A polyol-stevia blended sugar replacer exhibits low glycemic response among human subjects.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Consumption of sugars in food and beverages has increased at an alarming rate. While excessive daily sugar intake has been well-associated as the onset of medical complications, additional sugars are still used in manufactured food products just to satisfy the consumers' needs. Hence, there is a need to develop sugar replacers that have low glycemic response without compromising the organoleptic characteristics of food products. This study aimed to determine if SUITENA™, a novel sweetener containing erythritol, xylitol, and Stevia, has low glycemic response upon consumption by human subjects. METHODS: Six human subjects were randomly chosen and were healthy at the point of experimentation. Capillary blood was collected via finger-prick method to monitor the glycemic response of every individual for 90 min after ingestion of sugar solution. RESULTS: It was found that the mean area under the curve (AUC) of the dextrose standard was 11.8-fold higher (p < 0.05) than the AUC of SUITENA™. SUITENA™ was not able to increase blood glucose level for up to 90 min while a spike in blood glucose level was observed from 15 min post-consumption of dextrose solution. We found that SUITENA™ has elicited a glycemic response 8% relative to the standard. Such low glycemic response has been reported by studies on other novel sugars. CONCLUSION: This preliminary finding suggested that SUITENA™ is a healthier alternative to fast sugars due to its low glycemic response. A larger sampling size is required to confirm the results.

Prophylactic mezlocillin for transurethral prostatectomy.

In a randomised clinical trial of 100 consecutive patients treated by transurethral prostatectomy, half were given prophylactic intravenous mezlocillin. Blood cultures were obtained, the urine examined and the post-operative progress of each patient was carefully followed. The results were analysed and a high incidence of bacteraemia and septicaemia was found. Single-dose prophylactic mezlocillin was highly effective in preventing this complication. The presentation of septicaemia in mild and severe form is described and the aetiology discussed. Probable risk factors are identified and prophylactic and therapeutic measures described.

Presentation of cancer to hospital as 'acute abdominal pain'.

In a survey of 5675 patients presenting to five hospitals in England, Scotland and Denmark with acute undiagnosed abdominal pain, 106 patients later proved to have intraabdominal cancer. The risk of cancer was age-dependent: amongst patients over 50 years with 'non-specific' pain the risk of cancer was 10 per cent. The commonest primary cancer site (in 57 cases, 53.8 per cent) was the large bowel. Most cancers neither perforated nor obstructed: 73 patients merely presented with a short history of unexplained abdominal pain. Of those patients with cancer presenting with 'unexplained' pain, half (37/73, 50.7 per cent) left hospital without a diagnosis of cancer having been made. Subsequently, a computer-aided system was constructed to discriminate (in patients over the age of 50) between those with unexplained acute abdominal pain who did and did not have cancer. Overall accuracy was 84.7 per cent in 138 cases. The most helpful clinical features in making this discrimination are listed. It is suggested (a) that cancer is now a relatively common cause of acute abdominal pain, (b) that the diagnosis is frequently difficult and (c) that urgent screening of all patients over 50 with non-specific acute abdominal pain may be warranted.