Febrile seizures (FS) are a prevalent type of seizure occurs due to fever in children aged between six months and five years. This study aimed to explain the effect of electrolyte disturbance in FS and the role of procalcitonin (PCT) as an inflammatory biomarker in the diagnosis of FS. The case-control study was performed at the Children Welfare Hospital, Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq, included 90 children aged six months to five years divided into 40 children with FS, 30 children were admitted to emergency department with fever a count as a febrile control (FC) group and 20 healthy children free of infection. The study involved the measurement of serum electrolyte (Na, K, and Ca) and some inflammatory biomarkers (PCT, CRP, and ESR). The data revealed no significant difference in PRO and ESR between the FS and FC while there are significantly elevated PRO and ESR in patient groups as compared to that of the healthy control group at p <0.05. The data explain that the mean level of CRP was significantly higher in FS than FC while there was no significant difference between FC and healthy control groups. Lower serum sodium in FS as compared to FC and decrease serum potassium level in FS. In conclusion, Patients with FS have higher total WBC count, ANC and serum CRP levels than the febrile control group while significantly higher serum PCT and ESR levels in FS than healthy control. Also, lower serum sodium and potassium levels in FS patients could have a role in the development of FS.

Vitamins k is an important fat-soluble vitamin that can be obtained from plants, bacteria and animals and is necessary for the blood clotting. It plays a key function as a cofactor in the synthesizing of blood clotting proteins in the liver; recently, the interest for its functions in extra-hepatic tissue has increased. Vitamin k deficiency is usually caused by abnormal absorption rather than in the lack of vitamin in food. Apart from its impact on clotting, chronic subclinical deficiency of vitamin K maybe a risk factor for many diseases such as osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, cancer, insulin resistance, neurodegenerative diseases and others, while current food intake guidelines be focused on the daily dose necessary to avoid blood loss. Several researchers found out that vitamin K needs may be substantially higher for certain health functions.

In recent decades, global obesity has increased significantly, causing a major health problem with associated complications and major socioeconomic issues. The central nervous system (CNS), particularly the hypothalamus, regulates food intake through sensing the metabolic signals of peripheral organs and modulating feeding behaviors.  The hypothalamus interacts with other brain regions such as the brain stem to perform these vital functions. The gut plays a crucial role in controlling food consumption and energy homeostasis. The gut releases orexigenic and anorexigenic hormones that interact directly with the CNS or indirectly through vagal afferent neurons. Gastrointestinal peptides (GIP) including cholecystokinin, peptide YY, Nesfatin-1, glucagon-like peptide 1, and oxyntomodulin send satiety signals to the brain and ghrelin transmit hunger signals to the brain. The GIP is essential for the control of food consumption; thus, explain the link between the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and the brain is important for managing obesity and its associated diseases. This review aimed to explain the role of gut peptides in satiety and hunger control.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent condition in women of reproductive age. It is characterized by androgen excess and chronic anovulation. Some trace elements, macroelements, and heavy metals have been linked to pathophysiological mechanisms of PCOS . To study the alterations in the serum levels of the trace element manganese (Mn), some macroelements, magnesium(Mg) and calcium (Ca), and the heavy metals cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), in obese and non-obese PCOS patients; and the association of these alterations with some of the hormonal changes occurring in PCOS. The study was carried out at Kamal Al-Samarrai Hospital (Center for Infertility treatment and in vitro Fertilization "IVF") Baghdad- Iraq. Eighty-two women were enrolled in the study. Fifty-four of them were diagnosed by a specialist gynecologist as PCOS patients; they were subdivided into two subgroups according to their body mass index (BMI); twenty-seven obese PCOS patients with BMI > 30 kg/m2, and another twenty seven non obese patients PCOS with BMI <30 kg/m2. Whereas, twenty-eight apparently healthy women with regular menstruation and of comparable age, were selected to serve as control groups; they were subdivided into, fourteen obese women with BMI > 30kg/m2, and fourteen non obese women with BMI <30 kg/m2. Blood lead and cadmium levels were significantly higher in both of the obese and the non-obese PCOS groups, than in their corresponding control groups. While, serum magnesium, calcium and manganese levels were significantly lower in both of the obese and the non-obese PCOS groups, as compared to their corresponding control groups. The results revealed no significant difference in the levels of the measured elements, between the obese PCOS group and the non-obese PCOS group. The serum FSH levels was significantly lower in obese PCOS patients than in the obese and non-obese control groups. There was a positive correlation between blood lead and serum TSH levels in non-obese PCOS women; and between serum total testosterone and cadmium levels in obese PCOS women. Finally, there was negative correlation between serum magnesium and serum LH levels in non-obese PCOS women. the study has demonstrated higher blood levels of lead and cadmium; and lower serum levels of magnesium, calcium and manganese in PCOS groups than control subject. There were no significant differences between obese PCOS women and non-obese PCOS women in the levels of the studied hormones, elements and heavy metals.

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