The study of diabetes mellitus in Gorgan, Iran

[No abstract available

Effects of vitamin e and zinc supplementation on antioxidants in beta thalassemia major patients

Objective: In beta thalassemic patients, tissue damage occurs due to oxidative stress and it happens because of the accumulation of iron in the body. This study was conducted to determine the effect of zinc and vitamin E supplementation on antioxidant status in beta-thalassemic major patients. Methods: This double blind randomized clinical trial was carried out on 120 beta thalassemic patients older than 18 years. Patients were randomly categorized in four groups. Zinc (50mg/day) and vitamin E (400mg/day) supplements were administered for former and latter group, respectively. In the third group both supplements were administered in similar doses. The fourth (control) group received no supplement. The effect of supplementations on serum zinc and vitamin E, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and body mass index (BMI) were measured at the beginning and the end of the study. Findings: Serum zinc levels in group 1 and 3 were significantly increased (P<0.007 and P<0.005, respectively). Serum vitamin E levels in group 2 and 3 were also increased significantly (P<0.001). Mean GPX activity in group1, 2 and 3 decreased significantly (P<0.015, P<0.032 and P<0.029, respectively). Mean SOD activity and TAC did not show significant change after supplementation. BMI had significant increase in all treated groups (P<0.001). Conclusion: Our results suggest that beta thalassemic patients have enhanced oxidative stress and administration of selective antioxidants may preclude oxidative damage. © 2011 by Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, All rights reserved

Prevalence of asthma among schoolchildren in Gorgan, Iran by questionnaire surveys in 2006

The aim of study to determine the prevalence of asthma in Gorgan. This cross-sectional study was carried out in randomly chosen public and non-profitable primary, guidance and high schools. Five hundred eighty copies of a standard questionnaire, which was randomly distributed among the students, were filled out by parents on behalf of their children. Six cases (1%) with triad asthma symptoms. Sixty five cases (11.2%) with cough 26 cases (4.5%) with tightness and 27 cases (4.7%) with wheezing, without they have caught cold. In all cases, 11.7% have at least one asthma symptoms. There was no significant relationship between asthma and age, sex and ethnic. As the results reveal the rate of asthma in Gorgan is high (11.7%) and it is important that people get educated to fight against asthma

The association of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and waist circumference in northern adults in Iran: A population based study

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) level and Waist Circumference (WC) in men and women among 25-65 years old people in the north of Iran.Material and methods: This was a cross-sectional and analytical research gender that carried out on the 1797 subjects (941 males and 856 females) between 25-65 years old using multistage cluster sampling technique. FBG was measured in the morning after a 12-hour fast and was determined by using laboratory kits (enzymatic methods) and spectrophotometry technique. Central obesity was defined based on World Health Organization criteria: waist circumference ≥102 cm and ≥88 cm in men and women, respectively. The SPSS.16 software was used for statistical analysis.Results: As whole, the mean of FBG in women (98.3 ± 40.1 mg/dl) was higher than in men (94.6 ± 32.2 mg/dl). Also, the mean of WC in men 4.5 cm was lower than in women. In men, the mean of FBG statistically differs between normal and central obese subjects both in 35-45 year-age group (P = 0.001) and in 45-55 year-age group (P = 0.042). As whole, in men, the FBG level increased up 2.82 mg/dl in each 10 cm of WC with the highest rate in 35-45 year-age group. In totally, in women, the FBG level increased up 3.48 mg/dl in each 10 cm of WC and in 25-35 year-age group and it was higher than in other age groups. In men, the regression coefficients were constant with age increasing while in women it was decreased. Constant trend in men and decreasing trend in women with age was shown between FBG and WC. The cut-off point of WC for detecting of diabetes obtained 89 cm and 107 cm in men and women, respectively.Conclusion: The positive correlation was seen between WC and FBG level and it was declined with age in women. Cut-off point for detecting of diabetes in men was less than in women. WC is useable as a predictor of type 2 diabetes mellitus risk among adults in the north of Iran. © 2014 Veghari et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

