Evaluation of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) for Patients with and without Thyroid Nodules: A Patient-Based Study.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) between patients with and without thyroid nodules. Materials and Methods: This case-control study was performed on 86 patients with normal Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level (0.5-4.5 mIU/L) with thyroid nodules, who referred to Imam Khomeini and Golestan Hospitals (Ahvaz, Iran). Furthermore, 43 nonnodule patients with normal TSH level and normal thyroid ultrasonography were recruited from the general population as control group. The insulin resistance was evaluated for them made and the HOMA-IR ≥2.5 was defined as insulin resistance. Results: The mean of HOMA-IR value was significantly higher in thyroid nodule patients compared to controls (3.02 ± 1.92 vs. 1.10 ± 1.55; P < 0.001). Insulin resistance was seen in 49 thyroid nodule patients (57.0%), and 4 patients (9.3%) in the control group (P < 0.0001). Waist circumference, body mass index, fasting blood sugar, triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and insulin levels were significantly higher in the thyroid nodule group. Conclusions: Our study shows there is an association between insulin resistance and thyroid nodules. The patients with thyroid nodules have higher HOMA-IR value.

The relationship between self-care, spiritual well-being and coping strategies in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Diabetes is one of the most common diseases in the world. The most important underlying cause of death in diabetic patients is the lack of self-care and management. However, there is little known about the influence of coping strategies and spiritual well-being (SWB) on self-care in diabetic patients. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between self-care activities with coping strategies and spiritual well-being (SWB) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, we selected 236 patients with T2DM referred to the diabetes hospital clinics in the southwest of Iran. Inclusion criteria were patients diagnosed with T2DM, with the age group ranging 20-80 years, literate, not suffering from severe and debilitating complications of diabetes and lacking acute psychological illness. Exclusion criteria included refusing to complete questionnaires and cognitive or emotional impairment. Instruments include the demographic questionnaire, Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities, Lazarus and Folkman's Coping Strategies Questionnaire and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS; developed by Paloutzian and Ellison). To examine the relationship between variables, the Pearson correlation and multiple stepwise regression analysis were used. Results: The findings of this study on 236 patients with T2DM (53.25 ± 10.91) including 76 (32.2%) males and 160 (67.8%) females showed the majority of participants were female, the age group was between 41 and 60 years (68.22%), had a Diploma (63.98%), were insured (63.55%) and had a moderate economic situation (55.93%). There was a direct and significant correlation between self-care activities and coping strategies (r = 0.163, p < 0.05), and only a problem-focused coping strategy was considered as a predictor variable of self-care (p < 0.01). There was a direct and significant correlation between self-care and SWB (r = 0.385, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that there is a significant relationship between self-care and the problem-focused dimension of coping strategies and SWB in patients with T2DM.

Risk Reassessment of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer in Ahvaz, Iran: A Cross-sectional Retrospective Study.

Background: Accurate evaluation of response to treatment in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is the sine qua non of preventing over-treatment in low-risk patients and implementing appropriate interventions in high-risk individuals. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the response to therapy in DTC patients based on dynamic stratification method. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 154 medical records of subjects with DTC (with at least 6 months after total thyroidectomy) and referred to endocrinology clinics in Ahvaz, Iran, from April 2020 to May 2021 were examined. Patients were stratified according to a dynamic risk stratification system (informed by their specific clinical, histopathological, and ultrasonography findings, and other diagnostic imagines) into four groups: Excellent response (ER), indeterminate response (IR), biochemical incomplete response (BIR), and structural incomplete response (SIR). Results: For a mean follow-up period of 28.59 months, excellent response to treatment was observed in 92 patients (59.7%), indeterminate response to treatment was found in 32 patients (20.8%), biochemical incomplete response was detected in 2 patients (1.3%), and structural incomplete response was seen in 28 patients (18.2%). In the group with low risk of recurrence, ER and IR were observed in 79.2% and 15.6% of the patients, respectively (P < 0.0001). In the group with an intermediate risk of recurrence, ER was found in 32% of the patients, while IR and SIR + BIR were seen in 34% and 34% of the patients, respectively (P < 0.0001). No cases of ER or IR were observed in the group with high risk (P = 0.001). Conclusions: In sum, response to treatment significantly varied based on dynamic risk stratification, with ER being highest in the low-risk group, less likely in moderate risk group, and undetected in the high-risk group.

