Comparison of Aesthetic and Functional Rhinoplasty Outcomes Between Patients with Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Normal Individuals.

BACKGROUND: Rhinoplasty is among the top five most popular cosmetic surgical procedures worldwide. Among rhinoplasty candidates, the most common mental health disorder is body dysmorphic disorder. (BDD). The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of BDD among rhinoplasty candidates, its association with the patient's self-assessment of aesthetic outcome and nasal functional, post-rhinoplasty compared to applicants with negative screening for BDD. METHODS: The following study is a cross-sectional, comparative study. Out of the 209 rhinoplasty candidates screened by the BDDQ questionnaire, 39 were positive for BDD. From the remaining 170 patients who screened negative for BDD, 39 participants were randomly selected as the control group for the comparative analysis. Rhinoplasty outcome evaluation (ROE) and standardized cosmesis and health nasal outcomes survey-cosmetic (SCHNOS-C) questionnaires were used for assessment of patient satisfaction with the cosmetic outcome of rhinoplasty. Nasal obstruction symptom evaluation (NOSE) and standardized cosmesis and health nasal outcomes survey-obstruction (SCHNOS-O) were used for the assessment of satisfaction with functional outcomes between groups of patients screened positive and negative for BDD. RESULTS: The prevalence of BDD was 18.66% among rhinoplasty candidates. The average age of patients screened positive for BDD was 31.41. The mean ROE score was significantly lower (i.e. lower satisfaction) in patients screened positive for BDD (15.69 versus 19.08, P = 0.001), regardless of confounding variables, such as age, sex, and marital status. SCHNOS-C score was higher (i.e. less satisfaction) among patients with BDD (47.01 versus 34.96, P = 0.021) and was significantly associated with higher odds of severe aesthetic concern post-rhinoplasty (OR (95%CI) = 5.000 (1.135-22.022), P = 0.033). Patients screened positive for BDD had significantly higher NOSE scores (i.e. less satisfaction with functional outcome) compared to participants negative for BDD (49.74 versus 37.82, P = 0.012). SCHNOS-O score had no significant association with BDD (P = 0.053). Furthermore, there was no significant association between BDD and NOSE or SCHNOS-O score after adjustment for the confounders. CONCLUSION: Patients screened positive for BDD were significantly less satisfied with the cosmetic outcome of the rhinoplasty compared to those screened negative for BDD. Assessment of BDD among rhinoplasty candidates before surgery, could potentially be beneficial for both patients and surgeons. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Olfactory system measurements in COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The neurotropism of SARS-CoV-2 and the consequential damage to the olfactory system have been proposed as one of the possible underlying causes of olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19. We aimed to aggregate the results of the studies which reported imaging of the olfactory system of patients with COVID-19 versus controls. METHODS: PubMed and EMBASE were searched to identify relevant literature reporting the structural imaging characteristics of the olfactory bulb (OB), olfactory cleft, olfactory sulcus (OS), or olfactory tract in COVID-19 patients. Hedge's g and weighted mean difference were used as a measure of effect size. Quality assessment, subgroup analyses, meta-regression, and sensitivity analysis were also conducted. RESULTS: Ten studies were included in the qualitative synthesis, out of which seven studies with 183 cases with COVID-19 and 308 controls without COVID-19 were enrolled in the quantitative synthesis. No significant differences were detected in analyses of right OB volume and left OB volume. Likewise, right OS depth and left OS depth were also not significantly different in COVID-19 cases compared to non-COVID-19 controls. Also, we performed subgroup analysis, meta-regression, and sensitivity analysis to investigate the potential effect of confounding moderators. CONCLUSION: The findings of this review did not confirm alterations in structural imaging of the olfactory system, including OB volume and OS depth by Covid-19 which is consistent with the results of recent histopathological evaluations.

