Background The incidence of type 2 diabetes has increased dramatically, particularly among Latinos. While several studies suggest the beneficial effect of lowering glycemic index and glycemic load in patients with type 2 diabetes, no data exists regarding this issue in the Latino population. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of lowering glycemic index and glycemic load on diabetes control, lipid profiles and anthropometrics among Latinos with type 2 diabetes. Methods Subjects participated in a 12 month randomized clinical trial. The intervention targeted diabetes knowledge, attitudes and behavioral capabilities related to diabetes self management with content including nutrition and physical activity. The nutrition protocol emphasized reduction in glycemic index, fat, salt and portion size and increase in fiber. The control group was given usual care. Measurements included Hba1c, fasting glucose, total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL), HDL:LDL ratio, TC:HDL ratio, waist circumference and BMI and were collected at baseline, 4 and 12-months. Results Two hundred fifty two Latino adults with type 2 diabetes participated in the study. Baseline mean HbA1C was 8.98% (SD=1.87), BMI was 34.76 kg/cm (SD=6.94), age was 56 (SD=11.18) years and 76% were female. Reduction in glycemic index was positively associated with a reduction in logHbA1c (p=0.006), HDL:LDL ratio (p=0.037) and waist circumference (p=0.003) overtime, but not with fasting glucose, TC, LDL and HDL, TC:HDL ratio, body weight or BMI. No significant associations were found between glycemic load and any measures. Conclusion Results suggest that lowering glycemic index may have a positive effect on some markers of diabetes control, lipid profiles and anthropometrics among Latinos with type 2 diabetes, but not others. While statistically significant reductions in GI and GL were noted, the actual reduction was small. Thus, greater reduction in GI and GL may be needed for clinical significance and greater effect on metabolic outcomes. Future research should target populations with higher baseline GI and GL.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the loss of insulin producing islet cell mass. While daily insulin injection provides an easy means of glycemic control, it does not prevent long-term complications associated with diabetes. Islet transplantation has been suggested as a permanent cure for type 1 diabetes. However, the recurrence of host immunity and shortage of donor islets hinder the prevalence of islet transplantation. Biomaterial strategies provide an alternative route to solving the problems associated with host immune response and shortage of donor islets. One highly recognized platform for achieving these goals are hydrogels, which are hydrophilic crosslinked polymers with tissue-like elasticity and high permeability. Hydrogels prepared from poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) derivatives are increasingly used for a variety of tissue engineering applications, including encapsulation of pancreatic islets and serving as a material platform for pseudo-islet differentiation. PEG hydrogels formed by mild and rapid thiol-ene photo-click reactions are particularly useful for studying cell behaviors in three-dimension (3D). Thiol-ene PEG-based hydrogels can be rendered biodegradable if appropriate macromer and cross-linker chemistry is employed. However, the influence of hydrogel matrix properties on the survival, growth, and morphogenesis of cells in 3D has not been fully evaluated. This thesis aims at using norbornene-functionalized PEG macromers to prepare thiol-ene hydrogels with various stiffness and degradability, from which to study the influence of hydrogel properties on pancreatic cell fate processes in 3D. Toward establishing an adaptable hydrogel platform for pancreatic tissue engineering, this thesis systematically studies the influence of hydrogel properties on encapsulated endocrine cells (e.g., MIN6 beta-cells) and exocrine cells (PANC-1 cells), as well as human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC). It was found that thiol-ene photo-click hydrogels provide a cytocompatible environment for 3D culture of these cells. However, cell viability was negatively affected in hydrogels with higher cross-linking density. In contrast to a monolayer when cultured on a 2D surface, cells with epithelial characteristic formed clusters and cells with mesenchymal features retained single cell morphology in 3D. Although cells survived in all hydrogel formulations studied, the degree of proliferation, and the size and morphology of cell clusters formed in 3D were significantly influenced by hydrogel matrix compositions. For example: encapsulating cells in hydrogels formed by hydrolytically degradable macromer positively influenced cell survival indicated by increased proliferation. In addition, when cells were encapsulated in thiol-ene gels lacking cell-adhesive motifs, hydrolytic gel degradation promoted their survival and proliferation. Further, adjusting peptide crosslinker type and immobilized ECM-mimetic bioactive cues provide control over cell fate by determining whether observed cellular morphogenesis is cell-mediated or matrix-controlled. These fundamental studies have established PEG-peptide hydrogels formed by thiol-ene photo-click reaction as a suitable platform for pancreatic tissue engineering

Author's name: Bc. Irena Malá School: Charles university, Prague 1st Faculty of Medicine Institut of Theory and Practice of Nursing Vídeňská 800, 140 59 Prague 4 - Krč Program: Health Care Administration Title: Early postoperative care of the patient with the left ventricular assist device HeartMate II Diploma thesis supervisor: PhDr. Hocková Jana, PhD. Number of pages: 170 Number of attachments: 41 Year: 2013 Key words: early postoperative care, hypotermia, blood transfusion, fluid resuscitation, perioperative cardiovascular dysfunction, pharmacologic support, ventricular assist device HeartMateII, monitoration, device, cardiac arrhythmias, ventilation management, postoperative anticoagulation, glycemic kontrol, renal insufficiency, nutrition, nursing, complications, physiotherapy, psychological aspects The occurrence of the heart failure is similar to an epidemic with high mortality. This fact, together with stagnate or even decreasing number of suitable donors, led to a need of replacing the heart pump activity with an artificial one. Mechanical cardiac support systems are sophisticated devices that are able to support a certain period of time or completely replace the function of the heart as a pump. The indications implantation of mechanical cardiac support is significant symptomatic heart...