KCNQ1 rs2237895 polymorphism is associated with the therapeutic response to sulfonylureas in Iranian type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Background and Aims: Sulfonylureas are the most secondary prescribed oral anti-diabetic drug. Understanding its genetic role in pharmacodynamics can elucidate a considerable knowledge about personalized treatment in type 2 diabetes patients. This study aimed to assess the impact of KCNQ1 variants on sulfonylureas response among type 2 diabetes Iranian patients. Methods and Results: 100 patients were recruited who were under sulfonylureas therapy for six months. 50 responder and 50 non-responder patients were selected. KCNQ1 variants were determined by the RFLP method, and their role in treatment response was assessed retrospectively. Patients with rs2237895 CC and AC genotypes demonstrated a significant decrement in FBS and HbA1c after treatment over patients with AA genotypes (All P < 0.001). Compared to the A allele, the odds ratio for treatment success between carriers with rs2237895 C allele was 4.22-fold (P < 0.001). Patients with rs2237892 CT heterozygous genotype exhibit a higher reduction rate in HbA1c and FBS than CC homozygotes (P=0.064 and P=0.079, respectively). The rs2237892 T allele carriers showed an odds ratio equals to 2.83-fold over C allele carriers in the responder group compared to the non-responder group (p=0.081). Conclusion: Findings suggest that the KCNQ1 rs2237895 polymorphism is associated with the sulfonylureas response on Iranian type 2 diabetes patients.

Effect of a low dose of empagliflozin on short-term outcomes in type 2 diabetics with acute coronary syndrome after percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVES: To study the effects of low dose of empagliflozin on improving outcomes in diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: This double-blind controlled clinical trial was carried out on 93 diabetic patients (56 males and 37 females, mean age of 56.55 years) with ACS who underwent PCI at 2 university teaching hospitals in 2020, Ahvaz, Iran. The patients were randomly assigned to receive empagliflozin (10 mg once daily) or placebo at similar doses for 6 months after PCI. In addition, to standard treatments with another hypoglycemic agent. Cardiovascular outcomes (including all-cause mortality, coronary revascularization, rehospitalization due to unstable angina, hospitalization due to heart failure, cardiovascular death, non-fetal myocardial infarction, and non-fetal stroke) were evaluated during period of 6 months follow-up after the empagliflozin treatment. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the low dose empagliflozin and placebo groups after treatment in terms of cardiovascular mortality (2.2% versus [vs.] 4.2%; p=0.598), rehospitalization due to unstable angina (4.5% vs. 8.7%; p=0.433), and coronary revascularization (2.2% vs. 0%; p=0.312). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that adding low dose empagliflozin to standard care of ACS diabetic patients after PCI was associated with no significant reduction in negative cardiovascular outcomes during 6 months.

Effect of Sitagliptin Versus Glibenclamide on Glycemic Markers, Lipid Profile Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Factors in Type 2 Diabetes Patients: a Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives:Diabetes mellitus is leading to chronic complications, including cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of Sitagliptin and Glibenclamide on glycemic markers, lipid profile inflammatory, and oxidative stress factors in type 2 diabetes patients. Methods: This double-blinded randomized controlled trial was performed on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (n=54). The treatment group (27 patients) received 100 mg of Sitagliptin once daily + 500 mg Metformin twice daily, orally, for 12 weeks, and the control group (27 patients) was given 5 mg of Glibenclamide once daily + 500 mg Metformin twice daily, also orally, for 12 weeks. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), lipid profile [cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG)], fasting blood sugar (FBS) and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), body weight, and body mass index (BMI) were measured before and after the study. Results:In both groups, the FBS level was significantly reduced from baseline (P=0.03 in the Sitagliptin group and P=0.02 in the Glibenclamide one). The percent of HbA1c was also significantly reduced from baseline in both the Sitagliptin group (P=0.01) and the Glibenclamide one (P=0.008). However, comparing the groups, these changes were not different. In the Sitagliptin group, IL-6 was significantly reduced from baseline (P=0.01) as well as in comparison with the Glibenclamide group (P=0.001). The TG level was significantly lower than the baseline in the Sitagliptin group (P=0.03), so changes between groups were significant (P=0.04). Weight and BMI were significantly increased from baseline in the Glibenclamide group (P=0.02 and P=0.03, respectively), and their changes between the two groups were also significant (P=0.001). Conclusion:These finding support the favorable effects of Sitagliptin on cardiovascular risks beyond its advantages on insulin-glucose hemostasis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Anti-proteinuria effect of active vitamin D in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy.

