Metabolic syndrome and breast cancer risk.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on metabolic syndrome and its relation to breast cancer risk in Egypt. We aimed to study metabolic syndrome and its individual components as risk of breast cancer. METHODS: This case-control study recruited 112 breast cancer cases and 112 age-matched controls from Assiut University. In addition to demographic, clinical, and anthropoemetric characteristics, blood samples were collected from both study groups to evaluate metabolic syndrome and its individual components. RESULTS: Mean age of breast cancer cases and control groups was 46.10 ± 4.34 and 45.66 ± 4.68 years, respectively. According to Joint Interim Statement (JIS) criteria for clinical diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, the overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome in all participants was 42.9%, and prevalence in breast cancer cases and control group was 57.14% and 28.6%, respectively, OR 33.33, 95% CI (1.91-5.81). BMI was more likely to be higher in breast cancer patients with a linear trend, p < 0.001. For individual components of metabolic syndrome, breast cancer cases were more likely to have high fasting blood glucose level, systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure, high triglycerides level, and low HDL-C as compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndrome and its components were found to be associated with the risk of breast cancer. We believe that prevention or reversal of metabolic syndrome by raising community awareness for lifestyle changes could be an effective way in minimizing the toll of the disease.

Effect of electromagnetic therapy versus low-level laser therapy on diabetic patients with trigeminal neuralgia: a randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is defined as intense, abrupt, often unilateral, stabbing, short, repeated episodes of pain in one or more distributional branches of the trigeminal nerve. AIM: To see how electromagnetic therapy (EMT) compared to low-level laser therapy (LLLT) affect TN in diabetes patients. DESIGN: This is a randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Physical therapy and Neurology Outpatients Clinics at Faculty of Physical Therapy. POPULATION: One hundred and forty diabetic patients with TN were evaluated for eligibility. As a result, 126 diabetic patients with TN were included in this trial. They were randomly divided into three equal-sized groups using random allocation software. Due to travel to another country, two patients did not complete the treatment protocol, and four opted out of the post-therapy evaluation. So, 120 volunteer diabetic patients with TN of both sexes were diagnosed for the participation in this study by a neurologist (N.=40 in each group). METHODS: For two months, participants in the control group A received the medication only (oral hypoglycemic drugs, Analgesics, vitamin B12), participants in the study group B received the medications as in group A in addition to LLLT, and participants in the study group C received medication as in group A in addition to electromagnetic therapy (EMT). The primary outcome was the amplitude of compound muscle action potentials of temporalis and masseter muscles by using NEXUS 10 (Mind media). The secondary outcome was pain intensity by using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). RESULTS: According to the results of this study, there is a statistically significant difference in visual analog scale scores and the amplitude of compound muscle action potentials of the temporalis and masseter muscles among groups in favor of group B. CONCLUSIONS: After treatment, all groups improved significantly, with the laser group outperforming the electromagnetic group by a large margin. For irradiation, LLLT was more effective than EMT in reducing diabetic patients' trigeminal pain, and increasing masseter and temporalis muscles compound action potential amplitude in diabetic patients with TN. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: LLLT was more effective than EMT at reducing diabetic patient's trigeminal pain, and increasing masseter and temporalis muscles compound action potential amplitude in diabetic patients with TN patients after two months of interventions.

The Ability of Resveratrol to Attenuate Ovalbumin-Mediated Allergic Asthma Is Associated With Changes in Microbiota Involving the Gut-Lung Axis, Enhanced Barrier Function and Decreased Inflammation in the Lungs.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease highly prevalent worldwide. Recent studies have suggested a role for microbiome-associated gut-lung axis in asthma development. In the current study, we investigated if Resveratrol (RES), a plant-based polyphenol, can attenuate ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine allergic asthma, and if so, the role of microbiome in the gut-lung axis in this process. We found that RES attenuated allergic asthma with significant improvements in pulmonary functions in OVA-exposed mice when tested using plethysmography for frequency (F), mean volume (MV), specific airway resistance (sRaw), and delay time(dT). RES treatment also suppressed inflammatory cytokines in the lungs. RES modulated lung microbiota and caused an abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila accompanied by a reduction of LPS biosynthesis in OVA-treated mice. Furthermore, RES also altered gut microbiota and induced enrichment of Bacteroides acidifaciens significantly in the colon accompanied by an increase in butyric acid concentration in the colonic contents from OVA-treated mice. Additionally, RES caused significant increases in tight junction proteins and decreased mucin (Muc5ac) in the pulmonary epithelium of OVA-treated mice. Our results demonstrated that RES may attenuate asthma by inducing beneficial microbiota in the gut-lung axis and through the promotion of normal barrier functions of the lung.

