GENE POLYMORPHISM FOR Α-RECEPTOR OF OESTROGENES AND ALTERATIONS IN BONE MINERAL DENSITY FOR ADULT CELIAC DISEASE PATIENTS

It is well known that osteopenia and osteoporosis are frequently found celiac disease patients presenting classical symptoms of malabsorption1. Osteomalacia cases have also been diagnosed in celiac patients who do not present clinical signs of malabsorption , in patients with latent celiac disease, as well as in first degree relatives of patients with celiac disease who do not suffer from celiac disease themselves. This suggests the presence of different pathogenic mechanisms2. The analysis of genetic polymorphism represents an effective approach for an in-depth screening of genes potentially implicated in the development of osteoporosis. Because of the central role that estrogen plays in bone metabolism, ER genes play an important role in the determination of bone mineral density and the risk of osteoporosis. The fact that osteoporotic phenotypes are observed in patients with a destructive mutation of the α receptor gene for estrogen together with the signs of reduced bone mineral density that are found in mice presenting a functional insufficiency of ER α, but not in mice showing reduced ER β function, demonstrates that ER α is one of the principal genes involved in the genesis of osteoporosis3. Previously , two intronic polymorphisms of the α ER gene, identified by restriction endonucleases PvuII and TA Xba and repetitive polymorphism sequences, have been linked to bone mass density in the Japanese population and in menopausal Italian women4

BLOOD LIPID DISORDER IN MEN WITH INCREASED WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE COMPARED TO MEN HAVING NORMAL WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE WITHIN THE SAME CATEGORY OF BMI

Background: No local studies have been performed yet to investigate the influence of central or abdominal obesity on serum lipids in men having increased Waist Circumference (WC) compared to men with normal Waist Circumference values within the same BMI (Body Mass Index) category. Objective:To examine whether the prevalence of dyslipidemia, (defined as Hypercholesterolemia (Total Cholesterol level ≥240 mg/dl), high LDL-C level (≥160 mg/dl), low HDL-C level (<35 mg/dl), or Hypertriglyceridemia (TG level ≥200 mg/dl)), is higher in men having high Waist Circumference compared to others with normal WC values within the same BMI category. Methods: The study was conducted between September 2013 and July 2014. Eighty-eight overweight men (BMI = 25-29.9) were grouped by WC as follows: 28 with high values (>102 cm) and 60 with normal values (≤ 102cm). Blood samples were drawn and assayed for total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C, and LDL-C,at the department of Laboratory in the Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University. All assays were performed by enzymatic colorimetric methods using Hitachi-704. Results: Overweight men with high WC values (according to cutoff points internationally adopted) were the most likely to have dyslipidemia with its subsequent increased health risk compared with those having normal WC values. Conclusion: we showed in this study that the prevalence of dyslipidemia in men with high WC values is greater compared to those with normal WC values within the same BMI category. This finding leads us to the importance of the incorporated evaluation of WC in addition to the BMI in clinical practice

BLOOD LIPID DISORDER IN MEN WITH INCREASED WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE COMPARED TO MEN HAVING NORMAL WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE WITHIN THE SAME CATEGORY OF BMI

Background: No local studies have been performed yet to investigate the influence of central or abdominal obesity on serum lipids in men having increased Waist Circumference (WC) compared to men with normal Waist Circumference values within the same BMI (Body Mass Index) category. Objective:To examine whether the prevalence of dyslipidemia, (defined as Hypercholesterolemia (Total Cholesterol level ≥240 mg/dl), high LDL-C level (≥160 mg/dl), low HDL-C level (<35 mg/dl), or Hypertriglyceridemia (TG level ≥200 mg/dl)), is higher in men having high Waist Circumference compared to others with normal WC values within the same BMI category. Methods: The study was conducted between September 2013 and July 2014. Eighty-eight overweight men (BMI = 25-29.9) were grouped by WC as follows: 28 with high values (>102 cm) and 60 with normal values (≤ 102cm). Blood samples were drawn and assayed for total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C, and LDL-C,at the department of Laboratory in the Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University. All assays were performed by enzymatic colorimetric methods using Hitachi-704. Results: Overweight men with high WC values (according to cutoff points internationally adopted) were the most likely to have dyslipidemia with its subsequent increased health risk compared with those having normal WC values. Conclusion: we showed in this study that the prevalence of dyslipidemia in men with high WC values is greater compared to those with normal WC values within the same BMI category. This finding leads us to the importance of the incorporated evaluation of WC in addition to the BMI in clinical practice

