Zuheir A. Hasan

Vitamin E prevents high-fat high-carbohydrates diet-induced memory impairment: The role of oxidative stress

Memory and learning are impaired by imbalanced diet consumption. High-fat high-carbohydrate diet (HFCD) induces oxidative stress, which results in neuronal damage and interference with synaptic transmission; hence, a decline in cognitive function. Vitamin E is a fat soluble antioxidant that is believed to have positive effects on learning and memory. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that chronic administration of vitamin E prevents learning and memory impairment induced by HFCD. In addition, possible molecular targets for HFCD, and vitamin E that lead to cognitive effects were examined. Vitamin E and/or HFCD were concurrently administered to animals for 6 weeks. Thereafter, behavioral studies were conducted to test the spatial learning and memory using radial arm water maze (RAWM). Additionally, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level and antioxidant markers were assessed in the hippocampus. The results of this project revealed that HFCD impairs both short-term and long-term memories (p<0.05). The administration of vitamin E prevented the memory impairment induced by HFCD consumption (p<0.05). The consumption of HFCD reduced activities of hippocampal superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (p<0.05); whereas the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) were elevated (p<0.05). The administration of vitamin E normalized the effect of HFCD on the oxidative stress markers. None of the treatments induced changes in the levels of BDNF or glutathione peroxidase (GPx). In conclusion, HFCD induces memory impairment, and the administration of vitamin E prevented this impairment probably through normalizing antioxidant mechanisms in the hippocampus.

Peripheral blood microRNA-15a is a potential biomarker for type 2 diabetes mellitus and pre-diabetes

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that function as crucial regulators of gene expression. Recently, dysregulation of miRNA expression in the blood has been demonstrated to be associated with various diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), suggesting a potential for their use as biomarkers of disease prognosis. The present study examined the expression levels of T2D‑associated miR‑15a in peripheral whole blood samples from patients with T2D, pre‑diabetes individuals exhibiting impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), as well as healthy control subjects, in order to investigate the potential of peripheral blood plasma miR‑15a as a biomarker for the prediction of T2D and pre‑diabetes. The present study included 24 patients with T2D, 22 IFG/IGT individuals and 24 healthy controls. The expression levels of miR‑15a were analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results indicated that the peripheral blood miR‑15a expression levels were significantly decreased in patients with T2D and IFG/IGT individuals, compared with healthy control subjects (P<0.05). As determined by multivariate logistic regression analysis, lower miR‑15a expression was significantly associated with T2D (odds ratio [OR]; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.51; 0.16‑0.73, respectively; P<0.05) and pre‑diabetes (OR; 95% CI: 0.56; 0.23‑0.79, respectively; P<0.05). This association remained statistically significant following adjustment for age, body mass index and hypertension, as well as other biochemical indicators. Furthermore, a receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that blood miR‑15a distinguished patients with T2D and IFG/IGT individuals from healthy controls (area under the curves; 95% CI: 0.864; 0.751‑0.977 and 95% CI: 0.852; 0.752‑0.953, respectively). These results demonstrated that peripheral blood miR‑15a expression levels were significantly lower in patients with T2D and IFG/IGT individuals, compared with healthy individuals. Thus, miR‑15a in peripheral whole blood may serve as a potential biomarker for T2D and pre-diabetes.

Incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus in Bahrain from 2002 to 2010.

To determine the incidence and trends of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Bahrain from 2002 to 2010, and to investigate 2 possible risk factors within the affected population.

Comparison between the effect of propofol and midazolam on picrotoxin-induced convulsions in rat

Propofol is a short acting intravenous anesthetic that has been used in the treatment of status epileptics. However, the occurrence of seizures in epileptic and non-epileptic patients during recovery from propofol induced anesthesia suggests that propofol may have proconvulsant effects. We have previously shown that propofol displays anticonvulsant effects against picrotoxin (PTX) induced seizures during its peak sedative effects. The purpose of the present study was to compare the time course of the effect of intravenous administration of various doses (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg) of propofol and midazolam on PTX-induced seizures in adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. The latency to onset of clonic seizures induced by intraperitoneal injection of PTX was significantly increased by the highest dose of propofol and all doses of midazolam, suggesting that both agents display anticonvulsant effects. The anticonvulsant effects of propofol (10 mg/kg) lasted about 20 min and PTX-induced clonic seizures were observed thereafter and peaked within 30 min post drug administration. Clonic seizures progressed rapidly to tonic seizures leading to high rate of PTX-induced mortality. In midazolam (10 mg/kg) treated rats, clonic seizures were observed 25 min after drug administration and the number of rats exhibiting clonic seizures was highest within 40 min. However, clonic seizures did not progress into tonic seizures and thus, PTX-induced seizure related mortality was significantly reduced. In conclusion, this study provides further evidence for the anticonvulsant effects of propofol and midazolam against PTX-induced seizures. Furthermore, the data of the current study showed that midazolam was more effective than propofol against PTX-induced tonic seizures.

