Evaluation of the vitamin D response index in a Saudi cohort.

The concept of the vitamin D response index was developed based on vitamin D intervention studies conducted with Finnish cohorts. In this study, we challenged the concept by performing a single vitamin D bolus (80,000 IU) intervention with a cohort of 100 native Saudis. The change of serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 6, interleukin 8 and tumor necrosis factor measured directly before intervention in comparison to samples taken one and thirty days after vitamin D supplementation were used as biomarkers for distinguishing low, mid and high responders.

The synergistic effect of oxaliplatin and punicalagin on colon cancer cells Caco-2 death.

Objectives: The objectives of the study are to investigate the synergistic effect of oxaliplatin (oxa) and punicalagin (pun) on the death of colon cancer cells (Caco-2) by apoptosis and autophagy.

Methods: The effects of the combined treatments (5 μM oxa + 50 μM pun, 5 μM oxa + 75 μM pun, 20 μM oxa + 50 μM pun, and 5 μM oxa + 75 μM pun) were compared with untreated Caco2 cells (control) or cells treated with oxa alone. Apoptosis was detected using an Annex in V FITC flow cytometry assay and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage by western blotting.

A new cirrhotic animal protocol combining carbon tetrachloride with methotrexate to address limitations of the currently used chemical-induced models.

Chemically induced cirrhotic animal models are commonly used. However, they have limitations such as high mortalities and low yield of cirrhotic animals that limit their uses. To overcome limitations of the chemically induced cirrhotic animal model via combined administration of methotrexate (MTX) with CCl and decrease their commonly used doses depending on the proposed synergetic cirrhotic effect.

Salivary Hormones Leptin, Ghrelin, Glucagon, and Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 and Their Relation to Sweet Taste Perception in Diabetic Patients.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common diseases worldwide. DM may disrupt hormone regulation. Metabolic hormones, leptin, ghrelin, glucagon, and glucagon-like peptide 1, are produced by the salivary glands and taste cells.

Cell Growth Inhibition, DNA Fragmentation and Apoptosis-Inducing Properties of Household-Processed Leaves and Seeds of Fenugreek ( Linn.) against HepG2, HCT-116, and MCF-7 Cancerous Cell Lines.

Household processing of fenugreek seeds and leaves, including soaking, germination, and boiling of the seeds, and air-drying of the leaves, has improved the levels of human consumption of the bitter seeds and increased the shelf life of fresh leaves, respectively. The potential anticancer activity of either unprocessed or processed fenugreek seeds or leaves and the relative expression of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes of the studied cancerous cell lines exposed to IC crude extracts was investigated to observe the apoptotic-inducing property of this plant as an anticancer agent. The protein expression of IKK-α and IKK-β, as inhibitors of NF-KB which exhibit a critical function in the regulation of genes involved in chronic inflammatory disorders, were studied in the tested cancerous cell lines.

A Single Vitamin D Bolus Supplementation Improves Vitamin D Status and Reduces Proinflammatory Cytokines in Healthy Females.

Vitamin D deficiency is a global health problem that not only leads to metabolic bone disease but also to many other illnesses, most of which are associated with chronic inflammation. Thus, our aim was to investigate the safety and effectiveness of a single high dose of vitamin D (80,000 IU) on vitamin D status and proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)6, IL8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in healthy Saudi females. Fifty healthy females were recruited and orally supplemented with a single vitamin D bolus (80,000 IU).

A Single Oral Vitamin D Bolus Reduces Inflammatory Markers in Healthy Saudi Males.

Vitamin D deficiency has increased in the general population and is a public health issue. Vitamin D plays an important role in regulating the immune system, e.g.

Studying the Anticancer Effects of Thymoquinone on Breast Cancer Cells through Natural Killer Cell Activity.

Cancer immunotherapy is quickly growing and can now be viewed as the "fifth column" of cancer treatment. In addition, cancer immunotherapy has shown promising results with different kinds of cancers and may be used as a complementary therapy with various types of treatments. Thus, "immuno-oncology" is showing astounding advantages.

Investigation of the optimal dose for experimental lipopolysaccharide-induced recognition memory impairment: behavioral and histological studies.

Background: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration is one of the most commonly used methods for inducing inflammation in animal models. Several animal studies have investigated the effects of acute and chronic peripheral administration of LPS on cognitive impairment. However, no previous study has compared the effects of different doses of chronically administered LPS on recognition memory performance.

Biochanin A Improves Memory Decline and Brain Pathology in Cuprizone-Induced Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system characterized by the demyelination of nerves, neural degeneration, and axonal loss. Cognitive impairment, including memory decline, is a significant feature in MS affecting up to 70% of patients. Thereby, it substantially impacts patients' quality of life.

Zinc deficiency and supplementation in autism spectrum disorder and Phelan-McDermid syndrome.

Approximately 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The disorder is four times more common in males than in females. Zinc deficiency and mutations in SHANK2 and SHANK3 (members of a family of excitatory postsynaptic scaffolding proteins) are all risk factors that may contribute to the pathophysiology of the disease.

Insulin resistance and its correlation with chemerin and visfatin in Saudi patients with hyperthyroidism.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the relationship between chemerin and visfatin concentrations and insulin resistance in Saudi women with hyperthyroidism.

Materials And Methods: Seventy healthy participants and 70 participants with hyperthyroidism were recruited for the study. Concentrations of chemerin, visfatin, thyroid profile, fasting glucose, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured.

The potential influence of hyperthyroidism on circulating adipokines chemerin, visfatin, and omentin.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential influence of hyperthyroidism on serum chemerin, visfatin, and omentin concentrations. The relationship between these adipokines and thyroid profile values was also investigated.

Methods: A total of 140 female Saudi participants aged 20-45 years were recruited and divided into two groups, the euthyroid control group ( = 70) and the hyperthyroidism group ( = 70).

The relative validity and repeatability of an FFQ for estimating intake of zinc and its absorption modifiers in young and older Saudi adults.

Objective: To assess the relative validity and repeatability of a sixty-four-item FFQ for estimating dietary intake of Zn and its absorption modifiers in Saudi adults. In addition, we used the FFQ to investigate the effect of age and gender on these intakes.

Design: To assess validity, all participants completed the FFQ (FFQ1) and a 3 d food record.