EVALUATION OF SECONDARY OSTEOPOROSIS WITH BONE MINERAL DENSITOMETRY AND BONE TURNOVER MARKERS

Osteoporosis is as a very complex multi-factorial pathogenesis; thereby any doctor facing a case of osteoporosis must be very careful. Diagnostic procedures are complex and include careful monitoring of the history of patient, physical examination and some laboratory analysis. In this study, 201 patients aged between 50 and 95 years were selected from 4872 patients consulting orthopedic clinics. This group (201 patients: 168 women, 33 men) showed evidence of osteoporosis: BMD DXA with reduced bone mineral density,T-score: greater than -2.5 SD, or X-ray signs of non traumatic fractures. Patients also underwent biochemical and instrumental investigations for an assessment of bone metabolism. Age, gender, medical history as well as tests of rheumatic metabolism, calcium-phosphorus and some indices of bone turnover were determined for each patient. Interestingly, our data showed that 104 patients had a vertebral fracture without trauma, 22 hypothyroid patients were undergoing treatment with levothyroxine, 3 patients were suffering from autoimmune thyroiditis, 3 patients were suffering from secondary hyperparathyroidism with vitamin D deficiency, 2 patients were suffering from adenoma with primary hyperparathyroidism, 20 were diabetic patients, 7 patients had monoclonal gammopathy, 7 women had hystero- ovario salpingectomy, 7 patients were HCV positive, 4 patients with rheumatoid arthritis had been treated with corticosteroids, 2 patients were suffering from multiple myeloma, and 1 patient had Crohn's disease. There was also 1 suspected case of ulcerative colitis, 5 patients were suffering from celiac disease and other cases described in the paper. As a result of this diverse association, the approach to treating osteoporotic patients should be then accurate and multidisciplinary. It is then important to perform laboratory tests and investigations for correct diagnosis and adequate treatment

EVALUATION OF SECONDARY OSTEOPOROSIS WITH BONE MINERAL DENSITOMETRY AND BONE TURNOVER MARKERS

Osteoporosis is as a very complex multi-factorial pathogenesis; thereby any doctor facing a case of osteoporosis must be very careful. Diagnostic procedures are complex and include careful monitoring of the history of patient, physical examination and some laboratory analysis. In this study, 201 patients aged between 50 and 95 years were selected from 4872 patients consulting orthopedic clinics. This group (201 patients: 168 women, 33 men) showed evidence of osteoporosis: BMD DXA with reduced bone mineral density,T-score: greater than -2.5 SD, or X-ray signs of non traumatic fractures. Patients also underwent biochemical and instrumental investigations for an assessment of bone metabolism. Age, gender, medical history as well as tests of rheumatic metabolism, calcium-phosphorus and some indices of bone turnover were determined for each patient. Interestingly, our data showed that 104 patients had a vertebral fracture without trauma, 22 hypothyroid patients were undergoing treatment with levothyroxine, 3 patients were suffering from autoimmune thyroiditis, 3 patients were suffering from secondary hyperparathyroidism with vitamin D deficiency, 2 patients were suffering from adenoma with primary hyperparathyroidism, 20 were diabetic patients, 7 patients had monoclonal gammopathy, 7 women had hystero- ovario salpingectomy, 7 patients were HCV positive, 4 patients with rheumatoid arthritis had been treated with corticosteroids, 2 patients were suffering from multiple myeloma, and 1 patient had Crohn's disease. There was also 1 suspected case of ulcerative colitis, 5 patients were suffering from celiac disease and other cases described in the paper. As a result of this diverse association, the approach to treating osteoporotic patients should be then accurate and multidisciplinary. It is then important to perform laboratory tests and investigations for correct diagnosis and adequate treatment

THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE METABOLIC DISORDERS IN OBESE MEN AND THE BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)

Background: The influence of body weight on serum lipids and uric acid is often overlooked in clinical practice. Objective: To study the magnitude of metabolic disorders (dyslipidemia and hyper-urecaemia) in asymptomatic obese men and its relation to body mass index (BMI). Methods: The study was conducted between September 2013 and July of 2014 at the medical analyses center in the Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University. The weight, height, BMI, waist circumference (WC) uric acid, and lipid profile of 148 obese males, apparently healthy, compared with 80 males in a control group (BMI < 25 kg / m²), were investigated. Subjects were grouped by BMI and WC in accordance with the National Institutes of Health cutoff points. Within the normal-weight (18.5-24.9), overweight (25.0-29.9), and obese (≥ 30.0) BMI categories, we distributed the results of all the blood tests and we computed the prevalence of dyslipidemia and hyperurecaemia. Results: The present work revealed that with increasing body weight, the mean total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides(TG), and uric acid increased; while the mean HDL-C decreased. These changes were as follows: the means difference between the first and second group and between the second and the third group were 29 and 31 mg/dl respectively regarding total cholesterol; for TG, these were 47.5 and 53.4 mg/dl; for LDL-C, these were 12 and 29 mg/dl; for HDL-C, these were 3.6 and 3.5 mg/dl; for uric acid, these were 0.3 mg/dl as a common difference, P=0.0245). Conclusion: Excess body weight is associated with deleterious changes in the lipoprotein profile and uric acid

All-cause and COVID-19 mortality in Qatar during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective To investigate all-cause mortality, COVID-19 mortality and all-cause non-COVID-19 mortality in Qatar during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A national, retrospective cohort analysis and national, matched, retrospective cohort studies were conducted between 5 February 2020 and 19 September 2022. Results There were 5025 deaths during a follow-up time of 5 247 220 person-years, of which 675 were COVID-19 related. Incidence rates were 0.96 (95% CI 0.93 to 0.98) per 1000 person-years for all-cause mortality, 0.13 (95% CI 0.12 to 0.14) per 1000 person-years for COVID-19 mortality and 0.83 (95% CI 0.80 to 0.85) per 1000 person-years for all-cause non-COVID-19 mortality. Adjusted HR, comparing all-cause non-COVID-19 mortality relative to Qataris, was lowest for Indians at 0.38 (95% CI 0.32 to 0.44), highest for Filipinos at 0.56 (95% CI 0.45 to 0.69) and was 0.51 (95% CI 0.45 to 0.58) for craft and manual workers (CMWs). Adjusted HR, comparing COVID-19 mortality relative to Qataris, was lowest for Indians at 1.54 (95% CI 0.97 to 2.44), highest for Nepalese at 5.34 (95% CI 1.56 to 18.34) and was 1.86 (95% CI 1.32 to 2.60) for CMWs. Incidence rate of all-cause mortality for each nationality group was lower than the crude death rate in the country of origin. Conclusions Risk of non-COVID-19 death was low and was lowest among CMWs, perhaps reflecting the healthy worker effect. Risk of COVID-19 death was also low, but was highest among CMWs, largely reflecting higher exposure during first epidemic wave, before advent of effective COVID-19 treatments and vaccines.This work was supported by the Biomedical Research Program and the Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Biomathematics Research Core, both at Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar, as well as for institutional salary support provided by the Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Medical Corporation and Sidra Medicine