Evaluation of Factors That Contribute to Intraoperative and Postoperative Complications Following Colorectal Cancer Surgeries at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major contributor to cancer-related mortality and morbidity due to its high prevalence. Surgery remains the curative option. Colorectal cancer patients come to our institute at an advanced stage due to the lack of adequate national screening programs in developing countries. This carries a particularly high risk of morbidity and mortality. In this study, we aim to provide an overview of the complications of colorectal cancer surgery and to describe the preoperative and intraoperative factors associated with it. METHODS: This retrospective record review was done at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), a tertiary center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It included all patients aged 18 and older who have undergone colorectal cancer surgeries from January 2017 until August 2022. RESULTS: In our sample of 195 patients, 52.3% of the patients were males. The mean age of our sample was 59.32 ± 13.21. We found that 19 (9.7%) patients had an intraoperative complication (IOC). The most frequent IOC was bleeding reported in seven patients (3.6%), followed by intestinal injury in three (1.2%), bladder injury in three (1.2%), and ureter injury in three (1.2%). Regarding preoperative lab tests, patients who had low blood albumin levels (P = 0.004) and high preoperative white blood cell count (WBC; P = 0.015) were more likely to experience IOC. There was a statistically significant relationship between the patient's ASA score and IOC (P = 0.011). Postoperative complications (POC) occurred in 58 patients (29.7%). The most frequent POC was surgical site infection (SSI; 16.4%), followed by urinary tract infections (UTI) (6.7%) and prolonged postoperative ileus (5.6%). Patients who initially presented with vomiting (P = 0.015), had free air on a preoperative abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan (P = 0.028), required intraoperative blood transfusions (P = 0.033), were diagnosed with transverse colon tumors (P = 0.045), and required longer hospital stays (P = 0.011) were found to have a higher rate of POC. CONCLUSION: The incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing, and surgery is a successful treatment option. However, complications from surgery may result in morbidities and prolonged hospital stays. The risk of IOC is increased by preoperative variables such as high WBC levels, low albumin, and ASA scores. Patients with initial obstruction signs, free air on CT scans, intraoperative blood transfusions, transverse colon tumors, and longer hospital stays have a higher rate of POC. Patient monitoring and the provision of standardized clinical tools enhance general survival and quality of life.

The Association of Body Mass Index with COVID-19 Complications and Survival Rate at a Tertiary Hospital.

A high body mass index (BMI) is a known risk factor for coronavirus infection in hospitalized patients. Our study examined the association between BMI and complications and the survival rate among COVID-19 patients. This retrospective analysis used data from a tertiary hospital in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia during two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study included 600 participants, with the majority being between 41 and 60 years old (41.3%) and men comprising 63.5% of the sample. Approximately 42.5% of patients were obese, and 31.3% were overweight. The results showed that BMI was significantly linked to respiratory diseases (p = 0.013); end-stage renal disease (p = 0.021); and cardiovascular disease (p = 0.003) but not diabetes mellitus (p = 0.064). Death occurred in 10.8% of patients; 33.8% were admitted to the ICU; 13.8% needed mechanical ventilation; and 60.7% had lung infiltration. Obese patients with oxygen saturation levels below 93% were 2.45 times more likely to require mechanical ventilation than those in the normal-weight group. Overweight and obese patients were also more likely to require mechanical ventilation than normal-weight patients, with odds ratios of 3.66 and 2.81, respectively. The BMI categorized was not associated with survival rate in COVID-19-hospitalized patients using Kaplan-Meier survival plots (p = 0.061). However, the BMI categorized was associated with survival rate in COVID-19 ICU patients (p < 0.001). In addition, the overweight showed a statistically significant higher hazard ratio of 2.22 (p = 0.01) compared to normal-weight patients using a Cox regression model. A high BMI was identified as an independent risk factor for reduced oxygen saturation (<93%), the need for mechanical ventilation, lung infiltration, mortality, and longer ICU stays in COVID-19 patients.

