The puzzle of self-reported weight gain in a month of fasting (Ramadan) among a cohort of Saudi families in Jeddah, Western Saudi Arabia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>During Ramadan fast, approximately one billion Muslims abstain from food and fluid between the hours of sunrise to sunset, and usually eat a large meal after sunset and another meal before sunrise. Many studies reported good health-related outcomes of fasting including weight loss. The objective of this study is to identify the local pattern of expenditure on food consumption, dietary habits during Ramadan and correlate that to self-reported weight gain after Ramadan in a group of families in Jeddah, Western Saudi Arabia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A Cross-section study using a pre-designed questionnaire to identify the local pattern of expenditure on food consumption, dietary habits during Ramadan and correlate that to self-reported weight gain after Ramadan in a representative cohort of Saudis living in Jeddah. It was piloted on 173 nutrition students and administered by them to their families.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 173 Saudi families were interviewed. One out of 5 indicated that their expenditure increases during Ramadan. Approximately two thirds of the respondents (59.5%) reported weight gain after Ramadan. When asked about their perspective explanations for that: 40% attributed that to types of foods being rich in fat and carbohydrates particularly date in (Sunset meal) 97.7% and rice in (Dawn meal) 80.9%. One third (31.2%) indicated that it was due to relative lack of physical exercise in Ramadan and 14.5% referred that to increase in food consumption. Two thirds (65.2%) of those with increased expenditure reported weight gain.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Surprisingly weight gain and not weight loss was reported after Ramadan by Saudis which indicates timely needed life-style and dietary modification programs for a population which reports one of the highest prevalence rates of diabetes.</p

Iodine deficiency disorders and effects of iodized salt [Iyot yetersizligine bagli hastaliklar ve iyotlu tuz kullaniminin etkileri]

At least 2.2 billion people and more than 50 million children are affected from iodine deficiency and 100,000 babies are born cretin each year due to iodine deficiency. Cretinism is the leading reason of preventable mental retardation. The most common clinical finding of iodine deficiency is endemic goiter. Mean intelligence coefficient of the children living in endemic areas is detected to be 13.5 points lower than normal values for that age. Fetuses and newborns are more sensitive to environmental iodine deficiency than adults, and in case of deficiency, the incidence of congenital abnormalities, spontaneous abortions and stillbirths increase. Use of iodinated salt seems to be the most economical choice to prevent environmental iodine deficiency. In our country which is an important endemic goiter district, obligatory production of iodinated salt was legalized in 1999. Success of this application depends on active, disciplinized and continuous collaboration of health, education, and media sectors and salt producers

A Training Model for Cutaneous Surgery

BACKGROUND. Training models are necessary for development of many skills in medical education. OBJECTIVE. To develop a training model for improvement of simple surgical procedure skills. METHODS. A convex, rectangular, smooth-surfaced wooden plate covered by first cotton material and then polyethylene stretch film was used. Skins of rats that had been used previously for experimental studies were attached on the wooden plate. In order to see efficacy of our model, we decided to use it in a cutaneous surgery workshop. Theoretical and practical information about surgical sutures, punch biopsy, excisional biopsy, rotational flap, and Z-plasty procedures was given to the participant physicians. Surgical skills of participants were scored before and after the practical part of workshop. RESULTS. Thirty-three physicians were enrolled voluntarily to the workshop. All participants showed statistically significant increase in scores (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION. The similarity to human skin and the easy setup make this training model an ideal teaching tool to improve the skills of physicians for simple cutaneous surgery

Lipid parameters, insulin, HBA1c and CRP levels in children with impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose [Bozulmuş açlik glukozu ve bozulmuş glukoz toleransi olan hastalarda lipid parametreleri, insülin, HBA1c ve CRP düzeyleri]

Atherosclerosis rates are higher in adult diabetic patients than normal population and is one of the major causes of death. The main reason of this is that serum lipid and lipoprotein levels are impaired, increasing the risk for atherosclerosis. For this reason, it is needed to investigate the alterations of serum lipid parameters in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and their effects on atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study, we measured lipid parameters, HbA1c, insulin and CRP levels in IGT and IFG patients and aimed to evaluate if they are under risk to develop atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus (DM). Serum triglyceride, insulin and CRP levels were found to be significantly high in IGT group, and serum triglyceride, HbA1c, insulin and CRP in IFG group, than the control group. Serum HDL-cholesterol level was found to be significantly low in both study groups than the control. While serum triglyceride level was higher in IFG group than IGT group, LDL-cholesterol and HbA1c levels were significantly higher in IGT group than IFG group. Also BMI values of control group were found to be significantly lower than both IFG and IGT groups. The results we obtained from this study showed that IFG and IGT patients are under high risk for atherosclerosis and CAD due to dyslipidemia and increased CRP levels and increased level of HbA1c may show that oxidant effects may be increased related with non-enzymatic glycosidation and related metabolic stress. Also CRP level may be a good parameter for follow-up of disease and complications in IGT and IFG patients

