Serum Pro-oxidant-antioxidant Balance in Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: Diabetes mellitus is associated with inflammation and increased oxidative stress. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and serum pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) in a large populationbased study. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 7888 individuals were recruited as part of the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorders (MASHAD) cohort study. Participants were divided into three groups based on their serum PAB values (levels < 36.4, 36.4-82.6 and > 82.6 HK). Serum PAB values were measured using a colorimetric method and enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Serum PAB in subjects with and without diabetes was reported 76.85 ± 61.07 HK and 69.51 ± 55.50 HK. In subjects with a serum PAB > 82.6 HK the risk of T2DM was 1.2 fold higher in comparison to subjects with a serum PAB < 36.4 HK (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.09 - 1.47, P-value: 0.002). This association remained significant after adjustment for confounding factors in multivariable analysis (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.02 - 1.38, P-value: 0.027). CONCLUSION: Increased pro-oxidant levels may be a major complication of T2DM in our study subjects and PAB could be an indicator of higher oxidative stress in T2DM patients from northeastern Iran.

Prevalence of combined and noncombined dyslipidemia in an Iranian population.

BACKGROUND: Combination of dyslipidemic phenotypes, including elevated plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), elevated plasma triglycerides (TG), and decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations, is important because of the association of individual phenotypes with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated the prevalence of combined dyslipidemias and their effects on CVD risk in an Iranian large population. METHOD: A total of 9847 individuals were recruited as part of the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorders (MASHAD) cohort study. Anthropometric parameters and biochemical indices were measured in all of the subjects. Different types of combined dyslipidemias including high TG + low HDL-C, high TG + low HDL-C + high LDL-C, low HDL-C + high LDL-C, high TG + high LDL-C, and finally high TG + high LDL-C + low HDL-C were considered. Ten-year CVD risk was calculated using the QRISK2 risk algorithm and adjustments were made as suggested by the Joint British Societies' (JBS2). Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between different combined dyslipidemias and categorical QRISK. RESULTS: A total of 3952 males and 5895 females were included in this current study. Among the included subjects, 83.4% had one form of dyslipidemia, and 16.6% subjects were not dyslipidemic. The mean age was 48.88 ± 7.9 and 47.02 ± 8.54 years for dyslipidemic and nondyslipidemic groups, respectively. The results showed that the frequency of dyslipidemia was 98%, 87.1%, and 90% in subjects with metabolic syndrome, CVD, and diabetes, respectively. Our results suggested that around 15.7% of study population were at 10 years CVD risk (high ≥20) and it was higher in men than women (P < .001). Moreover, risk of CVD was higher in TG↑ & HDL↓ & LDL↑ group than other groups. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of dyslipidemia was 83.4% among Iranian adults. The results showed that individuals with increased plasma TG and LDL-C, and low HDL-C levels had the highest 10 years CVD risk compared to other combined dyslipidemic phenotypes.

A double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in the treatment of anxiety and depression.

BACKGROUND: Depression and anxiety are prevalent serious psychiatric disorders. Several drugs are used to treat these conditions but these are often associated with serious side effects. For this reason alternative therapies, including herbal medication such as saffron, have been proposed. We aimed to assess the effects of saffron extract for the treatment of anxiety and depression using a 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial design. METHODS: Sixty adult patients with anxiety and depression were randomized to receive a 50 mg saffron capsule (Crocus sativus L. stigma) or a placebo capsule twice daily for 12 weeks. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) questionnaires were used at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks after initiating medication. 54 subjects completed the trial. RESULTS: Saffron supplements had a significant effect on the BDI and BAI scores of subjects in comparison to placebo at the 12 week time-point (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Saffron appears to have a significant impact in the treatment of anxiety and depression disorder. Side effects were rare.

Clinical features of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) in northeast Iran.

This study aimed to introduce clinical manifestations of patients in northeast Iran with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and describe the epidemiological features, as well as risk factors for HTLV-1 infection. This is a cross-sectional study of HTLV-1 infected cases and HAM/TSP patients referred by outpatient neurology clinics as well as Mashhad Blood Transfusion Center from 2005 to 2010. The study comprises 513 cases, including 358 healthy carriers (HCs) and 145 HAM/TSP patients. The majority of carriers were male (73.5%), whereas 67.6% of HAM/TSP sufferers were female (P < 0.001). The mean age of HAM/TSP patients and HCs was 45.9 ± 13.6 and 39.5 ± 11.58 years, respectively (P < 0.001). The history of transfusion, surgery, hospitalization and cupping was observed in a significant greater number of HAM/TSP patients than the HCs (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P = 0.029, respectively). Gait disturbance was the most common complaint in HAM/TSP patients (72.4%). This research develops an HTLV-1 data registry in an endemic area such as Mashhad which can serve useful purposes, including evaluation of clinical and laboratory characteristics of HAM/TSP patients and epidemiological data of HTLV-1-infected cases.

Relationship between Patient Demographic Characteristics, Valproic Acid Dosage and Clearance in Adult Iranian Patients.

OBJECTIVES: As there are conflicting findings regarding the clearance-dose and patient characteristics relationships for valproic acid (VPA), this study was conducted to investigate the relationship between patient demographic characteristics, VPA dosage and the drug clearance in adult Iranian patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients (N= 47) were either on monotherapy with VPA or were under co-treatment with drugs that have no effect on VPA pharmacokinetic (PK) profile. All of the patients received VPA at therapeutic dose. Steady state trough plasma concentrations of VPA were determined by Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay (FPIA) and VPA apparent clearance (CL/F) were calculated in each patient. RESULTS: Mean VPA dose and VPA CL/F were 8.93±2.2 mg/kg/day and 0.65±0.55 l/hr respectively. No significant correlations were found between VPA CL/F and patients' age, TBW and VPA dose. VPA CL/F values of male and female patients were compared and no significant difference between these two groups was noted (P> 0.05). Significant correlation between VPA dose and total trough plasma concentration was found (P= 0.001). Mean total VPA plasma concentration was 54.51±23.74 mg/l. CONCLUSION: Our study showed PK of VPA was not affected by age, sex, TBW and VPA dose. However, for detailed results and construction of VPA PK model in Iranian patients, it is necessary to evaluate VPA PK in a larger sample size with different VPA doses, age and TBW ranges.

Assessment of the immune system activity in Iranian patients with Major Depression Disorder (MDD).

BACKGROUND: Major Depression Disorder (MDD) is a common disorder with prevalence of 15% among men and up to 25% among women. In recent years the association of immune system alterations and MDD has been investigated. Assessments of immunologic and inflammatory responses in these patients enhance our knowledge of the etiology and pathogenesis of this disease. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in immunoglobulin and cytokine serum levels and lymphocyte subsets in patients with MDD. METHODS: We studied 37 adult patients with MDD, diagnosed based on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, and 15 healthy controls matched with the patients. Plasma concentration of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10, TNF alpha, and IFN gamma were measured by ELISA and serum immunoglobulins by SRID. Total number of NK cells (CD16 and CD56), B cells (CD19), and T cells (CD8, CD4, and CD3) were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: We found no significant differences in plasma concentration of IL-4, IL-10, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and immunoglobulins as well as total number of NK cells, B cells, and T cells between major depressed patients and healthy control subjects. CONCLUSION: We conclude that in our patients, there were no significant differences in immune system activity between MDD patients and controls.