Abstract : Stroke is a serious condition in which specific area of the brain will loss the blood supply. When blood restored to the ischemic area the risk will be increased and brain cells will undergo cell death by the two known forms of cell death (apoptosis and necrosis). Methionine is an essential amino acid needed by our body for many physiological pathways like synthesis of glutathione which is considered as more important endogenous antioxidant molecules. This study was designed to assess the possible neuroprotective activity of L-Methionine in cerebral I/R injury after bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) in rats. A total of 24 Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were used. They divided equally into four groups (sham, control, control vehicle and L-methionine treated groups). Their brains were removed and prepared by a reported procedure for histopathological study and staining with 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC). It has been found that both histopathological and TTC staining results showed a significant role for L-Methionine as cerebroprotective agent and further studies are recommended to confirm that.

Keyword : Ischemia-Reperfusion, Stroke, Methionine, TTC.

Abstract : Abstract Purpose: Obesity is increasing in prevalence worldwide and represents a major international health burden. Pediatric obesity has increased during the prior two decades. Vitamin D plays important roles in promoting bone homeostasis and protecting against cardiovascular events. Several studies have linked vitamin D deficiency and obesity in adult populations. We sought to assess the relationship between serum vitamin D and obesity in children in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: Pediatric outpatients who were 5-14 years of age were included in this study. Body mass index (BMI) was used to classify patients as follows: BMI<85th percentile was regarded as normal body weight; BMI between the 85th and 94th percentile was regarded as overweight; and BMI≥95th percentile was regarded as obese. Serum vitamin D was measured in all patients. Vitamin D deficiency was defined to be a vitamin D level<30 ng/ml. Results: Among the 65 patients included in this study, there were 24 patients with normal body weights and 41 overweight or obese patients. With respect to gender, there were 33 males and 32 female patients. Vitamin D deficiency was more common among overweight and obese patients than among patients with normal body weights; in particular, this deficiency was detected in 26 of the former patients and only 13 of the latter patients. Mean serum vitamin D (in nmol/l) was significantly greater for male patients (27.56±10.80) than for female patients (21.99±11.31; t(63)=-2.031; p=0.046). In addition, mean serum vitamin D (in nmol/l) was significantly greater in the Normal group (50th to 85th percentile in BMI; 29.33±13.97) than in the Overweight+Obese group (≥85th percentile in BMI; 22.17±8.58; t=2.272; p=0.030). Conclusions: Obesity is associated with a significantly lower serum vitamin D level. Additional studies are needed to confirm this finding.

Keyword : Vitamin D , pediatric , obesity