Zinc Supplementation Improved Neuropeptide Y, Nesfatin-1, Leptin, C-reactive protein, and HOMA-IR of Diet-Induced Obese Rats.

Obesity is a mild chronic inflammation that causes many metabolic diseases. It was aimed to investigate some parameters affective on the energy metabolism by adding zinc (Zn, ZnSO4) to drinking water of diet-induced obese rats. Five-week aged, male Sprague Dawley rats divided into as control group, consuming standard rat diet, and high-fat diet (HFD) group. After obesity induced by feeding HFD for 8 weeks, the obese rats were divided into Zn-supplemented obese group (HFD + obese + Zn; 150 mg Zn/L (for 6 weeks), 235 mg Zn/L (7th week), 250 mg Zn/L (8th week) in drinking water) and obese group (HFD + obese). Mean body weight, serum concentrations of C-reactive protein, neuropeptide-Y, leptin, insulin fasting blood glucose, and HOMA-IR were statistically decreased by given Zn in HFD + obese + Zn group compared to HFD + obese rats. It was observed that the total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels of HFD + obese + Zn group became closer to the control group level, and Zn supplementation caused a statistically significant decrease in cholesterol profile than HFD + obese rats. Also, increased mean serum nesfatin-1 level, an effective protein for the formation of satiety, was analyzed in HFD + obese + Zn group when compared to HFD + obese ones. Serum triglyceride concentration tended to decrease with the effect of Zn in obese rats. In conclusion, it can be said that oral use of Zn could improve energy balance and prevent the occurrence of metabolic diseases related to obesity depending on the anti-inflammatory effect of Zn.

Comparison of simultaneous systemic steroid and hyperbaric oxygen treatment versus only steroid in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

A retrospective chart review to assess the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen treatment in sudden sensorineural hearing loss. 44 patients aged between 17-67 years diagnosed with idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss less than 30 days were admitted to our clinic Patients were treated with systemic steroid alone or systemic steroid plus hyperbaric oxygen therapy. In the comparison of two groups, there was no statistically significant difference of audiometric evaluation (P>0.0028) found in hearing improvement for each frequency on 5th day of the treatment and post treatment. Age (≤45 and >45) and initial hearing level (≤60 dB. And >60 dB.) does not seem to be an influential factor according to the results of the study (P>0.0007). The present study did not show more superior healing effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy added to systemic steroid therapy than steroid infusion alone. The results are consistent with those of some papers. However there are also conflicting data that support significant effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Routine administration of this therapy seems to be unnecessary in view of these results.