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Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body, which facilitates more than 300 enzymatic reactions. Magnesium is essential for nucleic material and protein synthesis, neuromuscular conduction, cardiac contractility, energy metabolism, and immune system function. Gastrointestinal system and kidneys closely regulate magnesium absorption and elimination to maintain adequate storage of magnesium. Magnesium deficiency has been linked to many diseases and poor health outcomes. Magnesium has also been proven to be an effective therapeutic agent in many diseases, such as bronchial asthma, cardiac arrhythmia, and pre-eclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a chronic disorder causing adrenal insufficiency and hyperandrogenism affecting the quality of life (QOL). The objective of the study was to assess the health-related QOL (HRQOL) in Egyptian children and adolescents with CAH and to identify factors affecting it. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 200 CAH patients (with 21-hydroxylase deficiency [21-OHD]) who were assessed according to their age, sex, clinical phenotype, timing of genitoplasty, hospital admissions within the last year, compliance to treatment, regularity of follow-up, presence of complications and hormonal control. HRQOL was assessed using the World Health Organization (WHO)QOL-BREF questionnaire with four domains analyzed independently including physical, psychological, social and environmental domains, with higher scores indicating better QOL. Results: The study included 140 females and 60 males with a mean age of 6.6 ± 4.5 years, and 88% were salt-wasting (SW). Older patients had significantly lower QOL scores (r = − 0.151, p = 0.033). The physical domain correlated significantly with the degree of virilization (r = − 0.491, p = 0.001) and frequency of hospitalization (r = − 0.495, p < 0.001). The psychological domain was affected by age (r = − 0.157, p = 0.026) and timing of genitoplasty (r = − 0.326, p = 0.001), while the social domain was affected by age (r = −0.277, p < 0.005) and pubertal stage (r = − 0.195, p = 0.006). Females had lower scores at the psychological domain (p < 0.001), whereas males had lower scores at the physical domain (p = 0.003). Salt-losing patients had lower scores at the physical domain (p = 0.001). Patients with good hormonal control had higher scores at the physical domain (p = 0.03). Genitoplasty affected both psychological and social domains (p = 0.003 and 0.01, respectively). Patients with hypertension and hirsutism had lower QOL scores (p < 0.05). Conclusions: HRQOL was relatively more affected in CAH patients with older age, poor hormonal control, high frequency of hospital admissions and those who developed complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bone is a complex tissue, which has a number of mechanical and physiological functions. The maintenance and repair of bone is ensured by a constant cycle of turnover and remodelling. The control of this process is equally complex and is regulated by both mechanical and biological controls. This article outlines the normal physiology and regulation of bone and provides a basis for the understanding of both the pathogenesis and management of common disorders of bone and bone metabolism as well as an appreciation of specific pathways of pharmacological intervention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Blood glucose concentration represents the net flux of glucose entering and leaving the blood. Glucose is delivered to the blood from the liver following ingestion of carbohydrate, from the breakdown of glycogen (the storage form of glucose) and from endogenous glucose synthesis. Glucose is removed from the blood by a number of organs and tissues, notably the brain, skeletal muscle, liver and adipose tissue. With this variety of means of entry and exit from the blood, and the complications arising from too high or too low a glucose concentration, the regulation of blood glucose is complex. Many factors affect the delivery of glucose to, and its removal from, the blood. These include dietary carbohydrate and fat, the circulating free fatty acid concentration, exercise, hypoxia and the actions of several hormones. The postprandial blood glucose concentration is about 4-5.5 mmol/l or 70-100 mg/100 ml, but arterial concentrations vary throughout the day from about 3.5 mmol/l after exercise to 9 mmol/l following a meal. For the purposes of this article, it is the plasma fraction of blood glucose that is of most interest, because the plasma glucose concentration is the driving force behind the diffusion of glucose molecules across the capillary wall into the interstitial space. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]