.5 mg/dl, p = 0.220). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increase was significantly greater after LSG (15.4 ± 13.1 mg/dl) compared with LRYGB (9.4 ± 14.0 mg/dl, p = 0.032). Factors independently associated with LDL cholesterol reduction were higher baseline total cholesterol and undergoing LRYGB. A greater increase in HDL cholesterol was associated with LSG, older age, and baseline HDL cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: LRYGB produces an overall improvement in lipid profile, with a clear benefit in all lipid fractions. Although LSG does not alter LDL cholesterol levels, its effect on HDL cholesterol is comparable to or greater than that obtained with malabsorptive techniques.

Restrictive tissue in the area of perimembranous ventricular septal defect. Cross-sectional and Doppler echocardiographic study.

This study using pulsed and continuous wave Doppler echocardiography was designed to achieve a cross-sectional echocardiographic categorization of the fibrous tissues in the environs of perimembranous ventricular septal defects, to determine the mechanism involved in its formation and for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the anomalies associated with the entity. A total of 67 patients was studied, 23 presented cross-sectional echocardiographic evidence of perimembranous ventricular septal defect in isolation, 12 associated with tissue 'tags' and 32 combined with 'restrictive' tissue in the area of the defect. Four echocardiographic features of the 'restrictive' tissue were observed. In 23 of these 32 patients, it was possible to identify the exact anatomic origin of the 'restrictive' tissue (in seven complete and, in 15, partial involvement of the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve; in one, prolapse of the aortic valve with a partial involvement of the tricuspid septal leaflet) while in nine the origin remained undetermined. In 20, the 'restrictive' tissue simultaneously protruded into the right atrium and ventricle; only in 12 did it extend exclusively into the right ventricle. Tricuspid insufficiency was detected by pulsed Doppler in 78% of the patients with 'restrictive' tissue and in 23% of the remaining patients. Tricuspid incompetence was severe in only two patients of the first group. Three patients with 'restrictive' tissue (9%) had obstruction to the outlet of the right ventricle and four (13%) patients presented aortic insufficiency. Five patients (16%) with 'restrictive' tissue closing the defect did not present pulsed Doppler evidence of a shunt at the ventricular level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)