Associations of bone mineral density with sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and testosterone in middle-aged Saudi men: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: The present cross-sectional study examined the association between circulating levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and testosterone with bone mineral density (BMD) in middle-aged Arab men.

Methods: Clinical data of 103 middle-aged Saudi men (mean age 60.7±7.

Vitamin D Status Modestly Regulates NOD-Like Receptor Family with a Pyrin Domain 3 Inflammasome and Interleukin Profiles among Arab Adults.

Vitamin D (VD) deficiency has been associated with inflammation and dysregulation of the immune system. The NLRP3 inflammasome, a critical immune response component, plays a pivotal role in developing inflammatory diseases. VD hinders NLRP3 inflammasome activation and thus exerts anti-inflammatory effects.

Fuzzy logic, geostatistics, and multiple linear models to evaluate irrigation metrics and their influencing factors in a drought-prone agricultural region.

The quality of water used for irrigation is one of the major threats to maintaining the long-term sustainability of agricultural practices. Although some studies have addressed the suitability of irrigation water in different parts of Bangladesh, the irrigation water quality in the drought-prone region has yet to be thoroughly studied using integrated novel approaches. This study aims to assess the suitability of irrigation water in the drought-prone agricultural region of Bangladesh using traditional irrigation metrics such as sodium percentage (NA%), magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR), Kelley's ratio (KR), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), total hardness (TH), permeability index (PI), and soluble sodium percentage (SSP), along with novel irrigation indices such as irrigation water quality index (IWQI) and fuzzy irrigation water quality index (FIWQI).

Levels and profiles of pentabromodiphenyl ether contaminants in human breast milk from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: To investigate levels of pentabromodiphenyl ether (PBDEs) in breast milk samples from healthy mothers who had lived in Riyadh for the last 5 years.

Methods: In this cross sectional study, 75 samples were collected and were extracted, cleaned by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and PBDEs analysis was done using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Results: Total PBDEs (∑PBDEs) ranged from 0.

Impact of Vitamin D Status Correction on Serum Lipid Profile, Carboxypeptidase N and Nitric Oxide Levels in Saudi Adults.

This study aimed to determine the impact on the lipid profile, carboxypeptidase N (CPN) and nitric oxide (NOx) associated with vitamin D (VD) status correction among Saudi adults with VD deficiency. A total 111 VD deficient (25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L)) adult Saudis aged 18-50 years old (57 females and 54 males) were enrolled in this 6-month interventional study. They were given 50,000 IU VD weekly for the first 2 months and then twice a month for the next 2 months, followed by 1000 IU daily for the last 2 months.

Hepatokines fetuin A and fetuin B status in women with/without gestational diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: To assess circulating fetuin A and fetuin B levels in participants with and without Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and to find out their correlations with other different parameters relating to gestational diabetes in Saudi women.

Methods: A total of 123 Saudi pregnant women (N: 46 GDM and N: 77 healthy control) were included in this observational study. Fasting blood samples were collected to assess serum lipids, insulin and fetuin A and fetuin B.

Circulating hepcidin and its associations with low-grade inflammation and iron indices among Arab adults with and without T2DM.

We investigated the correlations of serum and dietary intake of iron with low-grade inflammation as well as with circulating hepcidin in adult Arabs with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Three hundred and twelve (N=312) Saudi adult males and females with a mean age of 56.3 ± 6.

Vitamin D Status and Its Association with Multiple Intelligence among Arab Adolescents.

Studies investigating the association of vitamin D on intelligence is limited. The present study therefore aims to determine the association of vitamin D status with the different domains of intelligence among Saudi Arabian adolescents. This study used relational survey method among 1864 Saudi adolescent, including 549 boys and 1315 girls (mean age 14.

Sex-Specific Signature in the Circulating NLRP3 Levels of Saudi Adults with Metabolic Syndrome.

