Prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and associated factors among adults from southwest Iran: Baseline data from Hoveyzeh Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) were the number one cause of death in Iran. The main risk factors of CVDs include unhealthy lifestyles, insulin resistance, hypertension (HTN), and hyperlipidemia. Given that there are modifiable risk factors for CVDs, this cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of CVDs and their risk factors among adults. METHODS: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 9828 adults 35-70 years (both sexes). The demographic data, lifestyle habits, anthropometric data, and clinical and biochemical parameters were collected from the baseline data of the Hoveyzeh Cohort Study. The odds ratio (OR) of CVDs was assessed by multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of CVDs was higher in females than males (16.2 vs. 12.6, p ≤ 0.001). The prevalence of CVDs was related to age, gender, marital status, lifestyle, anthropometric measurements, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, HTN, and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (p ≤ 0.05). The participants aged 65-70 y showed the highest odds of CVDs (OR: 3.97, 95% CI: (3.14, 5.01), (p ≤ 0.001)). Males (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: (1.51, 2.05), p ≤ 0.001), married status (OR: 1.63, 95% CI: (1.08, 2.47), p = 0.021), more using a mobile phone (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: (1.09, 1.46), p ≤ 0.002), and smoking cigarettes (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: (1.24, 1.68), p ≤ 0.001) associated with CVDs. Higher odds of CVDs were related to low physical activity (PA) (OR: 1.56, 95% CI: (1.34, 1.8), p ≤ 0.001), body mass index > 30 (OR: 1.68, 95% CI: (1.01, 2.8), p ≤ 0.047). Moreover, odds of CVDs were related to systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mm Hg (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: (1.04, 1.51), p = 0.017), FPG = 100-126 mg/dl (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: (1.07, 1.43), p = 0.003), and FPG > 126 mg/dl (OR: 1.71, 95% CI: (1.47, 1. 98), p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSION: The present study showed the main risk factors of CVDs were older age, married status, using a mobile phone, low PA, smoking, obesity, and abnormal FPG and SBP. The lower odds of CVDs were found in the participants with normal cholesterol.

Curcumin Nanomicelle Improves Lipid Profile, Stress Oxidative Factors and Inflammatory Markers in Patients Undergoing Coronary Elective Angioplasty; A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Curcumin has demonstrated many pharmacological effects including antioxidants, anti-inflammation, eliminating free radicals, anti-tumor, lipid regulation, and anti-coagulation. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess and compare the effects of curcumin and nano-curcumin on lipid profile, oxidative stress, and inflammatory factors related to patient's heart. METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 90 patients undergoing coronary elective angioplasty who were randomly divided into 3 groups. The doses administered for 8 weeks were a 500 mg capsule of curcumin daily for the first group and an 80 mg capsule of nano-curcumin for the second group. However, the placebo group received capsules like curcumin. Lipid profile, oxidative stress factors, and inflammatory markers were measured at the baseline and end of the experiment. RESULTS: Statistically significant changes were observed in the total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the intervention groups to the control group (p<0.05). Curcumin and nano-curcumin supplementation also exhibited significant changes in plasma levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs- CRP), Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in comparison to the placebo (p<0.05). Furthermore, the nano-curcumin group compared to the curcumin group demonstrated significant changes (p<0.05) in TC, TG, SOD, MDA and TNF-α levels. CONCLUSION: The effects of curcumin on nano formula may be better for cardiac patients due to its high bioavailability.

Prevention of Contrast-induced Nephropathy in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Undergoing Elective Coronary Angioplasty or Angiography with Sodium Potassium Citrate Solution, a Double Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a frequent complication of contrast exposure. A recent study suggested that Na/K citrate might have a preventive role. We investigated the efficacy of Na/K citrate to prevent CIN in patients with renal dysfunction undergoing coronary intervention. METHODS: The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 201 patients with estimated creatinine clearance < 90 mL/ min, randomized to receive oral Na/K citrate plus saline infusion (treatment group, 104 patients) or oral water plus saline infusion (placebo group, 97 patients). CIN was defined as an absolute increase of serum creatinine ≥ 0.5 mg/dL or a relative increase ≥ 25% or a relative decrease of estimated GFR ≥ 25% within 5 days. RESULTS: CIN occurred in 22 patients (12.29%); 10 (11%) in treatment group and 12 (13.6%) in placebo group (P > .05). Post-exposure Cr values were not significantly different between the two groups (1.18 ± 0.28 mg/dL in the placebo vs. 1.15 ± 0.29 mg/dL in the treatment group, P > .05). CIN-negative patients in the treatment group showed a significantly higher increase in urine pH than that of CIN-positive patients (1.642 ± 0.577 vs. 1.20 ± 0.422, P < .05). CONCLUSION: Na/K citrate solution is not effective for prophylaxis of CIN in patients with renal dysfunction. However, a probable preventive effect might exist in a subgroup of patients with at least 1.6 units increase in urine pH values following Na/K citrate administration.

Clinical, high resolution computed tomography and pulmonary function in sulphur mustard victims.

We aimed to evaluate clinical, high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function test (PFT) findings after 18-23 years of exposure in veterans of sulphur mustard (SM) exposure. We performed a cross-sectional study of 106 patients. Inclusion criteria were 1: documented exposure to SM as confirmed by toxicological analysis of their urine and vesicular fluid after exposure 2: single exposure to SM that cause skin blisters and subsequent transient or permanent sequel. Cigarette smoking and pre-exposure lung diseases were of exclusion criteria. After taking history and thorough respiratory examination, patients underwent high resolution computed tomography and spirometry. Clinical diagnoses were made considering the findings. More than 85% of the patients were complaining of dyspnea and cough. Obstructive pattern (56.6%) was main finding in spirometry followed by restrictive and normal patterns. HRCT revealed air trapping (65.09%) and mosaic parenchymal attenuation patterns (58.49%) as most common results. Established diagnoses mainly were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (54.71%), bronchiolitis obliterans (27.35%) and asthmatic bronchitis (8.49%). There were not any significant association between the clinical findings and results of PFT and HRCT imaging and also between PFT and HRCT findings (P-values were more than 0.05). Considering debilitating and progressive nature of the respiratory complications of SM exposure, attempts are needed for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.