Thyroid function status and echocardiographic abnormalities in patients with Beta thalassemia major in bahrain.

Background Thyroid gland dysfunction and echocardiographic cardiac abnormalities are well-documented in patients with transfusion dependent beta-thalassemia major (β-TM). Aim This cross-sectional analytic study was conducted to investigate left ventricle (LV) diastolic and systolic function using pulsed Doppler (PD) and tissue Doppler (TD) echocardiography and correlate that with serum level thyroid stimulating hormone in patients with β-TM. Methods The study was conducted on patients with β-TM (n = 110, age 15.9 ± 8.9 years) and compared with a control group (n = 109, age 15.8 ± 8.9 years). In all participants, echocardiographic indices of PD and TD were performed and blood samples were withdrawn for measuring the serum level of TSH, free T4, and ferritin. A linear regression analysis was performed on TSH level as the dependent variable and serum ferritin as independent. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to determine the odds ratio of different biochemical and echo variables on the risk of developing hypothyroidism. Results Patients with β-TM compared with controls had thicker LV septal wall index (0.65 ± 0.26 vs. 0.44 ± 0.21 cm/M2, P < 0.001), posterior wall index (0.65 ± 0.23 vs. 0.43 ± 0.21 cm/m2, P < 0.01) and larger LVEDD index (4.35 ± 0.69 vs.3.88 ± 0.153 mm/m2, P < 0.001). In addition, β-TM patients had higher transmitral E wave velocity (E) (70.81 ± 10.13 vs. 57.53 ± 10.13 cm/s, P = 0.02) and E/A ratio (1.54 ± 0.18 vs. 1.23 ± 0.17, P < 0.01) and shorter deceleration time (DT) (170.53 ± 13.3 vs. 210.50 ± 19.20 m sec, P < 0.01). Furthermore, the ratio of transmitral E wave velocity to the tissue Doppler E wave at the basal septal mitral annulus (E/Em) was significantly higher in the β-TM group (19.68 ± 2.81 vs. 13.86 ± 1.41, P < 0.05). The tissue Doppler systolic wave (Sm) velocity and the early diastolic wave (Em) were significantly lower in the β-TM group compared with controls with Sm, 4.82 ± 1.2 vs. 6.22 ± 2.1 mm/sec, P < 0.05 and (Em), 3.51 ± 2.7 vs. 4.12 ± 2.5 mm/sec. P < 0.05, respectively). The tricuspid valve velocity was significantly higher in β-TM patients compared with controls 2.85 ± 0.56 vs. 1.743 ± 0.47 m sec, respectively, P < 0.01). The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in patients with β-TM was 15.4%, with significantly higher mean serum TSH compared with controls (6.78 ± 1.5 vs. 3.10 ± 1.02 μIU/mL, P < 0.01) and positively correlated with the serum ferritin level (r = 0.34, P = 0.014). On multiple regression analysis, the LV mass, LVEF%, and E/A ratio were not positive predictors of hypothyroidism in patients with β-TM. Conclusion We conclude that patients with β-TM had a high prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism of 15.4%. Thyroid stimulating hormone was significantly high and positively correlated with the serum ferritin level. Echo cardiographic pulsed Doppler showed a restrictive LV diastolic pattern suggestive of severe diastolic dysfunction with preserved left ventricle systolic function.

Menstrual phase influences gender differences in visual dependence: A study with a computerised Rod and Frame Test

Previous mechanical Rod and Frame Test (RFT) studies suggested gender and menstrual cycle effects on visual vertical perception with evidence from other studies on spatial tests showing large gender effects in their original form and a decreased gender difference effect on the computerised versions. We investigated whether gender and menstrual cycle effects on visual dependence can be maintained on a computerised version of the RFT (CRFT) in 30 males, 30 females in the follicular phase and 22 females in the midluteal phase. No difference was found between the errors of the male and female groups in the presence of an untilted frame (0°, Frame0°). With a tilted frame (Frame±18°) presentation, males and females in the follicular phase had significantly smaller errors than females in the midluteal phase. These results confirm findings of a male advantage on the RFT and also indicate that menstrual cycle phase does affect gender differences in visual dependence on the CRFT; thus, caution with RFT results is recommended when female subjects are involved.