Aim
The present study aimed to determine the folic acid supplement (FAS) effects on serum homocysteine and sortilin levels, glycemic indices, and lipid profile in type II diabetic patients.
Method
A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial have been performed on 100 patients with T2DM randomly divided into two groups that received either placebo or folic acid 5 mg/d for 12 weeks.
Results
FAS caused a significant decrease in homocysteine and sortilin serum levels (28.2% and 33.7%, P < 0.0001, respectively). After 3 months of intervention, 8.7% decrease in fasting blood glucose (P = 0.0005), 8.2% in HbA1c (P = 0.0002), 13.7% in serum insulin (P < 0.0001) and 21.7% in insulin resistance (P < 0.0001) were found in the folic acid group, however no significant difference was observed in the placebo group. Serum hs-CRP level showed significant positive associations with sortilin (r = 0.237, P = 0.018), homocysteine (r = 0.308, P = 0.002) and fasting blood glucose (r = 0.342, P = 0.000). There were no significant changes in lipid profile in both groups after 12 weeks.
Conclusion
FAS might be beneficial for reducing homocysteine and sortilin levels, enhancing glycemic control, and improved insulin resistance in patients with T2DM.
Objective: We aimed to examine the effect of doxycycline on serum levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), a marker of neuronal damage in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Methods: Patients were randomly assigned into two groups ( n = 25 each) to receive either placebo or doxycycline (200 mg daily), with their standard management for 7 days. Results: NSE serum levels in the doxycycline and control groups on day 3 were 14.66 ± 1.78 versus 18.09 ± 4.38 ng/mL, respectively ( p = 0.008), and on day 7 were 12.3 ± 2.0 versus 16.43 ± 3.85 ng/mL, respectively ( p = 0.003). Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) on day 7 was 11.90 ± 2.83 versus 9.65 ± 3.44 in the doxycycline and control groups, respectively ( p = 0.031). NSE serum levels and GCS scores were negatively correlated ( r = −0.569, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Adjunctive early use of doxycycline might be a novel option that halts the ongoing secondary brain injury in patients with moderate to severe TBI. Future larger clinical trials are warranted to confirm these findings.
Purpose
Heart rate reduction (HR) is a cornerstone in heart failure therapy as it improves patient outcomes. The aim of this study is to evaluate short-term effect of ivabradine on NT-Pro BNP and neopterin in heart failure patients and assess the association between HR and these biomarkers.
Methods
Sixty patients on standard heart failure therapy were randomly allocated into ivabradine group (n = 30) and non-ivabradine group (n = 30). Ivabradine 5 mg twice daily was given for 3 months. Lipid profile and kidney functions were performed and blood samples for NT-Pro BNP and neopterin were analysed at baseline and after 3 months of intervention in both groups.
Results
There was a significant improvement in NYHA class in ivabradine group (p < 0.001). Ejection fraction was improved in ivabradine and non-ivabradine groups after intervention (p < 0.001), with a greater improvement in ivabradine group (p = 0.026). Heart rate was reduced in ivabradine group (p < 0.001) and non-ivabradine group (p < 0.001) yet greater reduction was seen in ivabradine group (p < 0.001). Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were reduced in ivabradine group (Scr: p = 0.001, BUN: p = 0.001). NT-Pro BNP and neopterin levels significantly decreased in ivabradine group (NT-Pro BNP: p < 0.001, neopterin p < 0.001). Significant positive correlation was found between HR and biomarker levels after intervention (NT-Pro BNP: r = 0.475, p < 0.001, neopterin: r = 0.384, p = 0.002).
Conclusion
Ivabradine therapy reduced levels of both biomarkers which correlated well with HR. Biomarker levels might provide a tool for assessing ivabradine effectiveness in HF.
Trial registration
Date: June 26, 2020. Identifier: NCT04448899. Link: Ivabradine in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure—Full Text View—ClinicalTrials.gov.
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