First Iranian guidelines for the diagnosis, management, and treatment of hyperlipidemia in adults.

This guideline is the first Iranian guideline developed for the diagnosis, management, and treatment of hyperlipidemia in adults. The members of the guideline developing group (GDG) selected 9 relevant clinical questions and provided recommendations or suggestions to answer them based on the latest scientific evidence. Recommendations include the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) threshold for starting drug treatment in adults lacking comorbidities was determined to be over 190 mg/dL and the triglyceride (TG) threshold had to be >500 mg/dl. In addition to perform fasting lipid profile tests at the beginning and continuation of treatment, while it was suggested to perform cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) risk assessment using valid Iranian models. Some recommendations were also provided on lifestyle modification as the first therapeutic intervention. Statins were recommended as the first line of drug treatment to reduce LDL-C, and if its level was high despite the maximum allowed or maximum tolerated drug treatment, combined treatment with ezetimibe, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors, or bile acid sequestrants was suggested. In adults with hypertriglyceridemia, pharmacotherapy with statin or fibrate was recommended. The target of drug therapy in adults with increased LDL-C without comorbidities and risk factors was considered an LDL-C level of <130 mg/dl, and in adults with increased TG without comorbidities and risk factors, TG levels of <200 mg/dl. In this guideline, specific recommendations and suggestions were provided for the subgroups of the general population, such as those with CVD, stroke, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, elderly, and women.

Prevalence of, association with, severity of, and prognostic role of serum hemoglobin level in acutely decompensated heart failure patients.

BACKGROUND: The role of hemoglobin (Hb) level in the short-term prognosis of patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) remains a matter of debate. We aimed to declare the prevalence of, association with, severity of, and prognostic role of SHL with ADHF. METHODS: Using the data from the Persian Registry Of Cardiovascular Disease/ Heart Failure (PROVE-HF) study, we assessed the association between anemia and polycythemia (Hb < 13 g/dLit, > 16.5 g/dLit in males and < 12 g/dLit, and > 16 g/dLit in females, respectively) and short-term mortality using Cox proportional hazard modeling, with adjustment of clinically relevant variables. RESULTS: Of 3652 ADHF patients, anemia was seen in 1673 patients (48.40%). The prevalence of mild, moderate, and severe anemia was 42.33% (n = 1546), 3.23% (n = 118), and 0.24% (n = 9), respectively. Also, 422 patients (11.55%) had polycythemia. Compared to non-anemic patients, anemic patients were mainly male, older, and were more likely to have diabetes mellitus (DM), renal dysfunction, hypertension (HTN), and thyroid disease. Significant predictors of short-term mortality were lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lower Hb level, and higher blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Anemic patients had higher all-cause mortality [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.213, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.054-1.396]. Moderate anemia increased mortality by approximately 80% in males (aHR 1.793, 95% CI 1.308-2.458) and females (aHR 1.790, 95% CI 1.312-2.442), respectively. Polycythemia had no association with short-term mortality in both genders (P-value > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that anemia is an adverse prognostic factor for short-term mortality in ADHF patients, with higher mortality in moderately anemic patients.

Reference range of testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels in women during reproductive age in the Iranian population.

Backgrounds: To determine the average cutoff values of serum-free and total testosterone (FT, TT) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) among healthy premenopausal women. Materials and Methods: Participants were women aged 18-55 years without signs and symptoms of hyperandrogenism (n = 489). Participants if Ferriman-Gallwey (FG) scores between 6 and 8 were considered a group located in the upper spectrum related to the normal hirsutism score (n = 30). DHEAS, TT, and FT levels were compared between different populations. Upper limits of 97.5 and 95 and lower limits of 5 and 2.5 percentiles were calculated to provide the reference intervals for DHEA, TT, and FT in the total sample and in the population with FG 6-8. Results: In the total population, the mean ± standard deviation (SD) serum FT, TT, and DHEAS levels were 1.40 ± 0.63 pg/mL, 0.42 ± 0.17 ng/mL, and 1.5 ± 0.97 µg/ml, respectively. The cutoff values of FT at 1.35 and TT at 0.49 were obtained for differentiating the patients with FG 6-8 scores from the normal population, with the corresponding specificity of 0.60, the sensitivity of 0.67, and area under the ROC curve (AUC) (confidence interval 95%) of 0.63 (0.52-0.73), P = 0.01 and 0.68 (0.58-0.78) P = 0.001, respectively. Conclusions: In our study, the mean ± SD serum FT level was 1.40 ± 0.63 pg/mL, the TT level was 0.42 ± 0.17 ng/mL, and the DHEAS level was 1.5 ± 0.97 µg/ml, in premenopausal women between 18 and 49 years of age. Furthermore, in a population with FG 6-8 score, a cutoff value of FT at 1.35 and TT at 0.49 was obtained. Although the irregular menstrual cycle did not change the reference range when compared with the normal group.

The association between platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio with mortality among patients suffering from acute decompensated heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is an inflammation index suggested to have the prognostic capability in heart failure (HF). We sought to investigate the association of PLR with cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and creatinine (Cr) rise among Iranian individuals suffering from acute decompensated HF (ADHF). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was in the context of the Persian Registry Of cardioVascular diseasE/Heart Failure (PROVE/HF) study. 405 individuals with ADHF admitted to the emergency department were recruited from April 2019 to March 2020. PLR was calculated by division of platelet to absolute lymphocyte counts and categorized based on quartiles. We utilized the Kaplan-Meier curve to show the difference in mortality based on PLR quartiles. Cr rise was defined as the increment of at least 0.3 mg/dl from baseline. Cox proportional hazard ratio (HR) was used to investigate the association of PLR with CVDs mortality. RESULTS: Mean age of participants was 65.9 ± 13.49 years (males: 67.7%). The mean follow-up duration was 4.26 ± 2.2 months. CVDs mortality or re-hospitalization was not significantly associated with PLR status. Multivariate analysis of PLR quartiles showed a minimally reduced likelihood of CVDs death in 2nd quartile versus the first one (HR 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.16-1.01, P = 0.054). Cr rise had no remarkable relation with PLR status in neither model. CONCLUSION: PLR could not be used as an independent prognostic factor among ADHF patients. Several studies are required clarifying the exact utility of this index.

Comparison of multiple blood pressure frequency methods with optimum blood pressure measurement among Iranian individuals.

BACKGROUND: Proper blood pressure (BP) measurement frequency method is less evaluated to optimize hypertension (HTN) status among different nations due to cultural patience variations. The aim of this study was to compare the first (BP1), second (BP2), and the mean of first and second (BP1,2) and all the three (BP1,2,3) with the second and third BP measurements in Iranian individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was done on 2264 individuals aged 18 years or more living in Isfahan city, Iran. Their BPs were assessed from right arms by the standard tools and methods after 5 min of rest in a quiet room by a trained staff. The mean second and third readings were considered as reference, and the other aforementioned variables were compared with it. RESULTS: The mean age of total population was 40.9 ± 16.1 years (males: 52%). Men had significant higher means of systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) with any measurement frequency methods than women (P < 0.001 and P = 0.009). Considerable clinical significant (≥5 mmHg) ranges were mostly observed in BP1 compared with BP2,3. SBP2 and DBP2 indices showed insignificant differences compared with reference mean. Moreover, abnormal BP levels (≥140/90 mmHg) were mostly observed in terms of BP1 measurement with no remarkable variability in BP2 reading in comparison to the reference. CONCLUSION: Our considerable data suggested that BP2 could appropriately categorize BP status similar to BP2,3 and it may be rational for physicians considering this mean and excluding the first BP measurement as a sole criterion for HTN assessment in Iranian adults. Multiple researches are necessary quantifying appropriate frequencies of BP reading.

Acromegaly and papillary thyroid carcinoma: A case series.

Acromegaly is a rare chronic disease and associated with an increased risk of malignancy. The issue of the risk of thyroid cancer in these patients is a topic of debate, and the number of large case-control studies is very limited. Several studies indicated that a chronic excess insulin-like growth factor-1 stimulates the proliferation of various cell types and induces an antiapoptotic effect in thyroid follicular cells. In the literature, the risk of thyroid cancer was reported greater than five-fold. In this review, we will briefly summarize the studies available regarding thyroid cancer in patients with acromegaly and present three case reports.

Effects of somatostatin analog treatment on cardiovascular parameters in patients with acromegaly: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: There is a belief that in patients with acromegaly, first-generation somatostatin analogs (SSAs) might improve cardiovascular (CV) structure and function. However, most published clinical trials involved only a few patients and their results are rather variable. We aimed to conduct a systematic review on available studies on the impact of these drugs on CV parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE (OVID), EMBase, Cochrane, and ISI Web of Science for citations published until April 30 2018 to identify studies on our objective that considered changes in CV parameters. For this search, we established a Boolean search strategy using keywords related to "acromegaly," "Somatostatin analog," and "cardiovascular diseases and parameters." All study types except for case reports or conference abstracts were included. Twenty-four studies (n = 558) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were selected for final analysis. RESULTS: In 12 studies (n = 350), decrease in heart rate (HR) and in 4 studies (n = 128), decrease in blood pressure (BP) was significant. In 15 studies (n = 320), left ventricular mass index (LVMi) changes were significant. In 9 studies (n = 202), the early diastole to peak velocity flow in late diastole (E/A ratio) was evaluated, and in 5 of them (n = 141), the improvement was significant. Eighteen studies (n = 366) examined changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), 5 of which (n = 171) reported that these changes were significant. Decrease of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was reported in only 2 studies (n = 27). CONCLUSION: We found that first-generation SSAs have a beneficial effect on cardiac parameters such as HR and LVMi. For other parameters such as LVEF, BP, LV diameter, and E/A ratio, we were not able to draw a firm conclusion.

The prevalence of positive thyroid autoantibodies in patients with subacute thyroiditis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is a transient inflammatory disorder of the thyroid gland with a possible viral etiology. We conducted this study to estimate the pooled prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies in SAT patients. This question arose due to the varying reports on the positivity rates of thyroid autoantibodies among SAT patients. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science from their inception until March 25th, 2023. Observational studies reporting the positivity rate of thyroid autoantibodies for more than ten patients were included. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) critical appraisal checklist to assess the quality of the included studies. Pooled prevalence estimates with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using the random effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed to find sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Out of 1373 identified records, 32 studies involving 2348 SAT patients were included in our study. Thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) were positive in 22.8% and 12.2% of patients, respectively. The Study design, mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate and mean thyroid-stimulating hormone of patients were identified as sources of heterogeneity. As our secondary objectives, we found a recurrence rate of 14.7% and permanent hypothyroidism in 11.6% of patients. CONCLUSION: The results of our study revealed a low TPOAb positivity rate in SAT patients, consistent with its non-autoimmune etiology. The TgAb positivity rate in SAT patients was higher than that of the general population, possibly explained by the transient release of thyroglobulin into the bloodstream during the thyrotoxic phase, leading to subsequent TgAb production. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate a notable recurrence rate and permanent hypothyroidism among SAT patients, highlighting the importance of ongoing follow-up care.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of levothyroxine effect on blood pressure in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.

This study aims to evaluate the effect of levothyroxine therapy on blood pressure (BP) in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). Were searched Six databases, and randomized controlled trials (RCT) and prospective cohort studies evaluating the effect of levothyroxine therapy on BP in patients with SCH were included. 37 articles (9 RCTs and 28 prospective cohorts) were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled analysis of RCT studies was insignificant; however, pooled analysis of 28 prospective cohort studies showed a significant difference before and after the therapy, reducing both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (MD=-4.02 [-6.45, -4.58] and MD=-2.13 [-3.69, -0.56], both P-values<0.05). Levothyroxine therapy can play a role in lowering BP in patients with SCH. However, this effect is more observed in Caucasians, SCH patients with higher initial TSH followed by more remarkable TSH change to normal levels, and SCH patients with hypertension.

