Melatonin downregulates the increased hepatic alpha-fetoprotein expression and restores pancreatic beta cells in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model: a clinical, biochemical, immunohistochemical, and descriptive histopathological study

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder. Hepatopathy is one of the serious effects of DM Melatonin (MT) is a potent endogenous antioxidant that can control insulin output. However, little information is available about the potential association between melatonin and hepatic alpha-fetoprotein expression in diabetes.ObjectiveThis study was conducted to assess the influence of MT on diabetes-related hepatic injuries and to determine how β-cells of the pancreas in diabetic rats respond to MT administration.Materials and methodsForty rats were assigned to four groups at random (ten animals per group). Group I served as a normal control group. Group II was induced with DM, and a single dose of freshly prepared streptozotocin (45 mg/kg body weight) was intraperitoneally injected. In Group III, rats received 10 mg/kg/day of intraperitoneal melatonin (IP MT) intraperitoneally over a period of 4 weeks. In Group IV (DM + MT), following the induction of diabetes, rats received MT (the same as in Group III). Fasting blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and serum insulin levels were assessed at the end of the experimental period. Serum liver function tests were performed. The pancreas and liver were examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically for insulin and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) antibodies, respectively.ResultsMT was found to significantly modulate the raised blood glucose, HbA1c, and insulin levels induced by diabetes, as well as the decreased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Furthermore, MT attenuated diabetic degenerative changes in the pancreas and the hepatic histological structure, increased the β-cell percentage area, and decreased AFP expression in the liver tissue. It attenuated diabetes-induced hepatic injury by restoring pancreatic β-cells; its antioxidant effect also reduced hepatocyte injury.ConclusionCollectively, the present study confirmed the potential benefits of MT in downregulating the increased hepatic alpha-fetoprotein expression and in restoring pancreatic β-cells in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model, suggesting its promising role in the treatment of diabetes

Relation between asthma clinical presentation and diet patterns among adolescents living in Saudi Arabia: Evidence from national school-based study

Background: Dietary intervention based on evidence-based guidelines should be introduced into the clinical management of Asthmatic patients to promote overall health benefits and disease control. However, there is limited evidence in the Saudi medical literature.  Objective of the study: To assess the association between diet patterns and asthma symptoms in Saudi adolescents. Subjects and Methods:  In total, 4086 Saudi adolescents were recruited for the study. Data for this study were sourced from a national survey conducted by the Saudi Ministry of health.  Results: 13.3% (n=543) of adolescents reported current wheeze in the past 12 months. The results showed that almost half of all adolescents reported unhealthy diet consumption on most or all days and a healthy diet was consumed at least twice per week in a third of them. The most important clinically relevant finding was a positive association between high weekly consumption of an unhealthy diet with asthma symptoms. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the positive impact of diet on asthma control is encouraging. A healthy diet including fruits, vegetables, and fish, is implicated in the mitigation of asthma symptoms and severity