The effect of radiotherapy and chemotherapy on osmotic fragility of red blood cells and plasma levels of malondialdehyde in patients with breast cancer

Background: Gamma radiation effects on the erythrocyte membrane from three different functional parts, lipid bilayer, cytoskeleton and protein components. When the red cell membrane is exposed to radiation, it loses its integrity and hemoglobin leaks out. In addition, irradiation leads to lipid peroxidation and the products of this process, leading to hemolysis. The aim of the present study was to measure osmotic fragility (OF) of red blood cells and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as a marker of oxidative injury in breast cancer patients treated with radiation and chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: The OF test was performed using different concentrations of a salt solution. The measurement of MDA was done with chemical methods.11 The sampling was taken during three stages of treatment: first sample was taken before starting chemotherapy, the second sample was taken before radiation therapy and the third sample was taken after radiotherapy. Results: No statistically significant differences between levels of MDA in these three stages of treatment were observed. However, the comparison of mean levels of MDA showed an increase after radiotherapy. The OF rate did not show significant difference (P > 0.05) during the stages of treatment. Conclusion: In a standard treatment program of radiotherapy and chemotherapy lipid peroxidation level and OF do not significantly increase. © 2014 Greater Poland Cancer Centre

The comparison of acute myocardial infarction serum anticardiolipin antibody with healthy subjects, in Gorgan (northern Iran)

Arthrosclerosis considered one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in industrial and developing countries. The rate of myocardial infarction in some countries is about 2 million annually with 1/4 of them is leading to death. This study was a case-control research, which was carried out as cross-sectional project in two groups, healthy and case subjects. The mean age and standard deviation of patients and control groups were nearly equal (55±10). The ELISA technique was applied to measure the serum antibody level. The sample populations in each group were exactly the same (120 person in each group). The gender distribution in case and control group was 44 female, 76 male and 45 female and 75 male, respectively. The Mean±SD of IgM in case group and control groups were 3.10± 2.54 and 1.54±1.00, respectively. TheMeantSD forlgG incase and control groups were 5.90±3.84 and 3.08±1.95, respectively. The differences, between the mean of IgM and IgG in two groups of cases and control statistically were significant (p = 0.0001). In case group the Meani±SD for IgM for men and woman were 2.98±1.97 and 3.17±2.83, respectively, which this differences statistically, were not significant. In case group the Meant±SD forlg G were 5.14±3.45 and 6.35. The above findings indicated that the average of both IgG and IgM are higher among men compared to women. Due to high prevalence of acute coronary syndrome in Iran, the determination of anticardiolipin antibody (IgG) are applied for suspected acute coronary syndrome patients and further prevention measure should be taken for patient with higher serum anticardiolipin antibody. © 2013 Asian Network for Scientific Information

Effects of gradual salinity increase on osmoregulation in Caspian roach Rutilus caspicus

This study was carried out to determine the effects of gradual salinity increase on osmoregulatory ability of the Caspian roach Rutilus caspicus, under conditions which mimic stocking conditions of hatchery-raised fish. Initially, 30 juvenile fish (mean ±s.d. 3·20 ± 0·34 g) were transferred to 20 l circular tanks, in which salinities were changed in a stepwise fashion, from 0 to 5, 10 or 15 at 48 h intervals. The fish at salinity 15 were held for an additional 48 h at this salinity. Forty-eight hours after salinity transfer, survival rate, haematocrit, plasma Cl⁻, Na⁺ and K⁺ concentrations, osmolality and gill Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase (NKA) activity were measured. The only effect of exposure to 5 was a significant reduction in haematocrit compared to the freshwater control group. Exposure to salinity 10 raised haematocrit, Cl⁻ and Na⁺ concentrations and osmolality. At 48 h exposure to salinity 15, haematocrit, Cl⁻ and Na⁺ concentrations and osmolality were significantly higher than freshwater controls, and gill NKA activity was significantly lower, but the effect on NKA was no longer evident at 96 h exposure. There were no effects on survival. These results indicate that R. caspicus juveniles experience an initial non-lethal iono-osmotic perturbation following salinity increase but can adapt to brackish water at salinity 15. © 2012 The Authors. Journal of Fish Biology © 2012 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles

Decreased polyunsaturated and increased saturated fatty acid concentration in spermatozoa from asthenozoospermic males as compared with normozoospermic males

The lipid composition of the sperm membrane has been shown to exert a significant effect upon the functional quality of spermatozoa. We have studied fatty acid composition of the phospholipids in spermatozoa in asthenozoospermic and normozoospermic men and determined the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to saturated fatty acids of spermatozoa of these two groups. Fatty acid concentration of spermatozoa was determined in 15 asthenozoospermic and eight normozoospermic semen samples by thin layer chromatography and gas chromatography. The most abundant polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids in normozoospermic samples were docosahexaenoic acid (DHA 22: 6 ω3, 98.5 ± 4.5 nmol per 108 spermatozoa, mean ± SE) and palmitic acid (103 ± 17 nmol per 108 spermatozoa) respectively. The mean ± SE values of DHA and palmitic acid in asthenozoospermic samples were 53.9 ± 11.6 and 145 ± 14.7 nmol per 108 spermatozoa respectively. Compared with normozoospermic samples, asthenozoospermic samples showed lower levels of PUFA and higher amount of saturated fatty acids. The mean ± SE ratios of sperm PUFA/saturated fatty acids in asthenozoospermic and normozoospermic samples were 0.66 ± 0.06 and 1.45 ± 0.16 (P < 0.001) respectively. This study demonstrates that spermatozoa of asthenozoospermic men have lower levels of PUFA compared with saturated fatty acids. This may be contributory to the poor motility noted in samples from these men. © 2006 The Authors

Hepatitis B/C virus co-infection in Iran: A seroepidemiological study

Background/aims: As hepatitis B and C virus have the same transmission routes, dual infection may occur. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HCV in HBsAg-positive subjects. Methods: 139 HBsAg-positive subjects were enrolled in the study. Serum samples were tested using ELISA method for anti-HCV antibodies. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare the proportions. Results: There were 68 (48.9%) males and 71 (51.1%) females. The mean age was 41.89±11.30 years. One case was excluded because of inadequate blood sampling. Anti-HCV antibody was positive in 17 (12.3%) of the 138 remaining subjects. Seropositivity of HCV was similar between female and male patients (p=0.69). Conclusion: The seroprevalence of co-infection with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus in our study was higher than such reports from some countries (Italy), but was in line with worldwide prevalence (>10%)

Serum leptin levels and irritable bowel syndrome: A new hypothesis

GOALS: This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between serum leptin levels and the development irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). BACKGROUND: Stress has been known as an important causative factor in IBS. Various studies have indicated the relationship between serum leptin levels and stress levels. So searching the relationship between the production and level of this hormone and development of IBS may help to understand the pathophysiology of the disease. STUDY: This was a case-control study. Eighty IBS patient and 80 controls were recruited. All participants were asked to fill in a questionnaire included demographic information and medical history and also a stress questionnaire. Serum leptin level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Chi-square, Student t test, Pearson correlation and logistic regression were used for investigating the relationships between variables. RESULTS: Mean serum leptin levels were 7.41 and 19.33 ng/mL in IBS and control groups, respectively (P<0.001). Participants in IBS group had significantly higher stress levels than controls (P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for serum leptin level (OR: 0.9; 95% confidence interval: 0.85-0.94) and stress level (OR: 1.15; 95% confidence interval: 1.09-1.23) were nearly the same as crude ones. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated the relationship between leptin and IBS for the first time. Our results show that serum leptin level is significantly lower in IBS group than controls and this relationship is independent of other variables such as stress levels, body mass index, etc. This may help in better understanding of the pathogenesis of IBS and consequently lead to the development of more effective treatments. © 2009 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc