Metformin Inhibits ROS Production by Human M2 Macrophages via the Activation of AMPK.

Metformin (1,1-dimethylbiguanide hydrochloride) is the most commonly used drug to treat type II diabetic patients. It is believed that this drug has several other beneficial effects, such as anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. Here, we wanted to evaluate the effect of metformin on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by human macrophages.

The association of vascular endothelial growth factor related SNPs and circulating iron levels might depend on body mass index.

Background And Objectives: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is an essential regulator of vascular biology. In addition to the well-established role in angiogenesis, circulating VEGF levels were found elevated in severely anemic patients, pointing out that anemia might affect the progression of angiogenesis in malignant and benign diseases through the alteration of VEGF levels. Ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in and other loci were shown to explain more than 50% of its circulating levels.

The Association of rs1898830 in with Lipids and Blood Pressure.

Background And Objective: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are important components of the innate immune system, involved in establishing immunity to infections. Apart from being implicated in immunity, numerous studies have reported that many TLRs, including TLR2, are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors. Since rs1898830 is associated with TLR2-mediated cellular activation, we aimed to study its association with CVD risk factors, such as lipid levels and hypertension.

Increased risk of hypercholesterolemia in a French and Lebanese population due to an interaction between rs2569190 in CD14 and gender.

Rationale: Since identifying gender-specific genetic associations may have a significant impact on public health, we studied the interaction between rs2569190 in CD14 (cluster of differentiation 14) and gender in relation to the lipid traits in two independent populations.

Methods: We first tested the interaction in a discovery population (SFS, n = 956), then replicated it in an independent population (LGP, n = 460), followed by a meta-analysis (n = 1,416). Finally, stratification according to gender was conducted to test the association between rs2569190 and lipid traits.

Obesity status modifies the association between rs7556897T>C in the intergenic region SLC19A3-CCL20 and blood pressure in French children.

Background Growing evidence reports an association between inflammatory markers, obesity and blood pressure (BP). Specifically, the intergenic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs7556897T > C (MAF = 0.34) located between SLC19A3 and the CCL20 was shown to be associated with chronic inflammatory diseases.

Dataset on significant role of Candesartan on cognitive functions in rats having memory impairment induced by electromagnetic waves.

Rapid growing of mobile phones users has raised about the possible effects of these electromagnetic waves (EMW) on human health. Many studies have examined the role of these EMW on biological systems, but the results are still contradictory and controversial. In addition to EMW, over-activation of angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) has been associated with cognitive decline, incidence and progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

Surveillance Study of Acute Gastroenteritis Etiologies in Hospitalized Children in South Lebanon (SAGE study).

Purpose: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a major cause of morbidity and remains a major cause of hospitalization. Following the Syrian refugee crisis and insufficient clean water in the region, this study reviews the etiological and epidemiological data in Lebanon.

Methods: We prospectively analyzed demographic, clinical and routine laboratory data of 198 children from the age of 1 month to 10 years old who were admitted with the diagnosis of AGE to a private tertiary care hospital located in the district of Nabatieh in south Lebanon.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide dampens formyl-peptide-induced ROS production and inflammation by targeting a MAPK-p47 phosphorylation pathway in monocytes.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by the phagocyte NADPH oxidase (NOX2) are required for microbial clearance; however, when produced in excess they exacerbate inflammatory response and injure surrounding tissues. NOX2 is a multicomponent enzyme composed of membrane-associated cytochrome b588 and cytosolic components p47, p67, p40, and rac1/2. We investigated whether vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), an endogenous immune-modulatory peptide, could affect ROS production by NOX2 in primary human phagocytes.

Adiponectin and its globular fragment differentially modulate the oxidative burst of primary human phagocytes.

Adiponectin (Acrp30) belongs to the family of C1q/tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)-related proteins. Acrp30 circulates as multimers of high, middle, and low molecular weight. In this study, we detected Acrp30 and its globular fragment (gAcrp30) in synovial fluid from rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Protection of medical and paramedical university students in Lebanon against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella: active measures are needed.

Objective: In many countries, universities require students to either show a physician-certified proof of immunity or to get vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella, prior to their registration in medical and paramedical majors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the need to implement this policy in Lebanon.

Design: A cross-sectional study was performed on students of the Lebanese University (LU), faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Public Health.

Resistin-like molecule-beta inhibits SGLT-1 activity and enhances GLUT2-dependent jejunal glucose transport.

Objective: An increased expression of RELM-beta (resistin-like molecule-beta), a gut-derived hormone, is observed in animal models of insulin resistance/obesity and intestinal inflammation. Intestinal sugar absorption is modulated by dietary environment and hormones/cytokines. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of RELM-beta on intestinal glucose absorption.

Congenital cardiac disease and inbreeding: specific defects escape higher risk due to parental consanguinity.

Aims: To test on a large cohort whether parental consanguinity varies among different types of congenitally malformed hearts.

Methods And Results: Between 1 May, 1999, and 28 February, 2006, a large cohort of 1585 newly diagnosed cases with non-syndromic congenitally malformed heart was enrolled at the National Register of Paediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, Lebanese Society of Cardiology, Beirut. Another group, made up of 1979 cases referred to the National Register of Paediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, but free of any malformation, and with a rate of consanguinity similar to a recent survey made by UNICEF in Lebanon, was used for the purposes of control.

[Cardiogenic shock revealing heart disease in infancy and childhood: a Lebanese multicentric study].

Objectives: Diagnosis, initial workup and immediate prognosis in congenital or acquired heart diseases revealed by cardiogenic shock (CS) in a Lebanese paediatric multicentric study.

Material And Methods: During a six-year period (1st January 1999 to 31 December 2004), 56 paediatric patients aged between 0 and 7 years have been admitted to the emergency departments or neonatal and intensive care units in ten different Lebanese hospitals, for high degree of CS suspicion with underlying cardiac disease. All diagnoses were confirmed by echocardiography.

Branchio-oculo-facial syndrome associated with a white forelock.

We report a father and his daughter with branchio-oculo-facial syndrome. Since birth the father, and to a lesser extent his daughter, demonstrated a white forelock which has not been reported before as associated with this syndrome. The analysis of the second to the eighth exon of PAX3 genes did not reveal any abnormality.

Interstitial duplication of the short arm of chromosome 2: report of a new case and review.

An 18 month old girl was referred to us because of dysmorphic features and psychomotor and growth retardation. On physical examination, she was found to have microcephaly, open fontanelles, a prominent forehead, a flat occiput, hypertelorism, sparse eyebrows, a small nose with a depressed nasal bridge, a bulging philtrum, a thin upper lip, a high arched palate, low set and posteriorly rotated ears, a small mandible, a short neck with a low hair line, and eye malformations. High resolution chromosome analysis identified a de novo direct duplication of the 2p21.