Risk factors for amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulcer in southwest Iran: a matched case-control study

OBJECTIVES: Amputation is a multifactorial complication in diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. METHODS: This matched case-control study was conducted based on new cases of amputation from March 2012 to November 2014. We selected new cases who had undergone amputation, and the control group was chosen from the cities or areas where the cases resided. Each case was matched with two controls based on the duration of diabetes and location. Conditional logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations between potential risk factors and amputation. RESULTS: A total of 131 cases were compared with 262 controls. The results of the adjusted model showed that sex (odds ratio [OR], 8.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.68 to 27.91), fewer than two hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) tests per year (OR, 13.97; 95% CI, 4.97 to 39.26), unsuitable shoes (OR, 5.50; 95% CI, 2.20 to 13.77), smoking (OR, 3.44; 95% CI, 1.45 to 8.13), and body mass index (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.41) were associated with amputation in diabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS: The most important factors associated with amputation were females, irregular monitoring of HbA1c levels, improper footwear, and smoking. Developing educational programs and working to ensure a higher quality of care for diabetic patients are necessary steps to address these issues

The Effect of Various Penetration Enhancers on the Octyl Methoxycinnamate Permeability: Mechanisms of Action Study: Penetration enhancers o n OMC permeability

Octyl methoxycinnamate is one of the ingredients in sunscreen products. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different enhancers of in vitro skin permeability of Octyl methoxycinnamate. Octyl methoxycinnamate permeability parameters were evaluated through the whole skin of the rat with and without chemical enhancers including eucalyptus oil, urea, menthol and olive oil by Franz cell diffusion. The effects of enhancers on skin structure were also studied using DSC and FT-IR techniques. The skin prevented the permeability of Octyl methoxycinnamate so that after 24 hours less than 3% of the substance passed through the skin. The results of this study showed that by increasing the time, it is possible to increase the skin permeation and the highest rate of skin absorption were corresponded to olive oil (ERflux=63.074), eucalyptus oil (ERflux=48.78) and menthol (ERflux=33.5), respectively while the least amount of skin absorption was related to urea (ERflux=29.53). Chemical penetration enhancers are substances that interfere with the complex structure of the skin and protein lipids. Two endothermic transitions were obtained at about 67 (Tm1) and 112 ° C (Tm2) in thermogram of the hydrated whole rat skin. Tm1 and Tm2 seems to be due to the melting of the lipids and the irreversible intracellular keratin or melting of the lipid-protein (keratin) complex, respectively. The amount of Tm1, ΔH1 and ΔH2 were decreased by all penetration enhancers compared to the hydrated skin. The FT-IR results suggested the mechanism of increasing absorption effect by lipid fluidization and lipid extraction. All of penetration enhancers used in this study significantly increased the skin permeability of Octyl Methoxycinnamate

Evaluation of laboratory diagnostic markers in patients with hypertension

Background: Hypertension is growing as a global public health problem. It is one of the most important risk factors for various diseases including cardiovascular disease. The study of laboratory markers and early detection of complications can play an effective role in controlling the disease. Objectives: The present study was performed to determine renal, hepatic, and blood markers in patients with hypertension in Abadan and Khorramshahr educational hospitals. Materials and Methods: The present study was a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study that was performed from March 21, 2020, to March 19, 2021, on patients with hypertension referred to Abadan and Khorramshahr educational hospitals. Information on age, sex, and laboratory diagnostic factors of patients with hypertension admitted to HIS were received. Data were analyzed using STATA software. Results: The study population was 1505 patients with hypertension admitted to Abadan and Khorramshahr educational hospitals (487 male (32%) and 1018 were females (68%). The average age of the patients was 61 (SD: 12). The highest frequency of patients with hypertension was in the age group of 64-55 years with a frequency of 420 (27.9%). The results showed that the mean of creatinine was higher than normal. The mean of CK-MB and INR was slightly higher than normal. The two sexes were significantly different from the mean of CK-MB, AST, ALT, Cr, Na, MCHC, HCT, HB, and RBC. According to the unadjusted and multiple logistic regression analysis, Each 1 unit increase in BUN and K+ was associated with an increase in the odds of abnormal creatinine. Each 1 unit increase in RBC, HB, HCT, MCH, and MCHC was associated with a decrease in the odds of abnormal creatinine, and Each 1 unit increase in PT was associated with an increase in the odds of abnormal creatinine. Conclusions: The results of the present study showed that some laboratory markers in patients with hypertension were above the normal range including renal, cardiac, and coagulation diagnostic factors and some of it depends on age and sex, so it is important to pay attention to these markers in controlling high blood pressure in these patients, however, further studies in this field are recommended. &nbsp

Community assessment for identification and prioritization health problems in Navai Kola village, Babol, Iran

Introduction: Attracting community participation is the most important developmental solution in various sectors of the society. In this regard, the community evaluation is the process during which researchers and community members get the right understanding of health, living concerns, and community health care system by collecting and analyzing data and determining the strengths, resources, and the needs of society. Navai Kola is a village in the Babol, Iran, in which this research has been done to identify and prioritize problems. Methods: This research is based on the model of the Northern Carolina. In this model, the process of community assessment is done in an eight-stage process that the first seven stages include: identification and classification of problems and the eighth involves drawing up operational plans for solving high priority problems. Results: In this study, a total of 40 different problems were identified in order, and the main were lack of sports facilities and entertainment, waste disposal, dangerous U-turn point in the entrance of the village, worn out power and water utilities, and youth unemployment. Conclusion: Most of the problems identified were issues not directly related to health, but had effects that differently appeared in community health