Serum selenium status in Egyptians patients who had Graves' disease with and without ophthalmopathy.

Selenium is efficient in reducing the progression of active Graves' orbitopathy and improving life quality. The impact of mending relative deficiency of selenium on improving Graves' orbitopathy is not known, due to the lack of previous measurement of baseline levels of selenium. The study object was to determine whether serum selenium levels are lower in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) disease in comparison with those without ophthalmopathy. This prospective case control study was conducted between 2019 and 2021 at the endocrine and ophthalmology clinics, Ain Shams University, Cairo. The study included a total of 75 subjects, 50 patients with Graves' disease (GD) and 25 subjects as a control group. Of the GD patients, 25 had Graves' orbitopathy. Serum selenium concentrations were measured in each group. The mean level of serum selenium was significantly lower in patients with Graves' orbitopathy (16.6 ± 7.5 ng/ml) than in patients with Graves' disease (42.9 ± 8.2 ng/ml) (p < 0.001). Mean selenium levels were reduced with increasing severity of GO, as selenium level was 30-55 ng/ml in GD, 21-28 ng/ml in mild GO, 18-22 ng/ml in moderate GO and 5-16 ng/ml in severe GO (p < 0.001). In conclusion, serum selenium levels were lower in GO patients compared with GD patients in an Egyptian population. Low selenium levels may be a risk factor for ophthalmopathy in Graves' disease patients.

Efficacy of parsley seed-supplemented bread in improving serum osteopontin level and renal health in obese women: A nutritional intervention study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a global epidemic and a major contributor to chronic kidney disease worldwide. This interventional study aimed to evaluate the effects of a unique parsley seed bread and a healthy balanced diet on serum osteopontin level and renal function in obese women. METHODS: A total of 85 obese women (BMI, 35.68 ± 0.47 kg/m2) participated in an 8-week nutritional intervention comprising two phases. In the first phase, participants consumed 100 g of ground parsley seed bread along with a healthy balanced low caloric regimen for four weeks. In the second phase, Baladi bread was substituted for the supplement, providing an equal caloric intake, for another four weeks. Relevant Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, dietary recall, and biochemical parameters (osteopontin, IL-1ß, IL-10, kidney functions, and lipid parameters) were assessed before and after each intervention phase. RESULTS: Following the initial intervention phase, there were significant improvements in all recorded mean anthropometric parameters (p ≤ 0.001). Lipid parameters and risk factors also significantly decreased (p < 0.05), while osteopontin, creatinine, and IL-1ß levels decreased significantly. eGFR, creatinine clearance, IL-10 increased. However, these improved values returned to elevated levels after the omission of the supplement in the second phase. There was a significant negative correlation between osteopontin and creatinine, creatinine clearance, and IL-10. CONCLUSION: The combined effect of the novel parsley seed-based intervention and a healthy balanced low-calorie regimen demonstrated improvements in osteopontin level associated with renal disorders, and inflammation, in addition to dyslipidemia in obese women. This suggests a promising approach for improving and protecting kidney disorders.

Induction of COX-1, suppression of COX-2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines gene expression by moringa leaves and its aqueous extract in aspirin-induced gastric ulcer rats.

The Moringa plant (Moringa oleifera) is known for its potential medicinal properties and health benefits in addition to its high nutritional value. The current study aimed to investigate the antiulcer effect of moringa leaves and its aqueous extract on pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators in ulcerative rats. Rats were treated with either moringa leaves (10%) or moringa extract (300 mg/kg body weight) for 4 weeks then treated with a single dose of aspirin to induce gastric ulcer. Moringa leaves and its extract markedly reduced ulcer index, gastric volume and total acidity. Both treatments induced a significant increase in gastric mucosal mucin content and plasma NO level associated with significant decrease in plasma TNFα. Moringa leaves and its extract prompted down-regulation of TNFα, TGFß1 and COX2 genes expression by 2.7, 3.5, and 8.4 fold-change for moringa leaves and 2.7, and 2.3, 4.1 fold-change for moringa extract, respectively. Moringa leaves and extract treatments altered the COX-1 gene expression levels to near normal values. This study confirms the gastro-protective influence of moringa leaves and its extract on aspirin-induced ulcer in rats as manifested by its significant reduction in inflammatory cytokines and normalization of gastric mucosal mucin and NO level. Overall, moringa leaves powder is more efficient as antiulcer agent than moringa extract.

Serum Ceramide Kinase as a Biomarker of Cognitive Functions, and the Effect of Using Two Slimming Dietary Therapies in Obese Middle Aged Females.

AIM: Highlighting the impact of obesity on mental and cognitive functions using serum ceramide kinase enzyme concentration as a biomarker for cognitive evaluation in the middle aged females, and also targeting to control the obesity and simultaneously postponing the deterioration of the cognitive functions, by implementing two slimming dietary therapies each incorporating different functional ingredients known to boost cognition. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ninety six obese middle aged females, divided into two groups volunteered to follow a low caloric balanced diet combined with two bread supplements composed essentially of barley flour and wheat germ mixed with either 5% turmeric, group (A); or with 5% ginger, group (B) for 4 weeks, phase (1); to be followed by the hypocaloric diet alone for another 4 weeks, phase (2). RESULTS: By the end of phase (1), the biochemical analysis showed a positive response of the levels of C-peptide and modified homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance; also increased levels of the serum ceramide kinase enzyme, coupled with improved cognitive functions tests. Improvement of the relevant metabolic profile, fasting blood glucose, blood pressure and the anthropometric measurements was detected. CONCLUSION: Using dietary therapy supported by special formulas which contain active ingredients succeeded in reducing weight and improving both the metabolic profile and the cognitive functions.