Effects of Quercetin Supplementation on Hematological Parameters in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study

Role of superoxide dismutase 2 gene Ala16Val polymorphism and total antioxidant capacity in diabetes and its complications

Diabetes Mellitus [DM] is a chronic heterogeneous disorder and oxidative stress is a key participant in the development and progression of it and its complications. Antioxidant status can affect vulnerability to oxidative damage, onset and progression of diabetes and diabetes complications. Superoxide dismutase 2 [SOD2] is one of the major antioxidant defense systems against free radicals. SOD2 is encoded by the nuclear SOD2 gene located on the human chromosome 6q25 and the Ala16Val polymorphism has been identified in exon 2 of the human SOD2 gene. Ala16Val [rs4880] is the most commonly studied SOD2 single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] in SOD2 gene. This SNP changes the amino acid at position 16 from valine [Val] to alanine [Ala], which has been shown to cause a conformational change in the target sequence of manganese superoxide dismutase [MnSOD] and also affects MnSOD activity in mitochondria. Ala16Val SNP and changes in the activity of the SOD2 antioxidant enzyme have been associated with altered progression and risk of different diseases. Association of this SNP with diabetes and some of its complications have been studied in numerous studies. This review evaluated how rs4880, oxidative stress and antioxidant status are associated with diabetes and its complications although some aspects of this line still remain unclear

High body mass index and young age are not associated with post-mastectomy pain syndrome in breast cancer survivors: a case-control study

Surgery is usually the first treatment for breast cancer which is followed by some complications such as chronic pain. Post mastectomy pain syndrome [PMPS] is a common complication among breast cancer survivors and is considered as a chronic neuropathic pain in the side of surgery which persists more than three months. The exact mechanisms and related risk factors of the chronic pain after breast surgery are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of body mass index [BMI] and age with PMPS. In this case-control study, a total of 122 women were assessed; of these, 61 women were diagnosed with PMPS and selected as cases and 61 pain-free patients were selected as controls. The demographic and clinical characteristics of participants were collected through questionnaires and medical record of patients. Logistic regression model was used to determine the association of BMI and age with PMPS, adjusted for demographic and clinical characteristics. No significant differences were found in means of weight [68.02 +/- 8.80 vs. 68.67 +/- 11.82, p=0.726], BMI [26.38 +/- 3.28 vs. 27.10 +/- 6.03, p=0.410], and age [46.34 +/- 11.67 vs. 48.54 +/- 12.57, p=0.319] between those with PMPS and those not reporting PMPS. A non-significant slight increase in odds ratio of PMPS was observed in obese category compared to normal weight category [OR=1.152 [95% CI 0.405-3.275], p=0.908], but after adjusting the confounding factors, the risk of pain development was attenuated in obese subjects [OR=0.748 [95% CI 0.228-2.459], p=0.633]. Also, non-significant decrease in odds ratios of PMPS was found in 20-39 y, 40-49 y, and 50-59 y ages categories compared to oldest age category [adjusted OR= 0.781 [95% CI 0.213-2.866], p=0.576; adjusted OR=0.485 [95% CI 0.152- 1.554], p=0.183; adjusted OR=0.735 [95% CI 0.206-2.627], p=0.628; respectively]. In contrast with some observational studies, present study showed that high BMI and younger age might not be associated with increased risk of PMPS development. Further research is necessary to determine the main risk factors and directionality and causal mechanisms for associations of these risk factors with chronic pain after mastectomy