Effects of oat bran and nutrition counseling on the lipid and glucose profile and anthropometric parameters of hypercholesterolemia patients

Background: In order to prevent chronic, non communicable disease, it is essential that lifestyle is modified to include a diet high in fiber. Aim: To assess the effect oat bran (OB) in conjunction with nutrition counseling (NC) have on lipid and glucose profile, anthropometric parameters, quality of diet, and ingestion of ultraprocessed foods (UPF) and additives in hypercholesterolemia sufferers. Method: This was a 90-day, double-blind, placebo-controlled, block-randomized trial undertaken on 132 men and women with LDL-c ≥ 130 mg/dL. The participants were sorted into two groups: OB Group (OBG) and Placebo Group (PLG), and were given NC and 40g of either OB or rice flour, respectively. Lipid and glucose profile were assessed, as were the anthropometric data, quality of diet (Diet Quality Index revised for the Brazilian population - DQI-R) and whether or not UPF or additives were consumed. Results: Both groups showed a significant decrease in anthropometric parameters and blood pressure, as well as a significant reduction in total and LDL cholesterol. There was also an improvement in DQI-R in both groups and a decrease in consumption of UPF. Blood sugar, HOMA-IR and QUICKI values were found to be significantly lower only in the OBG. Conclusion: Our findings in lipid profile and anthropometric parameters signify that NC has a beneficial effect, which is attributable to the improved quality of diet and reduced consumption of UPF. Daily consumption of 40 g of OB was found to be of additional benefit, in decreasing insulin-resistance parameters.

Curas húmedas en dermatitis atópica: nuestra experiencia

En ocasiones, los brotes de dermatitis atópica pueden ser graves y de difícil control, resistentes a los tratamientos habituales. En estos casos podemos recurrir al empleo de curas húmedas, un procedimiento con buenos resultados y escasos efectos secundarios. Presentamos una serie de casos de cinco pacientes con brotes moderados-graves resistentes al tratamiento convencional, tratados mediante curas húmedas con betametasona o propionato de fluticasona diluidos al 10% en la crema hidratante durante un intervalo de tiempo de entre 4-6 días. Se obtuvo la resolución completa del brote en cuatro casos, continuándose en el caso restante las curas de forma domiciliaria durante 2-3 días más, con posterior resolución completa. Ningún paciente presentó efectos adversos.