Serum Pro-oxidant-antioxidant Balance in Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

AIM AND OBJECTIVE

Diabetes mellitus is associated with inflammation and increased oxidative stress. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and serum pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) in a large populationbased study.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 7888 individuals were recruited as part of the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorders (MASHAD) cohort study. Participants were divided into three groups based on their serum PAB values (levels < 36.4, 36.4-82.6 and > 82.6 HK). Serum PAB values were measured using a colorimetric method and enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

Serum PAB in subjects with and without diabetes was reported 76.85 ± 61.07 HK and 69.51 ± 55.50 HK. In subjects with a serum PAB > 82.6 HK the risk of T2DM was 1.2 fold higher in comparison to subjects with a serum PAB < 36.4 HK (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.09 - 1.47, P-value: 0.002). This association remained significant after adjustment for confounding factors in multivariable analysis (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.02 - 1.38, P-value: 0.027).

CONCLUSION

Increased pro-oxidant levels may be a major complication of T2DM in our study subjects and PAB could be an indicator of higher oxidative stress in T2DM patients from northeastern Iran.

Prevalence of combined and noncombined dyslipidemia in an Iranian population

BACKGROUND

Combination of dyslipidemic phenotypes, including elevated plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), elevated plasma triglycerides (TG), and decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations, is important because of the association of individual phenotypes with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated the prevalence of combined dyslipidemias and their effects on CVD risk in an Iranian large population.

METHOD

A total of 9847 individuals were recruited as part of the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorders (MASHAD) cohort study. Anthropometric parameters and biochemical indices were measured in all of the subjects. Different types of combined dyslipidemias including high TG + low HDL-C, high TG + low HDL-C + high LDL-C, low HDL-C + high LDL-C, high TG + high LDL-C, and finally high TG + high LDL-C + low HDL-C were considered. Ten-year CVD risk was calculated using the QRISK2 risk algorithm and adjustments were made as suggested by the Joint British Societies' (JBS2). Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between different combined dyslipidemias and categorical QRISK.

RESULTS

A total of 3952 males and 5895 females were included in this current study. Among the included subjects, 83.4% had one form of dyslipidemia, and 16.6% subjects were not dyslipidemic. The mean age was 48.88 ± 7.9 and 47.02 ± 8.54 years for dyslipidemic and nondyslipidemic groups, respectively. The results showed that the frequency of dyslipidemia was 98%, 87.1%, and 90% in subjects with metabolic syndrome, CVD, and diabetes, respectively. Our results suggested that around 15.7% of study population were at 10 years CVD risk (high ≥20) and it was higher in men than women (P < .001). Moreover, risk of CVD was higher in TG↑ & HDL↓ & LDL↑ group than other groups.

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of dyslipidemia was 83.4% among Iranian adults. The results showed that individuals with increased plasma TG and LDL-C, and low HDL-C levels had the highest 10 years CVD risk compared to other combined dyslipidemic phenotypes.

A double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in the treatment of anxiety and depression

BACKGROUND

Depression and anxiety are prevalent serious psychiatric disorders. Several drugs are used to treat these conditions but these are often associated with serious side effects. For this reason alternative therapies, including herbal medication such as saffron, have been proposed. We aimed to assess the effects of saffron extract for the treatment of anxiety and depression using a 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial design.

METHODS

Sixty adult patients with anxiety and depression were randomized to receive a 50 mg saffron capsule (Crocus sativus L. stigma) or a placebo capsule twice daily for 12 weeks. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) questionnaires were used at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks after initiating medication. 54 subjects completed the trial.

RESULTS

Saffron supplements had a significant effect on the BDI and BAI scores of subjects in comparison to placebo at the 12 week time-point (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Saffron appears to have a significant impact in the treatment of anxiety and depression disorder. Side effects were rare.

Comparison of sertraline, venlafaxine and desipramine effects on depression, cognition and the daily living activities in Alzheimer patients

RATIONALE

The effects of antidepressants on mood, cognition and the daily activities of Alzheimer patients are ambiguous. The effects of antidepressants SSRIs (serotonin specific reuptake inhibitors), TCAs (tricyclic antidepressants) and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), in particular, are unknown.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to compare the effects of sertraline, venlafaxine and desipramine on depression, cognition and the daily activities of Alzheimer patients.

METHODS

This randomized double-blind trial was approved by the Research and Ethics Committees of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. 59 moderate Alzheimer patients with major depressive disorder were randomly divided into 3 groups (sertraline, venlafaxine and desipramine), treated for 12 weeks (150 mg maximum dose) and assessed by the Hamilton Depression Test (HRSD), the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Barthel index at the week 0 and the 2(nd), 4(th), 8(th), 12(th) weeks thereafter. Data were analyzed by SPSS software, using ANOVA and paired t-tests.

RESULTS

In the sertraline group, the results of all 3 tests, HRSD, MMSE and Barthel, in the 12(th) week showed significant improvements in comparison to the baseline (P<0.05 in all 3 tests). In the venlafaxine group, the results of MMSE and Barthel revealed significant improvements (P<0.05 in both tests). In the desipramine group, there was a significant improvement only in the Barthel test at the 12(th) week (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

In this trial, sertraline treatment was associated with superior effectiveness in relation to depressive, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms.

