Spontaneous relapse in patients with inactive chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) may reactivate during the course of the disease and is called spontaneous relapse. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of relapse of hepatitis in subjects with inactive HBV carriers. Methods: This follow-up study was performed on 785 patients with inactive HBV carriers that were followed-up at six month intervals. The presence of serum HBsAg and anti-HBe, without HBeAg, HBV DNA levels <2000 IU/ml with normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels was defined as inactive carriers. Patients who developed ALT ≥80 IU/L with HBV DNA levels ≥2000 IU/ml were considered as spontaneous relapse. Results: Seven hundred- eighty five cases (441 males, 344 females) of chronic HBV infected individuals were followed-up. The mean age at the entrance of the study was 30.5±11.8 years. The mean follow-up duration was 5.9±5 years. Relapse was seen in 35 (4.5%) cases, in 27 out of 441 (6.1%) males and in 8 out of 344 (2.3%) females and in 4.2% subjects ≥30 years versus in 4.7% cases of under 30 years (p>0.05). The development of relapse in males was higher than females (hazard ratio 2.53, 95% CI 1.2-5.6, p=0.021), but age ≥30 or <30 years did not have effect (hazard ratio1.21, 95% CI 0.62-2.36, p=0.58). Conclusions: The results show that spontaneous relapse of hepatitis may develop during the course of chronic HBV infection. We suggest that all patients with chronic hepatitis B, regardless of their age, be examined for the possibility of relapse

The Effect of Nutritional Education on Knowledge and Practice at the Household Level in Zahedan

Background: The present study was carried out to enable, motivate, persuade, and assist the households to use their nutritional knowledge for the promotion of their nutritional status. Methods: In this descriptive- analytical study, 188 households were randomly selected from four regions, which were selected as the population lab in Zahedan city in south-east of Iran. In the studied households, mothers were selected as the target group since they were the main caregivers in families. In the educational intervention, nutrition experts educated the participants individually. Pre- and post-tests were administered before and after the intervention. The educational program included three sessions with regard to every region of population lab. The questionnaire investigated the participants' knowledge (15 items) and practice (10 items). The total scores of knowledge and practice were calculated and participants were classified to be in weak, medium, and good status in this regard. P < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The mean scores of knowledge were 6.5 ± 2.7 and 8.6 ± 3.0 for before and after the intervention, respectively (P = 0.0001). A significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding the association of mothers' knowledge with their age and family size of households (P < 0.01). The results showed that the knowledge of participants was weak (55% vs. 21.5%), medium (43% vs. 51%), and good (12% vs. 27.5%) before and after the intervention, respectively. Conclusion: According to the findings, implementation of supplementary, participatory, and advisory programs are suggested for the improvement of household's nutritional practice

The Relationship Between Some Risk Factors and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus In Pregnant Women Referred to Health and Treatment Centers in Zahedan, Iran, in 2012

Abstract Background and purpose: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common metabolic disorder in pregnancy. It was known one of the complications of this period. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between some risk factors with GDM in pregnant women in Zahedan, Iran. Materials and Methods: In a descriptive-analytical study, 70 pregnant women with GDM and 140 healthy pregnant women were selected referring to health and treatment centers in Zahedan by multistage sampling method. Weight and height were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated using standard method. Other data were recorded by clinical examination, health record of anybody and interview in health centers. SPSS for Windows was used for statistical analysis. ttest and Chi-square test were used for comparison of two groups. P < 0.0500 was considered as a significant difference between groups. Results: As compared to controls the prevalence of GDM was more common in pregnant women who were older (P = 0.0001), high BMI (P = 0.0020), and more parity (P = 0. 0200), family history of diabetes (P = 0.0001) and macrosomia (P = 0.0100). There was significant difference between GDM with age (P = 0.0080), BMI (P = 0.0020), family history of diabetes (P = 0.0001), history of macrosomic infant&rsquo;s birth (P = 0.0300). But it was not observed significant differences between GDM with smoking, history of hypertension, abortions, stillbirth, and preeclampsia. Conclusion: This study emphasizes to do GDM screening in the population of this area. It can be determined risk factors of GDM as moderate and severe status. Because GDM during pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes

Evaluation of lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in hemodialysis patients

Oxidative stress often occurs in chronic hemodialysis (HD). The aim of the present study was to determine plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) level for lipid peroxidation product and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities as enzy-matic antioxidants. Thirty-one HD patients (aged 50.3 ± 14.9 years) who were dialyzed three times per week and 31 healthy subjects (aged 47.8 ± 13.9 years) were enrolled. The results showed lower enzymatic antioxidants activity (GPx, SOD) and higher MDA levels in comparison with control subjects. In addition, SOD and GPx activities significantly decreased and MDA increased after HD. We also found that there was a significantly negative correlation between SOD and GPx with MDA. The results suggest that elevated level of plasma MDA and reduced activities of SOD and GPx can be caused oxidative stress, which may play a critical role in HD complications

Obesity, Serum Resistin and Leptin Levels Linked to Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract Background: Clinical studies have demonstrated that adipocytokines play an important role in developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Objective: The aim of study was to evaluate the relationship between serum resistin and leptin levels with obesity and coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we assessed the levels of serum resistin and leptin, C-reactive protein (CRP), lipid profile and cardiac enzyme tests (AST, CPK, LDH, CK-MB) in 40 CAD patients compared to 40 healthy controls. Anthropometric measurements including weight and height for calculating of body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC) were performed for evaluation of obesity. Results: CAD patients had increased levels of leptin and CRP, (p < 0.001), cholesterol (p < 0.05), triglyceride (p < 0.01), and WC (p < 0.05) compared to healthy controls. There was no statistical difference between CAD and control subjects for resistin (p = 0.058). In a multiple regression analysis, only an association between serum leptin with BMI (&#946; = 0.480, p < 0.05) and WC (&#946; = 1.386, p < 0.05) was found. Conclusions: The findings suggest that leptin is a better marker of fat mass value than resistin and may be considered an independent risk factor for cardiac disorders that is largely dependent on obesity. However, further prospective studies are needed to confirm these results

The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in female students of Zahedan

325 female students of Zahedan at the average age of 16.2 years old (16-22) were randomly selected to study the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia. Hb, hematocrit, MCV, MCHC, iron, TIBC and ferritin were measured. Results showed that in the population studied 3.4%, 27.7%, 4.3%, 11.7%, 25.5%, 11.4% had their Hb, MCV, serum iron, tranferrin saturation, ferritin respectively below the WHO standards. The correlation coefficient between Hb, MCV and hematocrit, serum iron was r=0.54, P&amp;lt;0.00001, r=0.38, P&amp;lt;0.00001 respectively. Also the correlation coefficient between transferring saturation, serum iron and ferrin was r=0.94, P&amp;lt;0.00001, r=0.31, P&amp;lt;0.00001 respectively. Our study shows that hematological and biochemical markers of iron status of the young Zahedan girls at puberty are lower than WHO standards and these girls might be at risk of iron deficiency anemia