Serologic Screening of Celiac Disease in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes

Background: Alkaptonuria (AKU) is a rare genetic disease associated with the deposition of melanin-like pigments (ochronosis) in connective tissues. However, data regarding the effect of oxidative stress products on disease pathogenesis are limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate oxidative stress and related factors in patients with alkaptonuria and compare the findings with those in healthy control subjects. Methods: The study sample comprised of 21 AKU patients and 19 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Serum samples were obtained to detect the total antioxidative capacity (TAC), and oxidation degradation products of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, protein carbonyls, advanced oxidation protein products, and homogentisic acid levels in urine were determined. Results: Serum TAC, oxidation degradation products of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, and protein carbonyl levels in the AKU group were higher than those measured for the control subjects, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Moreover, a positive correlation was found between the patient’s serum protein carbonyl, patient’s age and AKU severity score (r = 0.492 and 0.746, respectively; P < 0.05). Furthermore, the protein carbonyl serum levels can be used to predict the disease severity score in alkaptonuria patients (P < 0.05). Conclusions: In sum, the study results provide further support for the role of oxidation in the pathogenesis of alkaptonuria, suggesting presence of a more complex relationship than what has been previously assumed. Thus, further studies are needed to clarify these conflicting results. J Clin Med Res. 2019;11(5):337-344 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jocmr3801

Background : Asthma is the most common chronic diseases that affect children and its prevalence is increasing worldwide posing a great burden on healthcare systems. A growing body of evidence suggests an association between vitamin D deficiency and asthma. The current study aimed to assess serum vitamin D level in Jordanian children with bronchial asthma and to examine the correlation between vitamin D levels and asthma severity and control. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in the Pediatric Chest Clinic at AlKarak Governmental Hospital South of Jordan from May 2015 to February 2016. Serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin-D was determined for 98 Children aged 1 to 14 years and diagnosed with bronchial asthma (6-14years) or recurrent wheezing episodes(<6 years). The severity of asthma was determined based on the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) assessment, the Asthma Control test (ACT) and the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT). The results were considered significant if P ≤.05. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 21 (IBM, Armonk, NY, United States of America, 2012). Results : Vitamin D levels were deficient and insufficient in 41(41.8%) and 34(34.7%) of asthmatic children, respectively. Only 23( 23.5%) had sufficient vitamin D levels. A significant correlation was found between the severity of asthma symptoms and vitamin D deficiency (Pearson Chi-squared=.028). Conclusion : Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in children with bronchial asthma in Jordanian population and correlates significantly with asthma severity. Assessment of vitamin D levels in children with bronchial asthma is required in a larger scale studies in Jordan.

N/A J Endocrinol Metab. 2020;10(1):32-32 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jem507wc1