Seroconversion following the first, second, and third dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in immunocompromised population: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Immunocompromised (IC) patients are at higher risk of more severe COVID-19 infections than the general population. Special considerations should be dedicated to such patients. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines based on the vaccine type and etiology as well as the necessity of booster dose in this high-risk population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases for observational studies published between June 1st, 2020, and September 1st, 2021, which investigated the seroconversion after COVID-19 vaccine administration in adult patients with IC conditions. For investigation of sources of heterogeneity, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were conducted. Statistical analysis was performed using R software. RESULTS: According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, we included 81 articles in the meta-analysis. The overall crude prevalence of seroconversion after the first (n: 7460), second (n: 13,181), and third (n: 909, all population were transplant patients with mRNA vaccine administration) dose administration was 26.17% (95% CI 19.01%, 33.99%, I2 = 97.1%), 57.11% (95% CI: 49.22%, 64.83%, I2 = 98.4%), and 48.65% (95% CI: 34.63%, 62.79%, I2 = 94.4%). Despite the relatively same immunogenicity of mRNA and vector-based vaccines after the first dose, the mRNA vaccines induced higher immunity after the second dose. Regarding the etiologic factor, transplant patients were less likely to develop immunity after both first and second dose rather than patients with malignancy (17.0% vs 37.0% after first dose, P = 0.02; 38.3% vs 72.1% after second dose, P < 0.001) or autoimmune disease (17.0% vs 36.4%, P = 0.04; 38.3% vs 80.2%, P < 0.001). To evaluate the efficacy of the third dose, we observed an increasing trend in transplant patients after the first (17.0%), second (38.3%), and third (48.6%) dose. CONCLUSION: The rising pattern of seroconversion after boosting tends to be promising. In this case, more attention should be devoted to transplant patients who possess the lowest response rate.

The risk and added values of the atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk enhancers on prediction of cardiovascular events: Tehran lipid and glucose study.

BACKGROUND: In 2013 American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association released a guideline on the management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) including a composite of death from CVD, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke (hard CVD). This guideline recommended a risk score that was calculated using pooled cohort equations (ASCVD-PCE). The guideline was updated in 2018/2019 and further risk discussion was suggested for deciding whether to continue or initiate statin therapy among non-diabetic individuals with ASCVD-PCE score ranged 5-20%. They recommended a risk discussion with considering risk enhancing factors (ASCVD-REFs) including family history of premature CVD, chronic kidney disease, triglycerides ≥ 175 mg/dl, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥ 160 mg/dl, metabolic syndrome (Mets), and for women premature menopause, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). In the current study, we aimed to examine the predictability of recommended ASCVD-REFs on incident hard CVD in non-diabetic individuals with LDL-C 70-189 mg/dl, with ASCVD-PCE risk 5-20% during 10 and 15-year follow-up. METHODS: Among a total of 3546 non-diabetic individuals aged 40-75 years, after excluding those with ASCVD-PCE score < 5% and ≥ 20% (n = 2342), 1204 individuals (women = 332) were included. The univariable and multivariable (further adjusted for ASCVD-PCE) Cox regression analysis were used to evaluate the association of each potential ASCVD-REFs with hard CVD. Additionnaly, the role of different components of Mets and a history of gestational diabetes (GDM)/macrosomia was also examined. The predictive ability of each significant ASCVD-REFs, then was evaluated by the discrimination accuracy and risk reclassification index. RESULTS: During the 10-year follow-up, 73 hard CVD events occurred. Although in univariable analysis, high blood pressure (BP) component of Mets, GDM/macrosomia, and HDP remained as significant ASCVD-REFs, in the multivariable analysis, only the history of HDP (5.35 (1.22-23.38)) and GDM/macrosomia (3.18 (1.05-9.65)) showed independent risks. During the 15-year follow-up, Mets (1.47 (1.05-2.06)) and its components of high waist circumference (1.40 (1.0-1.95)) and high BP (1.52 (1.07-2.15)) significantly increased the risk. These ASCVD-REFs did not improve discrimination or predictive ability. CONCLUSIONS: In a decade follow-up, only conditions specific for women and in longer follow-up, the presence of Mets perse, and its components of high WC and high BP were shown as significant ASCVD-REFs.