Introduction: Proteinuria is a common complication in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy (DN). The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-proteinuria effect of active vitamin D in patients with type 2 DN. Methods: A double-blind randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 42 DN patients selected by convenience sampling method. After selecting patients based on inclusion criteria, they were randomly divided into control and intervention groups. Patients in the intervention group received 0.25 mg of active vitamin D per day for 12 weeks. The variables evaluated in the patients on the first day of the intervention included fasting blood sugar (FBS), calcium, phosphorus, creatinine, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and proteinuria. These variables were also evaluated at the end of the first, second, and third month of intervention. Data were collected and analyzed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 22. Results: Around 52.5% of the patients participating in this study were male and 47.5% were female. The mean age of the patients was 55.52 ± 6.58 years. The results of repeated measures analysis showed that active vitamin D significantly reduced proteinuria (P = 0.000) in patients in the intervention group. The changes in FBS (P = 0.235), calcium (P = 0.393), phosphorus (P = 0.694), creatinine (P = 0.232), GFR (P = 0.347), systolic blood pressure (P = 0.615), and diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.115) were not significant in patients in the intervention group. Conclusion: Prescription of active vitamin D can significantly reduce the incidence of proteinuria in patients with DN.

The relationship between fasting plasma glucose in the first trimester of pregnancy and the incidence of gestational diabetes in Iran.

AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between fasting plasma glucose in the first trimester of pregnancy and the incidence of gestational diabetes. METHODS: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted using the merging data from two prospective cohort studies that were carried out from 2015 to 2018 in Ahvaz, southwest of Iran. Logistic regression and ROC curves were used to evaluate the predictive power of risk factors. RESULTS: Of all 1270 pregnant women studied, 454 (35.75%) had gestational diabetes who were compared with the other 816 (64.25%) healthy women. The area under the curve (AUC) of fasting glucose for the first pregnancy visit was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.76-83), and the optimum fasting glucose cut-off point was 85.5 mg/dL with a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 69%. AUC of the combination of fasting glucose at the first visit with body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 and family history of diabetes was calculated to be 0.85 (CI, 0.82-0.88) and 0.84 (CI, 0.79-0.89) respectively. CONCLUSION: Fasting plasma glucose in the first trimester of pregnancy is a relatively good predictor of gestational diabetes. If this factor is combined with other risks, its diagnostic value will increase.

The Effect of CYP2C9 Genotype Variants in Type 2 Diabetes on the Pharmacological Effectiveness of Sulfonylureas, Diabetic Retinopathy, and Nephropathy.

