Betatrophin is correlated with glucagon and insulin release rather than insulin resistance marker in type 2 diabetes mellitus Iraqi women

Background: Betatrophin mainly expressed in liver and adipose tissue, stimulates pancreatic β-cell proliferation in insulin resistance state and improves metabolic process‎ regulation. This study aimed to understand effective roles of betatrophin in diabetic and non-diabetic Iraqi women. Also, it’s correlation with some insulin markers, metabolic parameters and glucagon.Methods: Eighty women participated in this cross-sectional study, (mean body mass index: 21 - 49 kg/m2; mean age: 25-50 years) were enrolled and classified according to the presence of diabetes into 2 groups (40 diabetic and 40 non-diabetic). Anthropometric, biochemical and metabolic parameters measured.Results: Betatrophin level had no statistically significant differences between non-diabetics and diabetics. Serum betatrophin levels had no statistically significant positive or negative correlations with age, anthropometric, lipid profile, diabetic parameters, thyroid stimulating hormone, glucagon, irisin, glucagon like peptide -1 and hepatocyte growth factor except uric acid (r=0.2539, P =0.0231). Serum betatrophin had no statistically significant correlations with all variables in non-diabetic and diabetic groups except with homoeostasis model assessment- for β-cell function (HOMA-β) and glucagon (r=0.3647, P=0.0207; r=0.3403, P=0.0317 respectively) in the diabetic group. Stepwise regression showed that only uric acid was independently related factors to circulating betatrophin β=‎0.8500, P=‎0.02.Conclusions: Betatrophin was positively correlated with HOMA-β and glucagon in type 2 diabetes mellitus women. Uric acid was a direct independent predictor of betatrophin level

Feasibility and acceptability of text messaging to support antenatal healthcare in Iraqi pregnant women: a pilot study

Objective: To determine the feasibility and acceptability of mobile health technology and its potential to improve antenatal care (ANC) services in Iraq. Methods: This was a controlled experimental study conducted at primary health care centers. One hundred pregnant women who attended those centres for ANC were exposed to weekly text messages varying in content, depending on the week of gestation, while 150 women were recruited for the unexposed group. The number of ANC visits in the intervention and control groups, was the main outcome measure. The Mann-Whitney test and the Poisson regression model were the two main statistical tests used. Results: More than 85% of recipients were in agreement with the following statements: “the client recommends this program for other pregnant women”, “personal rating for the message as a whole” and “obtained benefit from the messages”. There was a statistically significant increase in the median number of antenatal clinic visits from two to four per pregnancy, in addition to being relatively of low cost, and could be provided for a larger population with not much difference in the efforts. Conclusions: Text messaging is feasible, low cost and reasonably acceptable to Iraqi pregnant women, and encourages their ANC visits

A Feasibility Study of Mobile Phone Text Messaging to Support Education and Management of Type 2 Diabetes in Iraq

Background: We undertook a feasibility study to evaluate feasibility and utility of short message services (SMSs) to support Iraqi adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Subjects and Methods: Fifty patients from a teaching hospital clinic in Basrah in the first year after diagnosis were recruited to receive weekly SMSs relating to diabetes self-management over 29 weeks. Numbers of messages received, acceptability, cost, effect on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and diabetes knowledge were documented. Results: Forty-two patients completed the study, receiving an average 22 of 28 messages. Mean knowledge score rose from 8.6 (SD 1.5) at baseline to 9.9 (SD 1.4) 6 months after receipt of SMSs (P=0.002). Baseline and 6-month knowledge scores correlated (r=0.297, P=0.049). Mean baseline HbA1c was 79 mmol/mol (SD 14 mmol/mol) (9.3% [SD 1.3%]) and decreased to 70 mmol/mol (SD 13 mmol/mol) (8.6% [SD 1.2%]) (P=0.001) 6 months after the SMS intervention. Baseline and 6-month values were correlated (r=0.898, P=0.001). Age, gender, and educational level showed no association with changes in HbA1c or knowledge score. Changes in knowledge score were correlated with postintervention HbA1c (r=–0.341, P=0.027). All patients were satisfied with text messages and wished the service to be continued after the study. The cost of SMSs was €0.065 per message. Conclusions: This study demonstrates SMSs are acceptable, cost-effective, and feasible in supporting diabetes care in the challenging, resource-poor environment of modern-day Iraq. This study is the first in Iraq to demonstrate similar benefits of this technology on diabetes education and management to those seen from its use in better-resourced parts of the world. A randomized controlled trial is needed to assess precise benefits on self-care and knowledge