Zhian Mahmood Ibrahim Dezayee

Interleukin-18 can predict pre-clinical atherosclerosis and poor glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Contradictory reports about the role of cytokines, particularly interleukins (IL) in atherosclerosis are found in the literature. Objectives: This study was aimed to investigate the association between the levels of cytokines notably IL-4, IL-12, IL-18 and, the atherogenicity and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: Seventy five patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (25 males and 50 females) attending diabetic clinic during 1st August 2008 to 30th December 2009 as well as seventy healthy subjects (38 males and 32 female) were enrolled in the study. Fasting serum lipid profile and IL-4, IL-12 and IL-18 levels were determined. Results: The serum lipid profile of diabetic patients was significantly different from healthy subjects, favoring atherogenicity. IL 4, 12, and 18 were significantly higher in diabetic patients compared with healthy subjects. Significant association of high serum IL-18 with poor glycemic control (P < 0.001) assessed by HbA1c, long duration of diabetes and atherogenic index were observed. Conclusions: IL-18 can serve as a predictor for pre-clinical atherosclerosis and poor glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Saliva C-reactive protein as a biomarker of metabolic syndrome in diabetic patients

Background: Human C-reactive protein (CRP) has been used in the risk assessment of coronary events. Human saliva mirrors the body′s health and well-being and is noninvasive, easy to collect, and ideal for third-world countries as well as for large patient screening. Aims: This study aimed to screen the saliva CRP qualitatively in patients with diabetes (Type 1 and 2) taking in considerations, the diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome. Setting and Design: Center for diabetes mellitus, prospective study. Materials and Methods: A total number of 50 Type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients, 25 Type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients, and 25 healthy subjects were recruited from the center for diabetes mellitus. Each patient was assessed clinically, and the anthropometric measures, glycemic status, and lipid profiles were determined. Stimulated salivary flow rate and saliva CRP were determined. Statistical Analysis: All calculations analysis was made using Excel 2003 program for Windows. Results: The results showed that the salivary flow rate in T1D was less than healthy subjects and T2D and CRP was found positive (6 mg/L) in 36% and 56% of patients with T1D and T2D, respectively. Saliva CRP was found to be related to the anthropometric measurement, blood pressure, and glycemic control. Conclusions: We conclude that saliva CRP may be used as a biomarker for metabolic syndrome and its value is obvious in T2D rather than in T1D.

Serum interleukin 8 level is linked to the inflammatory and cardiometabolic indicators in survivors of breast cancer

Serum interleukin 8 (IL-8) levels have been shown to increase in post-relapse survivors of breast cancer, and its levels are linked with a poor prognosis and progression of breast tumours. This study aims to assess serum IL-8 levels and the components of metabolic syndrome in breast cancer survivors, taking into consideration their menopausal status. This observational study was carried in Nanakali Hospital in Erbil, Kurdistan. A total of 120 women with a history of breast cancer were enrolled and divided into premenopausal (group I, n=30) and postmenopausal (group II, n=90) groups. Cardiometabolic determinants including body mass index, blood pressure, fasting serum lipids and lipoproteins were measured. Markers that related to breast cancer, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and IL-8, were determined. Group II patients had significantly higher levels of atherogenic lipids than group I patients. The mean levels of hs-CRP and IL-8 were significantly higher in group II {3.040mg/l [standard deviation (SD) ±0.762] and 424.7pg/ml (SD ±87.3pg/ml), respectively} than in group I [2.435mg/l (SD ±0.891) and 354.6pg/ml (SD ±109.4), respectively] patients. We conclude that postmenopausal women with breast cancer are at a significant risk of dyslipidaemia and have higher levels of inflammatory and pro-tumorigenic factors than premenopausal women.

Increased Serum Cytokines Levels in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Associated with Arterial Hypertension: A Link to Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors

Address for Correspondence: Marwan Al-Nimer MD, Al-Mustansiriya University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Baghdad, Iraq E-mail: alnimermarwan@ymail.com Received: 22/06/2015 Accepted: 18/09/2016 Purpose: Serum levels of cytokines as well as the inflammatory markers are increased in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients. Few studies mention the association of hypertension with proinflammatory and inflammatory biomarkers in T2D patients. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that there is alteration in serum levels of cytokines in T2D patients with hypertension compared with normotensive T2D patients taking into consideration the cardio-metabolic risk factors, such as obesity and dyslipidemia. Material and Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Center of Diabetes Mellitus in Erbil in cooperation with College of PharmacyHawler Medical University and College of Medicine, Al-Mustansiriya University in Iraq. A total of 180 patients with T2D were classified as normotensive (group 1) and hypertensive (group 2). Cardio-metabolic risk factors were evaluated via measuring body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting serum glucose and lipid profile, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Serum interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-17, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Results: The measurements of cardio-metabolic risk factors in group 2 were significantly higher than in group 1. Significant high serum levels of IL-1β, IL-17, TNF-α and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were observed among group 2 patients. Fasting serum triglyceride levels significantly correlated with IL-17 and TNF-α among groups 1 and 2 patients whereas significantly correlated with IL-1β among group 2 patients only. Discussion: Proinflammatory and inflammatory markers are significantly high among patients with T2D with hypertension. There is an inverse relationship between the components of metabolic syndrome and the cytokines levels in group 2 patients.