Waist circumference and insulin resistance: a community based cross sectional study on reproductive aged Iranian women

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although the positive relationship between insulin resistance (IR) and central obesity is well known, the direct relationship between waist circumference and IR is not clear yet and there is no consensus regarding the cut off value for waist circumference as a surrogate index for central obesity. The present study was aimed to determine the optimal cut-off value of waist circumference (WC) for predicting IR in reproductive aged Iranian women.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using the stratified, multistage probability cluster sampling method 1036 women were randomly selected from among reproductive aged women of different geographic regions of Iran. Following implementation of exclusion criteria, complete data for 907 women remained for analysis. Insulin resistance was evaluated by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) and its cut off value was defined as the 95th percentile of HOMA-IR value for 129 subjects, without any metabolic abnormality. The optimal cut-off of WC in relation to HOMA-IR was calculated based on the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis using the Youden index and the area under curve (AUC).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean age of the total sample of 907 subjects was 34.4 ± 7.6 years (range, 18 - 45 years). After adjustment for age the odds ratios (OR) of elevated HOMA-IR were progressively higher with increasing levels of waist circumference; the age adjusted OR of IR for women with WC > 95 cm in comparison to those subjects with WC < 80 cm, was 9.5 (95% CI 5.6-16.1). The optimal cutoff value for WC predicting IR was 88.5 cm; with a sensitivity and specificity of 71% and 64%, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Waist circumference is directly related to insulin resistance and the optimal cut-off value for waist circumference reflecting insulin resistance is considered to be 88.5 cm for reproductive aged Iranian women.</p

A Prospective Study of Different Types of Dietary Fiber and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

Background and aim: This study was designed to examine the hypothesis that dietary of intake different types of fiber could modify the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a large prospective cohort among Iranian adults. Methods: In 2006–2008, we used a validated food frequency questionnaire to assess dietary fiber intake among 2295 health professionals with no previous history of heart disease. Subjects were subsequently followed until 2012 for incidence of CVD events. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models, adjusted for potential confounders were used to estimate the risk of CVD across tertiles of total dietary fiber and different types of fiber. Linear regression models were also used to indicate the association of dietary fiber intakes with changes of cardiovascular risk factors during the follow-up. Results: Mean age of participants (42.8% men) was 38.2 ± 13.4, at baseline. Mean (SD) dietary intake of total fiber was 23.4 (8.9) g/day. After adjustment for cardiovascular risk score and dietary confounders, a significant inverse association was observed between intakes of total, soluble and insoluble dietary fiber and CVD risk, in the highest compared to the lowest tertiles (HR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.18–0.83, HR = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.09–0.41, and HR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.14–0.69, respectively). Inverse relations were observed between risk of CVD and dietary fiber from legumes, fruits and vegetables; however, dietary fiber intake from grain and nut sources was not related to risk of CVD. Conclusion: Our findings confirmed that higher intakes of dietary fiber from different sources is associated with CVD events and modify its major risk-related factors

Association of physical activity with increased PI3K and Akt mRNA levels in adipose tissues of obese and non-obese adults

Abstract Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway regulates glucose and lipid metabolism. We examined the association of PI3K and Akt expression in visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) with daily physical activity (PA) in non-diabetic obese and non-obese adults. In this cross-sectional study, we included 105 obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) and 71 non-obese (BMI < 30 kg/m2) subjects (aged/ ≥ 18 years). PA was measured using a valid and reliable International Physical Activity Questionnaire(IPAQ)-long-form, and the metabolic equivalent of task(MET) was calculated. Real-time PCR was performed to analyze the mRNA relative expression. VAT PI3K expression had a lower level in obese compared to non-obese (P = 0.015), while its expression was higher in active individuals than inactive ones (P = 0.029). SAT PI3K expression was increased in active individuals compared to inactive ones (P = 0.031). There was a rise in VAT Akt expression in the actives compared to the inactive participants (P = 0.037) and in non-obese/active compared to non-obese/inactive individuals (P = 0.026). Obese individuals had a decreased expression level of SAT Akt compared to non-obsesses (P = 0.005). VAT PI3K was directly and significantly associated with PA in obsesses (β = 1.457, P = 0.015). Positive association between PI3K and PA suggests beneficial effects of PA for obese individuals that can be partly described by PI3K/Akt pathway acceleration in adipose tissue

The effects of testosterone intrauterine disturbance on sperm quality and testis tissue in male rat\'s offspring after puberty

Background: Environmental factors and hormonal disorders during prenatal life can impair the evolution and differentiation of fetus&rsquo;s reproductive system. The aim of this study was to the examination of sperm quality and testis tissue in adult rats that had exposed to exogenous testosterone during their prenatal life. Materials & Methods: Pregnant rats divided into two experimental and control groups. In experimental group, pregnant rats daily were subcutaneously injected with 3 mg exogenous testosterone during gestational days 16-19, and controls received solvent. The reproductive system was examined in male offspring of these animals after puberty. Data analysis was performed by using the SPSS software (version 15). Distributions between groups are compared by using the Mann-Whitney test. Results: In the offspring of experimental group, motility and the number of sperm were significantly decreased (P<0.05). No morphological abnormality was observed in sperm in two groups. The numbers of sertoli cells, ratios of spermatocyte and round spermatid cells were significantly decreased in the offspring of experimental group (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in seminiferous tubules diameter between the two groups. Serum testosterone levels were significantly decreased in offspring from experimental group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The present study showed that prenatal exposure to testosterone leads to decrease of sperm quality and changes in testis tissue in male rats, after puberty

