Anxiety and Depression and Associated Risk Factors among Outpatients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Although mood disorders are prevalent among systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, they are usually underrecognized. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depression among Saudi SLE patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among SLE patients from July 2022 to June 2023 in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect the data through validated tools including the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale-A and the Beck Depression Inventory score. RESULTS: There were 133 females (91.7%) and 12 males (8.3%) included in this study. Based on the HAM-A score, 45.5% of participants had an anxiety disorder, and according to the BDI score, 46.2% had a depression disorder. Anxiety and depression were significantly associated with a longer duration of SLE, unemployment status, smoking, and the presence of comorbidities. Moreover, the present study found a significant association between depression and male gender. CONCLUSION: This study found that Saudi SLE patients have a high prevalence of both anxiety and depression. Therefore, SLE patients should be screened for neuropsychiatric disorders during routine follow-ups and managed as early as possible.

Naringenin ameliorates Cyclophosphamide-induced nephrotoxicity in experimental model.

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is widely described in the management of several nonneoplastic and neoplastic disorders. Renal damage is the most reported toxic effect of CP in clinical practice. Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of Naringenin (NG) in attenuating renal damage induced by CP in an experimental model. A total of 32 rats were divided into four groups (n = 8): negative control: rats fed on a basal diet, positive control: rats injected intraperitoneally with CP 50 mg/kg of body weight/day, NG 100: rats treated with NG 100 mg/kg/day body orally with concomitant administration of CP as described before, and NG 200: rats treated with NG 200 mg/kg/day body orally daily + CP. At the end of the experimental protocol (21 days), blood creatinine and urea levels were measured. The antioxidant activities and lipid peroxidation products were measured in the renal tissues as indicators of oxidative damage. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry staining were also performed on renal tissues. Coadministration of NG along with CP significantly (p < 0.001) improved the renal function and antioxidant capacities compared with positive control animals. Furthermore, histopathological, and immunological examination of renal tissue confirmed the protective effect of NG against CP-induced nephrotoxicity. The current study showed that NG has the potential to protect CP-induced renal damage, which may be beneficial for further studies and the design of NG analogs to be useful in clinical practice against CP-induced nephrotoxicity.

Quercetin Nanoemulsion Ameliorates Neuronal Dysfunction in Experimental Alzheimer's Disease Model.

Aluminum is the most abundant metal that can get admission to the human through several means that include our food, drinking water, cans, drugs, and deodorants, causing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study aims to evaluate the role of quercetin nanoemulsion (QCNE) in attenuating neuronal dysfunction in aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced experimental AD. All animals were classified into six groups including negative control group (I): received a vehicle; QC group: received intraperitoneal (IP) injection of QC; Alzheimer's group: received AlCl3 orally; treated group (I): received AlCl3 orally and IP injection of QC; treated group (II): received AlCl3 orally and QC orally; and treated group (III): received AlCl3 orally and IP injection of QCNE. At the end of the experimental period (30 days), the brain was used to study biochemical parameters (measurement of neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine), oxidant/antioxidant parameters (reduced glutathione, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and advanced oxidation protein product), and inflammatory markers (adiponectin, interleukin 1ß, and plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha)), while another part was for brain immune-histochemical analysis (study cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2)). Results showed that the mean value of oxidative stress markers was significantly increased in the AD group as well as the inflammatory biomarkers and all the study neurotransmitters, whereas these parameters were attenuated in treated groups, especially those that received QCNE. The immunohistochemistry findings confirm our results. Both approaches (QC and QCNE) succeeded in retracting the negative impact of AlCl3. Meanwhile, the effect of QCNE is more potent in mitigating the impact mediated by AlCl3 in treated animals. In conclusion, the treatment mainly by QCNE has huge potential in protecting against AlCl3-induced neuronal dysfunction, as shown in our results by the elevation of brain antioxidant/anti-inflammatory activities and neurotransmitter levels as well as mending of the histopathological changes in animal models.

Propolis Modulates Inflammatory Mediators and Improves Histopathology in Male Rats with L-arginine-induced Acute Pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the effects of propolis on immune mediators and tissue histopathology in rats with L-arginine-induced acute pancreatitis (AP). METHODS: This study was conducted at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudia Arabia between September and November 2017. A total of 24 male albino Wistar rats were divided into three equal groups. Group one was the negative control, group two was the positive control (L-arginine-induced AP) and group three received treatment (L-arginineinduced AP and propolis). The rats in group three were treated with 100 mg/kg propolis for seven days after AP induction. Pancreatic tissue was evaluated histologically and levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-22 and IL-1ß and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured. RESULTS: Propolis reduced the quanitity of proinflammatory molecules (TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6) in group three compared to group two, significantly increased the overall anti-inflammatory effect of IL-22 (P <0.005) and reduced interstitial inflammation and neutrophil cell infiltration of the pancreatic tissues. CONCLUSION: Propolis may exert a therapeutic effect in AP. Further studies are required to demonstrate the mechanisms of propolis in AP.

Effects of potentially modifiable risk factors on the health of adults in the Eastern Province of KSA.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between selected major modifiable risk factors including life style habits, household income and smoking on health. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted during 2015-2016 among 104 healthy men aged 38 ± 8 years. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire that enquired about clinical information about blood pressure and body mass index. Venous blood samples were taken to assess the fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile, high density lipoprotein and triglyceride. RESULTS: Current smoking status and consumed energy drinks were significantly positive risk factors for increased systolic blood pressure and FBG, respectively. Participants with monthly income of more than 10,000 Saudi Riyals showed significantly lower diastolic pressure than those with lower income. However, there was a significant decrease in body weight among those who consumed vegetables. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the effect of major modifiable risk factors on health. There is a great need for improving and enhancing a healthy lifestyle behaviour.