Potential roles of chromium on inflammatory biomarkers in diabetes: A Systematic

Diabetes, as a low‐grade chronic inflammatory disease, causes disruption in proper function of immune and metabolic system. Chromium is an important element required for normal lipid and glucose metabolism. Chromium deficiency is correlated with elevation in cardiometabolic risk, which results from increased inflammation. This systematic review was conducted to discover the potential roles of chromium on inflammatory biomarkers. Eligible studies were all in vitro, animal and human studies published in English‐language journals from inception until October 2018. PubMed, Scopus, Embase, ProQuest and Google Scholar databases were searched to fined interventional studies from the effects of chromium on inflammatory biomarkers such as tumour necrosis factor a (TNF‐a), C‐reactive protein (CRP), interleukins, monocyte chemoattractant protein–1 (MCP‐1), intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) and adipocytokines in hyperglycaemia and diabetes. Out of 647 articles found in the search, only 14 articles were eligible for analysis, three in vitro studies, eight animal studies and three human studies. Twelve of the 14 studies included in this review, chromium significantly decreased inflammatory factors. The findings of this review indicate, based on in vitro and in vivo studies, that chromium might have potential anti‐inflammatory properties, but some of the studies did not show anti‐inflammatory effects for chromium (two studies). There are only three studies in humans with controversial results. Therefore, more consistent randomized double‐blind controlled trials are needed to reach relevant clinical recommendations, as well as to determine the precise mechanism, of chromium on inflammation in diabetes.     

Potential Animal Reservoirs of Toscana Virus and Coinfections with Leishmania infantum in Turkey

Toscana virus (TOSV), a sandfly-borne phlebovirus, is an important agent of human meningoencephalitis in the Mediterranean region, for which vertebrates acting as reservoirs have not yet been determined. This study investigates TOSV and Leishmania infections in dogs, cats, sheep, and goats from Adana and Mersin provinces in southeastern Turkey. TOSV neutralizing antibodies were demonstrated in 40.4% of the dog and 4% of the goat samples. TOSV RNA was detected in 9.9% of the 252 samples that mainly comprise dogs (96%). Thus, canine species can be suggested as the candidate reservoirs of TOSV. Partial sequences revealed the activity of TOSV genotypes A and B. In two dogs presenting with symptoms of canine leishmaniasis, infections of TOSV genotype B and Leishmania infantum have been documented, describing the first report of coinfections with these agents.     

Dietary patterns and anthropometric indices among Iranian women with major depressive disorder

Major depression is a common mental disorder among women. A number of studies have demonstrated the association between some nutrients and food items with depression, but the studies on the association of dietary patterns with depression, especially in the Middle East, are rare. Further, the literature examining the relationship between anthropometric status and depression are inconsistent. In this study, 45 women with major depression and 90 patients with no mental disorder participated. We collected dietary intakes by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and measured anthropometric indices (weight, height, waist and hip circumferences). Using factor analysis, two major dietary patterns were extracted: Healthy and Unhealthy. After adjusting for confounders, individuals who gained higher scores in healthy dietary pattern, had 84% lower odds of major depression; while the odds of major depression in participants who gained higher scores in unhealthy dietary pattern showed no significant association. No significant association was found between anthropometric indices and major depression. These results suggest that the healthy dietary pattern is significantly associated with lower odds of major depression in adult women. Further researches are needed to confirm these findings.     

The effect of l‐carnitine supplementation on serum levels of omentin‐1, visfatin and SFRP5 and glycemic indices in patients with pemphigus vulgaris: A randomized,double‐blind,placebo‐controlled clinical trial

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a chronic autoimmune disorder with potentially fatal outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of l ‐carnitine (LC) on secreted frizzled‐related protein‐5 (SFRP5), omentin, visfatin, and glycemic indices in PV patients under corticosteroid treatment. In this randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial, 52 patients with PV were divided randomly into two groups to receive 2 g of LC or a placebo for 8 weeks. Serum levels of SFRP5, omentin, visfatin, and also glycemic indices were evaluated at the baseline and end of the study. LC supplementation significantly decreased the serum level of visfatin (95% CI [?14.718, ?0.877], p = .05) and increased the serum levels of SFRP5 (95%CI [1.637, 11.380], p < .006) and omentin (95% CI [9.014, 65.286], p < .01). However, LC supplementation had no significant effects on the serum levels of glycemic factors such as insulin (95% CI [?1.125, 3.056], p = .426), fasting blood sugar (95% CI [?4.743, 3.642], p = .894), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (95% CI [?0.305, 0.528], p = .729), and quantitative insulin‐sensitivity check index (95% CI [?0.016, ?0.010], p = .81). LC supplementation decreased visfatin serum level and increased omentin‐1 and SFRP5 serum levels in patients with PV. However, it has no significant effect on the serum levels of insulin and glycemic indices.     

Use of dermal-fat grafts in the post-oncological reconstructive surgery of atrophies in the zygomatic region: clinical evaluations in the patients undergone to previous radiation therapy

Cystadenolymphomas (Warthin's tumors) are the second most frequent lesions of the parotid gland. Due to their benign clinical behavior, the low rates of recurrence and malignant transformation they were classified as tumor-like lesions. In addition, a polyclonal growth of the epithelial components of the tumor could be detected. Warthin's tumors occur bilateral in 7-10%, whereas a multifocal appearance is extremely rare. Even if the pathogenesis is still unclear a heterotopia of salivary tissue during embryogenesis is the most likely explanation for the origin of these tumors in the upper neck and periparotideal region. Here we present a rare case of bilateral, multifocal, extraglandular Warthin's tumors in lymph nodes of the upper neck and give a brief review of the literature. If a primary malignancy can be excluded by a careful staging procedure prior to the operation an isolated excision of the lesions of the neck is the adequate treatment.     

