Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common public health problem. Visfatin
is secreted by visceral adipose tissue and is an adipocytokine.
It could be a pro-inflammatory adipocytokine and is related to the metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This
study evaluated the association between visfatin levels in patients with the metabolic syndrome with and without non-alcoholic fatty
liver disease (NAFLD).
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 120 patients with metabolic syndrome were selected. They were categorized into two groups,
patients with fatty liver (n=70) and without fatty liver disease (n=50). Laboratory and anthropometric options such as age, sex, systolic
blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, liver enzymes, uric acid, visfatin, insulin, BMI, waist circumference, and TNF-α were
measured. The chi-square test, Mann-Whitney, t test, Spearman and Pearson correlations were used for the data analysis.
Results: There was a significant difference between the fatty liver and non-fatty liver disease with visfatin, BMI, FBS and lipid profile
(p<0.05). The mean±SD level of visfatin was 37.1±1.7 ng/dl in the non-fatty liver and was 44.4±1.5 ng/dl in fatty liver participants
(p=0.02). 59% of patients with metabolic syndrome had fatty liver in ultrasonography.
Conclusion: According to this study, there was a correlation between visfatin levels and fatty liver disease.
Background:Insulin resistance has an important role in pathophysiology of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Yet there are certain controversies regarding the presence of insulin resistance in non-obese patients. Objective:The aim was to compare the insulin resistance and various endocrine and metabolic abnormalities in obese and non-obese PCOS women.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study which was performed from 2007-2010, 115 PCOS patients, aged 16-45 years were enrolled. Seventy patients were obese (BMI ≥25) and 45 patients were non-obese (BMI <25). Presence of insulin resistance and endocrine-metabolic abnormalities were compared between two groups. Collected data were analyzed with SPSS version 16.0 and p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results:There was no significant difference in presence of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR >2.3) between two groups (p=0.357). Waist circumference (p<0.001), waist/hip ratio (p<0.001), systolic (p<0.001) and diastolic (p<0.001) blood pressures, fasting blood sugar (p=0.003) and insulin (p=0.011), HOMA-IR (p=0.004), total cholesterol (p=0.001) and triglyceride (p<0.001) were all significantly higher in obese PCOS patients. There was no significant difference in total testosterone (p=0.634) and androstenedione (p=0.736) between groups whereas Dehydroepiandrotendione sulfate (DHEAS) was significantly higher in non-obese PCOS women (p=0.018). There was no case of fatty liver and metabolic syndrome in non-obese patients, whereas they were seen in 31.3% and 39.4% of obese PCOS women, respectively.Conclusion:Our study showed that metabolic abnormalities are more prevalent in obese PCOS women, but adrenal axis activity that is reflected in higher levels of DHEAS was more commonly pronounced in our non-obese PCOS patients.
Background. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) manifestations varied completely from its time of emergence. However, the assessment of adrenal insufficiency (AI) in this pandemic is lacking. In this review, we aimed to evaluate the status of AI among COVID-19-infected individuals. Methods. A systematic literature screening in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science was performed until May 23, 2021. We collected relevant published peer-reviewed studies that reported AI occurrence in patients who suffered from COVID-19. Results. A total of 10 records (cross-sectional studies: 3, N = 256, males: 176 (68.7%), and case reports: 7, N = 7, males: 4 (57.1%)) were recruited. The age spectrum ranged from 22 to 96 years. AI was diagnosed with laboratory assessment or radiologic findings. The AI prevalence ranged from 3.1% to as high as 64.3% in different studies. Except for one patient, all other patients were discharged in stable conditions in published case reports. Conclusion. This review indicates that AI occurrence in the COVID-19 pandemic seems quite probable; however, the extent and type (primary, secondary, and functional) need to be clarified yet. Appropriate early diagnostic and therapeutic interventions should be done, especially in critically ill patients, to prevent lethal outcomes.
Background
Although there are multiple treatments for lung cancer, the death rate of this cancer remains high because of metastasis in earlier stages. So a novel treatment for overcoming metastasis is urgently needed. Overexpression of high‐mobility group AT‐hook 2 (HMGA2), a nonhistone chromosomal protein has been observed in metastatic cancers. So, we suggested that HMGA2 upregulation may play a critical role in treating lung cancer.
Methods
The A549 cells were transfected with specific HMGA2 small interfering RNA (siRNA) using transfection reagent. Relative HMGA2 and matrix metallopeptidase 1 (MMP1), C‐X‐C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), vimentin, and E‐cadherin messenger RNA expression levels were measured by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. To diagnose cytotoxic effect of HMGA2 siRNA and other components of transfection process, 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was applied. The migration capacity after transfection with HMGA2 siRNA was detected by wound‐healing assay.
Results
HMGA2 siRNA significantly reduced HMGA2 expression in a dose‐dependent manner 48 hours after transfection. Expression levels of MMP1, vimentin, and CXCR4 were reduced, but E‐cadherin level was not changed meaningfully. HMGA2 knockdown significantly reduced cell survival rate and also led to the inhibition of cell migration.
Conclusions
Our results indicated that RNA interference by downregulation of HMGA2 gene expression and affecting downstream genes led to the inhibition of cell migration and proliferation. Therefore, HMGA2 siRNA might be an alternative treatment option for metastatic lung cancer.
The MIRP technique using very low dose (1 mCi) of Tc-99m MIBI without intraoperative PTH assay and frozen section analysis resulted in excellent cure rate for PHPT. This technique involves a radiation exposure to patients and surgical staffs 20 times lower than conventional MIRP using 20 mCi Tc-99m MIBI. Besides, patients with PHPT due to ectopic parathyroid adenoma may especially benefit from MIRP.
Objective. An outbreak of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) began in December 2019 and spread globally, overwhelming the entire world. COVID-19 is a public health emergency of international concern. Due to its high morbidity and mortality rate, recognition of its risk and prognostic factors is important. We aimed to understand the relationship between metabolic and endocrine parameters and the prognosis of COVID-19. Methods and Materials. This was a cross-sectional clinical study. A total of 70 patients with severe COVID-19 were enrolled. Laboratory results at the first admission time (including complete blood count, C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, blood glucose, calcium, phosphate, albumin, creatinine, magnesium, lipid profiles, liver enzymes, thyroid hormones, cortisol, and vitamin D) and outcome data were recorded. We divided patients into (1) intensive care unit- (ICU-) admitted and non-ICU-admitted and (2) survivors and nonsurvivors for estimation of severity and prognosis. We determined the risk factors associated with critical illness and poor prognosis. Results. Patients with higher white blood cell (WBC) count and phosphate levels had significantly higher ICU admission rates. According to univariate analysis, serum levels of T3, phosphate, and WBC as well as the duration of hospitalization were associated with mortality. Multivariate analysis revealed that only WBC and duration of hospitalization were independent predictors for mortality rate in COVID-19 patients. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that longer duration of hospitalization and higher WBC count are associated with poor outcomes in patients with COVID-19.
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