Assessing incidence and risk factors of laparoscopic cholecystectomy complications in Jeddah: a retrospective study.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard treatment for gallstones. However, it is associated with several complications. No previous studies have investigated LC complications and their associated risk factors in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Aims: We aimed to identify the risk factors for postoperative complications (POCs) of LC at a tertiary institute in Jeddah, Western Saudi Arabia. Settings and design: This retrospective study was conducted between June 2021 and August 2021 among patients who underwent LC at a tertiary centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods: Records of 596 patients were reviewed, and 510 patients were included in the final analysis after applying the exclusion criteria. Data were collected from hospital medical records. χ 2 tests and independent t tests were used to analyse categorical and continuous variables, respectively. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for nonparametric data. Multivariate regression analysis was used to adjust the P values to determine the most strongly and independently associated risk factors. Results: Our data showed that the overall incidence of intraoperative complications (IOCs) was 10.8%. The most common complications were gallbladder perforation (n=28, 5.5%), bile leakage (n=25, 4.9%), and bleeding (n=15, 2.9%). POCs occurred in 11% of the patients; the majority complained of abdominal pain (n=36, 6.9%), had elevated liver function tests (n=14, 2.7%), and retained stones (n=11, 2.2%). Acute cholecystitis, overweight, diabetes, and male sex were significant predictors of IOC, POC, and conversion to open cholecystectomy (P<0.05). Conclusions: LC complications have a multifactorial aetiology. Patient awareness of all possible IOCs is fundamental. The improved skill and experience of the surgical team can mitigate serious complications.

Prevalence and determinants of undiagnosed hypertension in the Western region of Saudi Arabia.

Recent data regarding the prevalence and determinants of undiagnosed hypertension in Saudi Arabia are particularly lacking. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and to identify potential associates of hypertension risk among adults in the Western region of Saudi Arabia. Cross-sectional data for 489 Saudi adults were collected from public places in the cities of Madinah and Jeddah. Demographic, anthropometric (height, weight, waist circumference), and blood pressure (assessed by a digital sphygmomanometer) data were collected from all participants during face-to-face interviews. The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines were used to evaluate blood pressure status. Sodium intake was assessed using a semi-validated food frequency questionnaire. The prevalence of undiagnosed, elevated blood pressure, stage I, or stage II hypertension was 9.82%, 39.5%, and 17.2%, respectively. The proportions of individuals with undiagnosed hypertension were higher among men and smokers (p < .001 for both). Blood pressure status was positively associated with weight, body mass index, and waist circumference among participants (p < .001 for all). Higher body mass index and waist circumference were associated with increased odds of stage I and stage II hypertension. Sodium intake was not associated with blood pressure status. A strikingly high prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension was observed among the study sample. National intervention programs are necessary to encourage regular screening and follow-up for the early detection and management of hypertension.

Long-Term Psychological Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Anxiety and Depression among Physicians in a Tertiary Referral Hospital.

Background: Since the COVID-19 pandemic peaked, few studies have thereafter assessed the continued effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of healthcare workers. Objectives: To determine the rate and predictors of self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety among physicians at a public tertiary care teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia about 2 years after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2021 to April 2022 and targeted all physicians working at King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and General Anxiety Disorder-7 were used to elicit self-reported data regarding depression and anxiety, respectively. In addition, sociodemographic and job-related data were collected. Results: A total of 438 physicians responded, of which 200 (45.7%) reported symptoms of depression and 190 (43.4%) of anxiety. Being aged 25-30 years, female, resident, and reporting reduction in work quality were factors significantly associated with both anxiety and depression. Female gender (AOR = 3.570; 95% CI = 2.283-5.582; P < 0.001), working an average 9-11 hours/day (AOR = 2.130; 95% CI = 1.009-4.495; P < 0.047), and self-perceived reduction in work quality (AOR = 3.139; 95% CI = 2.047-4.813; P < 0.001) were significant independent predictors of anxiety. Female gender (AOR = 2.929; 95% CI = 1.845-4.649; P < 0.001) and self-perceived reduction in work quality (AOR = 3.141; 95% CI = 2.053-4.804; P < 0.001) were significant independent predictors of depression. Conclusions: About half of the physicians reported symptoms of anxiety and depression. These findings are suggestive of the need for large-scale studies to determine the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia.