Clinical features of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) in northeast Iran

This study aimed to introduce clinical manifestations of patients in northeast Iran with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and describe the epidemiological features, as well as risk factors for HTLV-1 infection. This is a cross-sectional study of HTLV-1 infected cases and HAM/TSP patients referred by outpatient neurology clinics as well as Mashhad Blood Transfusion Center from 2005 to 2010. The study comprises 513 cases, including 358 healthy carriers (HCs) and 145 HAM/TSP patients. The majority of carriers were male (73.5%), whereas 67.6% of HAM/TSP sufferers were female (P < 0.001). The mean age of HAM/TSP patients and HCs was 45.9 ± 13.6 and 39.5 ± 11.58 years, respectively (P < 0.001). The history of transfusion, surgery, hospitalization and cupping was observed in a significant greater number of HAM/TSP patients than the HCs (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P = 0.029, respectively). Gait disturbance was the most common complaint in HAM/TSP patients (72.4%). This research develops an HTLV-1 data registry in an endemic area such as Mashhad which can serve useful purposes, including evaluation of clinical and laboratory characteristics of HAM/TSP patients and epidemiological data of HTLV-1-infected cases.

Relationship between Patient Demographic Characteristics, Valproic Acid Dosage and Clearance in Adult Iranian Patients

OBJECTIVES

As there are conflicting findings regarding the clearance-dose and patient characteristics relationships for valproic acid (VPA), this study was conducted to investigate the relationship between patient demographic characteristics, VPA dosage and the drug clearance in adult Iranian patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients (N= 47) were either on monotherapy with VPA or were under co-treatment with drugs that have no effect on VPA pharmacokinetic (PK) profile. All of the patients received VPA at therapeutic dose. Steady state trough plasma concentrations of VPA were determined by Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay (FPIA) and VPA apparent clearance (CL/F) were calculated in each patient.

RESULTS

Mean VPA dose and VPA CL/F were 8.93±2.2 mg/kg/day and 0.65±0.55 l/hr respectively. No significant correlations were found between VPA CL/F and patients' age, TBW and VPA dose. VPA CL/F values of male and female patients were compared and no significant difference between these two groups was noted (P> 0.05). Significant correlation between VPA dose and total trough plasma concentration was found (P= 0.001). Mean total VPA plasma concentration was 54.51±23.74 mg/l.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed PK of VPA was not affected by age, sex, TBW and VPA dose. However, for detailed results and construction of VPA PK model in Iranian patients, it is necessary to evaluate VPA PK in a larger sample size with different VPA doses, age and TBW ranges.

The effects of olanzapine in treatment of panic disorder with and without agoraphobia

Background

In this study, we have evaluated the effects of Olanzapine in treatment of panic disorder with and without agoraphobia.

Method and materials

Patients whit resistant panic disorder (resistant to tow SSRI agents) who came to psychiatric clinic of Ibn-e-Sina and Ghaem Hospitals-Mashhad during 2004–2005 were enrolled in this study. Low dose Olanzapine (2.5 milligram per day) was administered initially. ALL cases were evaluated by different psychiatric tests such as agoraphobic cognitions questionnaire panic attack and anticipatory anxiety scale, Hamilton depression test and general functional assessment.

Results

In this study, 30 patients were divided into two groups of panic disorder with agoraphobia (13 cases) and panic disorder without agrophobia (17 cases). Comparing these two groups, all indexes were improved significantly by time but The frequency of panic attacks in the last week minor panic attack duration of panic attacks agoraphobic cognition scale and Hamilton depression indexes were Improved significantly especially in those cases with panic disorder and agoraphobia Although the therapeutic response according to anxiety score, total panic attacks Hamilton depression test and general functional assessment was not showed any Difference.

Conclusion

Olanzapine augmentation has acceptable effects in the treatment of drug resistant panic disorder with agoraphobia and therapeutic effects were more significant among patients with panic disorder without agoraphobia.

Association between sociodemographic factors and nutritive and non-nutritive sucking habits among Iranian girls

Prolonged duration of finger- and pacifier-sucking may be a risk factor for maldevelopment of orofacial structures and dental occlusion. This study assessed the prevalence of nutritive and non-nutritive sucking habits and their association with some contributing factors among 7-year-old girls in Mashhad, Islamic Republic of Iran. Based on a questionnaire to the parents of 436 schoolgirls, the rate of current or previous pacifier-sucking was 26.6% and of finger-sucking was 10.6%. Child's birth rank and number of siblings and parents' educational level were significantly related to ever pacifier-sucking but not to finger-sucking. The highest prevalence of ever pacifier-sucking was among children who had been breast- and bottle-fed but finger-sucking was more common among exclusively breastfed children.

Assessment of the immune system activity in Iranian patients with Major Depression Disorder (MDD)

BACKGROUND

Major Depression Disorder (MDD) is a common disorder with prevalence of 15% among men and up to 25% among women. In recent years the association of immune system alterations and MDD has been investigated. Assessments of immunologic and inflammatory responses in these patients enhance our knowledge of the etiology and pathogenesis of this disease.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the changes in immunoglobulin and cytokine serum levels and lymphocyte subsets in patients with MDD.

METHODS

We studied 37 adult patients with MDD, diagnosed based on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, and 15 healthy controls matched with the patients. Plasma concentration of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10, TNF alpha, and IFN gamma were measured by ELISA and serum immunoglobulins by SRID. Total number of NK cells (CD16 and CD56), B cells (CD19), and T cells (CD8, CD4, and CD3) were determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

We found no significant differences in plasma concentration of IL-4, IL-10, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and immunoglobulins as well as total number of NK cells, B cells, and T cells between major depressed patients and healthy control subjects.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that in our patients, there were no significant differences in immune system activity between MDD patients and controls.