Acute Heart Failure as a First Manifestation of Primary Adrenal Insufficiency: Highly Lethal If Not Diagnosed!

Background: Primary adrenal insufficiency is an uncommon condition that manifests as nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, salt craving, and hyperpigmentation. Common cardiovascular presentations of AI are hypotension, arrhythmias, and syncope. However, acute heart failure is an uncommon presentation. Case Presentation. Here, a 26-year-old man was hospitalized with vasopressor-resistant cardiogenic shock, which was finally attributed to an adrenal crisis. His past medical history was notable for Hashimoto's disease, controlled with oral levothyroxine. Conclusion: AI should be considered among patients with cardiogenic shock who are unresponsive to conventional inotropes. Additionally, a history of autoimmune diseases may increase the suspicion of AI. Although the presentation of cardiogenic shock in a patient with undiagnosed AI is considered a rarity, delay in prompt treatment can lead to life-threatening conditions.

Comparative Effectiveness of Antidiabetic Drugs as an Additional Therapy to Metformin in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Metabolic Approaches.

Background: Metformin is commonly prescribed to treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients, but in some cases, it may not be effective even at high doses or may cause intolerable side effects. Therefore, recent studies have examined the impact of combining metformin with other antidiabetic medications. Methods: A systematic search was performed in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase up to 30 June 2023. All interventional studies that assessed the efficacy of different antidiabetic agents were included. Results: Among the 3488 records found in the primary search, 16 papers were included. Our study showed that dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) had the most significant impact on glycemic profile, while thiazolidinediones (TZDs) had the most influence on lipid levels. However, it was observed that patients taking only metformin experienced a greater increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RAs) effectively modified various anthropometric measurements, such as weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio. The effects of different antidiabetic drugs on hormone levels were inconclusive, although testosterone levels were more affected by GLP1RA, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), and TZDs. None of the combined therapies showed a significant change in blood pressure. Conclusion: Since PCOS is a metabolic disorder, choosing the best combination of antidiabetic drugs in the clinical course of PCOS patients will be very important. Today, it seems that we need a new metabolic approach for better treatment of the metabolic aspects of these patients.

Lipid accumulation product and visceral adiposity index for incidence of cardiovascular diseases and mortality; results from 13 years follow-up in Isfahan cohort study.

Background: /Aims: Visceral adiposity index (VAI) and lipid accumulation product (LAP) are novel anthropometric indices that have shown an association with metabolic syndrome; however, limited data are available regarding the predictive performance of these indices for the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and mortality. Methods: This study was performed on the data retrieved from Isfahan Cohort Study (ICS). ICS is an ongoing population-based cohort study conducted in 3 counties in central Iran. Pearson correlation analysis was performed between LAP, VAI, and metabolic parameters. Cox regression analysis and receiver operative characteristics (ROC) curve analysis were performed in order to evaluate the ability of VAI and LAP for the incidence of CVD, CVD-associated mortality, and all-cause mortality. We further compared the predictive performance of VAI and LAP with body mass index (BMI). Results: LAP and VAI were significantly correlated with all metabolic variables, including blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profile components. Univariate regression analysis indicated a significant association between LAP and VAI and CVD incidence. In multivariate analysis, only VAI was significantly associated with CVD incidence. Regarding CVD mortality, only VAI in the multivariate analysis revealed a significant association. Interestingly, Both VAI and LAP were negatively associated with all-cause mortality. ROC curve analysis indicated the superior performance of LAP and VAI for predicting CVD incidence compared to BMI; however, BMI was better in predicting all-cause mortality. Conclusion: Compared to BMI, LAP and VAI have better predictive performance for the incidence of CVD. In contrast, BMI was superior to VAI and LAP in the prediction of all-cause mortality.

Prevalence of amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism; A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Amiodarone is a common anti-arrhythmic agent mostly used to treat and prevent different kinds of arrhythmia with several considerable side effects, most commonly on the thyroid gland. We aimed to assess the frequency of hypothyroidism among chronic amiodarone users. PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were screened in the title and abstract sections with no time limitation. Relevant published records reported amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism (AIH) among patients with normal thyroid function at baseline were recruited with further analysis according to gender and study locations. We found 29 records on 14143 individuals. Total population age ranged from 18 to 92 years (males: 58.2% (8158 out of 13,999)). The AIH prevalence was found to be 14% (95% confidence interval (CI): 12-17%). Further gender stratified showed an insignificant higher AIH frequency in females versus males (17%, 95% CI: 13-22% vs. 14%, 95% CI: 11-19% P= 0.304, respectively). Despite no significant difference in AIH prevalence according to different continents, African subjects had marginally lower AIH frequency compared to Asian (7%, 95% CI: 4-13% vs. 15%, 95% CI: 12-19%, P= 0.012) and South American persons (7%, 95% CI: 4-13% vs. 54%, 95% CI: 9-93%, P= 0.038). This review suggests the occurrence of AIH is quite considerable regardless of gender and area of residence, and several periodic thyroid assessment strategies should be developed for earlier recognition and therapeutic interventions in clinical settings.

Hypothyroidism in First-Degree Relatives of Neonates with Congenital Hypothyroidism: Is there an Association?

Background: Recent studies have shown an increased incidence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH), especially in the middle-east region. The exact etiology is unknown; however, it has been related to several factors, the most noticeable being the high prevalence of transient CH (TCH), parental consanguinity, and the history of hypothyroidism in relatives. We sought to determine the impact of hypothyroidism in the relatives of patients with the observed trend. Methods: We included all patients with primary CH detected through the Newborn Screening (NBS) Program from 2007 to 2016. We analyzed the impact of consanguinity relationship, parental and siblings' thyroid function, second-degree relatives' thyroid function, parental educational level, age, and maternal gestational diabetes on the development of permanent CH (PCH) and TCH. Results: A total of 1447 consecutive eligible patients were recruited during the study period. Of this number, 1171 (81%) were diagnosed with CH: 623 (53.2%) had PCH and 548 (46.8%) had TCH. Six hundred thirty-three (54.1%) participants were men, and 814 (69.5%) had a history of relatives' hypothyroidism. Our data analysis revealed a significant difference regarding the male gender, having a history of relatives' hypothyroidism, and parental hypothyroidism compared to TCH ones (P < 0.05). Patients with a history of relatives' hypothyroidism had significantly higher PCH than TCH (P < 0.0001). However, consanguineous marriage was not comparable in patients regardless of their history of relatives' hypothyroidism (P-value >0.884). Conclusions: Our findings indicated the role of the history of hypothyroidism in neonates' relatives in the evolution of the PCH. Meanwhile, consanguineous marriage did not impress the development of PCH and TCH.

Association between the Length of Hospital Stay and 30-Day Outcomes in Patients Admitted with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

Method: This study is performed in the context of the Persian Registry of Cardiovascular Disease/Heart Failure (PROVE/HF). We included all patients admitted with ADHF regardless of the etiology of heart failure (HF). LOS was classified in tertiles (<4 days, >4 and <6 days, and >6 days). Our outcomes were 30-day all-cause mortality and rehospitalization. Baseline characteristics and outcomes are reported according to the tertiles of LOS. A binary logistic regression and cox regression analysis were performed to evaluate the association between LOS and rehospitalization and death, respectively. Results: Between April 2019 and March 2020, 385 patients with ADHF were registered in our study. The mean length of hospitalization was 6.35 ± 5.46 days, varying from a minimum of 0 days to a maximum of 47 days. One hundred patients had a hospital stay lower than 4 days; 151 individuals had an intermediate LOS (4-6 days); and 134 were hospitalized for more than 6 days. Our analysis indicated no association between LOS and 30-day rehospitalization and death in multivariable or univariable models. Conclusion: This study found no association between LOS and rehospitalization or death in patients admitted with ADHF; however, further investigations are warranted.