The Biological Activity of Illicium verum (Star Anise) on Lernaea cyprinacea-Infested Carassius auratus (Goldfish): In Vivo Study.

Lernaea cyprinacea infestation is considered a serious economic problem in the fish market. An assessment to control this parasite is needed to manage this problem. The Illicium verum oil extract has considerable antioxidant activity and scavenges 96.22% of free radicals; the high antioxidant activity refers to the phenolic content presence. The extract contains minerals, especially K, fibers, and dry matter. So, the Illicium verum ingredients were tested against this copepod for in vitro and in vivo investigation with the assessment of the treatment trial using a scanning electron microscope and evaluating the change in different immunological genes in goldfish. Female parasitic L. cyprinacea worms were blackish and hairy. The in vitro study on L. cyprinacea adults using star anise revealed that the LC50 was 12.5 and 25 µg/mL for 2 and 1 h exposure periods, respectively. Interleukin (IL-1ß) and IL-6 were grossly upregulated in C. auratus-infested skin by L. cyprinacea after treatment by 1 week, then declined after 3 weeks. In contrast, TNF-α was 18 folds upregulated in the first week after treatment, with a decline after 3 weeks. In conclusion, star anise is recommended as a safe and economical agent for controlling L. cyprinacea infestation in fish.

Enhancement of MDM2 inhibitory effects through blocking nuclear export mechanisms in ovarian cancer cells.

Over 90% of ovarian cancer cells exhibit p53 mutations or inactivation. In addition, p53 is exported outside of the nucleus by exportin-1 (XPO1), a protein that mediates the nuclear export of several cancer suppressor proteins. Overexpression of XPO1 is associated with resistance to chemotherapy, leading to poor prognosis in various cancers. The MDM2 inhibitor, RG-7388, is a known reactivator of p53 and has been tested with high interest as a therapeutic agent for cancer treatment. In addition, Selinexor, which is a second-generation selective inhibitor of nuclear export (SINE), is known to cause an accumulation of p53 in the nucleus and is also being explored as a therapy potentiating agent in combination treatments. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of RG-7388 in combination with Selinexor for treating ovarian cancer. A combination of Selinexor and RG-7388 treatments was able to reduce the cell viability compared to individual treatments. In addition, the combination treatment revealed significant up-regulation of several cancer suppressor proteins in the whole lysate, cytoplasm, and nucleus. Finally, our results confirm that the combination of Selinexor with RG-7388 can induce a caspase-mediated apoptotic mechanism via up-regulation of p53 and p21.

Durable Surfaces from Film-Forming Silver Assemblies for Long-Term Zero Bacterial Adhesion without Toxicity.

The long-term prevention of biofilm formation on the surface of indwelling medical devices remains a challenge. Silver has been reutilized in recent years for combating biofilm formation due to its indisputable bactericidal potency; however, the toxicity, low stability, and short-term activity of the current silver coatings have limited their use. Here, we report the development of silver-based film-forming antibacterial engineered (SAFE) assemblies for the generation of durable lubricous antibiofilm surface long-term activity without silver toxicity that was applicable to diverse materials via a highly scalable dip/spray/solution-skinning process. The SAFE coating was obtained through a large-scale screening, resulting in effective incorporation of silver nanoparticles (∼10 nm) into a stable nonsticky coating with high surface hierarchy and coverage, which guaranteed sustained silver release. The lead coating showed zero bacterial adhesion over a 1 month experiment in the presence of a high load of diverse bacteria, including difficult-to-kill and stone-forming strains. The SAFE coating showed high biocompatibility and excellent antibiofilm activity in vivo.