LDL/apo B ratio predict coronary heart disease in Type 2 diabetes independent of ASCVD risk score: A case-cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major mortality risk factor in patients with diabetes. LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) is a major risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. There is one apolipoprotein B (ApoB) molecule in each LDL particle. We aimed to evaluate the predictive value of the LDL-C/ApoB ratio for CHD in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS AND RESULTS: In this case-cohort study (apo)lipoproteins and glycemic indices were measured in 1058 individuals with T2D from February 2002 to March 2019, with a median duration of follow up of 10 years. Of 1058 patients with T2D, coronary heart disease occurred in 242 patients. Increased waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and hemoglobin A1c, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)/Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) ratio, presence of hypertension and metabolic syndrome, and insulin and statin use were more prevalent among patients with CHD (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that an LDL-C/ApoB ratio equal or lower than 1.2 could predict CHD independent of ASCVD risk score [adjusted OR:1.841, CI:1.257-2.698, P < 0.001] when adjusted for multiple confounders. The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) did not predict CHD. CONCLUSION: This study showed that LDL-C/ApoB ratio, but not the atherogenic index of plasma, may be considered as an indicator of CHD independent of the ASCVD risk score in patients with T2D. This finding merits further clarification to optimize preventive strategies for CHD.

External validation of the European risk assessment tool for chronic cardio-metabolic disorders in a Middle Eastern population.

BACKGROUND: High burden of chronic cardio-metabolic disorders including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been reported in the Middle East and North Africa region. We aimed to externally validate a non-laboratory risk assessment tool for the prediction of the chronic cardio-metabolic disorders in the Iranian population. METHODS: The predictors included age, body mass index, waist circumference, use of antihypertensive medications, current smoking, and family history of cardiovascular disease and/or diabetes. For external validation of the model in the Tehran lipids and glucose study (TLGS), the Area under the curve (AUC) and the Hosmer-Lemeshow (HL) goodness of fit test were performed for discrimination and calibration, respectively. RESULTS: Among 1310 men and 1960 women aged 28-85 years, 29.5% and 47.4% experienced chronic cardio-metabolic disorders during the 6 and 9-year follow-up, respectively. The model showed acceptable discrimination, with an AUC of 0.72 (95% CI 0.69-0.75) for men and 0.73 (95% CI 0.71-0.76) for women. The calibration of the model was good for both genders (min HL P = 0.5). Considering separate outcomes, AUC was highest for CKD (0.76 (95% CI 0.72-0.79)) and lowest for T2DM (0.65 (95% CI 0.61-0.69)), in men. As for women, AUC was highest for CVD (0.82 (95% CI 0.78-0.86)) and lowest for T2DM (0.69 (95% CI 0.66-0.73)). The 9-year follow-up demonstrated almost similar performances compared to the 6-year follow-up. Using Cox regression in place of logistic multivariable analysis, model's discrimination and calibration were reduced for prediction of chronic cardio-metabolic disorders; the issue which had more effect on the prediction of incident CKD among women. Moreover, adding data of educational levels and marital status did not improve, the discrimination and calibration in the enhanced model. CONCLUSION: This model showed acceptable discrimination and good calibration for risk prediction of chronic cardio-metabolic disorders in short and long-term follow-up in the Iranian population.

Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin and Retinol-Binding Protein-4 as Biomarkers for Diabetic Kidney Disease.

AIMS: This study was designed to evaluate the conflicting association between 2 tubular protein markers including neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP-4) with albuminuria and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and calculate the accuracy of the role of NGAL and RBP-4 in diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in patients with type2 diabetes. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that included 133 patients with type 2 diabetes. There were 3 diabetic study groups with normoalbuminuria, moderately increased albuminuria, severely increased albuminuria, and non-diabetic control group without any renal disease. We analyzed the difference of urinary NGAL (uNGAL) and RBP-4 between nondiabetics and diabetics, as well as within the diabetic group. We also assessed the association between albuminuria and NGAL and RBP-4. RESULTS: The urinary levels of NGAL and RBP-4 were higher in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to nondiabetics as well as in albuminuric diabetics compared to nonalbuminuric patients with diabetes (p value <0.001). These 2 proteins were higher in patients with severely increased albuminuria compared to patients with moderately increased albuminuria, even after adjustment for other metabolic factors (all p < 0.01). Moreover, areas under the curve of NGAL and RBP-4 for the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease were 80.6 and 74.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: uNGAL and RBP-4 are potential markers of tubular damage that may increase before the onset of glomerular markers such as albuminuria and GFR in patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, these markers can be used as complementary measurements to albuminuria and GFR in the earlier diagnosis of DN.

Lp(a) and Apo-lipoproteins as predictors for micro- and macrovascular complications of diabetes: A case-cohort study.

AIMS: To investigate the associations between Lp(a), Apo A1, Apo B, and Apo B/Apo A1 ratio with micro- and macrovascular complications of diabetes. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this case-cohort study, 1057 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) were followed in the diabetes clinic of Vali-Asr Hospital from 2014 to 2019. The association between serum Lp (a) and apolipoproteins with cardiovascular disease (CVD), neuropathy, and nephropathy were assessed by using binary regression analysis. The ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive properties of proteins. Youden index was used to calculate cutoff values. Among patients with T2DM, 242, 231, and 91 patients developed CVD, neuropathy, and nephropathy, respectively. The serum Lp (a) level was positively correlated with the development of all three. (P-values = 0.022, 0.042, and 0.038, respectively). The Apo A1 level was negatively correlated with nephropathy. Among the biomarkers, Lp(a) had the highest AUC for prediction of CVD, neuropathy, and nephropathy. Calculated cutoff values of Lp(a), and Apo A1 levels were higher than the standard cutoff values. CONCLUSION: Serum level of Lp(a) is a predictor for CVD, neuropathy, and nephropathy. Based on the calculated cutoff values in patients with T2DM, we should consider diabetic complications at higher levels of Lp(a).

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease as a Potential Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Methods and Results: In this prospective cohort study, 1197 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) were divided into two groups (360 patients with NAFLD and 847 without NAFLD) and were followed for a median of 5 years for the incidence of CVD. Cox regression analysis was used to assess the association between NAFLD, liver enzyme level, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), and the incidence risk of CVD and its subgroups (i.e., myocardial infarction, chronic heart disease, coronary artery bypass grafting, and percutaneous coronary intervention). There was a significant positive association between CVD incidence and NAFLD (HR = 1.488, 95% CI = 1.041-2.124, p value = 0.029). Although patients with NAFLD had higher levels of ALT and AST levels (p value = <0.001), there was no significant association between liver enzymes and the incidence risk of CVD when adjusted for different variables. Furthermore, NAFLD was associated with NAFLD APRI Q (2), APRI Q (3), and APRIQ (4) (1.365 (1.046-1.781), 1.623 (1.234-2.135), and 3.373 (2.509-4.536)), respectively. Conclusion: NAFLD increased the incidence risk of CVD in T2D. However, there was no association between liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALK-P, and GGT) and a higher incidence risk of CVD in T2D when adjusted for confounding variables.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophic factor expressed in several tissues, including the brain, gut, and pancreas. Activation of the BDNF/TrkB/CREB reduces hepatic gluconeogenesis, induces hepatic insulin signal transduction, and protects against pancreatic beta-cell loss in diabetes mellitus (DM). Several studies have investigated the possible association between BDNF and DM and its complications, but the results have been conflicting. AIM: In the present study, we aimed at systematically reviewing the literature on the serum and plasma levels of BDNF in DM and its subgroups such as T2DM, DM patients with depression, and patients with retinopathy. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. We identified 28 eligible studies and calculated the standardized mean difference (SMD) of outcomes as an effect measure. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 2734 patients with DM and 6004 controls. Serum BDNF levels were significantly lower in patients with DM vs. controls (SMD = -1.00, P<0.001). Plasma BDNF levels were not different in patients with DM compared with controls. When conducting subgroup analysis, serum BDNF levels were lower among patients with T2DM (SMD = -1.26, P<0.001), DM and depression (SMD = -1.69, P<0.001), and patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) vs. controls (SMD = -1.03, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Serum BDNF levels were lower in patients with DM, T2DM, DM with depression, and DM and DR than the controls. Our findings are in line with the hypothesis that decreased BDNF levels might impair glucose metabolism and contribute to the pathogenesis of DM and its complications.

