Association of a genetic variant in the AKT gene locus and cardiovascular risk factors.

Cardiovascular disease (CVDs) is the leading cause of morbidity and death worldwide. Most genetic variants could be identified by several genome-wide-association-studies (GWAS), including within genes encoding proteins involved in the AKT/PI3K pathways that are related with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome and CVDs. Therefore, due to the importance of genetic variants in the prognosis of diseases, we examined the genetic polymorphism of AKT-rs1130233 located on chromosome 14 with cardiovascular risk factors. In this cross-sectional study, 721 subjects recruited from the Mashhad-Stroke and Heart-Atherosclerotic-Disorders (MASHAD) cohort study. The participants including 257 subjects with metabolic syndrome, 144 subjects with cardiovascular disease and 320 subjects as a control group. Anthropometric, biochemical and demographic information measures were prepared. Dietary assessment was managed by 24h dietary recall. DNA extraction and genotyping were carried out by using the TaqMan real-time-PCR based method. The association of AKT rs1130233 locus with dietary intakes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors were assessed. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 21 software. Frequencies of genotypes AA, AG and GG of the AKT rs1130233 polymorphism were 12.6%, 44.5% and 42.9% in subjects with metabolic syndrome and 9.7%, 39.6% and 50.7% in subjects with cardiovascular disease, respectively. The frequency of allele A and G in cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome population were 29.5%, 70.5% and 34.8%, 65.2%, respectively. We have found no significant association between the AKT rs1130233 polymorphism with cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome. The results of dietary intake showed that the levels of phosphorus intake (p=0.008), calcium intake (p=0.007) and iodine intake (p=0.04) were different in subjects with and without metabolic syndrome. And also, energy intake was significantly different in subjects with cardiovascular disease (p=0.01) compared to the control group. Our findings suggest that AKT rs1130233 was not associated with the risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease in the Iranian population. More studies are needed to validate our results. We did functional analysis, due to certify our investigation about value of this genetic biomarker for CVD risk.

Alcohol consumption in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature.

ISSUES: Alcohol production, marketing and consumption are illegal in Iran. This systematic review examines the lifetime and last 12-month prevalence of alcohol consumption among the general and young population in Iran. APPROACH: We searched Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Iranian scientific databases (i.e. Scientific Information Database and Magiran) for relevant publications in English and Persian from inception to 12 May 2019. Following a random-effects meta-analysis, we estimated the pooled prevalence of alcohol consumption among the general population and young people (<30 years old). Meta-regression was used to identify potential sources of heterogeneity. KEY FINDINGS: Of the 2400 identified records, 62 met the inclusion criteria. The overall pooled prevalence of lifetime alcohol consumption among the general population and young people was 13.0% [95% confidence intervals (CI) 10.0, 16.0]. The overall pooled prevalence of last 12-month alcohol consumption was 12.0% (95% CI 7.0, 18.0) for the general population and 15.0% (95% CI 9.0, 22.0) for young people. The prevalence of alcohol consumption varied from 0.03% to 68.0% in different regions, 0.3% to 66.6% among males and 0.2% to 21.0% among females. IMPLICATIONS: Our findings highlight the need for public health surveillance of alcohol use in Iran. CONCLUSION: These estimates show that, on average, one in eight people in the general population have ever consumed alcohol in Iran, indicating that alcohol consumption is not an uncommon practice in the country.

Association between dietary inflammatory index and risk of cardiovascular disease in the Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder study population.

The dietary inflammatory index (DII) is a novel way of describing diet that has been studied in relation to various health conditions, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) in several populations. We aimed to investigate the association between DII and CVD events among a representative population sample in northeastern Iran. This prospective cohort study was a subsample of 4,672 adults aged 35-65 years, and recruited as part of Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder cohort study population. The DII was computed at baseline according to a 65-item validated food frequency questionnaire. Cox regression was used to determine the association of DII with incident CVD. One hundred twenty-four participants developed CVD (including 24 cases of myocardial infarction [MI], 34 cases of stable angina [SA], and 66 cases of unstable angina [UA]). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, a hazard ratios of 1.06 (95% confidence interval: 0.70-1.60), 1.36 (95% confidence interval: 0.52-3.52), 1.33 (95% confidence interval: 0.60-2.94), and 0.86 (95% confidence interval: 0.48-1.53) were found for total CVD, MI, SA, and UA events, respectively, among the participants with proinflammatory diet (DII ≥ 0) versus those with anti-inflammatory diet (DII < 0). There was no statistically significant association between the DII and total CVD, MI, SA, or UA in this population of middle-aged Iranian men and women.

Sex under Influence of Drugs: A Nationwide Survey among Iranian Female Sex Workers.

BACKGROUND: Due to the high level of sexual relationships, prostitute women are faced with many dangers, including acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), fertility problems, drug use, etc. In this regard, addict prostitute women are exposed to more risks because drug use is considered as an outstanding factor in those associated with transmission of AIDS and being in an insecure sexual relationship. The purpose of this study was to find out the variables influential on the level of drug use, before or during sexual relationship. METHODS: In 2010, 625 prostitute women were selected by multistage sampling from 21 centers out of 12 provinces. Then, we used a standard questionnaire for gathering data by a face-to-face interview. The multilevel ordinal logistic regression in survey model was used to find out the relationship between variables and the level of drug use before or during sexual relationship. FINDINGS: The number of monetary customers at the last working day [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.87, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.50-2.32] and having sexual relationship during the past month with monetary customers (AOR: 4.77, 95% CI: 2.61-8.70) were significantly related to the level of drug use before or during sexual relationship in the past month. CONCLUSION: Since the level of drug use before or during sexual relationship was higher in women who had more daily sexual relationships, these women are exposed to the consequences of drug use; thus, identifying the status of this group of women is important to plan for future injuries.