No abstract

No abstract

Zonulin protein is a haptoglobin precursor and functions to modulate the permeability of tight junctions between enterocytes. Local inflammation or systemic inflammation can trigger zonulin expression. While the increased zonulin level causes an increase of intestinal permeability and entrance of foreign antigens, the latter can increase insulin resistance and inflammation. Polycystic ovarian syndrome affects women during their reproductive age characterized by hyperinsulinemia and/or hyperandrogenemia and associated with infertility problems. Changes in gut permeability such as irritable bowel syndrome are often found in PCOS patients. While metformin increases insulin mediates glucose uptake and, acts as an insulin-sensitizing drug used to treat PCOS patients is recently discovered to reshape intestinal bacteria and hence may affect intestinal action. This study was designed to find any association between zonulin level and other parameters in PCOS patients and to find metformin treatment effects on zonulin in PCOS patients. Thirty-one newly diagnosed PCOS women agree to take metformin 850 mg twice daily for three months and, and to give fasting serum samples to measure zonulin, FSH, LH, total testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, fasting insulin, and fasting serum glucose before and after treatment. The free testosterone and zonulin are determined by the ELISA technique while the other parameters are determined by the Cobas technique. According to patients’ Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA-IR), the Patients were divided into two sub-groups: the first group consisting of those with initial HOMA-IR less than two and the second group was those of an initial HOMA-IR of between two to four. Whereas the first group showed no significant response to treatment, the second group showed a better response to metformin treatment, as demonstrated by their LH, total testosterone, free testosterone, fasting insulin, zonulin, and glucose levels. These parameters markedly improved after metformin treatment with p-values of 0.08, 0.09, 0.07. 0.04, 0.01 and 0.06, respectively.

Background: Breast cancer is the second leading reason of cancer-related deaths in women. Osteocalcin (OC) is increased when bone metabolism is raised. Cancer cells with estrogen and progesterone receptors be determined by estrogen and related hormones, such as progesterone, to grow. Aim: To find the level of serum osteocalcin, and its association with estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors. Methods: Study design: A cross-sectional study was designed; taking 45 patients with breast cancer and 22 controls women whose ages were between 25-70 years old, from beginning of January 2021 to ending of June 2021. These patients came to Kirkuk Teaching Hospital. Age, weight, length, and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. Biochemical analysis: The serum osteocalcin, progesterone receptors (PRs), and estrogen receptors (ERs) levels were measured by an automated immunoassay system. Results: Mean of BMI of control group was (25.63 ± 1.93) kg/m 2 and of the patients' group was (26.97±4.08) kg/m 2 . There was a significant difference in osteocalcin between the control and patients' group. There was a significant difference in ER between the control and patients' group. There was a significant difference in PR between the control and patients' group. Conclusion: Biochemical marker of bone metabolism may identify patients with bone disease who are at high risk for skeletal-related events.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] is a common disease that affected the reproductive problem. Aim: the study tried to determine the association between PCOS with the body mass index (BMI) and the effect of metformin as treatment for PCOS. Patients and Methods: This case control prospective experimental study was carried out in Kirkuk General Hospital from January 2014 to July 2014. The recruited cases divided into three groups; Group I, 68 women with normal menstrual cycle as control group; Group II, 61 cases diagnosed as a PCOS; and Group III :- 30 cases selected from group two to receive treatment with Metformin to determine the effect of the treatment on different variables. Results: The highest percentage of PCOS (36.1%) was found in those with age group between (20-25) years. Most (65.6%) of PCOS subjects were with overweight or obese. BMI mean value was (28.92±6.68) in women with PCOS, while in control the corresponding value was (25.09±4.35). FSH, and testosterone were significantly higher in women with PCOS than in control. Metformin reduced serum FSH, LH, prolactin and testosterone, with non-significant difference. Conclusion: PCOS is independently associated with elevated BMI. Metformin treatment of PCOS induced t reduction in serum testosterone and FSH, LH and serum prolactin but not reach significant level. This warranted performance a large scale clinical trial to evaluate the therapeutic effect of metformin alone or in combination with diet control approach for treatment of PCOS. These findings have implications for the pathophysiology of obesity development and management in PCOS.