Recently, inflammasomes such as NLRP3 as cytosolic pattern-recognition receptors have been implicated in the development of inflammation; however, limited investigations report the circulating levels of this protein. The objective, thus, was to investigative circulating NLRP3 levels in Saudi patients with a low-grade inflammatory disorder called metabolic syndrome (MetS). Two hundred Saudi adults aged 30-65, with or without MetS diagnosed on the basis of National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria, were randomly recruited.

Dietary Intake and Mental Health among Saudi Adults during COVID-19 Lockdown.

The study aimed to explore the influence of the COVID-19 lockdown on the mental status and dietary intake of residents in Saudi Arabia. In this cross-sectional study, an online survey was conducted from 11 May to 6 June 2020 corresponding to almost two weeks during and after Ramadan (23 April-23 May 2020). The Patient Health Questionnaire was used to assess anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

Vitamin D Metabolites and Sex Steroid Indices in Postmenopausal Women with and without Low Bone Mass.

While the independent roles of vitamin D and sex hormones in skeletal health are well established, the associations of vitamin D and its metabolites to sex hormones and their indices are less investigated. In this observational study, clinical information of 189 Saudi postmenopausal women aged ≥50 years old [N = 80 with normal bone mineral density (BMD), aged 53.3 ± 7.

Psychological well-being during COVID-19 lockdown: Insights from a Saudi State University's Academic Community.

Objectives: Measures to control the on-going COVID-19 pandemic such as quarantine and social distancing, together with information overload about the sporadic spread of the disease have negatively impacted many individuals' mental and psychosocial health. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of self-reported mental health parameters and the coping mechanisms of employees and students in a Saudi State University.

Methods: An online survey in both Arabic and English was launched targeting students, staff and faculty of King Saud University from May 11 to June 6, 2020, the peak of Saudi Arabia's nationwide lockdown.

Prevalence, Predictors, and Awareness of Coffee Consumption and Its Trend among Saudi Female Students.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, trends, and predictors of coffee consumption among Saudi female students and its association with anthropometric and demographic variables. A survey-based study using a face-to-face interview was designed, and 930 (aged 21.5 ± 2.

Vitamin D level and its relation to muscle and fat mass in adult male Arabs.

Low levels of vitamin D have been linked with increased adiposity and diminished muscle strength. Whether it is also related to fat deposition in muscle tissues is not studied well. This study explored the associations between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and fat deposition in muscle tissues of adult Arab males.

Serum minerals (Ca, P, Co, Mn, Ni, Cd) and growth hormone (IGF-1 and IGF-2) levels in postmenopausal Saudi women with osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is reported to be common among Saudi women. Several minerals appear to be important determinants of insulin-like growth factor (IGF), the bioactivity of which regulates bone and mineral metabolism. Here we proposed that mineral status may alter the IGF system among individuals with osteoporosis.

Biocomposites of polypyrrole, polyaniline and sodium alginate with cellulosic biomass: Adsorption-desorption, kinetics and thermodynamic studies for the removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol.

The biocomposites of polypyrrole (PPY), polyaniline (PANI) and sodium alginate (NaAlg) with cellulosic biomass barley husk (BH) were prepared and employed for the removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) form aqueous media. The sorption of 2,4-DCP was studied using native and biocomposites (PPY/BH, PANI/BH and NaAlg/BH) as function of various process variables. The maximum sorption (q, 7.

Efficient removal of dyes using carboxymethyl cellulose/alginate/polyvinyl alcohol/rice husk composite: Adsorption/desorption, kinetics and recycling studies.

Rapid industrialization is polluting the water resources and is becoming a serious environmental issue. In present study, the adsorption-desorption behavior of Direct Orange-26 (DO-26), Direct Red-31 (DR-31), Direct Blue-67 (DB-67) and Ever direct Orange-3GL (EDO-3) dyes on to native, modified rice husk (MRH), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and alginate (ALG) immobilized biomasses were investigated under different experimental conditions. For adsorbent modification, physical and chemical treatments were performed.

Influence of bone mineral density in circulating adipokines among postmenopausal Arab women.

