Leptin is one of the best known hormone markers for obesity. There is a limited anthropometric data in the Gaza Strip that reveals and arouses the nutritional status among all age groups especially adolescents aged 15-19 years old. The study aimed to assess the effect of Leptin hormone, lipid profiles, Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference among secondary school age students in the Gaza Strip. Methodology: A cross sectional study included 442 cases of teenagers aged 15-19 years old from governmental and private schools in the Gaza strip. Blood samples were collected for analysis of Leptin hormone and lipid profile and measuring waist circumference for the teenager. Results: The mean of serum Leptin was (28.7) higher among cases than controls (28.1), but it was statistically insignificant (P = 0.85). It was found that there is a significant correlation between Leptin hormone and total cholesterol (Chol) (r = 0.24), high density cholesterol (HDL) (r = 0.27) and low density cholesterol (LDL) (r = 0.16). There was no relationship between Leptin hormone and triglycerides (TG) (r = −0.02). There was relationship between Leptin hormone and waist circumference in both males and females (r = 0.519, 0.544), respectively. There was no statistical significant deference noticed between Leptin hormone of obese objects and Leptin hormone of normal BMI objects of the same age (t-test = 0.93, P = 0.85). Conclusion: There are significant correlations between Leptin hormone and total Chol, HDL and LDL except for TG, and there were significant relationships between Leptin hormone and waist circumference which reflect the central obesity among males and females. There is no association between Leptin level and BMI.

The Effect of Atorvastatin on Liver Function among Patients with Coronary Heart Disease in Gaza Strip Mahmmoud H. Taleb1*, Ihab M. Almasri2, Naima I. Siam3, Ahmed A. Najim4, Adham I. Ahmed4 1Department of Pharmacology, Al-Azhar University, Gaza, Palestine 2Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Al-Azhar University, Gaza, Palestine 3Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Gaza, Palestine 4Faculty of Intermediate Studies, University of Palestine, Gaza, Palestine Email: *mahtaleb@hotmail.com Received 16 April 2014; revised 2 June 2014; accepted 27 June 2014 Copyright © 2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Statins, which are inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase, are considered as one of the most important drugs and the drug of choice for reducing an abnormal cholesterol level. Statins are normally used to decrease the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), but they tend to be associated with liver adverse effects. The objective of this prospective study was to investigate the effect of atorvastatin therapy on the liver function in patients with CHD. Study comprised of 66 newly diagnosed CHD patients who were selected from UNRWA clinics in the Gaza Strip. The patients were clinically examined and treated with atorvastatin (10 - 40 mg/day). A questionnaire was used to collect the data concerning patient’s characteristics. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), liver enzymes tests such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total and direct blood bilirubin were measured before starting treatment and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. The results showed a significant increase in the mean values of ALT, AST, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin levels after 3 months then decreased after the next 3 months, but they were higher than the baseline with insignificant association

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is a highly prevalent disease all over the world. Magnesium (Mg) plays a role in CHD but it is still unclear. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is an inflammatory marker which may rise in CHD. Aim of study: To assess the impact of dietary Mg intake and its level in relation to CRP among newly diagnosed CHD at middle zone of Gaza Strip. Methodology: Patients (n = 140) with confirmed CHD, 50 ± 10 years, presented in the cardiac care unit at Aqsa Martyr's Hospital between 1 April 2012 and 30 December 2012, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study after taking consent. ECG, clinical status, and cardiac markers were used to confirm diagnosis by cardiologist. Food frequency questionnaire was used to assess Mg intake and calcium intake in addition to measurement of its level in serum. CRP latex slide was used for measurement of CRP. Results: Mg intake and serum Mg were inversely associated with risk of CHD. Mean of serum Mg among cases (1.80) was lower than controls (2.41) (P = 0.001). Percent of positive CRP was higher in cases (32.9%) than controls (12.9%) (P = 0.005). Mean of serum Mg was (1.96 ± 0.47) for positive CRP which was lower than the mean of serum Mg (2.15 ± 0.44) for negative CRP. Conclusion: Newly diagnosed patients with CHD have a positive CRP, low serum and low Mg intake, and low serum Mg was associated with elevated CRP.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of deaths of women and men worldwide. In this study we tried to assess the relationship between Vitamin D status and CAD. Vitamin D has a big role in the body and debate on its effect on the heart and coronary arteries still exits. C-reactive protein (