BACKGROUND:Obesity is a multifactorial disease, associated with metabolic disorders and chronic low-grade inflammation. Procalcitonin (PCT) is well known as a biomarker of infection, and systemic inflammation. Recently, it has potential as a marker for chronic low-grade inflammation.AIM:This study aims to evaluate the role of serum PCT as an inflammatory biomarker in the diagnosis of obesity-related low-grade inflammation.METHOD:In this case-control study, 50 obese and 35 normal weight children and adolescents aged 5–15 years were enrolled. Anthropometric parameters were measured in all subjects. Blood samples were collected for measurement of lipid profile, blood glucose, insulin, high sensitivity-CRP (Hs-CRP) and serum procalcitonin. Serum (PCT) levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.RESULTS:Obese participants had higher concentrations of serum PCT, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c, glucose and Hs-CRP than control group. On correlation analysis, procalcitonin had significant positive correlation with (BMI) z-score (P = 0.02), insulin (P = 0.00), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (P = 0.006), Hs-CRP (P = 0.02), total cholesterol (P = 0.04) and triglycerides (P = 0.00) in obese group.CONCLUSION:The increased serum procalcitonin concentrations were closely related to measures of adiposity, Hs-CRP and insulin resistance, suggesting that PCT may be an excellent biomarker for obesity-related chronic low-grade inflammation in children and adolescents.
Blastocystis is an enteric Straminopile in tropical, subtropical and developing countries. Metronidazole has been a chemotheraputic for blastocystosis. Failures in its regimens were reported and necessitate new studies searching for alternative therapeutic agents. Aim of current study is to investigate potential effects of Atorvastatin (AVA) compared to the conventional chemotherapeutic MTZ in experimentally Blastocystis-infected mice. Anti-Blastocystis efficacy of AVA was evaluated parasitologically, histopathologically and by transmission electron microscopy using MTZ (10 mg/kg) as a control. Therapeutic efficacy of AVA was apparently dose-dependent. Regimens of AVA (20 and 40 mg/kg) proved effective against Blastocystis infections with high reduction in Blastocystis shedding (93.4–97.9%) compared to MTZ (79.3%). The highest reductions (98.1% and 99.4%) were recorded in groups of combination treatments AVA 20–40 mg/kg and MTZ 10 mg/kg. Blastocystis was nearly eradicated by the 20th day post infection. Genotype analysis revealed that genotype I was most susceptible, genotype III was less. Histopathologic and ultrastructural studies revealed apoptotic changes in Blastocystis and significant improvement of intestinal histopathological changes more remarkable in combinational therapy groups. Thus, the present study offers AVA as a potential candidate for Blastocystis therapy combined with MTZ.
Objective The aim of the present study was to assess DNA oxidative damage by detection of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant status in thalassemic patients.Materials and methods Blood samples were collected from 94 participants (64 b-thalassemic patients and 30 healthy controls) in the range of ages 4-15 years.Results It was clear that markers of free oxygen radical injury in blood (i.e. 8-OHdG) were significantly elevated in b-thalassemia major (P < 0.001) and b-thalassemia intermediate (P < 0.001) compared with normal controls, and lipid peroxide was also significantly higher in both types of thalassemia compared with controls (P < 0.001). In contrast, mean catalase levels and glutathione-Stransferase were decreased (P < 0.001). There were highly significant changes in the values of 8-OHdG between the thalassemia major and thalassemia intermedia groups (P = 0.000), and it was significantly correlated with serum ferritin in thalassemic children (r = 0.5, P = 0.006).Conclusion b-Thalassemic children are at higher risk for tissue injury and DNA oxidative damage due to a state of enhanced oxidative stress.
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