Factors affecting compliance with national accreditation essential safety standards in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Accreditation is a widespread culture internationally and nationally. The effectiveness of compliance with accreditation standards was positively correlated with health care settings' performance in multiple aspects: leadership, professional performance, patient safety and organizational culture. There is limited knowledge of the national compliance rate with accreditation standards. Therefore, it is important to assess the hospital compliance with accreditation rate in the Kingdom Saudi Arabia (KSA) and its related factors. This paper presents a quantitative cross-sectional study. Data were extracted from the annual Essential Safety Requirement (ESR) survey database from the Central Board for Accreditation of Health care Institutions (CBAHI) research center during the period 2016 to 2018. Hospitals that started their operation after the first ESR survey round in 2016 or shut down during the study period were excluded. The hospital scoring was on a scale of 0 to 100 and classified as follows: score 2 if the hospital satisfactory compliance (Fully Met) was ≥ 80% and score 1 if particular compliance (Partially Met) was ≥ 50% to < 80%. Then, a score of 0 indicated insufficient compliance (Not Met) when < 50% and a score of not applicable (NA) if the standard does not apply to the hospital. A total of 437 hospitals were surveyed in 20 regions in the KSA and had an overall compliance rate on average that was higher among private hospitals than among public hospitals (77% vs. 66%). Overall, private hospitals had a significantly better compliance rate than public hospitals (mean rate = 84% vs. 68%, respectively, P = 0.019). Large hospitals had more compliance with some standards than smaller hospitals. After adjusting for the year of the survey report, the private hospital type was more compliant than the public hospital. This study supports mandatory accreditation programs for both public and private health sectors, with increased monitoring by the concerned parties (i.e., CBAHI and the Ministry of Health). The authors encourage the application of accreditation for specialized and independent health services.

Postoperative Intracardiac Thrombus in a Child with Nephrotic Syndrome.

Background: Thromboembolic events are a known complication of nephrotic syndrome in children. Intracardiac thrombi are a rare location for thrombus formation but can lead to severe clinical consequences. Case Presentation: We report an intracardiac left atrial thrombus in a child with new onset steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome and recently repaired atrial septal defect and cor triatriatum. The thrombus was successfully treated with surgical excision. Conclusion: Intracardiac thrombus is a rare but serious complication of nephrotic syndrome in children, especially in children with risk factors for potentially increased intracardiac thrombogenicity such as history of recent intervention.

Pancreatic Pathological Changes in Murine Toxoplasmosis and Possible Association with Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported involvement of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infections in the pathogenesis of some autoimmune diseases, such as polymyositis, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune thyroiditis, and Crohn's disease. However, data on the association between T. gondii infections and Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) are still controversial. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to investigate the pancreatic pathological changes in mouse models with acute and chronic toxoplasmosis and their association with T1DM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three groups (10 mice each) of male Swiss Albino mice were used. One group of mice was left uninfected, whereas the second and third groups were infected with the acute virulent T. gondii RH strain and the chronic less virulent Me49 T. gondii strain, respectively. T. gondii-induced pancreatic pathological changes were evaluated by histopathological examination of pancreatic tissues. Moreover, the expression of insulin, levels of caspase-3, and the pancreatic infiltration of CD8+ T cells were evaluated using immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Pancreatic tissues of T. gondii-infected animals showed significant pathological alterations and variable degrees of insulitis. Mice with acute toxoplasmosis exhibited marked enlargement and reduced numbers of islets of Langerhans. However, mice with chronic toxoplasmosis showed considerable reduction in size and number of islets of Langerhans. Moreover, insulin staining revealed significant reduction in ß cell numbers, whereas caspase-3 staining showed induced apoptosis in islets of Langerhans of acute toxoplasmosis and chronic toxoplasmosis mice compared to uninfected mice. We detected infiltration of CD8+ T cells only in islets of Langerhans of mice with chronic toxoplasmosis. CONCLUSIONS: Acute and chronic toxoplasmosis mice displayed marked pancreatic pathological changes with reduced numbers of islets of Langerhans and insulin-producing-ß cells. Since damage of ß cells of islets of Langerhans is associated with the development of T1DM, our findings may support a link between T. gondii infections and the development of T1DM.

Rapid Assembly of Infection-Resistant Coatings: Screening and Identification of Antimicrobial Peptides Works in Cooperation with an Antifouling Background.