Glycemic profile variability: An independent risk factor for diabetic neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Impaired glycemic control is a potential predictor for macro- and microvascular complications of diabetes, which could be recognized by glycemic variability. The aim of this 10-year prospective cohort study presented here is to gain a better understanding of the correlation between GV and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) as one of the most common complications of T2DM. METHODS: Since February 2010, 1152 adult patients with T2DM have been followed-up. Baseline features, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory findings were collected and documented during ten years. The association between DPN incidence and glycemic profile variability was evaluated using cox regression analysis. The coefficient of variation of glycemic indices within subjects was calculated and compared using an independent sample t-test. RESULTS: Individuals who developed neuropathy had significantly higher mean levels of glycemic indices (HbA1c, FBS, and 2hpp), urinary albumin excretion, mean creatinine levels, and a longer duration of diabetes. A significant positive correlation between incidence of DPN and glycemic profile variability (cv-FBS10 %, cv-FBS20 %, cv-2hpp20 %, cv-HbA1c5 % and cv-HbA1c10 %) was revealed. Results also showed that higher variability of FBS was associated with the higher risk of neuropathy incidence (HR: 12.29, p-value: 0.045), which indicates that glycemic profile variability is an independent risk factor for DPN in patients with T2DM. CONCLUSION: Variability of glycemic profiles from a visit to visit, regardless of sustained hyperglycemia, was indeed a significant risk factor for DPN in diabetic type 2 patients. CV-FBS was the most critical glycemic variability indices for DPN development.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and incidence of microvascular complications of diabetes in patients with type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: To investigate the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver enzymes with the incidence of microvascular complications (neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy) in a cohort of Iranian patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: For a total population of 3123 patients with type 2 diabetes, a prospective study was designed for 1215 patients with NAFLD and 1908 gender and age-matched control patients without NAFLD. The two groups were followed for a median duration of 5 years for the incidence of microvascular complications. The association between having NAFLD, the level of liver enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) value, and the incidence risk of diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy were assessed through logistic regression analysis. Results: NAFLD was found to be associated with incidence of diabetic neuropathy and nephropathy (Odds ratio: 1.338 (95% confidence interval: 1.091-1.640) and 1.333 (1.007-1.764), respectively). Alkaline-phosphatase enzyme was found to be associated with higher risks of diabetic neuropathy and nephropathy ((Risk estimate: 1.002 (95% CI: 1.001-1.003) and 1.002 (1.001-1.004), respectively)). Moreover, gamma-glutamyl transferase was associated with a higher risk of diabetic nephropathy (1.006 (1.002-1.009). Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were inversely associated with the risk of diabetic retinopathy (0.989 (0.979-0.998) and 0.990 (0.983-0.996), respectively). Furthermore, ARPI_T (1), ARPI_T (2), and ARPI_T (3) were shown to be associated with NAFLD (1.440 (1.061-1.954), 1.589 (1.163-2.171), and 2.673 (1.925, 3.710), respectively). However, FIB-4 score was not significantly associated with risk of microvascular complications. Conclusion: Despite the benign nature of NAFLD, patients with type 2 diabetes should be always assessed for NAFLD to ensure early diagnosis and entry into proper medical care. Regular screenings of microvascular complications of diabetes is also suggested for these patients.

