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Vol.4 No.4 – 7 : Factors attributing to obesity among working adults in Egypt

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By ; Mai Sabry Saleh, Eman Essam Shaban, and Nagat Amer

Environmental and Occupational Medicine Department, Environmental Research Division, National Research Centre, Egypt  

Abstract

Obesity is a growing epidemic problem. Many environmental factors at the work place like occupational stress and job satisfaction attribute to obesity either as  cause or consequence. Other seriously contributing factors are of socio-demographic and health-related nature. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between some environmental and health related variables and obesity in terms of Body Mass Index (BMI) among working adults in Egypt. A cross sectional study was carried on a convenient sample of 86 males and females working at the public sector. All participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale, Falsification of Type quiz, Andrews and Withey test for Job Satisfaction and a sheet for socio-demographic, health and work-related data. Blood samples were obtained and assessments of cortisol, C-reactive protein, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and total thyroxin were done using ELISA technique. Total cholesterol and triglycerides were assessed colorimetrical. BMI and W/H were calculated. Pearson correlation test was performed for statistical analysis. Advanced age, female gender, presence of chronic diseases, presence of mental health problems, increased level of CRP and decreased level of DHEA-S were factors showing significant correlation with increased BMI. In conclusion, extensive study of predictors of obesity is a crucial need among working adults in Egypt.

Factors attributing to obesity among working adults in Egypt-converted (1)

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Vol.4 No.3 – 3 : Nephrotoxicity associated with Orlistat in normal and obese female rats

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By : Ehab Tousson, Ahmed Massoud, Attyat Salem, Shahenda A. Fatoh

Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.

 

Abstract

Obesity is a global health concern associated with high morbidity and mortality. Therapeutic strategies include synthetic drugs and surgery, which may entail high costs and serious complications. Orlistat is a pancreatic lipase inhibitor licensed for the treatment of obesity. The current study was carried out to elucidate the modulating effect of Orlistat against obesity induced kidney toxicity in female rats. A total of 50 female rats were divided into five groups (G1, Control; G2, Orlistat; G3, Obesity; G4, Co- treated Orlistat with Obesity; G5, Post- treated Obesity with Orlistat rat group). The current study revealed that a significant increase in serum urea, creatinine, while  a significant decrease in the levels of sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride ions levels in treated rats with Orlistat while a significant increase in serum urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium and chloride ions levels in obesity group when compared with control group. In contrast; a significant decrease in serum urea, Creatinine, sodium, potassium and chloride ions levels in treated obese rats with Orlistat when compared with obesity group.  So; Orlistat induced renal toxicity when used for treatment of obesity and self-recovered obese rats is safe and better than the use of Orlistat in treatment of obesity.

Nephrotoxicity associated with Orlistat in normal and obese female rats

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Vol.2 No.6 -8 : Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphism and obesity a pilot study from Egypt.

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By : Sabah Farouk, Wael Abdel-Mageed, Mahmoud Aly

Abstract

The main adverse consequences of excess bodyweight are cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, and several cancers. IL-1Ra serum concentration has been reported earlier to increase in human obesity and it is therefore assumed that the polymorphism of IL-1Ra may influence cytokine production. The study was designed to investigate whether the IL-1Ra polymorphism was associated with obesity. A total number of 66 individuals; 20 normal (BMI <25 Kg/m2), 20 overweight (BMI 25-29.9 Kg/m2) and 26 obese (BMI More than 30.0 Kg/m2) were enrolled in this study. Genotyping was performed using a polymerase chain reaction PCR amplification of the intron-2 fragment harboring a variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) nucleotide sequences 86 bp of tandem repeat. The PCR products were separated on 2% agarose gel. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 11.5). The genotype and allelic frequencies showed a significantly difference between normal vs. overweight and normal vs. obese (p-values: 0.001; 0.0001; 0.0018 and 0.001 respectively). Although, The presence of Allelic frequencies for Allele I between normal vs. overweight and normal vs. obese showed > 2 folds risk in overweight and >3 folds in obese (OR=2.3; 95% CI=0.796-8.620 & OR=2.1; 95% CI=0.972-10.265 respectively). Allele II between normal vs. overweight and normal vs. obese showed > 3.5 folds risk in overweight and >1.5 folds in obese (OR=3.45; 95% CI=0.836-9.210 & OR=1.63; 95% CI=0.892-9.11 respectively) and Allele V between normal vs. overweight and normal vs. obese showed > 2 folds risk in overweight and >1.5 folds in obese (OR=1.99; 95% CI=0.821-9.10 & OR=1.95; 95% CI=0.882-8.975 respectively).This may suggest that IL-1Ra appears to be induced by inflammatory stimuli as well as obesity-associated factors. This is relatively a pilot study; but nevertheless, may assist in identifying the pathophysiological cause for obesity

8. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphism and obesity a pilot study from Egypt.
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