Bacterial adhesion and the succeeding biofilm formation onto surfaces are responsible for implant- and device-associated infections. Bifunctional coatings integrating both nonfouling components and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a promising approach to develop potent antibiofilm coatings. However, the current approaches and chemistry for such coatings are time-consuming and dependent on substrates and involve a multistep process. Also, the information is limited on the influence of the coating structure or its components on the antibiofilm activity of such AMP-based coatings. Here, we report a new strategy to rapidly assemble a stable, potent, and substrate-independent AMP-based antibiofilm coating in a nonfouling background. The coating structure allowed for the screening of AMPs in a relevant nonfouling background to identify optimal peptide combinations that work in cooperation to generate potent antibiofilm activity. The structure of the coating was changed by altering the organization of the hydrophilic polymer chains within the coatings. The coatings were thoroughly characterized using various surface analytical techniques and correlated with the efficiency to prevent biofilm formation against diverse bacteria. The coating method that allowed the conjugation of AMPs without altering the steric protection ability of hydrophilic polymer structure results in a bifunctional surface coating with excellent antibiofilm activity. In contrast, the conjugation of AMPs directly to the hydrophilic polymer chains resulted in a surface with poor antibiofilm activity and increased adhesion of bacteria. Using this coating approach, we further established a new screening method and identified a set of potent surface-tethered AMPs with high activity. The success of this new peptide screening and coating method is demonstrated using a clinically relevant mouse infection model to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI).

Effect of Monthly and Bi-Monthly 50,000 International Units (IU) Maintenance Therapy With Vitamin D3 on Serum Level of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D in Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background Vitamin D deficiency is a prevalent condition worldwide. Identification of optimal supplementation approaches for maintaining normal vitamin D level in healthy adults is still required. It has been clearly established that sun exposure and diet do not provide the recommended daily amount of vitamin D, and that vitamin D supplementation is needed to maintain normal levels in the Saudi population. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of two regimens, monthly and bimonthly doses of 50,000 International Units (IU) cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), in maintaining normal serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in Saudi adults. Methods This study was a randomized controlled trial conducted to compare the efficacy of three regimens in maintaining a normal level of vitamin D in adult individuals. The study took place at three primary healthcare centers in King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 65 participants were enrolled and randomly divided into two intervention groups and one control group. All participants were contacted by researchers and followed up at their corresponding primary health care center for two successive visits. Results All 65 participants completed the study. The participants were mostly females (49; 75.4%); the mean age was 42.1 years (±13.5). The difference in vitamin D levels after three months of the trial was statistically significant among the three groups. A decrease in vitamin D level was recorded in the control group and in the once monthly intake of 50,000 IU group. The bimonthly intake of 50,000 IU group maintained statistically significant vitamin D levels > 75. Conclusion Bimonthly vitamin D3 supplementation appears to be an efficient regimen for maintaining a normal level of 25(OH)D, regardless of the amount of vitamin D obtained from diet and sun exposure.

Self-Limiting Mussel Inspired Thin Antifouling Coating with Broad-Spectrum Resistance to Biofilm Formation to Prevent Catheter-Associated Infection in Mouse and Porcine Models.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are one of the most commonly occurring hospital-acquired infections. Current coating strategies to prevent catheter-associated biofilm formation are limited by their poor long-term efficiency and limited applicability to diverse materials. Here, the authors report a highly effective non-fouling coating with long-term biofilm prevention activity and is applicable to diverse catheters. The thin coating is lubricous, stable, highly uniform, and shows broad spectrum prevention of biofilm formation of nine different bacterial strains and prevents the migration of bacteria on catheter surface. The coating method is adapted to human-sized catheters (both intraluminal and extraluminal) and demonstrates long-term biofilm prevention activity over 30 days in challenging conditions. The coated catheters are tested in a mouse CAUTI model and demonstrate high efficiency in preventing bacterial colonization of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, the coated human-sized Foley catheters are evaluated in a porcine CAUTI model and show consistent efficiency in reducing biofilm formation by Escherichia coli (E. coli) over 95%. The simplicity of the coating method, the ability to apply this coating on diverse materials, and the high efficiency in preventing bacterial adhesion increase the potential of this method for the development of next generation infection resistant medical devices.

Acute Kidney Injury in Pediatric Patients Treated with Vancomycin and Piperacillin-Tazobactam Versus Vancomycin and Cefotaxime: A Single-center Study.

