Prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease at a Tertiary Care Center in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in patients who received abdominal imaging and to assess the clinical and metabolic characteristics of NAFLD.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study of 500 family medicine patients (aged 18 years and older) who completed abdominal imaging at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from January 2016 through June 2020.

RESULTS

The patients enrolled had a mean age of 49.41 ± 14.80 years, with 300 females and 349 of Saudi nationality. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 29.43 ± 6.61 kg/m2, while 373 of the enrolled subjects were either overweight or obese. Half of our patients had some form of fatty liver in the imaging results. Regarding chronic medical conditions, 33.4%, 31.4%, and 29.4% had a history of hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), and dyslipidemia, respectively. The mean Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index was 0.94 ± 0.72. Body mass index was higher among fatty liver patients (p = 0.001). Hypertension, coronary artery disease, dyslipidemia, and DM2 were more common in the fatty liver group.

CONCLUSION

Our findings reiterate the significance of obesity and the coexistence of cardiovascular risk factors in NAFLD. Further studies are needed to corroborate and expand our findings, enabling more refined strategies for the prevention, risk prediction, early detection, and management of NAFLD.

The Impact of Continuity of Care on Health Indicators in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Family Medicine Clinics in Riyadh

BACKGROUND

Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (DM2) is highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia, with many experiencing complications due to the disease. Family medicine physicians are usually the primary care providers responsible for the medical management of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Microvascular and macrovascular complications can occur if type 2 diabetes mellitus is poorly managed. Effective management of health indicators in patients with DM2 relating to glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), low density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure, and tobacco use is an essential part of medical care to prevent complications. Due to the projected increase in the number of patients with DM2, there is huge concern surrounding the management of this chronic illness that requires review. This study aims to evaluate the impact of continuity of care on health indicators among family medicine patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type 2 and to analyze the effect of continuity of care regarding the completion of age-appropriate preventive health screenings.

METHODS

 This is a retrospective cohort study. Data collected from electronic medical records of patients 40-75 years of age that received care at the Family Medicine clinics that were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus with ≥4 clinic visits from January 1, 2017, to June 30, 2020, at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data collected included demographic data, body mass index, smoking status, blood pressure, past medical history, preventive health screening completed, and laboratory results, including HbA1c and lipid profile. The continuity of care index and usual provider continuity score indices were calculated for the analysis to measure continuity of care.

RESULTS

 Three hundred and fifty-two patients were included in the study. Most of the patients were Saudi (74.15%), female (51.99%), and married (82.67%). In addition, 90.34% accounted for a high usual provider continuity of care score (UPCS), and 64.20% of the patients had a high continuity of care index (COCi). Younger age groups were significantly more prevalent in the high UPCS group (p=0.037). Additionally, patients of non-Saudi nationalities constituted a significantly larger proportion of the high UPCS group. Single patients showed high UPCS. Comorbidities were not different between the groups, except inflammatory joint disease, which was more common in the low COCi group. Preventative screening measures were also not different between the groups; however, the type of colon cancer screening differed, where patients with high COCi more frequently underwent colonoscopies (13.3% vs. 4.4%, p=0.015) instead of fecal occult blood tests.

CONCLUSION

 For the first time, we report the implications of the continuity of care for DM2 patients in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. Continuity of care did not result in the improvement of health indicators or in the completion of preventive health screenings in diabetic patients. Further studies are needed in the region to confirm our findings and assess the association between continuity of care and patient health indicators impact.

Persistent organic pollutants, pre-pregnancy use of combined oral contraceptives, age, and time-to-pregnancy in the SELMA cohort

BACKGROUND

We are exposed to several chemicals such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in our everyday lives. Prior evidence has suggested that POPs may have adverse effects on reproductive function by disrupting hormone synthesis and metabolism. While there is age-related decline of fertility, the use of hormonal combined oral contraceptives (COCs) and its association to return of fertility remains controversial. The goal of this study is to investigate the association between exposure to POPs, both individually and as a mixture, and fecundability measured as time-to-pregnancy (TTP) according to pre-pregnancy use of COCs and age.

METHODS

Using the SELMA (Swedish Environmental Longitudinal Mother and Child, Allergy and Asthma) study, we have identified 818 pregnant women aged 18-43 years (mean 29 years) with data on how long they tried to get pregnant and what was their most recently used contraceptive method. These data were collected at enrollment to the study (median week 10 of pregnancy). Concentrations of 22 POPs and cotinine were analyzed in the blood samples collected at the same time as the questions on TTP and pre-pregnancy use of contraceptive. Analyses were done on the association between POPs exposure and TTP measured as continuous (months) and binary (infertile for those with TTP > 12 months). To study the chemicals individually, Cox regression and logistic regression were used to estimate fecundability ratios (FRs) and odds ratios (ORs), respectively. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression was used to investigate the chemicals as a mixture where chemicals of concern were identified above the 7.6% threshold of equal weights. To perform the subgroup analysis, we stratified the sample according to use of COCs as the most recent pre-pregnancy contraception method and age (< 29 years, and ≥ 29 years). The models were adjusted for parity, regularity of menses, maternal body mass index (BMI) and smoking status, and stratified as described above.

RESULTS

Prior to stratification, none of the POPs were associated with fecundability while increased exposure to HCB, PCB 74 and 118 had higher odds of infertility. Upon stratification, POP exposure was significantly associated with longer TTP in women aged ≥29 years who did not use COC. Specifically, PCBs 156, 180, 183, and 187 were associated with reduced fecundability while PCBs 99, 153, 156, 180, 183, and 187 had higher odds of infertility. As a mixture, we identified the chemicals of concern for a longer TTP include PCBs 118, 156, 183, and 187. Moreover, chemicals of concern identified with increased odds of infertility were PCB 74, 156, 183, 187, and transnonachlor.

