The effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on gene expression related to insulin, lipid and inflammation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective: This research was conducted to assess the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) intake on gene expression related to insulin, lipid and inflammation in subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: This randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 40 subjects diagnosed with PCOS. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups to intake either 100mg CoQ10 (n¼20) or placebo (n¼20) per day for 12 weeks. Gene expression related to insulin, lipid and inflammation were quantified in blood samples of PCOS women with RT-PCR method. Results: Results of RT-PCR shown that compared with the placebo, CoQ10 intake downregulated gene expression of oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (LDLR) (p<0.001) and upregulated gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-c) (p¼0.01) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of subjects with PCOS. In addition, compared to the placebo group, CoQ10 supplementation downregulated gene expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1) (p¼0.03), interleukin-8 (IL-8) (p¼0.001) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) (p<0.001) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of subjects with PCOS. Conclusions: Overall, CoQ10 intake for 12 weeks in PCOS women significantly improved gene expression of LDLR, PPAR-c, IL-1, IL-8 and TNF-a

Global, regional, and national cancer incidence, mortality, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-Adjusted life-years for 29 cancer groups, 1990 to 2017 : A systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study

Importance: Cancer and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are now widely recognized as a threat to global development. The latest United Nations high-level meeting on NCDs reaffirmed this observation and also highlighted the slow progress in meeting the 2011 Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and the third Sustainable Development Goal. Lack of situational analyses, priority setting, and budgeting have been identified as major obstacles in achieving these goals. All of these have in common that they require information on the local cancer epidemiology. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study is uniquely poised to provide these crucial data. Objective: To describe cancer burden for 29 cancer groups in 195 countries from 1990 through 2017 to provide data needed for cancer control planning. Evidence Review: We used the GBD study estimation methods to describe cancer incidence, mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, and disability-Adjusted life-years (DALYs). Results are presented at the national level as well as by Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a composite indicator of income, educational attainment, and total fertility rate. We also analyzed the influence of the epidemiological vs the demographic transition on cancer incidence. Findings: In 2017, there were 24.5 million incident cancer cases worldwide (16.8 million without nonmelanoma skin cancer [NMSC]) and 9.6 million cancer deaths. The majority of cancer DALYs came from years of life lost (97%), and only 3% came from years lived with disability. The odds of developing cancer were the lowest in the low SDI quintile (1 in 7) and the highest in the high SDI quintile (1 in 2) for both sexes. In 2017, the most common incident cancers in men were NMSC (4.3 million incident cases); tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancer (1.5 million incident cases); and prostate cancer (1.3 million incident cases). The most common causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for men were TBL cancer (1.3 million deaths and 28.4 million DALYs), liver cancer (572000 deaths and 15.2 million DALYs), and stomach cancer (542000 deaths and 12.2 million DALYs). For women in 2017, the most common incident cancers were NMSC (3.3 million incident cases), breast cancer (1.9 million incident cases), and colorectal cancer (819000 incident cases). The leading causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for women were breast cancer (601000 deaths and 17.4 million DALYs), TBL cancer (596000 deaths and 12.6 million DALYs), and colorectal cancer (414000 deaths and 8.3 million DALYs). Conclusions and Relevance: The national epidemiological profiles of cancer burden in the GBD study show large heterogeneities, which are a reflection of different exposures to risk factors, economic settings, lifestyles, and access to care and screening. The GBD study can be used by policy makers and other stakeholders to develop and improve national and local cancer control in order to achieve the global targets and improve equity in cancer care. © 2019 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Evaluation of Analgesic Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Allium cepa L. in Animal Model of Neuropathic Pain