The status of oxidants and antioxidants in the neutrophils of patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is an inflammatory condition of unknown etiology. The exact role of the leukocytes in the pathogenesis of RAS is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the status of the oxidative system in neutophils of RAS patients. A total of 26 patients and 22 sex and age matched healthy control subjects were analyzed by measuring intracellular oxidant/antioxidant enzymes and related parameters; myeloperoxidase (MPO), xanthine oxidase (XO), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), adenosine deaminase (AD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO). Statistically significant increases in the activities of SOD, CAT and levels of MDA, NO were detected in the neutrophils of patients. There was no significant difference in MPO, AD and XO activities of neutrophils. Although the functions of neutrophils were normal, there may be an oxidative stress affecting neutrophils in RAS. © TÜBİTAK

Seroprevalence of hepatitis A in children living in Zonguldak, Turkey [Zonguldak'ta yanşayan çocuklarda hepatit A seroprevlansi]

In order to detect hepatitis A seroprevalence in our patient population the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A virus (HAV) was investigated in 257 children (56.4% males) who applied to Zonguldak Karaelmas University Hospital for various reasons between January 2001 and April 2002. Total anti-HAV seropositivity was 13.6%. When age groups were considered, it was 8.5%, 11.3% and 21.7% for ages 1-5, 6-10 and 11-16, respectively. The prevalance rates obtained in our study were lower when compared with previous studies performed in other regions, probably depending on high socio-economical status in our region. Increase of total anti-HAV level with age makes us think that crowded classrooms and inadequate hygienic conditions enhance viral contamination. So appropriate time for vaccination should be after 1st year of life, when passive antibodies from mother disappear, and before 5th year, just before school age

Evaluation of plasma C reactive protein and D-Dimer levels of coal miners [Kömür madeni i·şçilerinde plazma C-reaktif protein ve D-Dimer düzeylerinin degerlendirilmesi]

This study was planned to investigate alterations of D-Dimer (DD), which is accepted as an indicator of procoagulant system, and C-reactive protein (CRP), which is accepted as an indicator inlammation in coal miners who were exposed to coal dust. Coal dust increases fibroblast proliferation, extracellular matrix synthesis and secretion of proinflammatory factors. So the effect of coal dust is not restricted to the lungs, but it also affects various systems. Especially its IL6 and TNF-? increasing effect makes us think that coal dust may cause inflammation and alterations in hemodynamic system. In this study, 34 males who had been working in coal mines were taken as study group and 32 males who had not been working in coal mines were taken as control group. CRP and DD levels were studied in blood samples of both groups CRP and DD levels were found to be significantly higher in study group than in control group (p<0.001, p<0.01). As a result, increased levels of DD and CRP indicates that coal miners are under risk of hypercoagulopathy and related thromboembolic complications

The evaluation of serum cystatin C, malondialdehyde, and total antioxidant status in patients with metabolic syndrome

Background: This study was designed to determine if serum cystatin C (Cys C) levels are affected by metabolic syndome and whether they correlate with lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant status (TAS) in this disorder. Material/Methods: Cases with metabolic syndrome diagnosed according to the ATP III criteria (18 females, 12 males) were compared with healthy control subjects (20 females, 17 males) matched by age and gender. Plasma Cys C, malondialdehyde (MDA), and TAS levels were studied. Results: Compared with the controls, Cys C and MDA levels were significantly higher (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively), whereas TAS was lower (p<0.001) in metabolic syndrome patients. A significant positive correlation between MDA and Cys C (r=0.308, p<0.05) and a significant negative correlation between TAS and Cys C levels (r=-0.358, p<0.01) were found. Conclusions: As Cys C and MDA levels increased but TAS decreased, Cys C may be an important indicator in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. © Med Sci Monit

Effect of iodine supplementation on goiter prevalence among the pediatric population in a severely iodine deficient area

We evaluated goiter status and urinary iodine excretion (UIC) of 304 school-children (7-12 years old) 3 years after a law was passed for mandatory production of iodinated salt in an area previously characterized by severe iodine deficiency in Zonguldak, a mountainous city in the West Black Sea region in Turkey. We examined all the children for goiter by palpation, measured sonographic thyroid volumes (STV) and UIC. Eighty-two percent of families had been using iodinated salt. UIC was above 100 µg/l in 71.2% of the children and median UIC was sufficient (143.5 µg/l). The prevalence of goiter was lower at ultrasound (14.6%) than by palpation (19.4%). Median STV values were within recommended normal limits at all ages. Although Zonguldak had been a highly endemic region, it became mildly endemic 3 years after mandatory iodination of salt, with decrease of goiter prevalence. © Freund Publishing House Ltd., London