Immunogenicity of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in immunocompromised patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Immunocompromised (IC) patients are at higher risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, morbidity, and mortality compared to the general population. They should be prioritized for primary prevention through vaccination. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in IC patients through a systematic review and meta-analysis approach. METHOD: PubMed-MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for original articles reporting the immunogenicity of two doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in adult patients with IC condition between June 1, 2020 and September 1, 2021. Meta-analysis was performed using either random or fixed effect according to the heterogeneity of the studies. Subgroup analysis was performed to identify potential sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS: A total of 26 studies on 3207 IC patients and 1726 healthy individuals were included. The risk of seroconversion in IC patients was 48% lower than those in controls (RR = 0.52 [0.42, 0.65]). IC patients with autoimmune conditions were 54%, and patients with malignancy were 42% more likely to have positive seroconversion than transplant recipients (P < 0.01). Subgroup meta-analysis based on the type of malignancy, revealed significantly higher proportion of positive seroconversion in solid organ compared to hematologic malignancies (RR = 0.88 [0.85, 0.92] vs. 0.61 [0.44, 0.86], P = 0.03). Subgroup meta-analysis based on type of transplantation (kidney vs. others) showed no statistically significant between-group difference of seroconversion (P = 0.55). CONCLUSIONS: IC patients, especially transplant recipients, developed lower immunogenicity with two-dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Among patients with IC, those with autoimmune conditions and solid organ malignancies are mostly benefited from COVID-19 vaccination. Findings from this meta-analysis could aid healthcare policymakers in making decisions regarding the importance of the booster dose or more strict personal protections in the IC patients.

Effects of Pentoxifylline on Serum Markers of Diabetic Nephropathy in Type 2 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) in combination with losartan compared to the high dose of losartan alone on serum markers of diabetic nephropathy such as HSP70, copeptin, CRP, and TNFα in patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy. METHODS: A single-center, randomized, double-blind, open-label clinical trial was conducted. Sixty-two patients were eligible and allocated to "PTX + losartan" and "high-dose losartan" arms of the trial using software for random number generation. The first arm received 400 mg PTX two times a day (BD) plus 50 mg losartan daily, while the second arm received 50 mg losartan two times a day (BD) for 12 weeks. Comparison of the biomarkers' levels before and after treatment was done using paired sample t test variance. ANCOVA was applied to evaluate the comparative efficacy of the two interventions. The effect size was calculated and reported for each biomarker. RESULTS: Urine albumin excretion (UAE), hs-CRP, and HbA1c significantly decreased in both trial arms compared to the baseline measures. Copeptin and TNFα showed significant differences (after vs before) only in the losartan group (p = 0.017 and p = 0.043, respectively). The losartan arm was more successful in reducing TNFα, copeptin, HSP70, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) values (p = 0.045, effect size = 7.3%; p = 0.018, effect size 10.1%; p = 0.046, effect size 4.7%, p = 0.001, effect size 23%; p = 0.012, effect size 10.2%, respectively) and the PTX arm was associated with a superior reduction of UAE and hs-CRP levels (p = 0.018, effect size 9.1%; p = 0.028, effect size 9.2%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Add-on PTX to losartan may have more effective anti-inflammatory and anti-albuminuric roles and therefore may be more applicable in the management of diabetic nephropathy compared with high-dose losartan alone. TRAIL REGISTRATION: Trial number IRCT 20121104011356N10.

Obesity and Diabetic Complications: A Study from the Nationwide Diabetes Report of the National Program for Prevention and Control of Diabetes (NPPCD-2021) Implications for Action on Multiple Scales.

BACKGROUND: Obesity plays a major role in the pathogenesis and development of macro- and microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and type 1 diabetes (T1D). We aimed to assess the association between obesity and macrovascular and microvascular complications of diabetes. METHODS: This study consisted of 111,830 patients (age range: 1-106) with diabetes including 10,641 T1D (3187 obese [38.2% men] and 7454 non-obese [45.5% men]) and 101,189 T2D (51,873 obese [27.5% men] and 49,316 non-obese [33.4% men]) from the National Program for Prevention and Control of Diabetes (NPPCD-2021) in Iran, who attended academic tertiary care outpatient clinics from February 2016 to April 2021. A pooled logistic regression model was used to examine the association between obesity and diabetic complications. RESULTS: Among patients with T1D, a significant association was found between obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD), neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy (OR= 1.75, 1.56, 1.80 and 1.92, P-value= 0.001, 0.004, 0.001 and <0.001, respectively). In T2D, a statistically significant association was found between obesity and CVD, neuropathy and nephropathy (OR= 1.63, 1.98, 1.21, respectively, P-values <0.001). CONCLUSION: Obesity was independently associated with CVD, neuropathy and nephropathy in patients with T1D and T2D and with retinopathy only in T1D, to different degrees. The association between obesity and retinopathy and neuropathy was the strongest among T1D and T2D, respectively. Findings from this study suggest that obesity affects diabetic complications differently among the two types of diabetes, in terms of epidemiology and pathophysiology. This signifies the importance of different preventive and therapeutic approaches to obesity in T1D compared to T2D, on a national and global scale.

