Association between vitamin D status and malondialdehyde in T2DM patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The association of vitamin D with oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with peripheral neuropathy (pDPN) has not been investigated in the literature yet. In this regard, we aimed to investigate the link between vitamin D status and malondialdehyde secretion in T2DM with pDPN. We included the T2DM patients with and without pDPN from a main tertiary medical diabetic center in Duhok City in this case-control investigation from September 2021 to March 2022. The patients aged between 40 and 70 years old. The patients were diagnosed based on the American Diabetes Association criteria. The T2DM patients with pDPN had a significantly lower level of vitamin D (12.10 ng/ml vs. 16.86 ng/ml; P=0.0013.) compared to the patients without compilations, respectively. The T2DM patients with pDPN had a significantly higher prevalence of severe deficiency (45.83% vs. 16.67%), while the patients without compilations had a significantly higher prevalence of deficient vitamin D (50.0% vs. 37.50%; P=0.0053). Moreover, the T2DM patients with pDPN had a significantly higher concentration of MDA compared to the T2DM patients without complications (30.55 nmol/ml vs. 16.6 nmol/ml; P=0.0098). The study did not find a significant correlation between MDA and vitamin D levels in T2DM patients with pDPN. This study showed that a higher concentration of MDA was not associated with lower vitamin D levels in T2DM patients with pDPN.

Vitamin D status and its association with inflammatory markers among Kurdish type 2 diabetic patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Several clinical studies have shown an association between vitamin D deficiency and painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). However, it is still unclear whether vitamin D status and inflammatory markers correlate in patients with painful DPN. In this context, we aimed to investigate the associations between serum vitamin D levels and inflammatory status in Kurdish type 2 diabetes patients (T2DM) with painful DPN and without painful DPN. A clinical case-control study was conducted on 86 Kurdish patients with T2DM. The patients were divided into two groups: the case group consisted of 45 patients with painful DPN and the control group consisted of 41 age- and sex-matched diabetics without DPN. In T2DM patients with and without painful DPN, the prevalence of severe vitamin D deficiency was observed in 46.67% and 21.95% of the patients, respectively (p = 0.0283). The mean serum 25(OH)-vitamin D level in patients with painful DPN (mean = 12.00, SD = 5.78) was significantly lower than in patients without DPN (mean = 16.36, SD = 7.86; p = 0.0041). Regression analysis revealed that vitamin D deficiency (p = 0.0120) and higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (p = 0.00003) were identified as predictive risk factors for painful DPN. However, there was no significant association between inflammatory status and vitamin D levels. The duration of sun exposure was the only controlling factor for vitamin D in painful DPN patients. In the Kurdish population, lower vitamin D and high HbA1c levels were predictive factors for painful DPN.

Exploration of Association Between Respiratory Vaccinations With Infection and Mortality Rates of COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: Respiratory disease vaccines may affect coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) - associated infection and mortality rates due to vaccine nonspecific effects against viral infections. We compared the infection and mortality rates in relation to COVID-19 between countries with and without universal respiratory disease vaccine policies. METHODS: In this ecological study, 186 countries with COVID-19 statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) were included. RESULTS: The study found that countries with universal BCG (bacillus Calmette Guérin) vaccine had significantly lower total infection and mortality rates, 0.2979 and 0.0077 versus 3.7445, and 0.0957/1000 people and confirmed cases (P < 0.001). The countries with universal pneumococcal vaccine (PCV), including PCV1, PCV2, and PCV3 vaccines, had significantly higher total mortality, 0.0111 versus 0.0080, respectively (P = 0.032). Higher income was associated with increasing total infection and mortality rates. Whereas, BCG vaccination was associated with a lower total mortality rate only (P = 0.030). The high-income countries were more likely to not receive universal BCG and receive second dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV2) and third dose of PCV3 vaccination coverage. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection rates increased with increasing years of the second dose of measles-containing vaccine (P = 0.026) and pneumococcal conjugate third dose (PCV3). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that BCG vaccination could reduce the infection caused by COVID-19, and MCV2 vaccine years increases the total infection rate. This study identified high economic characteristics and not having universal BCG coverage as the independent risk factors of mortality by multivariate analysis.

The effectiveness of military physical exercise on irisin concentrations and oxidative stress among male healthy volunteers.

Background Irisin, a newly discovered hormone, is secreted into the circulation from skeletal muscles in response to physical exercise. The biochemical parameters related to irisin secretion have not been sufficiently investigated yet. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of exercise on the level of irisin and its correlation with biochemical and oxidative stress parameters. Materials and methods In this pre- and post-test observational study, 39 healthy male volunteers from a military training setting were followed up on between September and November 2015. The individuals who were included in this study were between 22 and 27 years old with an average age of 24. Those with inflammatory disorders or chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus were excluded from the study. The parameters were measured at the baseline, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks of intervention. Results The study found that the systolic and diastolic blood pressures substantially decreased after 8 weeks of intervention. The cholesterol-to-HDL ratio and glucose levels were significantly higher at the baseline compared to 8 weeks. Total protein and albumin were significantly higher following 4 weeks (0.25 and 0.21 g/dL) and 8 weeks (0.32 and 0.16 g/dL), respectively. Meanwhile, total globulin and irisin increased following 8 weeks of the intervention by only 0.16 g/dL and 0.41 µg/mL, respectively. The high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) decreased following 8 weeks (-0.81 µg/mL). The protein carbonyl (PC) decreased following 4 weeks by only 0.34 nmol/L. Conclusions This study demonstrated that military training enhanced irisin hormone secretion following 8 weeks of military exercise.