AIM: Type 2 diabetes (T2D), as a major cause of morbidity and mortality, is predicted to have a prevalence of 629 million by 2045. As diabetic patients show considerable inter-individual variation in response to antidiabetic treatment, this study aimed to investigate the gene polymorphism of cytochrome P450 as well as the effectiveness and safety of glibenclamide and gliclazide for different genotypes of CYP2C9. Besides, the chronic side effects of T2D including retinal microvasculature complications or retinopathy and renal dysfunction due to nephropathy in different genotypes were considered. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The participants including 80 T2D patients treated with glibenclamide or gliclazide were recruited from university hospitals of Ahvaz Jundishpur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, in the southwest of Iran. Blood samples were collected from the patients at 2.5h after the morning dose of glibenclamide and 12h after the last dose of gliclazide. Genotyping from the extracted DNA was, then, performed using PCR-RFLP. The plasma level of glibenclamide and gliclazide was, in turn, measured by the reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The results showed that the wild-type allele, i.e., CYP2C9*1, occurred in the highest frequency (0.8), while the frequency rates of the mutant allele, i.e., CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3, were 0.15 and 0.05, respectively. Moreover, no significant association was found between any of the genotypes as well as the clinical and biochemical characteristics of the patients. The findings also showed that the plasma level of sulfonylureas (i.e., glibenclamide and gliclazide) was the highest in the patients with the CYP2C9*3 allele. It was also found that 75.9% of the patients with variant genotypes had experienced hypoglycemia events. Furthermore, in the absence of wild type allele, a significant increase was observed in retinopathy (p=0.039) and nephropathy (p=0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings can provide guidelines for the optimal management of the treatment protocols with sulfonylurea intended to control the T2D complications.

Recurrent cardiac and skin myxomas along with acromegaly: A case report of carney complex.

BACKGROUND: Carney complex (CNC) is an uncommon multisystem endocrine disorder with significant variability of clinical manifestations including mucocutaneous involvement (pigmented lesions, myxomas, blue nevi, etc.), endocrine tumors (adrenal, pituitary, thyroid glands, or testicles), and non-endocrine tumors [cardiac myxomas, psammomatous melanotic schwannomas (PMS), breast myxomas as well as ductal adenomas, and osteochondromyxomas]. To our knowledge, this is the second report of CNC in Iran, presenting with typical manifestations. CASE REPORT: A 29-year-old man was referred to our clinic to evaluate the likelihood of CNC because of recurrent cardiac myxomas. He sometimes suffered from self-limited episodes of non-exertional palpitation, dyspnea, weakness, and pallor. He had some features of acromegaly (such as increase in acral size and frontal bossing). The laboratory tests revealed a high insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) level, with no growth hormone (GH) suppression after oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a microadenoma (5.79 × 2.80 mm) of the pituitary gland; then, he was diagnosed with CNC, having the following major criteria: recurrent cardiac myxomas, skin myxomas, and acromegaly due to GH pituitary microadenoma, as well as minor criteria: multiple cafe´-au-lait (CAL) spots, several skin tags and moles, and thyroid nodules. In this patient, laboratory tests for Cushing's syndrome were equivocal, whereas pheochromocytoma was proven biochemically but unexpectedly pathology did not confirm it. Rather, the pathology of the right adrenocortical specimen revealed nodular hyperplasia. CONCLUSION: For patients with recurrent cardiac myxoma, especially with skin myxoma, the diagnosis of CNC should be considered and the search for other associations should be done even in an asymptomatic patient.

The most appropriate cut-off point of anthropometric indices in predicting the incidence of metabolic syndrome and its components.

INTRODUCTION: The association of individuals' anthropometric indices with their development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been investigated in several studies. Taking into account the ethnic differences, this study aimed to determine the most appropriate cut-off points of anthropometric indices in predicting the incidence of MetS and its components in Ahvaz. METHODS: This study is part of a cohort study conducted at the Diabetes Research Center of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences on a population of over 20 in Ahvaz during 2009-2014. Of the 592 patients, 505 patients who were not diagnosed with MetS in 2009, were entered into this study. The data analyzed involved demographic information including age and sex, anthropometric information including height, weight, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC) and the ratios between them, laboratory data including blood levels of Triglyceride (TG), Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and clinical data including systolic(S) and diastolic(D)blood pressure(BP). After 5 years, the subjects were re-evaluated for MetS based on the National Cholesterol Education Program - Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) criteria and the most appropriate cut-off points of anthropometric indices for the prediction of the incidence of MetS using the Receiver Operative Characteristic (ROC) curves were obtained. RESULTS: Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) index with a cut-off point of 0.53 followed by WC with a cut-off point of 87.5 cm had the highest power to predict the incidence of MetS. The cut-off points of WC and Body mass index (BMI) were respectively 89.5 cm and 26 kg/m2 for men, and 83.5 cm and 27.5 kg/m2 for women. All anthropometric indices were able to predict the components of this syndrome (with the exception of low HDL-C). The cut-off point of WC in predicting High FBS, High TG and High BP was 84.5, 84.8, and 86.5 cm, respectively. CONCLUSION: Overall, it seems that given its ease of measurement, the WC index is preferred to other indices for predicting the incidence of MetS and its components in clinical screening.

