Effect of tocotrienols enriched canola oil on glycemic control and oxidative status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial

Background: Tocotrienols have been shown to improve glycemic control and redox balance in an animal study, but their effects on patients with diabetes are unknown. The study aimed to investigate whether tocotrienols improves glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, and oxidative stress in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Materials and Methods: This study was a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. A total of 50 patients, aged 35-60 years, with T2DM treated by noninsulin hypoglycemic drugs were randomly assigned to receive either 15 mL/day tocotrienols (200 mg) enriched canola oil (n = 25) or pure canola oil (n = 25) for 8 weeks. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting insulin, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were determined before and after the intervention. The data were compared between and within groups, before and after the intervention. Results: Baseline characteristics of participants including age, sex, physical activity, disease duration, and type of drug consumption were not significantly different between the two groups. In tocotrienol enriched canola oil, FBS (mean percent change: �15.4 vs. 3.9; P = 0.006) and MDA (median percent change: �35.6 vs. 16.3; P = 0.003) were significantly reduced while TAC was significantly increased (median percent change: 21.4 vs. 2.3; P = 0.001) compared to pure canola oil. At the end of the study, patients who treated with tocotrienols had lower FBS (P = 0.023) and MDA (P = 0.044) compared to the pure canola oil group. However, tocotrienols had no effect on insulin concentrations and HOMA-IR. Conclusion: Tocotrienols can improve FBS concentrations and modifies redox balance in T2DM patients with poor glycemic control and can be considered in combination with hypoglycemic drugs to better control of T2DM. © 2015 Journal of Research in Medical Sciences

A narrative review of thallium toxicity; preventive measures

Thallium (Tl) toxicity is an important clinical disease and its effects on the human body are devastating. Tl poisoning is an important health issue in many countries in the world. Thallium is a toxic heavy metal that exists in nature. Tl toxicity may occur in food and drinking water, occupational exposure, environment (air, industrial combustion of coal, water, and plants), arable soils and vegetables, aquatic and terrestrial animals, prenatal thallium exposure, illicit drugs, cigarette smokers. Adding lead to the opium is a recently health hazard that has been observed among opioid poisoned patients. The clinical manifestation of Tl poisoning has a wide spectrum but painful ascending peripheral neuropathy, gastrointestinal, and dermatologic manifestations are major characteristics in Tl toxicity. The toxicity of thallium based compounds is mainly caused by the similarity between TL ions and potassium ions, which results in the disorder of potassium associated metabolic processes due to thallium interference. The aim of this review is to assess identify eliminate, sources or control sources, and environmental exposures and hazards to prevent thallium toxicity. © 2019, Advanced Scientific Research. All rights reserved

Evaluation of lysosomal stability and red blood cell membrane fragility in mudskipper (Boleophthalmus dussumieri) as a biomarker of poly aromatic hydrocarbons

This research was carried out to study some physiological responses of mudskipper (i.e., Boleophthalmus dussumieri) as a biomarker Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). Fish specimens were obtained 5 stations (Arvand, Jafari, Zangi, Samayeli, Bahrakan) along north western coast of the Persian Gulf (Khuzestan Coast). PAHs concentration was measured by HPLC method. Lysosomal membrane change was measured by NRR time method and stability of red blood cell membrane was evaluated by EOF test. Total PAH concentrations in the sediments and the liver tissue ranged between 113.50-3384.34 ng g-1dw, 3.99-46.64ng g-1 dw, respectively. Highest PAHs pollution was found at Jafari while the lowest was detected at Bahrakan, with significant between these 2 stations. Values of mean RT of the dye ranged from 34 (for the blood samples of mudskipper collected from Jafari site) to 78 minutes (for the blood samples of mudskipper collected from Bahrakan). Preliminary results showed a significant difference among stations except between Arvand and Zangi. Osmotic fragility curves indicated that erythrocytes collected from mudskippers at Jafari were the most fragile followed by Zangi> Arvand> Samayeli> and Bahrakan. The results suggest that lysosomal membrane change and red blood cell membrane stability in B. dussumieri could be extended as a biomarker of oil pollution in marine biomonitoring programs

