Irisin and chemerin peptides expression are triggered by hypoxia and involved in activation of inflammatory cascades in various organs including the brain; however, their role in epilepsy is not fully illustrated. This study aims to explore the predictive role of irisin and chemerin for seizure control in children with idiopathic epilepsy. This cross-sectional comparative study included 50 children with idiopathic epilepsy; 25 of them had controlled seizures over the previous 6 months and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy children as controls. Epilepsy characteristics, seizure severity Chalfont score, and response to medications were assessed in relation to serum irisin and chemerin levels. In comparison to healthy controls, serum chemerin and irisin levels were significantly higher in children with idiopathic epilepsy especially those with uncontrolled seizures. Serum chemerin and irisin levels had significant positive correlation with seizure severity Chalfont score and the duration of epilepsy. Elevated Chalfont score (OR 3.19), serum chemerin (OR 2.01), and irisin (OR 2.03) are predictors of uncontrolled seizures. Circulating chemerin and irisin have 80% and 76% sensitivity and 88% and 92% specificity at cutoff point > 191.38 ng/ml and > 151.2 ng/ml respectively for prediction of uncontrolled seizures in children with idiopathic epilepsy. Elevated circulating level of irisin and chemerin may predict poor seizure control in children with idiopathic epilepsy suggesting the role of hypoxia-triggered neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of childhood idiopathic epilepsy.

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Children with epilepsy have a high incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Oxidation stress and disturbed neurotransmitters are suggested mechanisms; however, their role is not fully explored. This study evaluates the association between circulating malondialdehyde as an oxidation stress marker, apelin neuropeptide, and ADHD in children with epilepsy. Fifty children with epilepsy of unknown etiology, of which 25 have ADHD, as well as 35 healthy children were included. Serum levels of malondialdehyde and apelin were estimated. We investigated the association between seizure severity, response to medications, malondialdehyde, apelin levels, and ADHD in children with epilepsy. Serum malondialdehyde and apelin levels were higher in children with epilepsy, especially those with ADHD. Malondialdehyde and apelin levels have significant positive correlation with the Chalfont Seizure Severity Score. Regression analysis showed that elevated malondialdehyde is an independent risk factor for ADHD in children with epilepsy (OR: 1.401, 95%CI: 1.056-1.859, p= 0.02). No significant association was found between malondialdehyde and apelin levels and the type of epilepsy or ADHD. Longer duration of epilepsy, increased seizure severity, and uncontrolled seizures are associated with increased oxidation stress, which further increased susceptibility for ADHD. In spite of elevated apelin in children with ADHD, the elevation did not increase the risk of ADHD in children with epilepsy.

Objective To evaluate the reproducibility and diagnostic performance of two-bed single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) images (TBSCT), compared to conventional planar bone scintigraphy (PBS) for the diagnosis of osseous metastasis. Methods Patients with known solid tumor, referred to perform PBS, were included in this prospective study. PBS acquisition was followed by TBSCT images, covering at least the chest, abdomen and pelvis. Each modality was interpreted during a separate session by two independent nuclear medicine physicians with 12- and 3-year experience. Reference standard was formulated on the basis of subsequent clinical/imaging/histopathological evidence. Results One-hundred and six patients were finally included in our study. A moderate agreement between the two physicians was seen for PBS readings [k = 0.74; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.61–0.86] which increased to 0.87 (95% CI, 0.77–0.96) for TBSCT. PBS readings were inconclusive in 29/106, compared to 6 for TBSCT. For each reader, TBSCT showed significantly greater sensitivity and accuracy compared to PBS. There was no significant difference in the sensitivity, specificity or accuracy of both modalities in patients with the breast cancer group, whereas TBSCT images have shown significant higher sensitivity and accuracy compared to PBS (P = 0.02 and 0.002, respectively) in nonbreast cancer patients. Conclusion TBSCT demonstrated higher reproducibility and significantly decreased the proportion of inconclusive readings of PBS. TBSCT resulted in significant gain in sensitivity and accuracy in the unselected group of patients with solid tumors. However, that gain may be better appreciated in patients with nonbreast cancer.

Four samples of breakfast cereal-legume blends were generated by mixing the flours (wheat, maize, rice, lentil, bean, chickpeas and kidney beans) with almond, bran and dates, in addition to others additives such as powdered skimmed milk, honey, baking powder, baking soda and flavoured (vanillin + cinnamon). Gelatinization of the grains and legumes starch was produced by roasting to obtain ready to eat breakfast cereal products. They were subjected to proximate, sensory, minerals, vitamins, anti-nutrients and acrylamide analysis. The products obtained were also served dry with warm milk to 10 panelists along with control sample to be evaluated for colour, taste, odour, texture and overall acceptability using a 9 point hedonic scale. The results showed the following ranges: