BackgroundThe prevalence of obesity and vitamin D deficiency in Saudi Arabia has increased recently. Decreased physical activity might play a role in obesity. Previous studies showed an association between low vitamin D level and its receptor polymorphism with obesity development.ObjectiveTo determine association of low vitamin D level and its receptor polymorphism with obesity in Saudi men.MethodsThis case control study was carried out from March 2016 through March 2017. Three hundred Saudi male students (from applied medical sciences in Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia) were classified according to BMI into lean, overweight and obese groups. For each individual, blood glucose, cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, insulin and 25-(OH) vitamin D were measured. In addition, Apal, BsmI and TaqI genotypes were performed for each individual from March 2016 through March 2017, through computer-based search of the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science (Thomson ReutersTM). The references of the original literature and the related articles were also searched, for potential complementary studies. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 16, using Spearman’s rho and ANOVA tests.ResultsThere was significant negative association between 25-(OH) vitamin D level and obesity (p<0.01). Genotyping study showed that both bb of BsmI and tt of TaqI genotypes were higher in the obese group compared with lean group (p<0.05). Moreover, bb genotype has higher BMI and HOMA-IR than both BB and Bb; and tt genotype also has higher BMI and HOMA-IR than TT and Tt genotypes (p<0.05).ConclusionLow vitamin D level and VDR BsmI and Taq1 genotypes may be a risk factor of obesity.
Objectives: Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is the most commonly used glycemic index among diabetic patients. The present study sought to investigate the relationship between HbA1c and lipid parameters among healthy pregnancies and gestational diabetic cases. Materials and Methods: Seventy-five Saudi pregnant women within the age group of 19 to 43 years were selected for this crosssectional study. The participants were categorized into with and without gestational diabetes (GDM), all of whom were non-smokers; in addition, they neither had a previous history of chronic illnesses nor were they on any medications which could alter lipid profile and HbA1c concentrations. Totally, 75 g of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was utilized to identify 25 women with GDM. All biochemical tests including HbA1c, fasting blood sugar (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-cholesterol), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol) were performed by a biochemical auto-analyzer. The collected data were statistically analyzed using a paired student’s t test. The P values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant on all the analyses related to healthy pregnancies and those associated with GDM. Results: The HbA1c and FBG values demonstrated significant correlation with GDM (P<0.001 each). However, TC, LDL-cholesterol, and TG failed to indicate any significant difference between the 2 groups. Conversely, HDL-cholesterol and the ratio of TG and HDLcholesterol revealed remarkable differences between GDM and healthy participants (P<0.05 each). Conclusions: In general, the blood levels of glucose, HbA1c, TG, and HDL-cholesterol are of paramount significance in GDM. Predictably, HbA1c can be employed as one of the markers in evaluating the risk factors in developing dyslipidemia among pregnant women.
The two spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch, is a cosmopolitan mite. It rapidly reproduces and can develop resistance to chemical pesticides. This study aims to evaluate the toxicity and acaricidal activity of three essential oils from basil, clove, and peppermint against T. urticae reproduction, which is grown on three cucumber cultivars, Chief (SC 4145), Raian (CB898), and Toshka (SC 349), under laboratory conditions at 27 + 3 °C and 70 + 5% RH. GC-MS characterized the volatile oils of basil, clove, and peppermint. Methyl cinnamate, eugenol, and menthol were the main essential oils in basil, clove, and peppermint, respectively. The results indicated significant differences in the duration of development between T. urticae feeding on the three cucumber cultivars (p ≤ 0.05), including eggs, protonymph, and deutonymph time. The Toshka (SC 349) cultivar recorded the lowest developmental time. The longevity period exhibited the same trend with non-significant differences between Raian (CB898) and Toshka (SC 349). Moreover, the lethal concentration (LC50) and LC90 values in tested essential oils (EOs) showed that clove EOs were the most toxic. In contrast, basil and peppermint EOs were the least effective, and immature stages were more sensitive to EOs than adult stages. The infected Toshka (SC 349) discs treated with essential oils and abamectin under in vitro conditions indicated that clove oil is comparable to abamectin regarding its effect on the egg numbers (18.7 and 17.6 egg), immature development time, longevity, life span, and life cycle (20.6 and 20.8 days) of T. urticae. We conclude that the resistant cultivation of cucumber plants can be recommended in integrated pest management programs. The most effective of the tested oils, clove EOs, should be used as alternatives to pesticides to control T. urticae in the protected cultivation of cucumbers.
Background/Aim: Breast cancer (BC) is among the most widespread malignant tumors in women. In the current study, we evaluated the role of miR-31 in BC patients and its relation to the different prognostic, clinical, and pathological features. Patients and Methods: MiR-31 levels were determined by RT-PCR in BC and adjacent normal breast tissues from 100 BC patients. BC diagnosis was established through histopathological examinations. The expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) receptor in all tumors was determined using immunohistochemistry. Results: MiR-31 expression was reduced in BC tissues relative to adjacent healthy breast tissue (mean levels were 0.93 and 7.2, respectively). Also, the low expression of miR-31 in BC patients was significantly correlated with adverse clinical and pathological features such as: young patient's age, premenopausal status, infiltrative lobular carcinoma, ER and PR negative tumors, HER2 positive tumors, and advanced clinical stage. Conclusion: MiR-31 was expressed at low levels in BC tissues and correlated with adverse clinical and pathological features, and poor survival.
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