Background Previous literature showed a higher incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in pediatric patients using vancomycin + piperacillin-tazobactam compared to cefepime + vancomycin. Our aim was to compare the incidence of developing AKI during the use of vancomycin + cefotaxime with that during the use of vancomycin + piperacillin-tazobactam in pediatric patients. Methods This was a retrospective, matched cohort study that used electronic records from May 1, 2015 through April 30, 2018 for all patients aged less than 16 years who received intravenous (IV) vancomycin + piperacillin-tazobactam or cefotaxime + vancomycin for at least 72 hours. AKI was defined by Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines. Each patient from the vancomycin + piperacillin-tazobactam group was matched 1:1 with those in the vancomycin + cefotaxime group according to their age, chronic disease, gender, and the number of concomitant nephrotoxic agents. A total of 64 cases were included. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. Results AKI developed in 10 of 32 patients (31.25%) who were using vancomycin + piperacillin-tazobactam. On the other hand, 13 of 32 patients (40.62%) were using cefotaxime + vancomycin (p = 0.047). Of the 10 patients who were on vancomycin + piperacillin-tazobactam regimen, 80% developed AKI Stage I. Of the 13 patients who were using cefotaxime + vancomycin, 46% developed AKI Stage II, although no statistical significance was noted in all stages.  Conclusion Our study showed that patients treated with cefotaxime and vancomycin showed a higher incidence of AKI than patients treated with vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam, although the study showed no statistical significance.

Social Media Use By People With Diabetes In Saudi Arabia: A Survey About Purposes, Benefits And Risks.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the use of social media by people with diabetes in Saudi Arabia and to know the purposes, benefits and risks of its use. METHODS: In this study a cross-sectional survey was carried out with a random sample of 158 people with all type of diabetes living in Saudi Arabia. The survey was distributed using WhatsApp and Twitter accounts of diabetic associations in Saudi Arabia. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The majority of the respondents were females (69%), and most of them had type 1 diabetes (70%). Almost half (47%) of the sampled population stated that they used social media for obtaining information related to diabetes; 34% employed these platforms to get information not linked to diabetes; and the rest, 19%, were not users of social media. Also, the participants used these tools for different purposes; and the most used social media for obtaining diabetes related information were WhatsApp (67%), Twitter (54%) and Snapchat (39%). The principal benefits involved in the utilization of social media were raising awareness about diabetes (78%), improving education among patients (78%), and facilitation of communication between patients and doctors (44%). The respondents pondered that breaching of patient privacy (5%) and dissemination of inaccurate information (30%) were dangers implicated in the use of social media. CONCLUSION: The outcomes indicated that WhatsApp was the social media most used by the participants to communicate and obtain information about diabetes. According to the participants, social media platforms were useful to improve education, awareness and communication among people with diabetes, family and doctors. However, due to the risks involved in the use of social media, health and educational organizations must work to ensure that the published information is accurate and does not affect the privacy of patients and healthcare providers.

Supplementation with Oligonol, Prevents Weight Gain and Improves Lipid Profile in Overweight and Obese Saudi Females.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a global health problem, increasing susceptibility to Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). Varieties of products have been proposed for treatment with varying degrees of success. Recent studies, suggested Oligonol; an optimized phenolic product mixture from Lychee Fruit Polyphenols (LFP); as such treatment in Japanese population. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the effect of oligonol on weight, insulin resistance by (HOMA-IR), lipids profile, leptin, Adiponectin, and resistin in healthy overweight and obese Saudi females. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 60 Saudi healthy overweight and obese females were enrolled in a double blind case/control study to take either Oligonol or placebo for 12 weeks without dietary or lifestyle re-strictions. Weight, height, Waist Circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and blood pressure were measured, and fasting blood samples of participants were taken before, and at the end of study. Total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, and resistin were meas-ured. LDL- cholesterol, HOMA-IR were calculated by equation. RESULTS: 47 subjects completed the study, 25 in placebo group, and 22 in Oligonol group. No ill effects were noted in any participant. Oligonol reduced means of serum triglycerides (P=0.008), and resistin (P=0.045) significantly. In addition, no weight gain was noted in oligonol group, unlike placebo group which exhibited significant increase in mean weight (P= 0.036), WC (P=0.027), HC (P= 0.047), and leptin (P <0.001). CONCLUSION: Oligonol could be suggested as future hypolipidemic and weight controlling agent for overweight and obese Saudi females.