Insulin Resistance and Bone Metabolism Markers in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study on Females from the Islamic University Medical Center.

Background and Objectives: polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) prevails in females in the 18-40-year-old age group and varies from 5-20% depending on the demographic and diagnostic standards. It is unknown how long passes between the onset of a specific symptom and the appearance of the disease. The three most significant characteristics of PCOS include irregular menstruation, a polycystic ovarian shape found by pelvic ultrasound, and hyperandrogenism, which could possibly delay menarche. This study's objective was to assess insulin resistance and bone bio-markers' metabolism-involved characteristics of females with PCOS. Materials and Methods: We present a cross-sectional study carried out on 100 female patients suffering from PCOS and 100 healthy female subjects as a control living in Saudi Arabia in the Al-Madinah Al-Munawara Region between May 2021 and March 2022. The age of the studied groups ranges from 20-40 years, and patients were categorized into three groups; group I (control, n = 100), group IIa (overweight or obese females with PCOS, n = 70), and group IIb (non-obese females with PCOS, n = 30). The diagnosis of PCOS was carried out as per Rotterdam criteria as recommended for adolescent and adult subjects. All the groups were subjected to physical examination, and anthropometric measures, biochemical parameters, endocrine activity, and clinical parameters were determined. The data obtained were computerized and analyzed statistically using the SPSS program for range, mean, and standard deviation. ANOVA test with post hoc Tukey test was applied to assess the pattern and variation among the test and control groups. Results: In the present study, age, waist circumstances, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were reported enhanced in the PCOS over the control group. Additionally, anthropometric measures were reported slightly upregulated in group IIa over group IIb (p < 0.001). Biochemical parameters including glucose, insulin incidence, and lipids were reported higher in the PCOS over the control group, where group IIa showed slightly increased values compared to group IIb (p < 0.001). On the contrary, PTH, Ca+2, and 25(OH)D levels were reported lower in the PCOS over the control group. However, in the control groups, a slight variation was reported as higher in group IIa compared to group II. In the study, PTH and 25(OH)D were found associated with bone metabolism; a lower level of PTH and 25 (OH) D is linked with a decline in bone density. Conclusions: Lower serum levels of PINP and osteocalcin along with the 25(OH)D were associated with the PCOS compared to the control group, imposing a higher risk of the syndrome. On the contrary, an elevated level of NTx in groups IIa and IIb over the control group was associated with insulin resistance and bone metabolism.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Spherical Date Seed Pills Industrially Fabricated on RAW264.7 Cells.

Dates have been demonstrated to display a variety of bioactivities and are rich in polyphenols. In this work, we assessed the underlying immunomodulatory effects of date seed polyphenol extracts that had been industrially encapsulated and fabricated into commercial pills in RAW264.7 macrophages using the NF-κB and Nrf2 signaling pathways. The outcomes showed that in RAW264.7 cells, the date seed pills effectively stimulated nuclear translocation of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and NF-κB, along with downstream cytokines (IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-6, and IFN-γ), ROS ratios, and SOD activity. It is interesting to note that the encapsulated pills activated Nrf2 nuclear translocation more effectively than the non-encapsulated ones did. Additionally, pills at 50 µg mL-1 improved immunological responses, but pills at 1000 µg mL-1 prevented macrophages from becoming inflamed. These results showed that the immunomodulatory effects were differently impacted by commercial date seed pills, a finding which was related to the large-scale manufacturing of the pills and the incubation concentrations used. These results also shed light on a new trend of using food byproducts as an innovative supplement.

Investigating the Role of EPA and DHA on Cellular Oxidative Stress; Profiling Antidiabetic and Antihypertensive Potential.