A narrative review of heavy metals in cosmetics; health risks

Cosmetics products since the dawn of civilization are considered a part of routine body care. The last few decades these products have had increasing and applied to the human body for beautification. Xenobiotics and heavy metals including chromium, copper, iron, mercury, cadmium, arsenic and nickel, classified as a light metal, are determinate in various types of cosmetics such as color cosmetics, face and body care products, hair cosmetics, herbal cosmetics. In cosmetic products was harmful when they occur in excessive amounts. Evidence studies determinate that in commercially available cosmetics toxic metals might present in amounts creating a danger to human health. The aim of this review is to assess identification of elimination, sources and control of sources, and monitoring countries marketed exposures and hazards can be used to prevent heavy metals toxicity. © 2019, Advanced Scientific Research. All rights reserved

Myocardial perfusion imaging using a technetium-99m Sestamibi in asymptomatic and low risk for coronary artery disease patients with diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to evaluate technetium-99m sestamibi single photon emission tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and its association with some clinical and laboratory parameters in an asymptomatic systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) population. Materials and Methods : Twenty-one subjects with SLE and no suspected or documented coronary artery disease (CAD) accomplished myocardial perfusion imaging. Some SLE and CAD parameters were also evaluated in association with myocardial SPECT. Results: Twenty-one women with a diagnosis of SLE (mean age 36.9 ± 12.8) entered the study. All patients were in the low-risk category for CAD pretest; however, abnormal myocardial perfusion results were found in eight (38%) patients. Amongst the traditional CAD risk factors, there was a significant association between the presence of dyslipidemia and myocardial perfusion abnormalities (P= 0.047). However, we found no significant association between other traditional and SLE-specific risk factors. Conclusion: This study's significant finding was that asymptomatic CAD is common in SLE patients, even in those thought to be low risk for CAD and in the absence of cardiac symptoms. © The Author(s) 2010

Effect of crocus sativus on gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity

Crocus sativus, known as saffron, is used in folk medicine for treatment of different types of diseases, and its anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging activities have been demonstrated. The present study evaluated gentamicin nephrotoxicity in saffron treated rats. Male Wistar rats (200-250g) were treated with saffron (40 or 80 mg/k/d) for 10 days, or saffron (40 or 80 mg/ kg/d) for 10 days and gentamicin 80 mg/kg/d for five days, starting from day 6. At the end of treatment, blood samples were taken for measurement of serum creatinine (SCr) and BUN. The left kidney was prepared for histological evaluation and the right kidney for Malondialdehyde (MDA) measurement. Gentamicin 80 (mg/k/d) increased SCr, BUN and renal tissue levels of MDA and induced severe histological changes. Saffron at 40 mg/k/d significantly reduced gentamicin-induced increases in BUN and histological scores (p<0.05). Gentamicin-induced increases in BUN, SCr and MDA and histological injury were significantly reduced by treatment with saffron 80 mg/k/d (p<0.05, p<0.001, p<0.05, and p<0.001 respectively). In conclusion, our results suggest that saffron treatment reduces gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity and this effect seems to be dose dependent

The prevalence of staphylococcus aureus contamination in the ambulances and on-call emergency medical service personnel of kashan city in iran

Objective: Emergency medical services systems are at the first line of dealing with patients who suffer from various infections. Conducting investigations on the bacterial contamination of emergency ambulances play a crucial role to improve the occupational health of staff as well as the quality of patient care. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of Staphylococcus aureus and other life treating bacteria in the urban and rural ambulances and their on-call emergency medical service personnel. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 12 front line pre-hospital emergency urban and rural ambulances in Kashan, Iran, in 2015. A total of 18 sites were sampled in each ambulance and from the nose of personnel. Grown colonies were confirmed based on colony morphology on mannitol salt agar plates, gram stain reaction and biochemical characteristics reactions. Results: The S. aureus contamination was only isolated from the nose of on-call emergency medical service providers of 12 urban and road ambulances, while no sign of contamination was found in 18 sampling sites of these front-line ambulances. Also, further evaluation of these sampling sites revealed the contamination with coagulase-negative staphylococci in all of them and oxygen tank was introduced as the most contaminated site inside the ambulances. Moreover, the prevalence of equipment contamination was significantly higher in urban ambulances. Conclusion: Identifying the rate of pathogens in clinical settings like the pre-hospital ambulance setting is an important issue which should be carefully considered. © 2020 The Author(s)

