Relationship between serum visfatin and vascular inflammation markers level in beta thalassemia major patients

Background: Understanding the possible role of visfatin in the pathogenesis of beta-thalassemia major (BTM) and its relationship with markers of endothelial function could help us to provide more effective therapeutic approaches for treatment of patients with BTM and its related complications. The aim of current study was to compare serum level of visfatin between patients with BTM and control group and determine its correlation with markers of endothelial function, intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) and vascular adhesion molecule (VCAM). Methods: In this case-control study, patients with BTM receiving regular blood transfusion aged 10-20 years and a group of healthy subjects were enrolled. Selected subjects examined clinically and venous blood samples obtained for visfatin, ICAM, VCAM, cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and ferritin measurements. Mean (standard deviation) of studied laboratory measurements compared in two studied groups and the relation between visfatin and ICAM, VCAM, ferrittin, body mass index determined. Results: In this study 31 patients with BTM and 30 healthy controls studied. Mean of visfatin was significantly higher in patients with BTM than control group (133.9 ± 60.1 vs. 43.3 ± 27.9, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The higher level of visfatin among patients with BTM indicated the possible inflammatory role of this adipocytokine in BTM. It seems that for understanding the underlying mechanisms and its relation with vascular inflammatory markers and endothelial function further studies with larger sample size is needed. © 2014, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved

Correlation of transcutaneous and serum bilirubin levels in infants with neonatal jaundice hospitalized in Hajar Hospital in Shahrekord

Background and Aim: Bilirubin level measurement through BiliCheck device can be a useful method in diagnosing neonatal jaundice due to no need for frequent blood-taking. Thus, the present study aimed to compare serum and transcutaneous bilirubin levels in infants with neonatal jaundice hospitalized in Hajar Hospital in Shahrekord. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-correlation study, 417 infants with neonatal jaundice were examined. A questionnaire including demographic information (age and weight of infant at the time of reception, weight at the time of birth, age of pregnancy, and infant sex) was completed. As the infants were hospitalized, the blood-taking were done to control serum bilirubin based on the routine stages of the unit and transcutaneous Bilirubin level was controlled by BiliCheck device and the data were recorded. Pearson coefficient and independent t-test statistical analysis were used through SPSS software. Results: From the total of 417 infants under this study, 322 infants were term and 95 infants were preterm. 51.3% were male and 48.7% were female. Weight average of term infants was 3081467.88 and in the preterm infants, it was 2335572.44 gram. The results indicated the linear coefficient was direct and meaningful between the serum and transcutaneous bilirubin levels in term and preterm infants. ‍Conclusion: The findings suggested that mean difference of bilirubin levels on these two methods of measurement in term infants in different days were meaningful while there is no significant mean difference in preterm infants indicating the efficacy of this device in measuring bilirubin levels in preterm infants