Association between Lifelines Diet Score (LLDS) and some novel anthropometric indices, including Body Roundness Index (BRI), A Body Shape Index (ABSI), Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI), and Body Adiposity Index (BAI), in Iranian women: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Anthropometry is a reliable method to assess obesity status, and previous studies have shown the association of several dietary quality scores with obesity using anthropometric indices. This study aimed to evaluate the association between LLDS and anthropometric measurements.

METHODS

A total of 217 women between the ages of 18 and 48 participated in the study. Anthropometric values, biochemical tests, and body composition were assessed for each participant using standard protocols and methods. The LLDS was determined based on 12 components using a reliable and valid food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) that contained 147 items.

RESULTS

We detected a marginally significant inverse association between the LLDS and VAI scores in the second tertile. Study participants in the second tertile of LLDS had lower odds of having high VAI than those in the reference tertile after adjusting for age, energy intake, physical activity, education, and economic status (OR: -0.16; 95% CI: -0.8, 0.06; P = 0.06). There was no statistically significant trend for the association between LLDS and all assessed anthropometric indices, including BRI, ABSI, VAI, and BAI, across tertiles of LLDS in the crude and all adjusted models (P-trend > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no significant association between LLDS and some novel anthropometric indices, including BRI, ABSI, VAI, and BAI. However, after adjusting for probable confounders, a marginally significant inverse association between LLDS and VAI was detected.

Risk factors for paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with breast cancer

Background

Paclitaxel induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) is a major debilitating side effect of paclitaxel in patients with breast cancer with no fully known mechanisms. The aim of the study was to find out the possible risk factors for PIPN.

Methods

Eligible patients with node positive breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy with paclitaxel were assessed. They belonged to an initial randomized controlled trial in which the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids in preventing and reducing severity of PIPN was evaluated (protocol ID: NCT01049295). Reduced total neuropathy score (r-TNS) was used for measuring PIPN. All analyses were performed adjusting for intervention effect. The association between age, BMI, BSA, pathological grade, molecular biomarkers and PIPN was evaluated.

Results

Fifty-seven patients with breast cancer were investigated. Age was significantly associated with risk of PIPN (RR:1.50, P value = .024). Body mass index and BSA had significant association with severity of PIPN (B:1.28, P = .025; and B: 3.88, P = .010 respectively). Also, BSA showed a significant association with the risk of PIPN (RR: 2.28, P = .035; B: 3.88, P = .035). Incidence and severity of PIPN were much more pronounced in progesterone receptor positive (PR⁺) patients (RR:1.88, P = .015 and B:1.54, P = .012). Multivariate analysis showed that age and the status of PR⁺ were independent risk factor for incidence and the status of PR⁺ was the only independent risk factor for severity of PIPN.

Conclusion

Age, BSA and the status of PR⁺, should be considered as the risk factors for PIPN before commencement of chemotherapy with paclitaxel in patients with breast cancer. Older patients, those with greater BSA and PR⁺ patients may need closer follow up and more medical attention due to greater incidence and severity of PIPN.

Q10 supplementation effects on cardiac enzyme CK-MB and troponin in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) is associated with ischemia-reperfusion injury and tissue damage. CoQ10 as an antioxidant has an important role and may have cardio-protective effects after myocardial dysfunction and CABG. We aimed to evaluate whether CoQ10 has a myocardial cardio protective impact on cardiac biomarkers after CABG.

METHODS

In this double-blind study, 80 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent CABG surgery were divided into intervention and control groups and received Q10 supplement or placebo, respectively. The surgical characteristics of the patients in the two groups were similar. The intervention group received 150 mg of Q10 supplement per day for 7 days before the surgery. The control group received placebo capsule. After operation the inter- and intra-group blood levels of CK-MB and troponin, before and after supplementation and 12 hours after the CABG, and postoperative outcomes such as intensive care unit (ICU) stay and hospital stay were compared.

RESULTS

In this study, 40 subjects were located in each group. The participation rate was 97.5% and men and women accounted for 52.5% and 47.5% respectively. The mean age of the subjects was 58.17 ± 8.55. The two groups were not significantly different in terms of basic variables. Within-group comparison showed a significant increase in the level of troponin enzymes over time (P < 0.001) and CK-MB (P < 0.001). However, between-group comparison showed no significant difference between the two groups in terms of CK-MB (P = 0.384) and troponin (P = 0.115). In the end, no interaction was observed between the intervention and time on CK-MB (P = 0.095) and troponin (P = 0.198) variables.

CONCLUSION

Q10 supplementation 7 days before surgery was not effective in reducing CK-MB and troponin after CABG.

Head and neck non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a 20-year demographic study of 381 cases

Malignant lymphoma is a lymphoreticular malignancy with considerable geographic variation. The objective of the present study was to provide a preliminary report on patients with head and neck non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in a selected Iranian population. In a retrospective review from 1981 through 2001, all cases of NHL occurring in the head and neck region were selected. Histological slides were reviewed and classified according to the Working Formulation. Clinical data including patients' age, sex, initial anatomic site of disease and presenting symptoms were also recorded. Information on 381 cases of NHL was retrieved from the archived medical records; 281 cases were nodal and 100 extranodal. The mean age of the patients with nodal and extranodal disease was 39.3 and 47.7 years, respectively. A significant difference in gender was noted in the nodal group (P<0.001), but not in the extranodal cases. The most common site of involvement in the extranodal subjects was Waldayer's ring. According to histopathologic evaluation, 72% of the specimens were intermediate-, 14% were high-, and 12% were low-grade malignancies. Considering the relative frequency of head and neck lymphoma, establishment of a uniform reporting method seems necessary in order to compare different reports from various populations.