Abstract Background: Neuropathic pain is a chronic pain that affects on the patient’s quality of life. Use of herbal instead of synthetic drugs recently has been increased due to side effects of synthetic drugs and herbal effective components. Flavonoids are herbal compounds that have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Because Allium cepa L. has a great amount of flavonoids, this study has been designed to evaluate analgesic effects of alcoholic extract of Allium cepa L. on neuropathic pain behavior in chronic constriction injury model in rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI model) in Rats. Animals were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=10 for each): Sham, CCI model, receiving red onion hydroalcoholic extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg and a group receiving gabapentin (100 mg/kg). Red onion extract and gabapentin were administered by gavage for 21 days. Using thermal hyperalgesia, mechanical and thermal allodynia tests, the analgesic effects of extract have been measured. Results: Findings of this study revealed that CCI surgery on rats induced hyperalgesia, mechanical and thermal allodynia. Daily intakes of alcoholic extract of red onion and gabapentin significantly increase the paw withdrawal latency; increase the threshold to mechanical allodynia and decrease in response to acetone. Conclusion: Oral use of alcoholic extract of Allium cepa L. reduces neuropathic pain behavior in CCI model in rats

Effect of probiotic supplementation on cognitive function and metabolic status in Alzheimer&#39;s disease: a randomized, double-blind and controlled trial

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with severe cognitive impairments as well as some metabolic defects. Scant studies in animal models indicate a link between probiotics and cognitive function. This randomized, double-blind and controlled clinical trial was conducted among 60 AD patients to assess the effects of probiotic supplementation on cognitive function and metabolic status. The patients were randomly divided into two groups (n=30 in each group) treating with either milk (control group) or a mixture of probiotic (probiotic group). The probiotic supplemented group took 200 ml/day probiotic milk containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus fermentum (2×109 CFU/g for each) for 12 weeks. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score was recorded in all subjects before and after the treatment. Pre- and post-treatment fasting blood samples were obtained to determine the related markers. After 12 weeks intervention, compared with the control group (-5.03%±3.00), the probiotic treated (+27.90%±8.07) patients showed a significant improvement in the MMSE score (P<0.001). In addition, changes in plasma malondialdehyde (-22.01%±4.84 vs. +2.67%±3.86 µmol/L, P<0.001), serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (-17.61%±3.70 vs. +45.26%±3.50 µg/mL, P<0.001), homeostasis model of assessment-estimated insulin resistance (+28.84%±13.34 vs.+76.95%±24.60, P=0.002), Beta cell function (+3.45%±10.91 vs. +75.62%±23.18, P=0.001), serum triglycerides (-20.29%±4.49 vs. -0.16%±5.24 mg/dL, P=0.003) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (-1.83±1.26 vs. -4.66±1.70, P=0.006) in the probiotic group were significantly varied compared to the control group. We found that the probiotic treatment had no considerable effect on other biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation, fasting plasma glucose and other lipid profiles. Overall, the current study demonstrated that probiotic consumption for 12 weeks positively affects cognitive function and some metabolic statuses in the AD patients

A systematic review and meta-analysis: The effects of probiotic supplementation on metabolic profile in patients with neurological disorders

Background and objective: The objective of meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to evaluate the effects of probiotic supplementation on metabolic status in patients with neurological disorders. Methods: The following databases were search up to April 2019: Pubmed, Scopus, Google scholar, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The quality of the relevant extracted data was assessed according to the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Data were pooled by the use of the inverse variance method and expressed as mean difference with 95 % Confidence Intervals (95 % CI). Results: Nine studies were included in this meta-analysis. The findings suggested that probiotic supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in C-reactive protein (CRP) [Weighted Mean Difference (WMD): -1.06; 95 % CI: -1.80, -0.32] and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (WMD: -0.32; 95 % CI: -0.46, -0.18). Supplementation with probiotics also significantly reduced insulin (WMD: -3.02; 95 % CI: -3.88, -2.15) and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (WMD: -0.71; 95 % CI: -0.89, -0.52). Probiotics significantly reduced triglycerides (WMD: -18.38; 95 % CI: -25.50, -11.26) and VLDL-cholesterol (WMD: -3.16; 95 % CI: -4.53, -1.79), while they increased HDL-cholesterol levels (WMD: 1.52; 95 % CI: 0.29, 2.75). Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrated that taking probiotic by patients with neurological disorders had beneficial effects on CRP, MDA, insulin, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, VLDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels, but did not affect other metabolic parameters