Metabolic profile in patients with narcolepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Narcolepsy, a sleep disorder characterized by loss of hypocretin neurons, has been associated with metabolic disturbances. Although the metabolic alterations in narcolepsy patients are widely investigated in the literature, the results are controversial. We performed a systematic search of literature to identify metabolic profiling studies in narcolepsy patients. A total of 48 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Narcolepsy patients exhibited higher prevalence of obesity (log OR = 0.93 [0.73-1.13], P < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (log OR = 0.64 [0.34, 0.94], P < 0.001), hypertension (log OR = 0.33 [0.11, 0.55], P < 0.001), and dyslipidemia (log OR = 1.19 [0.60, 1.77], P < 0.001) compared with non-narcoleptic controls. Narcolepsy was associated with higher BMI (SMD = 0.50 [0.32-0.68], P < 0.001), waist circumference (MD = 8.61 [2.03-15.19], P = 0.01), and plasma insulin (SMD = 0.61 [0.14-1.09], P = 0.01). Levels of fasting blood glucose (SMD = -0.25 [-0.61,0.10], P = 0.15), BMR-RMR (SMD = -0.17 [-0.52-0.18], P = 0.34), systolic blood pressure (SMD = 0.29 [-0.39-0.97], P = 0.40), diastolic blood pressure (SMD = 0.39 [-0.62, 1.40], P = 0.45), CSF melanin-concentrating hormone (MD = 5.56 [-30.79-41.91], P = 0.76), serum growth hormone (SMD = 7.84 [-7.90-23.57], P = 0.33), as well as plasma and CSF leptin (SMD = 0.10 [-1.32-1.51], P = 0.89 and MD = 0.01 [-0.02-0.04], P = 0.56, respectively) did not significantly differ between narcolepsy patients and controls. These findings necessitate early screening of metabolic alterations and cardiovascular risk factors in narcolepsy patients to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates.

Type 1 diabetic manifestations in a young man triggered by COVID-19.

COVID-19 could potentially lead to the progression of the course of undiagnosed type 1 diabetes in an infected individuals.

Waist-To-Height Ratio Is a More Accurate Tool for Predicting Hypertension Than Waist-To-Hip Circumference and BMI in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Study.

Background: Anthropometric measures [i.e., body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR)] have been used as prediction factors for incident hypertension. However, whether any of these measures is superior to another in the matter of accuracy in predicting hypertension in diabetic patients has been controversial. The present prospective study aimed to determine whether WHtR is a more accurate tool for predicting hypertension than WHR and BMI in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: The study population consisted of 1,685 normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes. BMI, WHR, and WHtR were assessed at baseline and followed up for hypertension incidence for a mean of 4.8 years. A cox regression analysis was performed to assess the association between anthropometric measures (i.e., BMI, WHR, and WHtR) and incident hypertension during the follow-up period. The area under the ROC curve analysis was performed and optimal cutoff values were calculated for each anthropometric measure for hypertension prediction. Results: WHtR and BMI were significantly associated with an increased incidence of hypertension (HR = 3.296 (0.936-12.857), P < 0.001, and HR = 1.050 (1.030-1.070), P < 0.001, respectively). The discriminative powers for each anthropometric index for hypertension were 0.571 (0.540-0.602) for BMI, 0.518 (0.486-0.550) for WHR, and 0.609 (0.578-0.639) for WHtR. The optimal cutoff points for predicting hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes were 26.94 (sensitivity = 0.739, specificity = 0.380) for BMI, 0.90 (sensitivity = 0.718, specificity = 0.279) for WHR, and 0.59 (sensitivity = 0.676, specificity = 0.517) for WHtR. Conclusion: WHtR was a more accurate tool for predicting hypertension compared to WHR and BMI in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The Impact of Single-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion on Cervical Sagittal Parameters and Its Correlation With Pain and Functional Outcome of Patients With Neck Pain.