The role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 as a prognostic biomarker in papillary thyroid cancer

Abstract Background The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression with BRAF V600E mutation and clinicopathological features, in Iranian papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients. Methods In total, 90 participants including 60 PTC patients (15 males and 45 females) and 30 individuals with benign multinodular goiter (MNG) (5 males and 25 females) which were confirmed by surgical pathology, were investigated. MMP-9 was evaluated at both mRNA and protein levels, using SYBR-Green Real-Time PCR and enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. BRAF V600E mutation was detected by sequencing. Results Mean age of PTC and MNG patients was 37.6 ± 12.6 and 48.1 ± 13.3 years, respectively (P = 0.001). BRAF V600E mutation was found in 24 of the 60 (40%) PTC cases, with mean tumor size of 1.59 ± 1.20 cm. MMP-9 mRNA levels were elevated in tumoral compared to the adjacent non-tumoral tissues (P = 0.039); moreover, this rise was also observed in PTC patients compared to MNG patients (P = 0.001). The mRNA levels of MMP-9 increased in patients aged≥45 years (P = 0.015), those with lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.003), and higher tumor stages (III and IV) (P = 0.011). The protein level of MMP-9 increased in tumoral compared to adjacent non-tumoral tissues (P < 0.001); this increase was also found in PTC patients compared to MNG participants (P = 0.004). MMP-9 protein level was higher in patients aged≥45 years (P = 0.001), those with lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.036) and higher TNM stages (III and IV) (P = 0.001). Area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.70 (95%CI: 0.57–0.83, P = 0.003), with 91.4% sensitivity and 51.9% specificity at the cutoff value of 0.50. Conclusion The mRNA and protein levels of MMP-9 had no association with BRAF V600E mutation in Iranian PTC patients. These levels were associated with age, TNM stages, and lymphovascular invasion, being defined as malignant factors. Thus, elevated levels of MMP-9 in PTC patients compared to MNG participants illustrated that it can be used as a potential biomarker to differentiate PTC patients from those with MNG

Induced premature ovarian insufficiency by using D galactose and its effects on reproductive profiles in small laboratory animals: a systematic review

Abstract Background Development of a hyper-gonadotropic hypoestrogenism condition in women < 40 years, defined as premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), is the most common long-term complication in female survivors of galactosemia. In this systematic review, summarize the galactose (GAL) induced POI in rat and mice models. Methods For this systematic review, we conducted a search of case control studies published from 1990 until August 2018 in PubMed/Medline, and Web of science, using the descriptors in the title/abstract field. A ‘pearl growing’ strategy was employed whereby, after obtaining the full text articles, reference lists of all included studies (n = 14) were reviewed for additional publications that could be used. Results We selected and categorized 14 studies according to the time of exposure to GAL into two groups of prenatal (n = 4) and postnatal (n = 10). Findings of these studies showed that the different stages of follicular development are targeted differently by galactose exposure during the prenatal and postnatal periods: The small follicles (primordial and primary follicles) are targeted by galactose toxicity during prenatal exposure and the pre-antral and antral follicles are targeted by galactose toxicity during postnatal exposure. Conclusions This systematic review shows that galactose has an ovotoxicity effect that can be used to induce appropriate POI animal models only if sufficient doses, proper onset time, and duration of prenatal exposure are taken into account. An optimized model of POI induction should manifest all the required ovarian morphological, hormonal, and estrus cycle changes

Transient Congenital Hypothyroidism Alters Gene Expression of Glucose Transporters and Impairs Glucose Sensing Apparatus in Young and Aged Offspring Rats

Background/Aims: Transient congenital hypothyroidism (TCH) could disturb carbohydrate metabolism in adulthood. Aging is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes. This study aims to address effects of TCH on mRNA expressions of glucose transporters (GLUTs) and glucokinase (GcK) in islets and insulin target tissues of aged offspring rats. Methods: The TCH group received water containing 0.025% 6-propyl-2-thiouracil during gestation. Offspring from control and TCH groups (n=6 in each group) were followed until month 19. Gene expressions of GLUTs and GcK were measured at months 3 and 19. Results: Compared to controls, aged TCH rats had higher GLUT4 expression in heart (4.88 fold) and soleus (6.91 fold), while expression was lower in epididymal fat (12%). In TCH rats, GLUT2 and GcK expressions in islets were lower in young (12% and 10%, respectively) and higher in aged (10.85 and 8.42 fold, respectively) rats. In addition, liver GLUT2 and GcK expressions were higher in young (13.11 and 21.15 fold, respectively) and lower in aged rats (44% and 5%, respectively). Conclusion: Thyroid hormone deficiency during fetal period impaired glucose sensing apparatus and changed glucose transporter expression in insulin-sensitive tissues of aged offspring rats. These changes may contribute to impaired carbohydrate metabolism