Background: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) remain part of the diet and are essential for growth and development. Furthermore, omega - 3 fatty acids boost various cardiovascular disease risk factors as well as lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The effects of PUFAs on glycemia in type 2 diabetes patients are unclear. In the present study, the anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive potential of eicosapentenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-two polyunsaturated fatty acids-were examined. Material and Methods: Using 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cells fed with PUFAs, the antioxidant capacity of EPA and DHA was assessed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay/test. The DPPH activity of EPA and DHA was 49.72 and 50.51%, respectively, indicating a reduction in oxidative stress. The number, size, and total lipid content of adipocytes in adipose tissue were used to study the anti-diabetic effect of EPA and DHA. Both PUFAs were revealed to have a much lower capacity for cell lysis of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes when compared to propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PMA). In 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cells that had been treated with EPA and DHA, the gene expression profiles for ATP synthase 6 were examined. Results: The results demonstrated a similar trend of reducing total lipid content in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cells treated with EPA and DHA. The amount of cell lysis was then examined for 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cells exposed to DHA and EPA, and the results showed 38.45% and 41.26%, respectively. In the 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cells, treatment with PUFAs, EPA, and DHA dramatically lowered total lipid content after 48 hours. The study also revealed that exposing 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cells to EPA at 90 g/ml for 48 hours reduced the total lipid content by a significant amount. Conclusion: According to the findings, EPA and DHA therapy reversed oxidative stress in mitochondria and upregulated the ATP synthase 6 gene. This discovery shows how EPA and DHA have anti-diabetic and hypertension properties.

Thyroid Function Assessment in Saudi Males with Metabolic Syndrome.

Background: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a multifactor condition associated with cardiovascular risk. Thyroid hormones regulate MetS components via controlling energy homeostasis, lipids, and glucose metabolism. The risk ratio for MetS and related disorders changes between males and females. Aim and Objectives: Study aim to access thyroid functions in Saudi population with metabolic syndrome. Materials and Methods: The current study sought to evaluate the impact of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxine (FT4) in predicting the risk of MetS. A total of 200 (MetS 100 and control 100) Saudi Arabian males were enrolled for the study, and after applying eligibility criteria, the eligible study size was examined for the physical test (chest, abdominal, and general examination with stress on blood pressure measurement) and anthropometric parameters (bodyweight, body mass index, and waist circumference). Results: In the present study, the biochemical parameters, such as TSH, FT3, FT4, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), high-density lipoprotein (LDL), fasting glucose, and fasting insulin were measured in the study group, and statistical analysis was also performed. The results revealed that the MetS and control differ in terms of physical, anthropometric, and biochemical markers. The study showed that thyroid dysfunction (TD) and MetS are closely associated with the difference in physical, anthropometric, and metabolic characteristics. Conclusion: The result demonstrated hypothyroidism major risk factor due to TD in MetS. These findings provide a scientific basis for diagnosis and the management of TD, associated MetS, and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Effect of Walking on Sand with Dietary Intervention in OverweightType 2 DiabetesMellitusPatients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

(1) Background: The primary goal of this study was to assess the effect of sand walking on Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference, and quality of life among individuals with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). (2) Methods: A randomized-controlled design was conducted on 66 overweight participants suffering from T2DM. Participants were randomly allocated to sand walking (SW) (n = 33) and normal walking (NW) (n = 33) groups. Participants performed moderate-intensity walking for 30 min, 3 times a week for 4 months. Participants walking on sand had statistically significant mean scores for HbA1c, BMI, waist circumference and quality of life((M = 7.32, SD = 0.47),(M = 25.77, SD = 1.366),(M = 92.94, SD = 2.59), (M = 91.48, SD = 34.08)) than those walking on leveled surface ((M = 8.38, SD = 0.77),t(52.8) = -6.73, p = 0.003, (M = 26.80, SD = 1.38), t(64) = -3.05, p = 0.001,(M = 98.12, SD = 2.16.3), t(64) = -3.75, p = 0.001, (M = 112, SD = 33.7), t(64) = -2.45, p = 0.017)respectively. (3) Conclusions: Regular SW with a healthy dietary regime for 4 months led to a statistically significant difference in HbA1c, BMI, waist circumference, and quality of life as compared to NW group.

Generalized joint hypermobility among school-aged children in Majmaah region, Saudi Arabia.

Generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) is common among schoolchildren and usually benign. However, it may progressively lead to joint pain and developmental delay. Identifying GJH in school-aged children would facilitate the monitoring of early changes and planning for early rehabilitative intervention. Epidemiological studies addressing the prevalence of GJH among children in the Gulf region and Arab ethnicity are lacking. Hence, we aimed to determine the prevalence, pattern, and factors associated with GJH among school-aged children in the Majmaah region, Saudi Arabia. Male and female school-aged children 8-14 years of age from the Majmaah region of Saudi Arabia participated in this cross-sectional study. Beighton score was used to assess GJH. Personal characteristics such as age, height, weight, body mass index, and handedness were also collected. Descriptive statistics were obtained for personal characteristics, the point prevalence of hypermobility, frequency of Beighton score distribution, and prevalence of GJH. The associations between specific factors and the presence of GJH were analyzed using chi-square and Mann-whitney tests. Using the Beighton score cutoff ≥ 4 and ≥ 6, 15.2% and 7.6% of the school children in our study were diagnosed with GJH respectively. The prevalence of GJH was higher among females (16.8%) than among males (13.4%), but the difference was not statistically significant. The elbow joints (17.2%) were the most common hypermobile joints and the trunk (0.7%) was the least involved. The children with GJH were younger and had lesser BMI compared to children without GJH (P < 0.05). The prevalence reported in this study among school-aged children was comparable with those reported worldwide.

Prognostic significance of being overweight and obese at diagnosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

This study tested the hypothesis that being overweight/obese at diagnosis of childhood ALL was related to risk of relapse. In a national cohort of 1033 patients from the UK, there was no evidence that weight status at diagnosis was related significantly to risk of relapse: log-rank test (P=0.90) with overweight and obesity as the exposure (n=917); individual (P=0.42) and stepwise (P=0.96) proportional hazards models, with BMI Z score as the exposure. The study does not support the hypothesis that being overweight/obese at diagnosis impairs prognosis in childhood ALL in the UK.

Importance of adjusting dual-energy X-ray output for body size: an example from survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

We compared DXA whole body and lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) using manufacturers software with a body size correction which derived bone mineral content (BMC) for bone area in survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Saudi Arabia (n = 51, mean age 13.5 y). With no corrections, 29 patients (57%) had lumbar spine BMD Z score < -1.0 and 21 (41%) had whole body BMD Z score < -2. After correction, only 6 (12%) had lumbar spine BMC Z score < -1.0 and 4 (8%) had whole body BMC Z score < -2. Agreement between the methods was "poor" by weighted κ analysis.

Obesity and metabolic syndrome in adolescent survivors of standard risk childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: This study estimated prevalence of unhealthy weight status and metabolic syndrome (MS) amongst Saudi survivors of standard risk ALL. PROCEDURE: We recruited 56 survivors, mean age 13.4 years (SD 4.1), a mean of 9.1 years (SD 4.1) post-diagnosis. The BMI for age was used to define weight status relative to national (Saudi) and international (Cole et al., Cole-IOTF, WHO, and CDC) reference data. We measured body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid profile (HDL-C, Triglycerides), fasting glucose and insulin. RESULTS: According to international definitions based on BMI for age, around half of the sample had unhealthy weight status. All of the approaches based on BMI for age underestimated overfatness, present in 27/51 (53%) of the sample according to DXA. Prevalence of MS was 7.1% (3/42 of those over 9-years old) and 5.4% (3/56) by applying the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition and National Cholesterol Education Program Third Adult Treatment panel Guidelines (NCEP III), respectively. However, MS by the NCEP III definition was present in 19% of the overweight and obese survivors and 7.1% of the sample had at least two of the components of MS. CONCLUSION: Unhealthy body weight and overfatness may be common amongst adolescent Saudi survivors of standard risk ALL, though overweight and obesity may be no more common than in the general Saudi adolescent population. Defining weight status using BMI underestimates overfatness. Ideally, body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors should be monitored at late effects clinics.