Annals of the College of Medicine, Mosul

Objectives: To assess the effect of carbamazepine (CBZ) monotherapy in male adult epileptic patients on serum leptin, insulin levels, body mass index and oxidative stress represented by serum malondialdehyde (MDA) in comparison to healthy controls.
Patients and methods: To achieve the aims of the current study, a case-control study design was adopted. A total of 38 male adult patients with primary generalized epilepsy, on continuous CBZ monotherapy, for at least six months before participation in the study, were collected over the period from Sept. 2010 to Jan. 2011. Forty apparently healthy male volunteers without previous history of epilepsy were recruited as controls. Fasting blood samples were taken and sera were separated and used to measure serum levels of leptin and insulin, and MDA. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the squared height in meters.
Results: The results of this study revealed that there was insignificant difference in BMI, serum leptin and insulin between male epileptic adult patients and their matched control subjects. The results also revealed that male epileptic adult patients had a significantly higher (p<0.001) serum MDA compared to their matched control subjects.
Conclusion: Carbamazepine is a relatively low risky antiepileptic drug (AED) in terms of obesity, while it can cause oxidative stress as reflected by an elevated serum MDA in comparison to controls.

Keywords: Epileptic patients, carbamazepine, BMI, leptin, insulin, malondialdehyde

Objective: To assess the effect of continuous valproate monotherapy (VPA) on body mass index (BMI), serum leptin, malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipid profile in male epileptic children and adult patients in comparison to healthy male controls.
Subjects, materials and methods: A case-control study design was adopted. Samples from 44 male patients (22 less than 18 years old, and 22 over than 18 years old), with primary generalized epilepsy, on continuous VPA monotherapy, for at least six months before participation in the study, were collected over the period from October 2009 to March 2010. Forty-four apparently healthy male volunteers (22 less than 18 years old, and 22 over than 18 years old) without previous history of epilepsy were recruited as controls. Serum levels of leptin, and lipid profile indices were estimated using commercially available kits and a manually prepared reagent for MDA assay. (BMI) was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the squared height in meters.
Results: The results revealed that epileptic children and epileptic adults receiving continuous VPA monotherapy had a significantly higher BMI (p<0.001), serum leptin, serum MDA and atherogenic index (AI) and a significantly lower (p<0.001) serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) as compared to their matched control subjects. The results also revealed insignificant difference in serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) between epileptic children and epileptic adults on VPA and their matched control subjects. Serum leptin was positively correlated with body mass index standard deviation score (BMI SDS) of epileptic children (r=0.542; P<0.001) and duration of using VPA (r=0.215; P<0.001) in epileptic children. The results showed insignificant difference in serum TC, TGs and LDL-c between epileptic adults on VPA and control subjects. This study also revealed that the increase in serum leptin was significantly higher (p<0.001) in epileptic adults receiving continuous VPA monotherapy than in epileptic children.
Conclusion: Continuous VPA monotherapy was associated with higher BMI and serum leptin and an increase in the oxidative stress marker MDA in both male epileptic children and adults. There was no effect of VPA use on lipid profile indices in both epileptic children and adults except significant decrease in serum HDL-c and significant increase in AI.

Keywords: Valproate, male epileptic children and adult, BMI, leptin, malondialdehyde, lipid profile

Objective: To asses the effects of quetiapine therapy on body mass index (BMI) and serum level of testosterone, prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E2) in newly diagnosed male schizophrenic patients in comparison to healthy controls.
Patients and methods: Thirty male patients with schizophrenia were included in this study. The diagnosis of schizophrenia was made according to DSM-IV criteria of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Another thirty apparently healthy male individuals were included in the study as a control group. Blood samples were taken initially from patients and controls and assay of serum testosterone, prolactin, FSH, LH, and E2 were done using enzyme –linked fluorescent immunoassay (ELFA) technique by vidas instrument. Later, after 6 months of quetiapine therapy, other blood samples were taken and assay of the same parameters were done. Calculation of BMI was done for the patients and controls using special equation.
Results: There was an insignificant difference in the mean BMI, serum testosterone, prolactin, FSH, LH, and E2 levels between patients in the pre-therapy stage group and in both the post-therapy stage group and controls.
Conclusion: Chronic quetiapine therapy might be regarded as a safe drug with regard to effects on BMI and serum levels of reproductive hormones in newly diagnosed male schizophrenic patients.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, quetiapine, BMI, testosterone, prolactin, FSH, LH, E2.

ABSTRACTObjectives: To evaluate the effect of physical training program on body composition and body mass index, and to evaluate the body mass index as predictor of body fat in young adults.Material and methods: Prospective was done at the College of Physical Education – University of Mosul, first year students (100) male and (22) female were participated in this study. A physical training program of 2 hours (aerobic exercise) daily for 4 days per week for 4 months. Medical height and weight scales (Detector) and bio-electrical impedance analysis measurements device(Quantum П) were used for measurements.Results: Physical training program has significant effect on body weight, BMI and free fat mass, but has no significant effect on fat mass. Conclusions: Physical training program increase BMI and free fat mass but has no significant effect on fat mass. BMI is a specific test for overweight and obesity but it is not a sensitive test.Keywords: BMI, physical training program, body composition.