Osteoporosis and osteopenia has a significant link with substantial fracture risk. Epidemiological data revealed a protective role of adipose tissue on bone biology in postmenopausal osteoporosis. The current study assessed the associations between select adipokines and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women.

Effects of ozone on cell organelles of alfalfa ( L.) seedlings.

Seedlings of alfalfa ( L.) were exposed to different concentrations of atmospheric ozone (20-30 (control), 40-60, 65-80, and 85-120 ppb) in four distinct areas in the Riyadh region, so as to decide how ozone affected some of the seedling cellular organelles. Results acquired utilizing transmission electron microscopy demonstrated certifiable impacts to exist on the cell organelles in the tissues of both the leaf mesophyll and stem cortex; contrasted with control plants, the chloroplasts seemed enlarged, irregular, different sizes, decomposed, and possibly dissolved, while the plastoglobules seemed deformed, more widely spaced, and enlarged, also the vacuoles contained no clear non-living components.

Favorable Changes in Fasting Glucose in a 6-month Self-Monitored Lifestyle Modification Programme Inversely Affects Spexin Levels in Females with Prediabetes.

Spexin (SPX) is a novel peptide thought to have a role in various metabolic regulations. Given its presumed body-weight regulatory functions, we aimed to determine whether lifestyle intervention programs on weight loss and fasting glucose (FG) improvement among people with impaired glucose regulation also alter levels of circulating SPX. A total of 160 Saudi adult males and females with prediabetes were randomly selected from a larger cohort (N = 294) who underwent a 6-month lifestyle modification program to improve their glycemic status.

Metabolic Syndrome in Arab Adults with Low Bone Mineral Density.

There are discrepancies in the reports on the association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components with bone mineral density (BMD) and hence more population-based studies on this subject are needed. In this context, this observational study was aimed to investigate the association between T-scores of BMD at lumbar L1-L4 and full MetS and its individual components. A total of 1587 participants (84.

The association between iron and vitamin D status in Arab adolescents.

Objective: Both vitamin D and Fe micronutrient deficiencies are common in Saudi Arabia but the association between them is unclear. The present study aimed to determine whether Fe indices are associated with vitamin D status and other metabolic markers in Arab adolescents.

Design: Single-centre, cross-sectional study gathering anthropometrics, glucose and lipid profile.

Facile conversion of kaolinite into clay nanotubes (KNTs) of enhanced adsorption properties for toxic heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cr) from water.

Kaolinite nanotubes (KNTs) were synthesized from kaolinite by ultrasonic scrolling and characterized using X-ray diffractometer, scanning and transmission electron microscopes; and FTIR-FT Raman spectrometer. The synthetic KNTs appear as multi-walled scrolls of 12 nm average pore diameter and 50-600 nm particle length; and exhibit surface area of 105 m/g. KNTs were used as adsorbents for Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cr with uptake capacities of 103 mg/g, 116 mg/g, 89 mg/g, and 91 mg/g, respectively.

Vitamin D Supplementation Modestly Reduces Serum Iron Indices of Healthy Arab Adolescents.

Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to affect iron status via decreased calcitriol production, translating to decreased erythropoiesis. The present study aimed to determine for the first time whether vitamin D supplementation can affect iron levels among Arab adolescents. A total of 125 out of the initial 200 Saudi adolescents with vitamin D deficiency (serum 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L) were selected from the Vitamin D-School Project of King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Coexistence of Pre-sarcopenia and Metabolic Syndrome in Arab Men.

Objective: The present single-center observational study determined the prevalence and coexistence of sarcopenia, pre-sarcopenia, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among apparently healthy Arab men and whether having both conditions present a unique cardiometabolic profile that is distinct than having the conditions separately.

Methods: A total of 471 out of 530 Arab men aged 20-77 years old were included after screening for the presence of pre-sarcopenia (ALM/ht < 7.26 kg/m), sarcopenia (presence of both low muscle mass and low function), and MetS.