Frequency of type I and II diabetes in newly diagnosed diabetic patients: Measuring C-Peptide level.

AIMS: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that manifested as hyperglycemia due to the defect in secretion or function of insulin. This study aimed was to survey about frequency type I and II diabetes in newly diagnosed diabetic patients base on c-peptide and anti-glutamate acid decarboxylase (GAD) tests. MATERIALS & METHODS: This study was conducted as a prospective study on 70 diabetic patients aged 15-45 years old who referred to diabetes clinics in Ahvaz city during 2012-2014 and their diabetes was diagnosed for the first time, but their type of diabetes was not clinically definitive. Patients with anti-GAD positive and fasting C-peptide level of less than 0.65 were diagnosed as type I diabetes. Patients with anti-GAD negative fasting C-peptide level of greater than or equal to 0.65 were considered as type II diabetes. RESULTS: Eighty two patients (49 males and 33 females) with a mean age of 21.64 ±â€¯4.36 years (range 15-34) and a mean BMI of 22.05 ±â€¯4.41 kg/m2 (range 14-18) were studied. Twenty three patients (28.5%) had type I diabetes and 59 patients (71.95%) had type II diabetes. In patients with type I diabetes, the mean BMI was 24.86 ±â€¯2.36 kg/m2 and the number of patients with family history (56.22%) was higher. In type II diabetic patients, the number of women (62.71%) was higher than that of men. CONCLUSION: Anti-GAD test can be used as a predictive test for early diagnosis of disease and screening of people with a diagnosis of diabetes based on the type of diabetes.

Incidence of obesity, overweight and hypertension in children and adolescents in Ahvaz southwest of IRAN: Five-years study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of obesity, overweight and hypertension in children and adolescents aged 10-15 in Ahvaz. METHODS: This is a epidemiologic study performed on 176 people aged 10-15 in Ahvaz. In 2009, 300 people underwent weight, height and blood pressure measurements. Five years later, the same people were reassessed for obesity, overweight and hypertension, of whom a total of 176 people agreed to repeat the procedure. RESULTS: The study included 100 (57%) males and 76 (43%) females. Mean BMI was 22.1 ±â€¯4.3 kg / m2 in year 2014, without any significant difference between the two sexes (P = 0.518). In the same year, the prevalence of obesity and overweight was 26 (14.8%) and 13 (7.4%), respectively. After 5years, BMI increased significantly (P < 0.001). Of the 150 norma participants with normal BMI in 2009, 15 (10%) and 6 (4%) became overweight and obese in 2014 respectively. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased significantly over 5 years P = 0.042 and P < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows an increase in mean BMI and mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures after 5 years among people aged 10-15 in Ahvaz.

The effects of ginger supplementation on inflammatory, antioxidant, and periodontal parameters in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with chronic periodontitis under non-surgical periodontal therapy. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ginger supplementation on inflammatory, antioxidant, and periodontal parameters in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) under non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this double-blind clinical trial study, 46 T2DM patients with CP were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups and received either 4 tablets 500 mg (2 g) ginger or placebo twice a day for 8 weeks. All patients were treated with NSPT during the intervention period. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), hs-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), periodontal indices including clinical attachment loss (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), pocket depth (PD), and plaque index were evaluated in all subjects pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS: Following 8 weeks of ginger treatment with NSPT, significant reductions were observed in the mean levels of IL-6 (p=0.001), hs-CRP (p=0.03), TNF-α (p=0.007), CAL, and PD (p<0.001) in the intervention group. The mean serum levels of SOD and GPx were significantly increased in the intervention group after the intervention (p=0.001 and 0.002, respectively). At the end of the study, the mean changes of GPx were significantly higher in the intervention group compared with the control group (p=0.04). Also, after the administration of the ginger with NSPT, significant decrease occurred in the mean change of IL-6 (p=0.009), hs-CRP (p=0.049), TNF-α (p=0.049), CAL (p=0.003), and PD (p=0.04) compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: It is recommended that ginger supplementation along with NSPT may be effective in the improvement of inflammation, oxidative, and periodontal status in T2DM with CP.

