Metabolic Syndrome and its components among Qatari population

Metabolic Syndrome (MeS) is a cluster of abnormalities including impaired glucose metabolism, central obesity, dyslipidemia and hypertension. The MeS has not been widely studied among the Arab populations, but the data available suggests that it is an increasingly common problem. Prevalence of MeS and its associated components are not available in Qatar. To estimate the prevalence of MeS and its associated components among the Qatari population and to determine its associated risk factors. A cross-sectional study was carried out among Qatari adults aged 20 years and above. Face to face interviewing using a structured questionnaire followed by laboratory tests were conducted. MeS was defined using the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria as well as the International Diabetes Federation criteria (IDF). The crude prevalence rate of MeS according to ATP III criteria and IDF criteria were 26.4 and 34.0%, respectively. The age-standardised prevalence of the MeS according to ATP III was 27.7% (95% CI 23.3–32.0%), (23.6% among men (95% CI 19.5– 27.7%) and 32.6% among women (95% CI 28.0–37.2%)) and according to IDF criteria, the age standardised prevalence was 35.4% (95% CI 30.7–40.0%), 38.7% (95% CI 34.0–43.5%) for women and 35.8% (95% CI 31.2–40.5%) for men. Age, Body Mass Index and HbA1c were significantly associated with MeS after adjustment for a number relevant variables including; gender, marital status, educational level, exercise, smoking, etc. Prevalence of the MeS in Qatar is considerably higher than anticipated. A well-designed health education programmes to increase the awareness of the public as well as healthcare providers are highly recommended. The programme should focus on the risk factors and the health consequences of MeS

The largest reported papillary thyroid carcinoma arising in struma ovarii and metastasis to opposite ovary: Case report and review of literature

Background: Malignant struma ovarii (MSO) is a very rare, germ cell tumor of the ovary, histologically identical to differentiated thyroid cancers. Struma ovarii (SO) is difficult to diagnose on clinical basis or imaging and is mostly discovered incidentally, with few published cases in the literature. Case presentation: A 42-year old primiparous woman presented with abdominal pain and midline pelvic palpable firm mass arising from the pelvis. Imaging showed pelvic solid cystic mass. Total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy (TAH BSO) and infracolic omentectomy were performed. Histopathology revealed left ovary papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) arising in SO (11 cm) and metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma in the right ovary. Thyroid functions tests were all normal, ultrasound thyroid showed two complex nodules in the left thyroid lobe. Total thyroidectomy was decided, but the patient refused further surgical management and was lost to follow up as she left the country. We undertook a comprehensive literature search, and MSO and thyroid management data from 23 additional publications were analyzed and tabulated. This PTC MSO is probably the largest reported in the literature. Conclusions: Among the different surgeries for MSO, TAH + BSO appears to have the best clinical outcome. However, unilateral salpingo-oopherectomy/ unilateral oophorectomy and bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy also seem effective. Ovarian cystectomy alone seems associated with higher recurrence. There remains no consensus on the associations between MSO tumor size and potential extent of metastasis, and about the management of thyroid gland. However, surveillance and thyroid gland work up to detect concurrent thyroid cancer are recommended. ? 2018 The Author(s).Scopu

Ethnic and gender differences in advanced glycation end products measured by skin auto-fluorescence.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been shown to be a predictor of cardiovascular risk in Caucasian subjects. In this study we examine whether the existing reference values are useable for non-Caucasian ethnicities. Furthermore, we assessed whether gender and smoking affect AGEs. Methods: AGEs were determined by a non-invasive method of skin auto-fluorescence (AF). AF was measured in 200 Arabs, 99 South Asians, 35 Filipinos and 14 subjects of other/mixed ethnicity in the Qatar Metabolomics Study on Diabetes (QMDiab). Using multivariate linear regression analysis and adjusting for age and type 2 diabetes, we assessed whether ethnicity, gender and smoking were associated with AF. Results: The mean AF was 2.27 arbitrary units (AU) (SD: 0.63). Arabs and Filipinos had a significant higher AF than the South Asian population (0.25 arbitrary units (AU) (95% CI: 0.11*0.39), p = 0.001 and 0.34 (95% CI: 0.13*0.55), p = 0.001 respectively). Also, AF was significantly higher in females (0.41 AU (95% CI: 0.29*0.53), p 0.001). AF associated with smoking (0.21 AU (95% CI: 0.01*0.41), p = 0.04) and increased with the number of pack-years smoked (p = 0.02). Conclusions: This study suggests that the existing reference values should take ethnicity, gender and smoking into account. Larger studies in specific ethnicities are necessary to create ethnic-and gender-specific reference values

1,5-anhydroglucitol in saliva is a noninvasive marker of short-term glycemic control.

Context: In most ethnicities at least a quarter of all cases with diabetes is assumed to be undiagnosed. Screening for diabetes using saliva has been suggested as an effective approach to identify affected individuals. Objective: The objective of the study was to identify a noninvasive metabolic marker of type 2 diabetes in saliva. Design and Setting: In a case-control study of type 2 diabetes, we used a clinical metabolomics discovery study to screen for diabetes-relevant metabolic readouts in saliva, using blood and urine as a reference. With a combination of three metabolomics platforms based on nontargeted mass spectrometry, we examined 2178 metabolites in saliva, blood plasma, and urine samples from 188 subjects with type 2 diabetes and 181 controls of Arab and Asian ethnicities. Results: We found a strong association of type 2 diabetes with 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) in saliva (P = 3.6 x 10(-13)). Levels of 1,5-AG in saliva highly correlated with 1,5-AG levels in blood and inversely correlated with blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels. These findings were robust across three different non-Caucasian ethnicities (Arabs, South Asians, and Filipinos), irrespective of body mass index, age, and gender. Conclusions: Clinical studies have already established 1,5-AG in blood as a reliable marker of short-term glycemic control. Our study suggests that 1,5-AG in saliva can be used in national screening programs for undiagnosed diabetes, which are of particular interest for Middle Eastern countries with young populations and exceptionally high diabetes rates