A randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind study to investigate the effect of a high oral loading dose of cholecalciferol in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients, new insights on serum STAT-3 and hepassocin.

OBJECTIVE: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver metabolic disease affecting millions globally. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of a high oral loading dose of cholecalciferol supplement on NAFLD patients and to investigate its potential role on serum inflammatory biomarkers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred patients with NAFLD and type 2 diabetes mellitus were involved in the study. Eligible patients were randomized among two equal groups. Group 1 received the standard conventional therapy in addition to a placebo. Group 2 received the conventional therapy plus cholecalciferol for 4 months. The improvement in the patients' glycaemic control parameters, liver function tests, lipid profile, and serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D at the end of the study was set as a primary outcome. The secondary outcome was the decrease in steatosis grade in the ultrasound and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), signal transducer and activator of factor-3 (STAT-3), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and hepassocin serum levels at the end of the study. RESULTS: Group 2 revealed a significant reduction in the serum levels of lipid profile measures, hs-CRP, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), STAT-3, NO, hepassocin, and MDA compared to the baseline and group 1 results. Whereas group 1 did not show these significant changes. Both groups observed no significant changes in glycemic index, TNF-α, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and albumin levels. CONCLUSIONS: Cholecalciferol is recommended as additional therapy to modulate lipid peroxidation and systemic inflammation alongside other NAFLD therapies.

Prognostic value of cerebrospinal fluid protein content and leukocyte count in infants and childhood bacterial meningitis.

Seventy infants and children with bacterial meningitis were studied. All children were treated with ampicillin and chloramphenicol. A significant increase in the cerebrospinal fluid protein concentration determined on admission was found in patients who died as compared to those who survived (P less than 0.05). However, no difference was observed between the admission CSF leukocyte count in those patients who died versus those who survived. From this study, it can be concluded that the determination of CSF protein level on admission is an easy, fast and reliable method that can be used to predict clinical outcomes in acute bacterial meningitis.