Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: relation to juvenile obesity, lipid profile, and hepatic enzymes.

The prevalence of juvenile obesity is increasing, reaching epidemic proportions, presenting a link not only to NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) but to abnormal lipid profiles and liver enzyme abnormalities. Liver ultrasonography is a sensitive and specific tool for the recognition of NAFLD. This study aims to assess the association between NAFLD and juvenile obesity and to determine the other related changes in a set of indicators, including lipid profile abnormalities and serum transaminases. The sample included 470 obese and 210 non-obese individuals aged 6-16. Anthropometric measures were assessed, with the serum lipid profile and liver transaminases, and abdominal ultrasonography was used to detect NAFLD. Fatty liver was found in 38% of the obese subjects and none of the non-obese subjects. Within obese subjects, mean body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference increased significantly in patients with NAFLD compared to those without fatty liver. Moreover, LDL (low-density lipoprotein), CHOL (cholesterol), and serum liver enzymes were significantly higher in the presence of NAFLD. In conclusion, NAFLD commonly associates with juvenile obesity, relating to obesity and the abnormal lipid profile (including elevated CHOL and LDL) among obese people, reflecting elevated liver transaminases, which increase the risk of cirrhosis.

Neurocysticercosis: A new concept and insight into basic and future pharmacotherapy.

Neurocysticercosis is a neurological infection caused by the larva of taenia solium. The larva infection may affect different parts of the human brain and spinal cord, leading to focal neurological deficit with/without inflammatory reactions. Neurocysticercosis is one of the major causes of epilepsy in the developing countries. It is of two types. One is extra-parenchymal neurocysticercosis in which cysticerci cysts at subarachinoid space and ventricles lead to obstructive hydrocephalus and increase in the intracranial pressure. The other type is intra-parenchymal neurocysticercosis in which the cysticerci cyst grows inside the brain parenchyma, causing the feature of space-occupying lesion. The common presentation of intra-parenchymal neurocysticercosis is secondary epilepsy which is due to focal lesion and/or local inflammatory reactions. Cysticidal therapy increases the risk of seizure due to the induction of host inflammatory reactions. Therefore, coadministration of corticosteroids reduces the risk of seizure through attenuation of inflammatory reactions and brain oedema. Praziquantel alone or in combination with albendazole is regarded as the basic cysticidal therapy against neurocysticercosis. Newer drugs and agents are recommended to overcome the partial failure of standard cysticidal therapy.