CONCLUSION

Serum concentrations of selected POPs, both as individual chemicals and as a mixture, were significantly associated with lower fecundability and increased odds of infertility in women aged 29 years and above not using COC as their most recent pre-pregnancy contraceptive. Our findings suggest that pre-pregnancy use of oral contraceptive and age may modify the link between POPs and fecundability. The differences of specific chemicals in the individual analysis and as a mixture support the need to study combination effects of chemicals when evaluating reproductive outcomes.

The impact of active vitamin D administration on the clinical outcomes of acne vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. Vitamin D deficiency has a role in various inflammatory skin diseases as acne. This study aimed to investigate the serum level of 25 hydroxy vitamin D in acne patients and to assess the efficacy and safety of active vitamin D in management of acne. This study was conducted on 100 patients with acne and 100 healthy controls, then the 100 acne patients were randomized to either the study group that received 0.25ug alfacalcidol daily or the placebo group that received oral placebo during the 3 months study period. Serum levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D were significantly lower in acne patients than in healthy control and were inversely correlated to the severity of acne. After alfacalcidol administration, the study group showed significant higher level of 25(OH) D levels (p < .05) compared to placebo group. In addition, median serum level of IL6 and TNFα significantly decreased (p < .05) in the study group in comparison to placebo group and as compared to their baseline results. Acne patients are more commonly to have vitamin D deficiency as compared to healthy people and hence, alfacalcidol might have a beneficial role in the acne management with no reported side effects.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (T786C and G894T) polymorphisms in Egyptian patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Genetic factors play important role in the development of type 2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene is responsible for the bioavailability of nitric oxide and endothelial function.

AIM

To assess the association of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) (T786C and G894T) single nucleotide polymorphisms with Egyptian type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 200 type 2 diabetic patients and 100 apparently healthy volunteers as controls were included in the study. They were subjected to clinical examination and laboratory tests: fasting blood glucose, HBA1C, lipid profile, serum creatinine, blood urea and albumin creatinine ratio (ACR). Assessment of the T786C and G894T polymorphisms in the eNOS gene was done using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in distribution of eNOS T-786C polymorphism between patients and controls; TT genotype of eNOS G894T was more frequent in diabetic patients with and without albuminuria compared to controls. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to ACR. Normoalbuminuria: 37 patients with ACR ≤ 30 mg/g, microalbuminuria: 96 patients with ACR > 30 mg/g and ≤ 300 mg/g, and macroalbuminuria: 67 patients with ACR > 300 mg/g. There was no significant difference in genotype distribution of eNOS T-786C between the 3 groups of diabetic patients. The prevalence of TT genotype of eNOS G894T was higher in microalbuminuria patients compared to other groups.

CONCLUSION

eNOS G894T variant may increase risk of type 2 diabetes with lack of association between eNOS T786C, eNOS G894T and DN in Egyptians.

Antenatal corticosteroids in the late preterm period: A prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

The study objective was to examine the effect of antenatal corticosteroids on the incidence of short-term neonatal morbidities in singletons born during the late preterm period.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a prospective cohort study of singleton gestations at risk of imminent delivery between 34 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks. Short-term neonatal morbidities were compared between the corticosteroid exposed and non-exposed groups. The rates of Neonatal Morbidity Composite and Any Adverse Neonatal Morbidity were then compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

During the two-year study period, a total of 295 subjects were included. Of those, 74 were exposed to antenatal corticosteroids, while 221 cases constituted the non-exposed group. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of Any Adverse Neonatal Morbidity (47.3% vs. 40.7% , p = 0.32) or the rate of Neonatal Morbidity Composite (34.4% vs. 37.8% , p = 0.59) between the two groups. Additionally, there was no statistically significant difference in the rates of neonatal intensive care unit admission, respiratory distress syndrome, transient tachypnea of the newborn, hypothermia, and need for phototherapy.

CONCLUSION

Administration of antenatal corticosteroids to parturients at risk of imminent delivery during the late preterm period does not appear to reduce short-term neonatal morbidities.

Inhibitory effects of sudanese medicinal plant extracts on hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease

One hundred fifty-two methanol and water extracts of different parts of 71 plants commonly used in Sudanese traditional medicine were screened for their inhibitory effects on hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease (PR) using in vitro assay methods. Thirty-four extracts showed significant inhibitory activity (>/=60% inhibition at 100 microg/mL). Of these, eight extracts, methanol extracts of Acacia nilotica, Boswellia carterii, Embelia schimperi, Quercus infectoria, Trachyspermum ammi and water extracts of Piper cubeba, Q. infectoria and Syzygium aromaticum, were the most active (>/=90% inhibition at 100 microg/mL). From the E. schimperi extract, two benzoquinones, embelin (I) and 5-O-methylembelin (II), were isolated and found as potent HCV-PR inhibitors with IC(50) values of 21 and 46 microM, respectively. Inhibitory activities of derivatives of I against HCV-PR as well as their effects on other serine proteases were also investigated.

Inhibitory effects of Sudanese plant extracts on HIV-1 replication and HIV-1 protease

Forty-eight methanol and aqueous extracts from Sudanese plants were screened for their inhibitory activity on viral replication. Nineteen extracts showed inhibitory effects on HIV-induced cytopathic effects (CPE) on MT-4 cells. The extracts were further screened against HIV-1 protease (PR) using an HPLC assay method. Of the tested extracts, the methanol extracts of Acacia nilotica (bark and pods), Euphorbia granulata (leaves), Maytenus senegalensis (stem-bark) and aqueous extracts of A. nilotica (pods) and M. senegalensis (stem-bark) showed considerable inhibitory effects against HIV-1 PR. Inhibitory principles were isolated from M. senegalensis and their activities were also discussed.