The effects of inhaled corticosteroid on insulin sensitivity in asthmatic patients.

Asthma is an inflammatory disease, which causes airflow limitation and increase insulin resistance. The present study was carried out in order to investigate insulin resistance and the effect of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) on insulin sensitivity in asthmatic patients. A registered (IRCT201605247411N2) interventional, quasi-experimental trial was performed from 2014 to 2015 in Imam Khomeini hospital Ahvaz, Iran. Patients with mild to moderate asthma participated in this study. Spirometry, fasting blood sugar (FBS), blood sugar 2 hour post prandial (BS2HPP), HbA1C, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), Insulin Level, and C reactive protein (CRP) were measured. Then Homeostatic Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance [HOMA-IR] Index calculated. Data were analyzed using paired t-test and McNemar's test using SPSS 20.0 Software. The study consisted of 35 non-diabetic patients suffering from asthma (20 men and 15 women) with a mean age of 36.6 ±12.3 years. Inhaled corticosteroid had a significant effect on spirometric parameters, but it had no significant effect on other variables. At baseline, mean HbA1C, insulin level and HOMA-IR were 5.5%, 10.9 mIU/L and 2.7 respectively. None of these values changed significantly after treatment with inhaled corticosteroid for two months. The results indicated that there is no relationship between ICS and increased insulin resistance in asthmatic patients.

Prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension in adolescence in Ahvaz, Iran.

BACKGROUND: High blood pressure is a risk factor for some disease like stroke, coronary heart disease, and renal failure. High blood pressure in children is an increasing health problem. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension age between 10 to 17 years old. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This descriptive analytic study was conducted using multiphase sampling method in Ahvaz (Southwest of Iran). A questionnaire include: height, weight, and body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressures filled for each participant. Blood pressure was measured twice for each person. For the diagnosis of hypertension, the fourth report of the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents of the National Health Institute of United States was used. RESULTS: Total participants of the study were 1707children and adolescents including 922 boys (54%) and 785 girls (46%). The prevalence of high blood pressure was 1.7% (2.5% in boys and 0.8%). The prevalence of pre-hypertension was 9%(7.6% in boys, 10.6% in girls). The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased with increasing body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of high blood pressure was found to be lower than other studies in our country. The prevalence of the high blood pressure in boys was significantly higher than girls. This study, like other studies showed high correlation between being overweight and an increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Impact of diabetic ketoacidosis on thyroid function tests in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients.

The aim of current study was to evaluate the function of thyroid during diabetic acidosis, just after the treatment and two weeks after the treatment. This was the analytic study. The study subjects included 20 patients, aged 18-36 years old, with type1 diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis. All subjects were evaluated for thyroid function tests such as triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), T3 resin uptake (T3RU), free T3 (FT3), free T4 (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), before treatment. After completing DKA treatment and two weeks after discharge, the thyroid function tests were repeated on the subjects and the results were analyzed using paired T-test, ANOVA or repeated measure and Pearson correlation tests. the current study showed that the mean levels of T3 and T4 were at hyperthyroid range and lower than normal before the treatment and significantly increased after the treatment (P<0.001). The serum levels of T3RU, FT4 and T4 were at the normal range, but their mean level increased significantly following the treatment progression (P<0.001).A significant relationship was observed among blood pH and the serum levels of FT3 and T3, before the treatment; the lower pH, the lower levels of FT3 and T3. The results of the current study showed that DKA causes euthyroid sick syndrome. The disease complications were resolved two weeks after treatment and the severity of acidosis was the main factor to decrease the level of active form of thyroid hormones such as FT3 and T3.