Assessment of the prevalence of central and general obesity among female students of Velenjak dormitory of Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran

Background: Prevalence of obesity is increasing globally , and it is proved that obesity is associated with cordiovascular diseases, type II diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and breast cancer. This study was carried out among 150 female students of Shadid Beheshti university who were resided in Velekjad dormitory, in order to assess the rate of obesity among them. Methods: As a cross-sectional study; height, weight, waist circumference and hip circumference were measured . Food frequency and socioeconomic questionnaire were completed. BMI and WHR were used to assess the general and central obesity respectively. Results: Mean± standard deviation of age, BMI, WHR, WC were 260 ± 31 (months), 21.42 ± 2.56 (kg/m 2), 0.79 ± 0.04 and 75.71 ± 7.10 (cm) respectively. Among subjects, 40.5 had WHR more than 0.8, 9.3 were overweight, 62.1 normal and 28.6 underweight. Of whom, 37.8 weren't exercising at all. There was a negative correlation between BMI and consumption of butter, milk, meat (p&lt;0.001 for all) and egg (p&lt;0.01), between WHR and consumption of egg and butter (p&lt;0.01 for both of them) and also between WC and cosumption of butter (P&lt;0.001) and milk (P&lt;0.01). Conclusion: Although prevalence of general obesity among the subjects was low, central obesity (based on WHR) was significant, so lifestyle modifications such as nutritional changes and increase physical activity among students is recommended

The effect of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in men with chronic spinal cord injury: A clinical trial

Study design:A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.Objective:To assess the effect of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation on IL-6, hs-CRP, FBS, anthropometric indices, food intake and blood pressure in male patients with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI).Setting:Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.Methods:Fifty-eight men with chronic SCI participated in the study. Participants were divided in two groups: one group received 600 mg of supplemental ALA (n=28) and the other group received placebo (n=30) for 12 weeks. At the beginning and end of the study, biochemical parameters, anthropometric indices, blood pressure and dietary intakes were measured. Dietary intake was measured using N4 software, and statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS16.Results:No significant reduction was found in IL-6 (P=0.97) and hs-CRP levels (P=0.23). There was significant reduction in fasting blood sugar (P=0.001), body weight (P=0.001), BMI (P=0.001), waist circumference (P=0.001) and blood pressure (P=0.001). Dietary intake was significantly reduced, including fat (P=0.001), carbohydrate (P=0.001), protein (P=0.002) and energy intakes (P=0.001).Conclusion:Lipoic acid supplementation had no significant effect on the measured inflammatory markers but it reduces fasting blood sugar, anthropometric parameters, food intake and blood pressure in men with chronic SCI. © 2015 International Spinal Cord Society

Effect of turmeric on glycemic status, lipid profile, hs-CRP, and total antioxidant capacity in hyperlipidemic type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disorder worldwide. This study examined the effect of turmeric supplementation on glycemic status, lipid profile, hs-CRP and total antioxidant capacity in hyperlipidemic type 2 diabetic patients. In this double-blind, randomized clinical trial, 80 hyperlipidemic type 2 diabetic patients were divided into turmeric (2,100 mg powdered rhizome of turmeric daily) and placebo groups for 8 weeks. Body weight, fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), serum insulin, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, low density lypoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high density lypoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and total antioxidant capacity were measured before and after intervention. Statistical analysis was carried out using paired and independent t and chi-square tests. Seventy five patients completed the study. The turmeric group showed significant decreases in body weight, TG, and LDL-c compared with baseline (p value < 0.05). Body mass index, TG, and total cholesterol decreased significantly in the turmeric group compared with the placebo group (p value < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in other parameters between the two groups after intervention (p value < 0.05). Turmeric improved some fractions of lipid profile and decreased body weight in hyperlipidemic patients with type 2 diabetes. It had no significant effect on glycemic status, hs-CRP, and total antioxidant capacity in these patients. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd