Estimation of calories intake, iron, zinc, and selenium among children of the underprivileged area in Sindh, Pakistan.

INTRODUCTION: Malnutrition is one of the most serious community health issues in developing countries. This study estimated total energy intake, Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Selenium (Se), Calcium (Ca), and Phosphate (PO4) levels among school-going children (aged 13-17 years) of the underprivileged area in Sindh, Pakistan. METHODS: Children from Mithi City, District Tharparkar, were selected for this cross-sectional investigation. Students from various schools from both genders who fulfilled the selection criteria were selected. A questionnaire was filled, and five ml blood samples were taken to analyze blood parameters. Each participant's estimated nutrient intake (ENI) per day was assessed and matched to the recommended daily allowance (RDA) to determine their micro and macronutrient intake. RESULTS: A total of 300 school-going children [150(50%) boys (mean age 15± 0.8 years) and 150(50%) girls (mean age 14±1.3years)] were included in this study. Total calories (1449±949 Kcal vs. 1245±215 Kcal; p < .001), carbohydrates (138±27 gm vs. 126 ±25 gm; p < .001) protein (47±9.1 gm vs. 44±6 gm; p < .001) was significantly higher among boys compared to girls. In contrast, calcium (1094±105 mg vs. 1144±100; 0.004), phosphate 1050±125 vs. 1148±147; p<0.001), iron (9.2±1.7 mg vs. 10±1.3 mg; p<0.001), and Zinc (7.4±1.8 mg vs. 9.9±1.7 mg; p<0.001) intake was significantly higher among girls than boys. Gender-wise comparison of serum metals in school-going children showed that serum iron was significantly lower among girls than boys (100.86±25.65 µg/dl vs. 78.48±28.66 µg/dl; p<0.001), and no difference was found in serum Zn, Se, and Ca levels. Total proteins were also significantly lower among girls than boys (6.48±1.01g/dl vs. 4.87±1.4301g/dl; p<0.001). Serum iron, Ca, and total proteins were significantly lower among girls with normal ranges compared to boys with normal ranges. Total protein was significantly lower among girls below normal ranges than boys with normal ranges (p < .001). The correlation of carbohydrates, protein, and fat with some serum biochemical parameters in school-going children showed that serum Fe was significantly linked with proteins (r = 0.255; p < .0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings showed a concurrent shortage of macro and micronutrients. The current study also revealed that total energy intake was lower than the RDA and significant Fe, Zn, and Se deficiencies. The findings highlight the importance of measures aimed at improving children's nutritional status.

CanSino COVID-19 Vaccine: Comparison of Vaccine Adverse Effects Among Diabetic and Non-diabetic Recipients.

Introduction The emergence of potent vaccines is crucial in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Two of the many factors influencing the acceptance of the vaccine are perceptions about its efficacy, effectiveness, safety, and side effects. Thus, this study compared patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM) who received the CanSino (CanSinoBIO, Tianjin, China) COVID-19 vaccination to identify the prevalence of local and general side effects. Methods This was a multicenter, cross-sectional study performed using a non-probability sampling method. The study period was six months, from August 1, 2022, to January 31, 2023. The study included 600 participants who provided informed consent and had received the CanSino vaccine in a single dose. Demographic characteristics of the participants, including gender, age, weight, and height; comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes; previous infection with COVID-19; and the prevalence of any local and systemic side effects following vaccination, were documented. Between diabetic and non-diabetic participants, the relationship between local and general side effects and satisfaction levels was assessed using the chi-square test. Results The study findings showed that out of 600 participants, 287 (95.7%) were males and 13 (4.3%) were females who had DM, whereas 229 (76.3%) males and 71 (23.7%) females did not. There was a statistically significant association between the two groups (p < 0.001). After receiving a single dose of the CanSino vaccine, the most frequently noticeable side effect was fever, which was noticed in 260 (86.75%) diabetic patients and 279 (93.0%) non-diabetic participants, with a significant association noted among them (p=0.010). Among the non-diabetic participants, 164 (54.7%) were satisfied, and 155 (51.7%) diabetics and 65 (21.7%) non-diabetic participants were extremely pleased with their vaccinations. Conclusion This study concluded that participants with comorbid diseases such as DM had both general and local side effects far more frequently than those without DM. The most noticeable side effects after a single dose of CanSino were fever, injection site pain, and burning. The CanSino vaccine did not require hospitalization and had a relatively low frequency of local and systemic side effects.

Osteoprotegerin genetic polymorphisms and their influence on therapeutic response to ibandronate in postmenopausal osteoporotic females.

OBJECTIVES: The present study investigated osteoprotegerin (OPG) genetic polymorphisms and their influence on the therapeutic response to ibandronate in postmenopausal osteoporotic females. METHODS: This case-control study included 135 postmenopausal females (89 osteoporotic females and 46 non-osteoporotic females). Each osteoporotic patient received a monthly 150 mg ibandronate tablet for six months, and blood samples were taken before and after treatment. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using DEXA Scan. Three SNPs (A163G, T245G, and G1181C) of the OPG gene were selected for analysis. RESULTS: Serum OPG levels were significantly lower in osteoporotic subjects than in the control group. The percentage changes in OPG levels in the osteoporotic group before and after treatment with ibandronate were significant (p < .001). After six months of therapy with ibandronate, the percentage changes in OPG levels with AA, TT, TC, GC, and GG genotypes were significant. Following six months of ibandronate treatment, the AA genotype of rs3134069, TT, TC genotypes of rs3102735, GG, and GC genotypes of rs2073618 SNP showed a significant increase in OPG levels. Age, BMI, and GC polymorphism (rs2073618 (G/C) G1181C) were inversely associated with low BMD. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) showed that BMI, GC, GG polymorphism (rs2073618 (G/C) G1181C) and TC polymorphism (rs3102735 (T/C) A163G) were inversely associated with low BMD. CONCLUSION: The inverse association of rs2073618 and rs3102735 with low BMD indicates the protective role of these SNPs in our population. More research is needed to replicate these results in another cohort and to determine the molecular processes by which such SNPs may influence BMD.

