Role of Environmental Chemicals in Obesity: A Systematic Review on the Current Evidence

The purpose of this paper is to systematically review the experimental and human studies on obesogenic chemicals and their mechanisms of action to provide a comprehensive view on the multifactorial aspects of obesity. The literatures were searched in available databases. The relevant papers were selected in three phases. After quality assessment, two reviewers extracted the data while another checked their extracted data. In this review, we summarized information regarding environmental chemicals that can be associated with obesity. Most evidence comes from experimental and laboratory studies; however a growing number of human studies also support the role of obesogenic chemicals. The current evidence proposes that the systemic responses to exposure to environmental factors could potentially increase the risk of excess weight. The effects of exposure to these chemicals are of crucial importance during developmental phases of life, when preprogramming for an adipogenic outcome may occur. By considering the adverse transgenerational effects of obesogen chemicals on human health, the global obesity epidemic should be considered as a multifactorial complex disorder necessitating the emphasis of public health interventions for environmental protection

DNA methylation:a potential mediator between air pollution and metabolic syndrome

Given the global increase in air pollution and its crucial role in human health, as well as the steep rise in prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which environmental pollution may influence MetS is imperative. Exposure to air pollution is known to impact DNA methylation, which in turn may affect human health. This paper comprehensively reviews the evidence for the hypothesis that the effect of air pollution on the MetS is mediated by DNA methylation in blood. First, we present a summary of the impact of air pollution on metabolic dysregulation, including the components of MetS, i.e., disorders in blood glucose, lipid profile, blood pressure, and obesity. Then, we provide evidence on the relation between air pollution and endothelial dysfunction as one possible mechanism underlying the relation between air pollution and MetS. Subsequently, we review the evidence that air pollution (PM, ozone, NO2 and PAHs) influences DNA methylation. Finally, we summarize association studies between DNA methylation and MetS. Integration of current evidence supports our hypothesis that methylation may partly mediate the effect of air pollution on MetS

Mortality inequality in 1-59 months children across Iranian provinces: National Hospital Medical Records System

Objective: To determine inequality in mortality in 1-59 months children across Iranian provinces using hospital medical records system. Methodology: After designing and examining a national questionnaire in hospitals for mortality data collection of children 1-59 months, 40 Medical Universities were asked to fill in the questionnaires and return to the main researcher in the health ministry in 2009. Results: Mortality in 1-59 months children was unequally distributed across Iranian hospitals. Cough, drowsiness, and eating and drinking problem were the most important reasons of hospitalization in both genders. There were significant differences between boys and girls in vomiting (p=0.005), drowsiness (p=0.024), and bleeding (p=0.004). Most of the patients had very bad and not suitable situation at entrance (p=0.211). There was a significant difference between two sexes in vaccination (p=0.019). There was no significant difference between boys and girls on first weight in hospital, last weight, breaths per minute, and pulse rate per minute (p > 0.05). The first five most important diagnosis were congenital, accident (girls) pulmonary (boys), cardiovascular, CNS and metabolic diseases. Conclusions: Our results suggest that inequality in 1-59 months mortality based on hospital medical records system needs more attention in Iran as a whole and in most of its provinces by policy-makers. Investigating why inequality is higher in some provinces deserves special attention. In addition, it is advisable to conduct provincial representative surveys to provide recent estimates of heath inequalities and to allow monitoring over time