The Role of Lipid Profile as an Independent Predictor of Non-alcoholic Steatosis and Steatohepatitis in Morbidly Obese Patients

Background and Aims: Obesity is one of the major health problems worldwide. Morbid obesity (body mass index >40 kg/m2 or over 35 with a comorbidity) is associated, apart from other diseases, with an increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Moreover, dyslipidemia is an important comorbidity that is frequently found in NAFLD patients. The aim of this study was to analyze whether serum lipids in morbidly obese patients are associated with the spectrum of NAFLD. ----- Methods: Total serum cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, VLDL, and triglycerides were analyzed in 90 morbidly obese patients. The association of lipid profile parameters with histopathological, elastographic, and sonographic indices of NAFLD, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and liver fibrosis were explored. ----- Results: The mean levels of serum total cholesterol, LDL-C, and non-HDL cholesterol in patients with positive histology for liver steatosis and NASH were significantly higher than those in patients with negative histology. None of the indices showed a strong association with NAFLD, NASH, or liver fibrosis after adjustment for potential confounders. ----- Conclusion: A slight predictive value of lipid profile is not sufficiently enough to use solely as a non-invasive test in predicting NASH or liver fibrosis

El efecto de los tipos de parto en el peso de los niños en edad preescolar: un estudio de casos y controles

Introduction: This study was designed to determine the effect of delivery type on obesity of children. Materials and Methods: This case-control study investigated preschoolers in Rafsanjan city in 2018. The study population was divided into two groups. The first group consisted of children who were overweight and obese as the case group, the second group included children with normal BMI as the control group. For each obese and overweight child, a normal-weight child was considered his or her control, matching the preschool center, sex and age. Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship and calculate the odds ratio. Results:  Data for 171 paired children were collected. Results showed that 126 (73.7%) of the case group and 115 (67.3%) of the control group were born through CS. The odds of obesity and overweight in children born through CS was 1.363 times higher than those born through normal delivery but this difference was not statistically significant (P = .193). These results did not change after controlling the effect of confounding factors.  Also, the risk of obesity and overweight in children born from mothers who had cesarean selective delivery was 1.523 times higher than those born through normal delivery, but this difference was not statistically significant (P = .275). Conclusion: The findings of our study did not show any evidence of a relationship between maternal type of delivery and childhood weight. In this study, obesity and childhood overweight depended on maternal characteristics. Key words: Obesity, Overweight, Preschoolers, Case-Control Stud

The effect of spirulina sauce on glycemic index, lipid profile, and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic patients: A randomized double‐blind clinical trial

Abstract We aimed to evaluate the effect of spirulina sauce on glycemic indices, lipid profile, oxidative stress markers, and anthropometric measurement in type 2 diabetic patients. Forty patients were randomly assigned to receive 20 g/day spirulina sauce (containing 2 g of spirulina) or placebo for 2 months. Anthropometric and biochemical indices were measured at the beginning and end of the intervention. Fasting blood glucose (mean difference (MD): −15.3 mg/dL, 95% confidence (CI): −44.2 to 13.60, p = .26), HbA1c (MD: 0.13%, 95% CI: −0.83 to 0.57, p = .75), insulin (MD: −1.46 μIU/mL, 95% CI: −4.0 to 1.09, p = .28), and HOMA‐IR (MD: −0.35, 95% CI: −2.0 to 1.32, p = .68) did not change significantly between groups. QUICKI increased significantly (MD: 0.025, 95% CI: 0.006 to 0.045, p = .03). Among the lipid profile, triglyceride (TG) (MD: −68.6 mg/dL, 95% CI: −107.21 to −29.98, p < .001), total cholesterol (MD: −29.55 mg/dL, 95% CI: −55.28 to −3.81, p = .02), and LDL (MD: −17.7 mg/dL, 95% CI: −33.24 to −2.15, p = .01) were significantly decreased in the spirulina group compared to the control; whereas, the change in HDL was non‐significant. No significant change was observed in body composition and anthropometric measurements, except waist circumference, which was reduced (MD: −2.65 cm, 95% CI: −3.91 to −1.38, p = .001). Hunger index significantly decreased and fullness increased marginally significantly. Although malondialdehyde was significantly reduced, no change was observed in total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Spirulina sauce was not effective for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes; however, could be useful for controlling appetite and ameliorating lipid profile

Comprehensive assessment of nutritional status and nutritional-related complications in newly diagnosed esophageal cancer patients: a cross-sectional study

Background & aims: Malnutrition is prevalent in upper gastrointestinal cancer patients. The purpose of this study was a comprehensive assessment of nutritional status in newly diagnosed patients with esophageal cancer. Methods: Newly diagnosed esophageal cancer patients were referred to a chemo-radiation referral center in Mashhad, Iran, between February 2017 to February 2019. Anthropometric indices, a Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) tool, body composition, dietary intake, nutritional-related complications, and laboratory tests were assessed. Results: One hundred and eighty-nine patients with a mean age of 67.1 ± 12 and a male to female ratio of 98 to 91 were included. Ninety-seven (51.3%) of patients had experienced significant weight loss and 56 (29.6%) were underweight at diagnosis. According to PG-SGA, 179 (94.7%) needed nutritional interventions. Reduced muscle mass and low handgrip strength were observed in 70 (39.4%) and 26 (14.4%) of patients, respectively. Inadequate intakes of energy (less than 24 kcal/kg/day) and protein (less than 1.2 g/kg/day) were found in 146 (77.8%) and 171 (91%) patients, respectively. The mean total daily energy and protein intakes of subjects were 943.8 ± 540 kcal/day, and 30.6 ± 21 g/day, respectively. The most common nutritional-related complications were as follows: dysphagia (84.8%), anorexia (31.6%), constipation (62.1%), esophageal pain (48.4%), and dyspepsia (41.1%). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated a high prevalence of malnutrition in newly diagnosed esophageal cancer patients. This fact demonstrates the importance of early screening of nutritional status via PG-SGA tool, clinical evaluation, dietary intake evaluations, and laboratory tests, based on which effective nutritional interventions and Symptoms management may be introduced in these patients

Effect of hydroxychloroquine on COVID-19 prevention in cancer patients undergoing treatment: a structured summary of a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

In this study, we investigate the effect of hydroxychloroquine on the prevention of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in cancer patients being treated