EFFECT OF 20-HOUR FASTING AND LOW FAT DIET ON GHRELIN HORMONE, GLUCOSE LEVEL AND LIVER FUNCTION IN ALBINO RATS MALE.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: It aims to study the effect of fasting and low fat diet on ghrelin hormone, glucose level, the liver enzymes AST and ALT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The experimental study was conducted using 24 healthy young male albino rat weighing 95±5 gram and age 2 month, one-way (ANOVA) were employed to determine a significance of differences. RESULTS: Results: A significant increase p≤0.05 in glucose level of non-fasting control group compere with non-fasting low fat diet group, significant increase p≤0.05 in glucose level of control group fasting for 20h compared with low fat diet fasting for 20h group, significant decrease p≤0.05 when compares non-fasting low fat diet compares to 20h fasting low fat diet and significant decrease p≤0.05 when compares non-fasting control compares to 20h fasting control, while the effect of fasting and low fat diet on ghrelin hormone. A significant decrease p≤0.05 in ghrelin hormone level of non-fasting control group compere with non-fasting low fat diet group, significant increase p≤0.05 in ghrelin hormone of control group fasting for 20h compared with low fat diet fasting for 20h group, non-fasting control compares to 20h fasting control show a significant (p≤0.05) increase, Fasting with low fat diet cause a significant decrease p≤0.05 in ALT level, also in AST level there was a significant decrease p≤0.05 after 20h fasting. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The fasting and low fat diet have effected on ghrelin hormone, glucose level and fasting with low fat diet cause decrease in ALT level, also in AST level decrease after 20h fasting in male albino rats.

Abnormal High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein is Associated with an Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Renal Dysfunction among Patients Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Palestine.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) as an inflammatory mediator and its association with renal function and other biochemical markers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study at private healthcare center. We included 453 patients (48.6% males and 51.4% females) with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We obtained socio- demographic, clinical, and laboratory data from patient medical records. We carried out statistical analysis to ascertain associations between parameters. RESULTS: The overall risk of cardiovascular disease (hsCRP > 1 mg/L) among the study participants was 27.2%. Age, gender, body mass index, fasting blood glucose and serum creatinine were significantly associated with risk of cardiovascular disease (hsCRP > 1 mg/L) whereas estimated glomerular filtration rate, vitamin B12, calcium, sodium and metformin users were negatively associated with the hsCRP. CONCLUSIONS: We found a significant positive association of elevated level of C-reactive protein with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Moreover, additional to increased cardiovascular disease risk, hsCRP also seems to be a major inflammatory risk marker indicating renal function loss.

Prevalence and correlates of central venous catheter use among haemodialysis patients in the Irish health system - a national study.

BACKGROUND: Central venous catheters (CVC) are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality among patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD), yet they are frequently used as the primary vascular access for many patients on HD. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence and variation in CVC use across centres in the Irish health system. METHODS: Data from the National Kidney Disease Clinical Patient Management System (KDCPMS) was used to determine CVC use and patterns across centres. Data on demographic characteristics, primary cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), comorbid conditions, laboratory values and centre affiliation were extracted for adult HD patients (n = 1, 196) who were on dialysis for at least three months up to end of December 2016. Correlates of CVC use were explored using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of CVC use was 54% and varied significantly across clinical sites from 43% to 73%, P < 0.001. In multivariate analysis, the likelihood of CVC use was lower with increasing dialysis vintage, OR 0.40 (0.26-0.60) for 4 years vs 1 year vintage, rising serum albumin, OR 0.73 (0.59-0.90) per 5 g/L), and with cystic disease as a cause of ESKD, OR 0.38 (95% CI 0.21-0.6). In contrast, catheter use was greater for women than men, OR 1.77 (1.34-2.34) and for 2 out of 10 regional dialysis centres, OR 1.98 (1.02-3.84) and OR 2.86 (1.67-4.90) respectively compared to referent group). CONCLUSIONS: Catheters are the predominant type of vascular access in patients undergoing HD in the Irish health system. Substantial centre variation exists which is not explained by patient-level characteristics.

The Impact of the Minimum Legal Drinking Age on Alcohol-Related Chronic Disease Mortality.

BACKGROUND: The minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) of 21 has been associated with a number of benefits compared to lower MLDAs, including long-term effects, such as reduced risk for alcoholism in adulthood. However, no studies have examined whether MLDA during young adulthood is associated with mortality later in life. We examined whether individuals exposed to permissive MLDA (<21) had higher risk of death from alcohol-related chronic disease compared to those exposed to the 21 MLDA. Because prior work suggests that MLDA affects college students differently, we also conducted conditional analyses based on ever having attended college. METHODS: Data from the 1990 through 2010 U.S. Multiple Cause-of-Death files were combined with data on the living population and analyzed. We included individuals who turned 18 during the years 1967 to 1990, the period during which MLDA varied across states. We examined records on death from several alcohol-related chronic diseases, employing a quasi-experimental approach to control for unobserved state characteristics and stable time trends. RESULTS: Individuals who reported any college attendance did not exhibit significant associations between MLDA and mortality for the causes of death we examined. However, permissive MLDA for those who never attended college was associated with 6% higher odds for death from alcoholic liver disease, 8% higher odds for other liver disease, and 7% higher odds for lip/oral/pharynx cancers (odds ratio [OR] = 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.02, 1.10]; OR = 1.08, 95% CI [1.03, 1.13]; OR = 1.07, 95% CI [1.03, 1.12], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The 21 MLDA likely protects against risk of death from alcohol-related chronic disease across the lifespan, at least for those who did not attend college. This is consistent with other work that shows that the long-term association between MLDA and alcohol-related outcomes is specific to those who did not attend college.

Alcohol consumption, heavy drinking, and mortality: rethinking the j-shaped curve.

BACKGROUND: High average daily consumption of alcohol has been associated with elevated mortality risk, but more moderate consumption, relative to abstinence, has been associated with reduced mortality risk. However, average daily consumption can be complicated to assess, limiting its usefulness in both research and clinical practice. There are also concerns that average consumption fails to capture the risk associated with certain drinking patterns, such as heavy episodic drinking. This study assessed mortality associated with drinking pattern, operationalized as the frequency of both heavy and nonheavy drinking occasions. METHODS: Data from the 1997 to 2001 administrations of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS; n = 111,511) were paired with the current release of the NHIS Linked Mortality Files, which provided mortality follow-up data through the end of 2006. We estimated the impact of drinking pattern on all-cause mortality, operationalized as the frequency of heavy (5+ drinks) and nonheavy (<5 drinks) drinking occasions. Other covariates in the model included survey wave, sex, age, race/ethnicity, ratio of family income to poverty threshold, educational attainment, body mass index, and smoking status. RESULTS: Over a third of past-year drinkers reported heavy drinking. Mortality risk increased steadily as heavy drinking frequency increased; daily heavy drinkers exhibited an almost 2-fold risk of death compared with abstainers (p < 0.001). Regular nonheavy drinking was associated with decreased mortality, similar to the "J-shaped curve" highlighted in past research on alcohol mortality; this potential protective effect peaked around 2 nonheavy occasions per week. CONCLUSIONS: Any heavy drinking likely elevates mortality risk, and substantial health benefits could be realized by reducing heavy drinking occasions or limiting overall drinking. Heavy and nonheavy drinking frequencies are valid targets for clinical screening and could be helpful in assessing risk and promoting less harmful drinking behavior.