High dose vitamin D supplementation can improve menstrual problems,dysmenorrhea, and premenstrual syndrome in adolescents

Vitamin D has a crucial role in female reproduction, possibly through its effects on calcium homeostasis, cyclic sex steroid hormone fluctuations, or neurotransmitter function. We have assessed the effects of vitamin D supplementation on dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in adolescents. In this study, 897 adolescent girls living in Mashhad and Sabzevar, Iran, received nine high-dose vitamin D supplements (as 50,000?IU/week of cholecalciferol) and were followed up over 9 weeks. We evaluated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on individuals in four categories: those with only PMS; individuals with only dysmenorrhea; subjects with both PMS and dysmenorrhea and normal subjects. The prevalence of PMS after the intervention fell from 14.9% to 4.8% (p?p?相似文献   

Roles of IL-6 in Ocular Inflammation: A Review

Purpose: This review represents the current in vitro, in vivo animal and human researches on the roles of IL-6 in inflammatory ocular disorders. Data sources were literature reviewed using PubMed, Medline, and ISI Databases (since 1981 to late 2016). Search items included interleukine-6 (IL-6); chemokine; cytokine, alone or in combination with serum, aqueous, vitreous, eye, ocular, ophthalmic, and review.

Results: IL-6 is found to be involved in ocular inflammation. Ocular effects of IL-6 differ based on the source of the secretion and site of the action. The most important effects of IL-6 in the eyes are angiogenic activities and induction of ocular inflammation.

Conclusion: IL-6 plays an important role in ocular inflammation and angiogenesis in conjunctiva, cornea, iris, retina, and orbit. Anti-IL-6 targeted immunotherapy has recently been employed as an important treatment modality in IL-6-related ocular disorders, provided that IL-6 signal blocking takes place in preferred and favorite targets.     

The spectrum of Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease in Iran

Purpose

To report the spectrum of Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada (VKH) disease in Persians.

Materials and methods

This is a retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with VKH disease at four referral centers in Iran. Patients’ demographics, ocular and extraocular manifestations, treatment modalities, complications, and visual outcomes were collected and analyzed.

Results

Eighty-eight patients with a mean age of 32.1 ± 12.6 years (range 7–79 years) were studied. Fifty-nine patients (67.0%) were female. Sunset glow fundus was seen in 40.9%, and nummular peripheral chorioretinal scars in 55.7% of eyes. Integumentary findings were noticed in 14.8% of the patients. In patients with acute presentation, exudative retinal detachment was the most common ocular finding (87.8%) followed by optic disk swelling (71.4%). Anterior uveitis and vitritis each were found in about half of the studied eyes. Auditory symptoms were reported by 38.8% of the patients. Overall, immunomodulatory agents were used in 72.7% of the patients. Ocular complications occurred in 36.4% of eyes (mean follow-up 3.8 years, range 6–228 months). Final visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 73.3% of eyes. Four patients (4.5%) were classified as having ‘complete’ type of the disease, 36 (40.9%) ‘incomplete’ type, and 48 (54.5%) ‘probable’ type.

Conclusion

In our series, there are clinical features that differ from those reported in other studies. While auditory symptoms occurred in more than one-third of patients, integumentary findings were rather rare. Most patients exhibited the ‘probable’ type of VKH disease. The overall visual prognosis was favorable.

     

Design,preparation, and characterization of CS/PVA/SA hydrogels modified with mesoporous Ag2O/SiO2 and curcumin nanoparticles for green,biocompatible, and antibacterial biopolymer film

One of the most significant factors affecting the rapid and effective healing of wounds is the application of appropriate wound dressings. In the present study, novel antibacterial wound dressings are fabricated that consist of Chitosan (CS)/Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/Sodium Alginate (SA), which are all biocompatible, functionalized with mesoporous Ag₂O/SiO₂ and curcumin nanoparticles as reinforcements. In this research nanocomposites are fabricated (0 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt%, and 20 wt% of Ag₂O/SiO₂). After the composition of nanocomposites using the cross-linked technique, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy is performed to confirm the functional groups that are added to the polymer at each step. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is done to show the crystallinity of Ag₂O/SiO₂. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) studies are performed to demonstrate the morphology of the structure, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) is done to examine the elements in the wound dressing and atomic force microscopy (AFM) study is performed to show surface roughness and pores. Then the nanocomposites with different weight percentages are cultured in three bacteria called Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Proteus mirabilis, all three of which cause skin infections. Finally, by performing the tensile test, the results related to the tensile strength of the wound dressings are examined. The results show that with the increase of Ag₂O/SiO₂, the mechanical properties, as well as the healing properties of the wound dressing, have increased significantly. Fabricating these nanocomposites helps a lot in treating skin infections.

CS/PVA/SA hydrogels modified with mesoporous Ag₂O/SiO₂ and curcumin nanoparticles for antibacterial biopolymer film.     

Metabolic effects of L-citrulline in type 2 diabetes

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing worldwide. Decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability is involved in the pathophysiology of T2D and its complications. L -citrulline (Cit), a precursor of NO production, has been suggested as a novel therapeutic agent for T2D. Available data from human and animal studies indicate that Cit supplementation in T2D increases circulating levels of Cit and L -arginine while decreasing circulating glucose and free fatty acids and improving dyslipidemia. The underlying mechanisms for these beneficial effects of Cit include increased insulin secretion from the pancreatic β cells, increased glucose uptake by the skeletal muscle, as well as increased lipolysis and β-oxidation, and decreased glyceroneogenesis in the adipose tissue. Thus, Cit has antihyperglycemic, antidyslipidemic, and antioxidant effects and has the potential to be used as a new therapeutic agent in the management of T2D. This review summarizes available literature from human and animal studies to explore the effects of Cit on metabolic parameters in T2D. It also discusses the possible mechanisms underlying Cit-induced improved metabolic parameters in T2D.