Quality of life, stress, anxiety and depression and associated factors among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Western region Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: The objective of this study is to evaluate the quality of life (QoL), depression, anxiety, and stress, along with associated factors among individuals with diabetes in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This survey was conducted at King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The assessment of depression, anxiety, and stress related to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) was conducted using the DASS-21 questionnaire, while diabetes-related QoL was evaluated using the revised version of the diabetes QoL questionnaire (RV-DQoL13). Data were analyzed using SPSS-26. Results: A total of 251 subjects were included in the study (165 [65.7%] males and 86 [34.3%] females, mean age 50.1 ± 14.5 years). The individuals with DM had a mean value of QoL of 29.16 ± 9.23, with 46.9% having poor QoL. Furthermore, in dimensions of QoL, almost half of the individuals reported high worry about the disease (49.6%), followed by a high diabetes impact (46.6%) and low life satisfaction (42.9%). The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 49.4, 71.7, and 49.8%, respectively. A significant correlation was found between depression, anxiety, and stress and DASS-21 scores with QoL (p < 0.001). The regression analysis indicated an association of distinct factors with QoL like age above 41 years (p = 0.004), being married (p < 0.001), being divorced (p = 0.04), higher education (p = 0.007), regular medicine intake (p = 0.01), regular exercise (p = 0.03), lipid profile (p = 0.01), HbA1c (p < 0.001), and DASS-21 scores (p < 0.001). Poor QoL score (TQoL score > 27) was significantly associated with depression, anxiety, and stress (p < 0.001). The participants with higher monthly income, shorter disease duration, regular medicine use, and altered lipid profile, and older subjects had a lower chance of depression, anxiety, and stress. Conclusion: Approximately half of individuals with T2DM experienced poor QoL, while the prevalence rates for depression, anxiety, and stress were 49.4, 71.7, and 49.8%, respectively. Scores in the domains of impact, worry, and satisfaction were below optimal levels. Several factors were linked to QoL and depression, anxiety, and stress, and an association was observed between DASS-21 scores and QoL.

Effect of Ibandronate Therapy on Serum Chemerin, Vaspin, Omentin-1 and Osteoprotegerin (OPG) in Postmenopausal Osteoporotic Females.

Osteoporosis is a condition in which bone mineral density is reduced due to altered bone microstructure, which results in increased skeletal fragility and incidence of various types of fractures. Adipokines such as chemerin, vaspin, omentin-1 and osteoprotegerin are involved in bone remodeling. The current study was designed to determine the changes in circulating chemerin, vaspin, omentin-1, and osteoprotegerin levels after treatment with oral ibandronate 150 mg in postmenopausal osteoporotic females. The present study enrolled 107 postmenopausal osteoporotic females from a tertiary care hospital in Faisalabad, Pakistan, based on stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria. Sixty-six healthy postmenopausal, non-osteoporotic females with no systemic illness were chosen from the general population. The assessment of bone mineral density (BMD) was done using a DEXA scan. Serum levels of chemerin, vaspin, omentin-1 and osteoprotegerin were estimated using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The collected data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Following 6 months of ibandronate treatment, there was a significant decrease of 24.24% (p < .033) in serum chemerin levels, as well as a significant increase in serum vaspin levels 343.32% (p < .001) and osteoprotegerin levels 19.57% (p < .001), with no significant change in omentin-1 levels. Thus, an increase in serum chemerin levels and a decrease in serum vaspin and osteoprotegerin levels could be implicated in osteoporosis.

Association of serum levels of Visfatin, Intelectin-1, RARRES2 and their genetic variants with bone mineral density in postmenopausal females.

Background: Adipokines are engaged in bone physiology and regulate bone mineral density (BMD) by playing protective or cynical role in bone metabolism. The study is designed to measure and compare BMD, adipokines (retinoic acid receptor responder protein-2 RARRES2, visfatin and Intelectin-1) and their genetic variants in postmenopausal osteoporotic, osteopenic and non-osteoporotic females. Methods: This comparative study included postmenopausal non-osteoporotic (n=72), osteopenic (n=72) and osteoporotic (n=100) females with two years of amenorrhea and age between 50 to 70 years. Gold standard DXA was used to measure BMD. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was established. Kruskal-Wallis test for comparisons, logistic and multivariate regression analysis were used to rule out the predictors of BMD. Results: On comparing the three groups, significant differences were observed in serum RARRES2 (p <0.001) and serum visfatin (p=0.050). The significant positive predictor of BMD at lumbar spine and total hip was serum visfatin. BMD at right and left femoral neck was predicted negatively by serum chemerin while BMD at left femoral neck was also predicted positively by serum calcium levels. There was significant difference in BMD at right femoral neck (p = 0.033) between rs7806429 genotypes. The odds of having low BMD increases with increasing serum levels of chemerin and decreasing serum levels of visfatin and calcium. Conclusion: The adipokines RARRES2 and visfatin are associated with BMD. RARRES2 is an independent negative and visfatin is positive predictor of BMD in postmenopausal females. BMD at right femoral neck was significantly low in RARRES2 rs7806429 TC heterozygotes.