The Effects of Synbiotic Supplementation on Pregnancy Outcomes in Gestational Diabetes

Synbiotics are known to exert multiple beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidative actions. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of synbiotic administration on biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and pregnancy outcomes among gestational diabetic (GDM) women. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out among 60 subjects with GDM who were not on oral hypoglycemic agents. Patients were randomly assigned to consume either one synbiotic capsule containing Lactobacillus acidophilus strain T16 (IBRC-M10785), L. casei strain T2 (IBRC-M10783), and Bifidobacterium bifidum strain T1 (IBRC-M10771) (2 � 10 9  CFU/g each) plus 800 mg inulin (HPX) (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 6 weeks. Compared with the placebo, synbiotic supplementation significantly decreased serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (� 1.9 ± 4.2 vs. +1.1 ± 3.5 mg/L, P = 0.004), plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) (� 0.1 ± 0.6 vs. + 0.3 ± 0.7 μmol/L, P = 0.02), and significantly increased total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (+ 70.1 ± 130.9 vs. � 19.7 ± 124.6 mmol/L, P = 0.009) and total glutathione (GSH) levels (+ 28.7 ± 61.5 vs. � 14.9 ± 85.3 μmol/L, P = 0.02). Supplementation with synbiotic had a significant decrease in cesarean section rate (16.7 vs. 40.0, P = 0.04), lower incidence of hyperbilirubinemic newborns (3.3 vs. 30.0, P = 0.006), and newborns� hospitalization (3.3 vs. 30.0, P = 0.006) compared with the placebo. Synbiotic supplementation did not affect plasma nitric oxide (NO) levels and other pregnancy outcomes. Overall, synbiotic supplementation among GDM women for 6 weeks had beneficial effects on serum hs-CRP, plasma TAC, GSH, and MDA; cesarean section; incidence of newborn�s hyperbilirubinemia; and newborns� hospitalization but did not affect plasma NO levels and other pregnancy outcomes. http://www.irct.ir: www.irct.ir: IRCT201704205623N108. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

Determination and Comparison of Echocardiographic Findings According to Cardio Thoracic Ratio (CTR) in Chest X–Ray

Introduction: Chest X–Ray is one of the most common method of imaging. Cardio Thoracic Ratio ( CTR ) is one of the parameters of Chest X–Ray that is used for determining cardiac enlargement. Echocardiography as compared to Chest X–Ray is expensive and all centers dont have it, but it can determine heart size, valvular diseases, Ejection Fraction, Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH), Pericardial effusion and diastolic dysfunction very well. So, this research was done in order to compare CTR with Echocardiographic findings and precent expensive investigations in the future. Methods: In this cross-sectional analytical study from Sep 2006 to Sep2007, CTR of 172 patients referring to Shohadaye Kargar and Goodarz hospitals was determined from their Chest X–Rays and echocardiography was done later. Data was analyzed with SPSS software and statiscal tests such as Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used. Results: The results of this research wereas folows: 1- The mean age for the patients with increased CTR was higher than patients with normal CTR. 2- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) and increases of left and right ventricular diameters increased the CTR. 3- There was no statistical relation between sex, pericardial effusion, left and right atrium diameters and CTR. 4- Patients with increased CTR had more valvular heart diseases, systolic and diastolic dysfunction than patients with normal CTR. Conclusion: Increased CTR is one of the signs of cardiac pathologies and therefore echocardiography is advisable for more evaluation of patients with increased CTR

The Effects of Synbiotic Supplementation on Pregnancy Outcomes in Gestational Diabetes

Synbiotics are known to exert multiple beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidative actions. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of synbiotic administration on biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and pregnancy outcomes among gestational diabetic (GDM) women. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out among 60 subjects with GDM who were not on oral hypoglycemic agents. Patients were randomly assigned to consume either one synbiotic capsule containing Lactobacillus acidophilus strain T16 (IBRC-M10785), L. casei strain T2 (IBRC-M10783), and Bifidobacterium bifidum strain T1 (IBRC-M10771) (2 � 109 CFU/g each) plus 800 mg inulin (HPX) (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 6 weeks. Compared with the placebo, synbiotic supplementation significantly decreased serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (� 1.9 ± 4.2 vs. +1.1 ± 3.5 mg/L, P = 0.004), plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) (� 0.1 ± 0.6 vs. + 0.3 ± 0.7 μmol/L, P = 0.02), and significantly increased total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (+ 70.1 ± 130.9 vs. � 19.7 ± 124.6 mmol/L, P = 0.009) and total glutathione (GSH) levels (+ 28.7 ± 61.5 vs. � 14.9 ± 85.3 μmol/L, P = 0.02). Supplementation with synbiotic had a significant decrease in cesarean section rate (16.7 vs. 40.0, P = 0.04), lower incidence of hyperbilirubinemic newborns (3.3 vs. 30.0, P = 0.006), and newborns� hospitalization (3.3 vs. 30.0, P = 0.006) compared with the placebo. Synbiotic supplementation did not affect plasma nitric oxide (NO) levels and other pregnancy outcomes. Overall, synbiotic supplementation among GDM women for 6 weeks had beneficial effects on serum hs-CRP, plasma TAC, GSH, and MDA; cesarean section; incidence of newborn�s hyperbilirubinemia; and newborns� hospitalization but did not affect plasma NO levels and other pregnancy outcomes. http://www.irct.ir: www.irct.ir: IRCT201704205623N108. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC