Results A detectable range of C-peptide was found in the hair samples of all the subjects with a median of 63.59 pg/mg hair and it was positively correlated with FPG but no significant correlation was found between hair C-peptide and serum C-peptide levels. The hair C-peptide level, along with FPG and HbA1c, was significantly different according to age. Conclusion These results conclude that C-peptide can be detected from and measured in the scalp hair of humans and it is positively correlated with FPG, and it is significantly different according to age. This technique, if validated, may verify its usefulness in future studies of both healthy and diseased subjects. © 2020 Abdulateef and Salih.Introduction and Objectives We investigated the efficacy and safety of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors as an add-on therapy in patients with advanced-stage diabetic kidney disease taking renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers. Materials and Methods Changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), body weight, systolic blood pressure, and annual change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were retrospectively analyzed in 20 patients after 12 months of SGLT-2 inhibitor administration (mean eGFR 22.8 ± 9.7 mL/min/1.73 m2). All patients had advanced-stage diabetic kidney disease and were taking RAS blockers. Twenty patients matched with similar propensity scores who were not taking SGLT-2 inhibitors served as the control group. Results The annual change in eGFR improved significantly from -8.6 ± 12.5 mL/min/1.73 m2/year to -2.6 ± 5.0 mL/min/1.73 m2/year after 12 months by SGLT-2 inhibitor administration (p less then 0.05), but did not change in the control group. Other clinical parameters, such as HbA1c, UACR, body weight, blood pressure, serum lipids, and electrolytes did not change in either group. No adverse effects were observed by taking SGLT-2 inhibitors. Conclusion Using SGLT-2 inhibitors as an add-on therapy may have beneficial effects on renal function in patients with advanced-stage diabetic kidney disease taking RAS blockers without any adverse effects. © 2020 Hirai et al.Purpose To investigate the relationship between diabetes self-care behavior and cognitive function of hospitalized young and middle-aged Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Patients and Methods In this cross-sectional study, young and middle-aged T2DM patients (age range, 35-65 years) were recruited at 4 tertiary hospitals between July 2016 and January 2017. Data pertaining to self-care behavior and cognitive function were collected using two questionnaires (the Summary of Diabetes Self-care Activities [SDSCA] and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA], respectively). Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to assess the correlation between cognitive function and self-care activities. Results A total of 140 patients with diabetes were enrolled (mean age, 53.79±7.96 years). The mean duration of T2DM was 10.83±6.76 years. Regarding SDSCA performance, the mean scores for foot care and blood glucose monitoring were 2.20±2.57 and 1.98±2.45, respectively, which were the worst; scores for exercise (4.01±2.58) and diet (3.16±1.89) were better, while scores for medication administration (5.26±2.79) were the best. The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 37.9% (53 patients). After variables adjustment, delayed recall showed a significant correlation with blood sugar monitoring behavior (B =0.224, P=0.019); visual space and executive function (B=0.255, P=0.009) and abstraction (B=-0.337, P=0.001) showed a correlation with foot care behavior. Conclusion Cognitive ability affects the self-care behavior of patients with T2DM. Assessment of cognitive function may help inform patient education interventions to improve the self-care behavior of these patients. © 2020 Yang et al.Purpose Neuromuscular blockade in the operating room necessitates the utilization of reversal agents to accelerate postoperative recovery and sustain operating room patient throughput. Cholinesterase inhibitors represent the historical standard of care for neuromuscular blockade reversal within anesthesia practice. Sugammadex, a synthetic gamma-cyclodextrin, was introduced to the market with evidence of more rapid and predictable reversal of neuromuscular blockade compared to alternative agents. Higher medication acquisition costs have limited more extensive use of sugammadex compared to that of neostigmine/glycopyrrolate. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of sugammadex versus neostigmine/glycopyrrolate on perioperative efficiency to validate medication acquisition cost value. Methods A retrospective investigation was performed of patients with a surgical procedure at Houston Methodist Hospital from July 31, 2017 through August 1, 2018. The primary endpoint was time from reversal medication w capacity for increased surgical case volume. Consideration of the medication acquisition cost promotes more restrictive use of sugammadex to indications with clinical relevance. © 2020 Deyhim et al.Purpose This study aimed to explore the differences in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings between intraspinal tuberculosis and metastatic cancer, which may aid in making the correct diagnosis. Patients and Methods The clinical features and MRI findings of 15 patients with intraspinal tuberculosis and 11 patients with intraspinal metastatic cancers were retrospectively analyzed. Results The mean ages of the patients with intraspinal tuberculosis and metastatic cancer were 26.3 (15-42) and 52.1 (38-67) years, respectively.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/Temsirolimus.html  All intraspinal tuberculosis cases were secondary to primary extraspinal tuberculosis, including tuberculous meningitis (11/15), as well as pulmonary (9/15), vertebral (5/15), urinary tract (1/15), abdominal (1/15), cervical lymph node (1/15), and multisystem tuberculosis (9/15). The intraspinal metastases originated from the breast (5/11), lung (3/11), kidney (1/11), ovarian (1/11), and nasopharyngeal cancers (1/11). Both intraspinal tuberculosis and metastatic cancers presented with multiple intra- and extramedullary lesions throughout all regional segments of the spinal canal, accompanied by irregularly thickened meninges.