Correlation between metabolic syndrome and serum concentration of vitamin 25(OH)D

Background: The simultaneous occurrence of risk factors for both type II diabetes and coronary artery disease show the existence of "metabolic syndrome".The studies have been shown that vitamin D deficiency has an inverse correlation with the components of metabolic syndrome such as BMI,systolic blood pressure,waist,fatsing blood glucose,LDL cholesterol and insulin resistance. So, this sudy evaluated the association between metabolic syndrome and vitamin D deficiency. Materials and Methods: In this cross – sectional study among overweight patients referred to private and public clinics,70 patients with metabolic syndrome based on ATPIII criteria and 70 overweight healthy participants were selected and mean of 25 hydroxyvitamin D level in the two groups were compared. Laboratory tests for lipid profile and fasting blood glucose and vitamin D level and also examinations for waist, weight,height were done. Mann-Whitney-U and Student-t-test were used to evaluate the relationship of vitamin D level and metabolic syndrome. Results: Participants in this study were 63% female.The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 71.4% and 26.2% in metabolic and control groups, respectively (P 0.001). Mean of vitamin D was 20±22 and 27±17 ng / ml in metabolic and control groups respectively (P 0.01). Conclusion: The findings showed a significant correlation between vitamin D deficiency and metabolic syndrome and vitamin D deficiency has a role in establishment of metabolic syndrome through different mechanisms

Correlation between QRS Complex Changes and Cardiac Iron Overload in Beta Thalassemia Major Patients Using T2*MRI

Background and purpose: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a costly method to assess cardiac iron overload. The presence of fragmented QRS (fQRS) indicates changes due to iron overload in cardiac tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between fQRS and cardiac iron overload using cardiac MRI in patients with β-thalassemia major (β-TM). Materials and methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 40 β-TM patients admitted to Arak Amir-Kabir Hospital, Iran 2018-2019. Cardiac T2* MRI was performed and values of less than 20 ms were considered as cardiac iron overload. The patients were divided into two groups (20 ms). The presence of fQRS was assessed on 12-lead surface electrocardiogram (ECG) and compared between two groups. Results: There was a positive correlation between T2*MRI and serum ferritin (r= 0.041, P=0.657) and hemoglobin levels (r=0.057, P=0.540). The mean T2*MRI in patients with fQRS (18.43±7.24) was significantly lower than patients without fQRS (26.47±6.15) (P=0.001). We found a negative correlation between T2*MRI and fQRS (r= -0.048, P=0.001). Conclusion: The presence of fQRS on ECGs could be a good predictor of cardiac iron overload in β-TM patients. It is believed that fQRS can indicate this change in electrocardiography and shows the need for more accurate monitoring for cardiac overload and aggressive chelation therapy