Case Report
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Ganoderma lucidum (L) is considered an effective medicinal mushroom. The main goal of this research was to investigate whether the beneficial effects of G. lucidum found in various in vitro or animal studies can be translated to chronic metabolic diseases such as diabetes in humans. Here, we present a case study of a person with diabetes after treatment with G. lucidum and provide important information on fasting blood glucose (FG) levels, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile, and various other blood parameters. After taking G. lucidum hot water extract for three months, FG levels decreased from 198 mg/dL to 177.3 mg/dL. HbA1c fell by 1.5%. Serum total cholesterol (TC) decreased from 210 to 170 mg/dL, and triglyceride (TG) levels decreased from 220 to 150 mg/dL, while serum high-density cholesterol (HDL-C) increased from 25 to 35 mg/dL. Low-density cholesterol (LDL-C) only decreased by 9 mg/dL. Serum creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and total bilirubin levels were not changed. Therefore, it is concluded that G. lucidum hot water extract had antidiabetic and antidyslipidemic effects without affecting hepatorenal functions.
Research Article
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Background and Purpose: The pharmacotherapy options in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are insulin or oral antihyperglycemic agents. Insulin is the preferred medication for treating hyperglycemia, but in recent years, metformin has been increasingly used in the treatment of GDM.
Aim: The aim is to assess the efficacy of different treatments (insulin and metformin) in women with GDM.
Methods: Screening for GDM was performed in 2422 pregnant women and revealed GDM in 119 women [75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed at 24–28 weeks of gestation]. All patients started treatment at 24–29 weeks of gestation. The patients were divided into two groups (Gr.): Gr. 1 had 68 patients treated with diet and insulin therapy. Gr. 2 had 51 patients treated with diet and metformin.
Results: In the 2nd trimester, HbA1c (%) levels for Gr. 1 and Gr. 2 were 6.7 (0.05) and 6.4 (0.6), respectively. By term, HbA1c levels statistically decreased in both groups, but we did not find a statistical difference between the groups. Women from Gr. 2 gained less weight compared to Gr. 1 (1.89 ± 3.88 vs. 4.53 ± 3.67 kg; P = 0.003). In Gr. 1, the percentage of preeclampsia was 2.9%, and in Gr. 2, 3.9% (P = 0.7773, OR - 1.33). We did not find a statistical difference between the groups. The incidence of preterm delivery before 37 weeks of gestation in Gr. 1 was lower than in Gr. 2 (P = 0.7311, OR - 1.33), and we also did not find a statistical difference between the groups. Perinatal mortality was observed in Gr. 1 - 1.4% and in Gr. 2 - 1.9% (P = 0.8402, OR - 1.33). In both groups, we observed a high percentage of cesarean section (Gr. 1 - 32.3% and Gr. 2 - 29.4% (P = 0.7651, OR -1.0909), but we did not find a statistical difference between the groups. In both groups, the percentage of macrosomia was high, despite good glycemic control maintained through pregnancies: 20.0% and 23.0% for Gr. 1 and Gr. 2, respectively (P = 0.9236, OR - 1.0256), and again no statistical difference was found between the groups. Percent of neonatal hypoglycemia was lower in Gr. 2 (1.9%) than in Gr. 1 (4.41%) (P = 0.9236, OR – 1.0256). Percent of respiratory distress syndrome was 2.94% and 3.92% for Gr. 1 and Gr. 2, respectively (P = 0.9694, OR - 0.9893), with no statistical difference between the groups.
Conclusion: We did not find differences between patients treated with diet and insulin therapy and patients treated with diet and metformin. The percentage of preeclampsia, preterm delivery, macrosomia, and perinatal death were similar in both groups; only maternal weight gain was lower in the metformin group.
Case Report
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We report the case of a female patient with a histologic diagnosis of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (ChRCC) after a left laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. Due to the unusual histologic diagnosis, a genetic test was ordered identifying tuberous sclerosis disease.