Improving Depression, and Quality of Life in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Using Group Cognitive Behavior Therapy.

Objective: Depression is a chronic condition comorbid with diabetes type 2 that often remains untreated. Dealing with diabetes is a challenging task for patients and can lead to depression in long term. These two conditions have a negative influence on each other and on the individual's quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of group cognitive behavior therapy on depression, quality of life in women with diabetes type 2. Method: We conducted a clinical trial among 30 women with diabetes type 2 comorbid with depression. The women were divided randomly into the two groups of intervention and control. Each group consisted of 15 individuals. The intervention group received 10 sessions of group cognitive behavior therapy while the control group didn't. Results: The results suggested that group cognitive-behavior therapy decreased depression symptoms (F=72.17, p<0.001), and improved quality of life of the patients (F=8.82, p<0.05) of the intervention group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results shows that group cognitive behavior therapy can affect depression symptoms, and consequently patients' quality of life with diabetes type 2.

The prevalence of metabolic disorders in various phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome: a community based study in Southwest of Iran.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinopathy, associated with metabolic abnormalities. Metabolic features of various phenotypes of this syndrome are still debatable. The aim of present study hence was to evaluate the metabolic and hormonal features of PCOS phenotypes in comparison to a group of healthy control. METHODS: A total of 646 reproductive-aged women were randomly selected using the stratified, multistage probability cluster sampling method. The subjects were divided into five phenotypes: A (oligo/anovulation + hyperandrogenism + polycystic ovaries), B (oligo/anovulation + hyperandrogenism), C (hyperandrogenism + polycystic ovaries) and D (oligo/anovulation + polycystic ovaries). Hormonal and metabolic profiles and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among these groups were compared using ANCOVA adjusted for age and body mass index. RESULTS: Among women with PCOS (n = 85), those of groups A and C had higher serum levels of insulin and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), compared to PCOS women of group D. Serum concentrations of cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, triglycerides and glucose in group A were higher than in other phenotypes, whereas the metabolic syndrome was more prevalent among group B. CONCLUSIONS: Women who had all three components of the syndrome showed the highest level of metabolic disturbances indicating that metabolic screening of the severest phenotype of PCOS may be necessary.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its correlated factors among children and adolescents of Ahvaz aged 10 - 19.

BACKGROUND: Population-based studies for prevalence of metabolic syndrome (M.S) in children and adolescents are relatively rare. The aim of this study was to assess the Prevalence of M.S and correlated factors among children and adolescents aged 10 to 19 years in Ahvaz. METHODS: In this descriptive-analytical population- based study, 2246 children and adolescents, 10-19 years old (1113 male and 1133 female) in Ahvaz, were evaluated. Anthropometry, biochemical measurement and blood pressure (BP) were assessed. Modified ATP III criteria 2005 were used for M.S. definition. Center for disease and Control preventions (CDC) percentile were applied to define cut off points of waist circumference and BP. RESULTS: Prevalence of M.S. was 9% (95% CI: 8-10%) with prevalence in male 11% (95% CI: 10-12%) and female 7% (95% CI 6-8%). Among individuals with M.S, triglyceride (TG) and decreased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels were the most common components (33.5% and 24.1%, respectively). Prevalence of M.S was higher in overweight persons comparing to participants with at risk and normal weight group (in male: 24.1%, 14.3% and 9.9% respectively P = 0.0001), (in female: 22.6%, 18.3% and 4.5% respectively P = 0.0001). Among the correlated factors of M.S age (P = 0.0006), sex and BMI (P = 0.0001) had significant differences between subjects with and without M.S. whereas there was no significant difference between two groups in ethnicity, history of breast fed, birth weight neonatal ICU admission, maternal history(GDM, gestational HTN, Parity) and family history of HTN, obesity and DM (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study shows high prevalence of M.S in Children and Adolescents in south west of Iran (Ahvaz) especially in overweight persons.