Effect of retinol on iron bioavailability from Iranian bread in a Caco-2 cell culture model

OBJECTIVE: Iron and vitamin A deficiencies are among the most prevalent nutritional problems. There are no data on iron bioavailability in Iran. In addition, interaction of vitamin A with iron bioavailability is not well documented, so we determined iron bioavailability from the most widely consumed food in Iran, lavash bread, and the effect of vitamin A on this bioavailability. METHODS: In vivo human studies for determining iron bioavailability are cumbersome, time consuming, and costly to perform, so we used an in vitro model in Caco-2 cells. Bread samples were digested with or without vitamin A (10 microg/1.0 g of dried bread). We used an iron solution containing vitamin C as a positive control. Iron absorption was measured using 59FeCl3. Bioavailability was defined as the percentage of radiolabeled iron taken up and transferred by Caco-2 cells after 1.5 h of incubation. Experiments were carried out two to four times. RESULTS: Mean +/- standard deviations for iron bioavailability in bread samples digested without or with additional vitamin A and in controls were 2.53 +/- 1.55%, 6.62 +/- 3.40%, and 20.80 +/- 2.30%, respectively (P < 0.001). Vitamin A caused a 2.62-fold increase in iron absorption from bread samples. CONCLUSIONS: Iranian lavash bread has low iron bioavailability, but this can be increased by vitamin A supplementation. Increasing vitamin A intake can be considered as a method for increasing iron bioavailability, thus combating iron and vitamin A deficiencies simultaneously.     

Effect of folic acid supplementation on biochemical indices in overweight and obese men with type 2 diabetes

Aims

This study performed to determine the effects of folate supplementation on indices of glycemic control, insulin resistance and lipid profile in overweight and obese men with type 2 diabetes under metformin (at least 1500 mg daily) treatment.

Methods

The study was a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial. Forty-eight overweight and obese men (aged 58.2 ± 8.9 years; BMI = 28.6 ± 2.9 kg/m²) with type 2 diabetes participated in the study. Patients were divided randomly into two groups of folic acid (5 mg/d) and placebo. All patients received the tablets for eight weeks.

Results

Supplementation with folic acid led to 8% decrease in HbA1C (p = 0.048), 7.5% in fasting blood glucose (p = 0.051), 16.2% in serum insulin (p = 0.021), 20.5% in insulin resistance (p = 0.041) and 21.2% in plasma homocysteine (p = 0.000). A significant increase in serum folate and B12 levels (19% and 17.3%, p = 0.000, respectively) were observed in the folic acid group, whereas no significant changes occurred in the placebo group. Also, in the folic acid and placebo groups, there were no significant changes in body weight.

Conclusions

Folic acid supplementation lowered plasma level of homocysteine, improved glycemic control and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes.     

Vitamin E Improves Serum Paraoxonase-1 Activity and Some Metabolic Factors in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: No Effects on Nitrite/Nitrate Levels

Objective: It is known that markers of oxidative stress and nitrite/nitrate anion (NO_x) increase and activity of antioxidative enzyme paraoxonase-1 decline in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The effects of vitamin E on paraoxonase-1 activity and NO_x in patients with type 2 diabetes are not known. The purpose of this study was to examine the hypothesis that vitamin E supplementation would affect paraoxonase-1 activity, metabolic factors, and NO_x in patients with DM.

Methods: This double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted on 83 patients with DM aged 30–60 years. Forty-two of the subjects had taken 400 IU/day vitamin E and 41 were given placebo over 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples, anthropometric measurements, and dietary intake data were collected at the baseline and at the end of the trial.

Results: Vitamin E significantly increased serum vitamin E level, paraoxonase-1 activity, and total antioxidant status (TAS) and decreased fasting blood sugar (FBS) compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Hemoglobin A1c, serum insulin, and insulin resistance significantly decreased in the vitamin E group compared to baseline values (p < 0.05). Alterations in serum levels of malondialdehyde and NO_x were not significant in any of groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: Vitamin E improved serum vitamin E level, paraoxonase-1 activity, TAS, and FBS in patients with type 2 diabetes. Longitudinal studies are warranted to assess the outcome of these results in reducing complications of diabetes in patients with type 2 diabetes.     

A comparison of fetal behaviour in breech and cephalic presentations at term

Objective To evaluate fetal behaviour in breech and cephalic fetuses at term, using a computerised fetal behaviour program.
Design An observational study.
Setting Pregnancy Assessment Centre, University Hospital, Nottingham.
Sample Twenty-six breech and 58 cephalic fetuses between 36 and 41 weeks.
Methods Behaviour (fetal heart rate and activity) was recorded with the use of Doppler ultrasound. The duration of recording was 60 minutes or more in all but four recordings (minimum 49 minutes).
Main outcome measures Behavioural criteria studied were 1. the relative percentage time spent in low and high variation fetal heart rate patterns; 2. the duration and recurrence of fetal activity; 3. the number of accelerations in low and high fetal heart rate variation; and 4. the number of fetal behavioural state transitions.
Results Breech fetuses differed from the cephalic group in that they were lighter than the cephalic fetuses (median 3105 g vs 3400 g;   P < 0.01  ) and were born to older mothers (median maternal age 30 years vs 28 years;   P < 0.01  ). No significant differences were found in rates of movement, numbers of accelerations and time exhibiting low and high fetal heart rate variation. However, breech fetuses exhibited significantly more state transitions (median 5.2h vs 3.69h;   P = 0.01  ).
Conclusions This study shows that breech fetuses are neurologically different from their cephalic counterparts in otherwise healthy pregnancies, and that subtle behavioural differences can be demonstrated in utero using this computerised method.