Neuro-cognitive Ramifications of Fasting and Feeding in Obese and Non-obese Cases

Preliminary studies have claimed that short term fasting would negatively affect school performance and cognition. In contrast some other studies have reported not important decline in cognition and executive function as a result of fasting. Also limited attention was generally devoted to dietetic regimens, nutritional status and body weight. Yet neuroscience and neuro-cognitive aspects of acute hunger on the electroencephalogram and differences between obese and non-obese cases is not well understood. Hence, we decided to design and perform a case study in a more controlled situation similar to reality. Therefore, we performed several examinations including subjective tests (for eating status) and objective tests (cognitive tests such as Stroop effect and Sternberg search and electroencephalogram measures such as steady-state visual evoked potential and auditory steady-state responses) for an obese and a non-obese academic case before and after a simple breakfast. The results showed that the breakfast effects on the neuro-cognitive functions depend on either obesity status, nutritional status of the case or the type of cognitive task (visual or auditory). This paper would open a new insight to answer some important questions about the neuro-cognitive implications of fasting and feeding in obese and non-obese human cases.

frequency of premature ejaculation in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome [IBS] is identified by chronic abdominal pain and altered bowel habits in the absence of organic etiology. Premature ejaculation is the most common male sexual disorder. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of premature ejaculation disorders in patients with IBS referred to a gastrointestinal clinic in Rafsanjan, Iran, in 2012. Of all the menreferred to the gastrointestinal clinic, those with a diagnosis of IBS [based on Rome-II criteria] were interviewed. Premature ejaculation disorder based on DSM-FV-TR criteria was documented by psychiatry interview. History of psychiatric diseases of the patients and their family were assessed by interview done by a psychiatrist. The data were analyzed by using SPSS software [version 16]. Descriptive statistics, inferential tests, and Chi-square test were used for analyses. One hundred and fifty two men with IBS were evaluated. Based on the Rome-II criteria, 89 [58.6%] patients were suffering from premature ejaculation disorder. Fifty nine [38.8%] patients expressed drug addiction. Sixty eight [44.7%] had a history of psychiatric disease in the past and 84 [55.3%] patients stated they were not suffering from any psychiatric diseases. Forty six [30.3%] patients had a history of psychiatric disease in their family, and 106 [69.7%] did not have any history of psychiatric disorder. High frequency of premature ejaculation in patients with IBS with a family history of psychiatric disorder and severe stress during the past year suggested that there was a relationship between factors contributing to psychiatric disorders [neurotransmitters, environmental factors, and genetics] and premature ejaculation. Premature ejaculation is more common in patients with IBS. Drug abuse, family history of psychiatric disorder, and severe emotional stress during the past year, significantly increase the frequency of premature ejaculation

Brewer's yeast improves glycemic indices in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Brewer's yeast may have beneficial effects on insulin receptors because of its glucose tolerance factor in diabetic patients. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of brewer's yeast supplementation on glycemic indices in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In a randomized double blind controlled clinical trial, 84 adults [21 men and 63 women] aged 46.3 +/- 6.1 years old with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited and divided randomly into two groups: Supplement group receiving brewer's yeast [six 300mg tablets/day, total 1800 mg] and control group receiving placebo [six 300mg tablets/day] for 12 weeks. Body weight, height, body mass index, food consumption [based on 24h food record], fasting blood sugar [FBS], glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin sensitivity, and insulin resistance were measured before and after the intervention. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences [version 18.0]. The changes in FBS, glycosylated hemoglobin, and insulin sensitivity were significantly different between the two groups during the study [respectively P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.02 independent sample t-test]. There was a significant difference in FBS, glycosylated hemoglobin, and insulin sensitivity at the end of the study between the two groups after removing the effects of baseline values [respectively P = 0.002, P < 0.001, P = 0.02, analysis of covariance]. Changes in body mass index, 24h food record, insulin resistance were not significant. Dietary supplementation with brewer's yeast besides the usual treatment of diabetes can ameliorate blood glucose variables in type 2 diabetes mellitus

[Evaluation of the protective effects of quercetin in biliary cirrhotic rats]

Biliary cirrhosis is a chronic disease marked by the progressive destructtion of liver. There is no known cure for this disease; however, medications may slow its progression. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of quercetin as a plant derived flavonoid on the hepatic injury reduction of biliary cirrhotic rats. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 6-7 months were randomized into three groups of ten each. One group served as control [sham operated], while the other two groups underwent a complete bile-duct ligation [BDL]. Four weeks after the operation, serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase [ALP], alanine amino-transferase [ALT], and aspartate amino-transferase [AST] were measured in two BDL groups to confirm the occurrence of cirrhosis. Then one of the BDL groups received placebo and the other one injected intraperitoneally with 50 mg/kg of quercetin once a day for a period of four weeks. At the end of the study, hepatic enzymes and serum bilirubin were measured again. Liver species were tested for histological characteristics. Quercetin could decrease serum level of bilirubin [7.4 +/- 0.9 vs.8.9 +/- 1.6 mg/dL; P<0.05], ALP [1387 +/- 76.9 vs.2273 +/- 65.3 IU/L; P<0.001] and ALT [601.9 +/- 38.1 vs.644.8 +/- 37.4 IU/L; P<0.05] compared to cirrhotic group. AST was higher in cirrhotic groups compared to control both in the 4[th] and 8[th] week. However, the difference between BDL and BDL+Q groups was not statistically significant. Quercetin decreased ALT/AST ratio, as an indicator of liver damage. No significant histological changes were observed in quercetin group. These data suggest that although quercetin did not change histological characteristics of liver, it could significantly decrease bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and alanine amino-transferase, indicating less liver injury

Brewer's yeast improves blood pressure in type 2 diabetes mellitus

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Brewer's yeast supplementation on serum lipoproteins and blood pressure in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. In a randomized double blind clinical trial, 90 adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited, and divided randomly into 2 groups, trial group received brewer's yeast [1800 mg/day] and control group received placebo for 12 weeks. Weight, BMI, food consumption [based on 24 hour food recall], fasting serum lipoproteins [Cholesterol, Triglyceride, LDL-c, HDL-c], systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured before and after the intervention. Data analyses were performed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences ver. 18.0, and the statistical tests included Independent t-test, Paired t-test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov and analysis of covariance. This trial was registered in Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials [IRCT], No.IRCT138807062513N1. Eighty-four subjects [21 men and 63 women] aged 46.3 +/- 6.1 years completed the study. After 12 weeks supplementation, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were decreased in the group receiving brewer's yeast [4.1 +/- 1.5, P = 0.007 and 5.7 +/- 0.6, P = 0.001 respectively]. No-significant changes in LDL-c, HDL-c, Triglyceride and Cholesterol were shown. Supplementation with Brewer's yeast besides the usual treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressures in diabetic patients