Biomedical subjects

A De Silva

Publications and source records attributed to A De Silva.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral aloe vera gel for active ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: The herbal preparation, aloe vera, has been claimed to have anti-inflammatory effects and, despite a lack of evidence of its therapeutic efficacy, is widely used by patients with inflammatory bowel disease. AIM: To perform a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the efficacy and safety of aloe vera gel for the treatment of mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis. METHODS: Forty-four evaluable hospital out-patients were randomly given oral aloe vera gel or placebo, 100 mL twice daily for 4 weeks, in a 2 : 1 ratio. The primary outcome measures were clinical remission (Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index </= 2), sigmoidoscopic remission (Baron score </= 1) and histological remission (Saverymuttu score </= 1). Secondary outcome measures included changes in the Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (improvement was defined as a decrease of >/= 3 points; response was defined as remission or improvement), Baron score, histology score, haemoglobin, platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and albumin. RESULTS: Clinical remission, improvement and response occurred in nine (30%), 11 (37%) and 14 (47%), respectively, of 30 patients given aloe vera, compared with one (7%) [P = 0.09; odds ratio, 5.6 (0.6-49)], one (7%) [P = 0.06; odds ratio, 7.5 (0.9-66)] and two (14%) [P < 0.05; odds ratio, 5.3 (1.0-27)], respectively, of 14 patients taking placebo. The Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index and histological scores decreased significantly during treatment with aloe vera (P = 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively), but not with placebo. Sigmoidoscopic scores and laboratory variables showed no significant differences between aloe vera and placebo. Adverse events were minor and similar in both groups of patients. CONCLUSION: Oral aloe vera taken for 4 weeks produced a clinical response more often than placebo; it also reduced the histological disease activity and appeared to be safe. Further evaluation of the therapeutic potential of aloe vera gel in inflammatory bowel disease is needed.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2001

Prediction of maximal heart rate in individuals with mental retardation.

PURPOSE: It is well known that individuals with mental retardation (MR), especially those with Down syndrome (DS), have low maximal heart rates (MHR). We evaluated the ability to predict MHR in individuals with MR and DS in comparison with persons without MR. METHODS: Subjects completed a maximal exercise test on the treadmill with metabolic and HR measurements. Stepwise multiple regression was used to develop prediction equations for subjects with MR (N = 276; 97 with DS) and without (N = 296) MR, ranging in age from 9-46 yr. RESULTS: Subjects with MR exhibited significantly lower MHR (177 vs 185 beats.min(-1)) and VO2peak (33.8 vs 35.6 mL.kg-1.min(-1)). In subjects with MR, age was a poor predictor of MHR, Y = 189 - 0.59 (age) (R = 0.30, SEE = 13.8 beats.min-1; P < 0.01), but age was a better predictor for subjects without MR, Y = 205 - 0.64 (age) (R = 0.52, SEE = 9.9 beats.min(-1); P < 0.01). A large sample Z test indicated that these regression coefficients were significantly different (P < 0.01). However, adding DS to the regression improved the prediction for subjects with MR, Y = 210 - (0.56 age) - (15.5 DS) (R = 0.57; SEE = 11.8 beats.min(-1), P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: MHR can be predicted with similar accuracy in subjects with and without MR, provided DS is accounted for in the equation for the subjects with MR.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Lifestyle factors fail to explain the variation in plasma leptin concentrations in women.

To assess the relationship between circulating leptin concentrations, metabolic parameters, and lifestyle factors such as alcohol intake, physical activity level, smoking habits, and reproductive history, a cohort of 359 women was drawn from a population-based study conducted in Victoria, Australia. The parameters measured included body mass index (BMI); waist and hip circumference; blood pressure; and fasting glucose, insulin, triacylglycerol, cholesterol, and leptin concentrations. In addition, a self-administered questionnaire was used to assess reproductive history, physical activity level, alcohol intake, and smoking habits. Our results demonstrated that BMI, body weight, waist circumference, and hip circumference were all strongly correlated with circulating leptin concentrations in this population (r > 0.56, P < 0.001 in all cases). Waist/hip ratio, triacylglycerols, insulin, glucose, and cholesterol were also associated with leptin (P < 0.05), but there was no association between leptin and age, height, or blood pressure. When these associations were adjusted for BMI, age, glucose, and waist circumference were significantly associated with leptin. The lifestyle factors examined did not help to explain the observed variation in leptin concentrations between individuals when results were adjusted for degree of adiposity and age.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Development of obesity and insulin resistance in the Israeli sand rat (Psammomys obesus). Does leptin play a role?

The Israeli Sand Rat (Psammomys obesus) is an excellent polygenic model for the study of obesity and diabetes. The metabolic characteristics and the heterogeneous development of these defects, including elevated leptin levels, mimic those found in susceptible human populations. Interestingly, only animals that develop metabolic abnormalities demonstrate hyperleptinemia and, in these animals, leptin administration at the same dose that is effective in ob/ob mice is ineffective in reducing food intake or body weight. Perhaps leptin resistance needs to develop in Israeli Sand Rats to allow the development of obesity and, in fact, leptin resistance may be the "thrifty gene" that predisposes individuals to the development of obesity and subsequent metabolic abnormalities. However, there remain many unanswered questions about the physiological actions of leptin. The widespread tissue location of receptors and the actions of leptin independent of food intake highlight the need for further research aimed at determining the major physiological action of this newly discovered and exciting hormone.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Otalgia with a normal ear.

Ear pain is a diagnostic problem when examination of the ear shows no pathology. Referred otalgia may be caused by neoplasms; dental abnormalities or infections; temporomandibular joint dysfunction; sinus, pharyngeal or salivary gland infections; temporal arteritis; cervical arthritis, or one of the neuralgias. Ear pain may also be psychogenic.

Brain Neoplasms↗

PubMed1983