Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are a new class of antihyperglycemic drugs with multiple potential benefits. Objectives: The study aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of SGLT2i (empagliflozin and dapagliflozin) on the albuminuria, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy. Materials and Methods: This prospective comparative experiment recruited patients with diabetes and kidney disease who newly started SGLT2i from November 2021 to January 2023 during their visits to Diabetic Center at Murjan Hospital, and a private clinic, Babel, Iraq. The researcher collected two samples from each patient: pre- and 4 months post-SGLT2i therapy to measure glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum uric acid, serum creatinine, and urine output for 24 h, GFR, and albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR). Wilcoxon’s signed rank test was used to measure the difference in the parameter levels before and after the SGLT2i treatment. Results: One-hundred patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus completed the two measurements: 39 patients taking empagliflozin and 61 taking dapagliflozin. The participants included 47 males and 53 females. Among patients with diabetic nephropathy, SGLT2 inhibitors were associated with positive effects on renal function as they significantly (P-value < 0.05) improved GFR, improved urinary output, and reduced ACR which prevent kidney deterioration. SGLT2i can significantly reduce body weight, HbA1c level, serum uric acid concentration, and blood pressure. Conclusions: In general, this study showed that both SGLT2i have a significant positive impact on blood glucose control, enhance renal function, and reduce serum uric acid and blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic). However, some low-income patients were unable to afford these medications from private pharmacies. The study findings support the prescribing of SGLT2i for type 2 diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease, hypertension, or hyperuricemia.
Background: Clove oil (Syzygium aromaticum) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) involves key factors such as transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), free testosterone (FT), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). These biomarkers contribute to inflammation, hormonal imbalance, and reduced scalp vascularization. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of clove oil in AGA in comparison with that of traditional Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment (minoxidil [MXD]). Materials and Methods: This study utilized adult male BALB/c albino mice to assess the impact of clove oil on AGA. A daily application of 100 µL of 5% testosterone solution was administered topically to the shaved dorsal region of the mice to produce AGA. One hour postinduction, subjects received either 0.1 mL of 5% MXD solution or 0.8 mL of 10% clove oil, administered topically until the 60th day of the study. For 60 days, mice were administered testosterone to develop AGA, except for the control group, which was separated into four groups: control, induction, MXD treatment, and clove oil treatment. After killing the animals for 61 days, we obtained dorsal skin and blood samples for FT, DHT, VEGF, and TGF-β1. Results: The clove oil therapy markedly lowered serum testosterone and DHT levels in comparison with the testosterone-induced group. Furthermore, clove oil improved levels of VEGF and TGF-β1, as demonstrated by statistical analysis. Conclusion: Clove oil exhibited considerable efficacy in alleviating AGA by regulating hormonal levels and inflammatory indicators, including decreasing testosterone, DHT, and TGF-β1, while augmenting VEGF.
Background: Calprotectin is a calcium-binding protein generated locally at the site of inflammation. It is a useful surrogate for assessing local inflammation in chronic inflammatory diseases. Serum calprotectin levels might be a good alternative to radiographs to diagnose knee osteoarthritis (OA). Objectives: To evaluate the function of serum calprotectin in patients with knee OA. Materials and Methods: A case–control study was conducted at Baqubah Teaching Hospital/City (Diyala) between November 2023 and January 2024. One hundred and twenty women enrolled in this study; 80 of them had knee OA. They were diagnosed by rheumatologists and classified into early and late stages based on the Kellgren and Lawrence scale. The remaining 40 apparently healthy women with matched in age and body mass index as the control group. Serum calprotectin, C-reactive protein, calcium, and blood erythrocyte sedimentation rate were evaluated for all participants. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was utilized for the purpose of examining the outcomes. Results: Serum calprotectin level was elevated in individuals with knee OA as compared with the control group (74.31 ± 8.87 vs.18.97 ± 2.04 pg/mL, P = 0.001). The mean ± SD of serum calprotectin level was higher in the late stage than the early OA (66.13 ± 7.07 vs 75.83 ± 8.0 pg/mL, P = 0.255). The area under the curve of receiver operating curve analysis for serum calprotectin was 0.941 (confidence interval = 0.895–0.986, P = 0.000). Conclusion: Serum calprotectin can be used as a promising biomarker in the diagnosis of knee OA. Calprotectin exhibits good discriminatory power in this diagnosis but not in the grading of such patients.
Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is rising globally, often progressing to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) with limited therapeutic options. Objectives: This study evaluated beta-trace protein (BTP) and liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) as novel biomarkers for renal dysfunction, alongside standard renal function tests (glucose, urea, creatinine, albumin, total calcium, and ionized calcium). Additionally, we assessed salivary components via attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy for the early detection of kidney abnormalities. Materials and Methods: This study included 80 participants: 38 kidney disease (KD) patients (19 CKD and 19 acute kidney injury [AKI]) and 42 healthy controls (aged 18–60 years and body mass index <30 kg/m2). Serum levels of BTP, L-FABP, glucose, urea, creatinine, albumin, ionized, and total calcium were measured, and salivary infrared spectra were analyzed. Results: These results showed significantly elevated BTP and L-FABP levels in CKD compared with both AKI and controls (BTP: P < 0.01, test statistic = 21.974; L-FABP: P < 0.01, test statistic = 21.222). ATR-FTIR analysis revealed that the hydroxyl band of salivary carboxyl groups distinguished CKD from controls with 90% sensitivity and 78% specificity (area under the curve [AUC] = 91.1, P = 0.000, cutoff: 3373.20 cm−1). It also differentiated CKD from AKI with 94% sensitivity and 64% specificity (AUC = 83.4, P = 0.000, cutoff: 3343 cm−1). Conclusions: In conclusion, L-FABP is a promising marker for renal disease progression, whereas BTP requires further validation. Notably, salivary ATR-FTIR spectroscopy demonstrates high sensitivity for early renal impairment, offering a noninvasive, rapid diagnostic tool. These findings support integrating novel biomarkers and saliva-based screening into clinical practice for timely intervention in KD.
Background: Type II diabetes mellitus T2DM is formerly known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus the most common form diabetes mellitus of characterized by hyperglycemia, insulin resistance (IR), and relative insulin deficiency. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) an inflammatory cytokine produced mainly by monocytes and macrophages, may play an important role in obesity-associated IR and diabetes. Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the association between tumor necrosis-alpha (TNF-α) gene expression with obesity and T2DM. Materials and Methods: For this purpose, 100 samples were collected from National Center of Teaching Laboratories in Medical City. About 50 of them were patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 50 apparently healthy individuals as controls. All samples were subjected to whole RNA extraction using TransZolUpPlus RNA kit. Total RNA concentrations varied between 15 and 25 ng/μL. Total RNA was reverse-transcribed to complementary DNA (cDNA) using EasyScript One-Stepg DNA Removal. The expression levels and fold changes of the TNF-ɑ gene were estimated using the TransStart Green qPCR Super Mix kit. The patients group was subdivided into two groups, patients who have body mass index (BMI) equal to 18.5–25 as a normal weight and patients with BMI more than 30 as obese group. The real time PCR was used for quantification of TNF-ɑ concentrations. Results: Our study showed HbA1c values were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in normal weight and obese T2DM patients than in apparently healthy subjects. The levels of triglycerides and VLDL in serum, also, were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in obese T2DM when compared with apparently healthy subjects and normal-weight T2DM patients, moreover LDL levels were unaffected by T2DM in this study. The gene expression of TNF-ɑ gene according to the HbA1c increased 5.1-fold in T2DM patients with HbA1c within 9%–13%. TNF-ɑ gene expression increased 3.6-fold in obese T2DM patients. Conclusion: In Conclusion, the increase in TNF-ɑ gene expression levels parallel the increase in BMI and HbA1c. To our knowledge, there is a very few studies in Iraq dealing with the relationship between TNF-ɑ gene expression and T2DM.