Circulating human anti nucleolus antibody (ANCAb) and biochemical parameters in type 2 diabetic patients with and without complications.

INTRODUCTION: There is no evidence on the role of Human Anti Nucleolus Antibody (ANCAb) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We compared prevalence and concentration of ANCAb between age and a gender-matched sample of T2DM with and without diabetes-related complications. METHODS: In this study, the reaction to ANCAb was compared quantitatively between 38 T2DM patients complicated with microvascular conditions and 43 T2DM without complications as controls. RESULTS: The patients in complicated and non-complicated groups were comparable in diabetes duration (9.0 vs. 5.0 years; P = 0.065), respectively. The study found that 27 cases (71.1%) of the complicated group reacted to ANCAb test compared to 25 (58.1%) in non-complicated patients (P = 0.226; 3.53 vs. 2.72 ng/mL; P = 0.413). The reaction response to ANCAb in patients with neuropathy and cardiovascular complications was 80.0%, 76.2% in patients with neuropathy compared to 58.1% in the control group (P = 0.398). The reaction response to ANCAb in patients with mono-complication was 72.7% compared 68.8% in patients with multi-complication (P = 0.466). Similarly, 76.2% of patients with T2DM and complicated with neuropathy (n = 21 patients) reacted to ANCAb compared to 58.1% in control patients with (P = 0.158). CONCLUSIONS: Reaction to ANCAb was not statistically different between the T2DM patients with and without complications.

Circulating betatrophin in relation to metabolic, inflammatory parameters, and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: Recently, it was suggested that betatrophin has a role in controlling pancreatic ß cell proliferation and lipid metabolism, however, its role in human subjects has not been established yet. The predicting role of betatrophin and MDA along with other biochemical indicators in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a sample of the Iraqi population was examined in the present investigation. METHODS: A total of 31 patients diagnosed with T2DM and 30 adult subjects without diabetes were matched in age and gender in a case-control study. Logistic and linear regression models were performed to examine the role of MDA and betatrophin in T2DM and triglyceride, respectively. RESULTS: The study confirmed a higher concentration of LDL (124.45 vs. 102.70 mg/dL; P = .001) and TG (191.13 vs. 103.83 mg/dL; P < .0001), insulin (18.40 vs. 10.97 µU/mL; P < .0001), and Hs. CRP (5.39 vs. 2.80 mg/L; P = .033) in diabetic patients compared to the controls. No significant difference in betatrophin and MDA was found between diabetic patients and non-diabetic healthy subjects. The study showed triglyceride as the only predictor of T2DM (P = .028). Similarly, total cholesterol (P < .0001), HDL (P = .001), LDL (P < .0003), and MDA (P = .010) were shown as predictors of triglyceride in diabetic patients. CONCLUSION: The present study that triglyceride is a direct and MDA is an indirect predictor for T2DM.

Association of irisin and oxidative stress with biochemical parameters in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Background Irisin, a hormone-like myokine, is suspected to have a role in metabolic syndrome (MetS) through regulating energy homeostasis and mediating physical activity. In this regard, the role of irisin and malondialdehyde (MDA) along with some other biochemical parameters in the prediction of MetS was examined in the present investigation. Materials and methods In the present case-control study, 36 subjects diagnosed with MetS according to International Diabetes Federation were considered as cases and were matched in age and gender with 31 healthy participants. The difference of biochemical indicators between cases and controls were determined whether by independent t-test or the Mann-Whitney U-test. The predictors of MetS and insulin resistance (IR) were examined through logistic and linear regressions analysis models, respectively. Results Irisin and MDA were not found to be predictors for MetS in logistic regression; p = 0.258 and p = 0.694, respectively. The IR was found to be the only direct predictor of MetS (p = 0.010). Similarly, in linear regression, irisin and MDA were not identified to be predictors for IR; p = 0.801 and p = 0.781, respectively. Conclusions The study did not show that irisin and MDA, directly and indirectly, were predictors of MetS disorder. The IR was only predictor of MetS.

Impacts of self-management education on glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVES: Dietary and physical activity advice have been considered to be seminal ingredients in prevention and management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this regard, the impacts of a three-month self-management intervention on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes were examined in the present study. STUDY DESIGN: A Double-arm post-test intervention study. METHODS: In the current post-test intervention study, three two-hour educational sessions on dietary habits and physical activity designed according to Health Belief Model were presented to 16 non-complicated type 2 diabetic patients and their dietary, physical activities, and biochemical outcomes were compared to a 23 patient-control arm in Iraq in 2017. The level of physical activity was measured through International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), dietary habits through UK Diabetes and Diet Questionnaire (UKDDQ), and biochemical indicators including HbA1c were measured after three months of program completion. RESULTS: The study showed that walking, taking vegetable, fruit, and bread were higher and taking full-fat cheese and full-fat spread was lower among experimental group significantly compared to control arm. In addition, the experimental group had a substantial higher albumin and lower urea, ALP-Phosphatase, and glucose levels in comparison with control patients. No substantial change was seen in HbA1C and no change in milk and fish products. CONCLUSIONS: The substantial positive changes in physical activity, dietary habits, and some biochemical indicators were seen following intervention completion in the experimental arm.