Documentation of chaperone presence in breast clinic, a complete audit cycle.

OBJECTIVE: The General Medical Council (GMC) and Irish Medical Council (IMC) recommend the presence of a chaperone for all intimate examinations and that it should be clearly documented. The aim of this report is to assess doctors' compliance with obtaining a chaperone and documenting their presence, determining possible causes of non-compliance and implement interventions to increase compliance. METHODS: Prospective audit of patients seen in the breast clinic in Beaumont hospital over the week starting 8th February 2021. The medical charts were reviewed for documentation of chaperone presence. Doctors were surveyed using (SurveyMonkey) for causes of non-compliance. Interventions included a stamp in the medical notes for chaperone presence and details, an educational email with GMC and IMC guidelines, and posters put up in clinic rooms. The intervention was reassessed at 1-week and 6-week intervals. RESULTS: In the assessment phase, 126 patients were recruited. A chaperone was present 100% of the time where a male doctor examined a female patient; however, chaperone presence was not documented in any of the medical charts (0/126). A survey was sent to 22 breast surgery doctors to explore causes of non-compliance. Response rate was 95%, 50% did not know documentation was necessary, and 25% forgot to document. One week after intervention, 64 patients were recruited. Chaperone documentation increased to 80% (51/64). Reassessment at six weeks included 120 patients, and chaperone documentation rate was 74% (89/120).

Effects of intravenous human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cell therapy versus gabapentin in pentylenetetrazole-induced chronic epilepsy in rats.

AIM: The identification and application of stem cells to treat central nervous system disorders represent a dramatic evolution and expansion into the realms of neurorestoration and neuroregeneration. The aim of this study was to assess the possible ameliorative effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in comparison to gabapentin on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced epileptogenesis and its consequences. METHODS: Thirty-two rats were divided into 4 equal groups; group I: saline-injected group, group II: PTZ group, which received 13 intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of PTZ (30 mg/kg) 3 times/week, groups III and IV: groups received PTZ and were treated with i.p. gabapentin (200 mg/kg) 60 min before each PTZ injection (group III) or a single intravenous injection of 10(6) MSCs/rat at day 22 (group IV). RESULTS: Treatment with either gabapentin or MSCs demonstrated a significant improvement in the PTZ-induced epileptogenesis and its severe consequences, i.e. oxidative stress damage, motor and cognitive impairments. Moreover, they enhanced the GABA neurotransmitter levels. Meanwhile, MSC administration to chronic epileptic rats afforded more ameliorative effects on PTZ-induced epileptogenesis and its severe consequences in comparison to gabapentin. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that MSCs were superior to gabapentin in ameliorating PTZ-induced epileptogenesis and verified the potential use of MSCs in seizure control, motor and cognitive impairments, oxidative stress, and the impairing GABA level in experimentally induced epilepsy.

Mono, bi- and trinuclear metal complexes derived from new benzene-1,4-bis(3-pyridin-2-ylurea) ligand. Spectral, magnetic, thermal and 3D molecular modeling studies.

New bis (pyridylurea) ligand, H2L, was synthesized by the reaction of ethylpyridine-2-carbamate (EPC) and p-phenylenediamine. The ligand was characterized by elemental analysis, IR, (1)H NMR, electronic and mass spectra. Reaction of the prepared ligand with Co(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Fe(3+), VO(2+) and UO2(2+) ions afforded mono, bi- and trinuclear metal complexes. Also, new mixed ligand complexes of the ligand H2L and 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) with Co(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+) and Fe(3+) ions were synthesized. The ligand behaves as bi- and tetradentate toward the transition metal ions, coordination via the pyridine N, the carbonyl O and/or the amidic N atoms in a non, mono- and bis-deprotonated form. The complexes were characterized by elemental and thermal analyses, IR, electronic and mass spectra as well as conductance and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The results showed that the metal complexes exhibited different geometrical arrangements such as square planar, tetrahedral, octahedral and square pyramidal arrangements. The Coats-Redfern equation was used to calculate the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for the different thermal decomposition steps of some complexes. 3D molecular modeling of the ligand, H2L and a representative complex were studied.