BACKGROUND: This study examines the changes in segmental and global cervical sagittal parameters after single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in patients with cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy. We also investigate whether these changes have any relation with postoperative pain and functional outcome of the patients. METHODS: Sixty patients (37 females and 23 males) with a mean age of 45.9 ± 9.5 years who were candidates of single-level ACDF due to cervical myelopathy or radiculopathy participated in the study. At baseline, 1 month, and 6 months after ACDF, outcomes of the study including sagittal balance parameters, pain intensity, and Neck Disability Index (NDI) were measured among the patients. Intensity of pain and neck disability were measured using the visual analog scale (VAS) and validated version of NDI, respectively. Using a standard lateral cervical radiography, the Cobb angle for occiput-C2, C1-C2, and C2-C7 as well as operation-level angle (OA; Cobb's angle at the level of discopathy), the thoracic inlet angle, and C7 and T1 slope angles were measured. RESULTS: The intensity of pain and neck disability of patients improved significantly during the follow up of the study comparing with baseline measurements (P < .001). There was a significant correlation between the increase of C2-C7 angle, C1-C2 angle, and OA and improvement in neck pain and NDI at 1- and 6-month follow ups. CONCLUSIONS: We found that changes at C2-C7 angle, C1-C2 angle, and OA have positive significant correlation with clinical outcome including pain improvement and decrease of disability in patients who undergo ACDF. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results of this study might be beneficial in selection of cervical cages with appropriate size during ACDF surgery, as our findinds showed that larger cages could lead to better functional outcome in patients.

Effects of a Mediterranean diet on the development of diabetic complications: A longitudinal study from the nationwide diabetes report of the National Program for Prevention and Control of Diabetes (NPPCD 2016-2020).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a Mediterranean dietary pattern on the incidence of macrovascular and microvascular complications of diabetes, namely cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetic foot disorders, diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy. METHODS: This longitudinal study was conducted among 71392 adults with diabetes who attended academic tertiary-care outpatient clinics from February 2016 to March 2020 across Iran using the National Program for Prevention and Control of Diabetes database. Among them, 22187 patients with diabetes (type 1 and type 2) completed 2-11 follow-up visits after baseline registration. The association between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and diabetic complications was assessed using pooled logistic regression models. This association was adjusted for potential confounders. The effect of time was assessed using fractional polynomials. RESULTS: A total of 22187 participants were included in the analysis (30.22% men and 69.78% women) with either type 1 (mean age 50.7 years) or type 2 (mean age 59.9 years) diabetes. After adjustment for confounding variables, there was a negative correlation between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and the incidence of CVD among patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and 2 diabetes (T2D) (OR= 0.53, 95% CI: 0.37 - 0.75, p-value <0.001 and OR= 0.61, 95% CI: 0.57 - 0.89, p-value <0.001, respectively). Also, the diet had a statistically significant protective effect against incident symptomatic neuropathy (OR= 0.32, 95% CI: 0.23 - 0.43, p-value <0.001, and OR= 0.68, 95% CI: 0.64 - 0.72, p-value <0.001, respectively), nephropathy (OR= 0.42, 95% CI: 0.30 - 0.58, p-value <0.001, and OR= 0.88, 95% CI: 0.80 - 0.96, p-value= 0.007, respectively), and retinopathy (OR= 0.32, 95% CI: 0.24 - 0.44, p-value <0.001, and OR= 0.68, 95% CI: 0.61 - 0.71, p-value <0.001, respectively) in T1D and T2D. CONCLUSION: The Mediterranean dietary pattern is associated with a lower incidence of CVD and microvascular complications (i.e. diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy) among a cohort of patients with T1D and T2D in Iran.