Prognostic utility of shock index and modified shock index on long-term mortality in acute decompensated heart failure; Persian Registry of cardioVascular diseasE/Heart Failure (PROVE/HF) study.

BACKGROUND: Shock index (SI) and modified SI (MSI) are used for prognosis in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), especially myocardial infarction. However, the utility of these indices in heart failure(HF) is less frequently investigated. We aimed to evaluate the long-term prognostic capability of SI and MSI among Iranian HF patients. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was implemented in the context of the Persian Registry Of cardioVascular diseasE/HF (PROVE/HF). A total of 3896 acute decompensated HF (ADHF) patients were enrolled from March 2016 to March 2020. SI and MSI were assessed at admission. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to define optimum SI and MSI cut-off points and depict mortality during follow-up, respectively. The association of CVD death according to different SI and MSI cut-off points and quartiles was assessed through univariate and multivariate regression hazard models. RESULTS: Mean age of participants was 70.22 ± 12.65 years (males: 62.1%). We found 0.66 (sensitivity:62%, specificity: 51%) and 0.87 (sensitivity: 61%, specificity: 51%) as optimised cut-off points for SI and MSI, respectively. Mean follow-up was 10.26 ± 7.5 months and 1110 (28.5%) deaths occurred during this time. Multivariate adjusted models revealed patients had SI ≥ 0.66 or within the third and fourth quartiles had higher likelihood of mortality compared to reference group (hazard ratio(HR): 1.58, 95%CI: 1.39-1.80, p < 0.001, HR: 1.38,95%CI:1.14-1.66, p = 0.001 and HR:2.00,95%CI:1.68-2.38, p < 0.001, respectively). MSI outcomes were similar (MSI ≥ 0.87: HR: 1.52,95%CI: 1.34-1.72, p < 0.001, third quartile (0.89 ≤ MSI < 1.00):HR:1.23,95%CI:1.009-1.50, p = 0.041, fourth quartile (MSI ≥ 1.00): HR: 1.80,95%CI: 1.53-2.13, p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier curves showed patients with higher SI and MSI cut-off values and quartiles had lower survival rates. CONCLUSION: Higher SI and MSI values were associated with increased mortality risk, and these two bedside indices could be appropriately considered for long-term prognosis in ADHF patients.

Translation, cultural adaptation, validation and reliability of Persian version of Edmonton frailty score questionnaire among Iranian heart failure individuals.

Background: Frailty is a common problem in elderly individuals. However, this issue is not well investigated among heart failure (HF) patients with appropriate scales. We aimed to translate and evaluate Edmonton frailty scale (EFS) validity and reliability in Iranian HF adults. Methods: We implemented this methodological study on stable HF patients referred to an outpatient heart clinic in Isfahan, Iran. The translation was done using the forward-backward method. Ten individuals were asked to comment about all items in terms of understandability and simplicity. Fifteen experts were invited, and their ratings on each item were collected to measure the content validity index (CVI) and content validity ratio (CVR). Cronbach's alpha was used for the assessment of internal consistency. After completing the scale for the second time with a two-week interval, test-retest reliability with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) measurement was done. Results: The translation process was performed uneventfully. All items were reported to be simple and meaningful. CVI of items ranged from the minimum of 0.80 to a maximum of 1.00 plus an acceptable CVR of at least 0.60. Fifty HF patients (age: 67.2±14.1 years, males: 56%) completed the questionnaire twice without missing data. Cronbach's alpha was first to be 0.550. After omitting three items about social support, drug usage, and nutrition, the value was raised to 0.711. Test-retest reliability showed a good index of consistency (ICC: 0.693, 95% confidence interval: 0.527-0.810). Conclusion: Modified Persian EFS is a simple and meaningful tool with high validity and acceptable reliability for assessing frailty in HF individuals irrespective of age.

Effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors on insulin resistance; a systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: Recent studies have indicated that Sodium-GLucose co-Transporter 2 Inhibitors (SGLT2Is) may increase insulin sensitivity (IS); however, these results are heterogeneous and need to be systematically assessed. METHOD: We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Ovid, and ProQuest using a predefined search query. Randomized clinical trials on SGLT2Is with a passive control group or metformin controlled group were included. Risk of bias assessment was performed using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. Meta-analysis was performed separately on studies with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) population and studies with non-T2DM population and also for passive- and active-controlled studies using standardized mean difference (SMD) as the measure of the effect size. Subgroup analysis was performed according to different types of SGLT2Is. Meta-regression analysis was performed according to the dose and duration of intervention. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies (6 on non-T2DM population) with a total of 1421 (243 non-T2DM) patients were included. Six studies (3 on T2DM and 3 on non-T2DM) were controlled by metformin, and others were passively controlled. SGLT2Is could significantly increase IS in T2DM patients (SMD = 0.72 [0.32-1.12]). SGLT2Is could reduce insulin resistance in non-T2DM population, but this was not significant. SGLT2Is were not inferior to metformin in reducing insulin resistance. Subgroup analysis indicated that dapagliflozin could significantly increase IS, but empagliflozin was not associated with significant improvement in IS. Meta-regression analysis indicated no effect for dose but duration of SGLT2I administration on IS. CONCLUSION: SGLT2Is, particularly dapagliflozin, could increase IS. These results need to be consolidated by further studies.

The Association of Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Levels and Lipid Profile in Euthyroid Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

Previous studies reported a relationship between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. In this study, we aim to evaluate the impact of TSH levels on lipid profile in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and euthyroid state. Patients were selected from the Isfahan FH registry. The Dutch Lipid Clinic Network (DLCN) criteria are used to detect FH. Patients were classified into no FH, possible FH, probable FH, and definite FH groups based on the DLCN scores. Patients with any cause of secondary hyperlipidemia, including hypothyroidism, were excluded from this study. The study group consisted of 103 patients with possible FH, 25 patients with definite FH, and 63 individuals with no FH. The mean TSH and LDL-C levels among participants were 2.10 ± 1.22 mU/l and 142.17 ± 62.56 mg/dl, respectively. No positive or negative correlation was found between serum TSH and total cholesterol (P value = 0.438), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.225), triglycerides (P value = 0.863), and LDL-C (P value = 0.203). We found no correlation between serum TSH levels and lipid profiles in euthyroid patients with FH.

The effect of in-service English education on medical professionals' language proficiency.

BACKGROUND: Despite its inevitable significance, the effect of in-service English education on medical professionals has rarely been studied longitudinally. The reason can be issues such as physicians' heavy workload, commuting problems, inappropriate class times, and inexperienced teaching staff. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A needs assessment worksheet was administered to faculty members of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran and the responses were analyzed. A project for the promotion of faculty members' English proficiency was formulated. Then, following a placement test, 235 applicants from the university colleges and hospitals were classified into 28 homogeneous groups. After four terms of instruction, the participants' scores on the pre- and post- assessments were analyzed. RESULTS: There was significant improvement in participants' total scores on different communicative skills (P<0.001). Regarding individual skills also, they achieved meaningful gains on listening (P<0.001), writing (P = 0.038), and grammar (P<0.001), but failed to progress significantly on reading comprehension (P = 0.523). CONCLUSION: The administration of in-service education for skill-oriented courses, over a long period, can be quite encouraging and should be further strengthened. Regular instructions on each individual skill on the one hand and on their combination on the other are essential for success in such education.