ABSTRACT
Background: This study aimed to investigate dose area product [DAP], effective dose, and radiation risk in newborn infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units in Isfahan and Kashan
Materials and Methods: During a period of six months, DAP for chest X-ray examinations for newborn infants hospitalized in NICUs of five special hospitals including Beheshti [in Kashan], Al-Zahra, Imam Hossein, Amin and Goldis [in Isfahan] were measured using DAP meter. Then, using the dose area product [DAP] and conversion coefficients, the effective dose was calculated. Radiation risk per single exposure was estimated by applying 2.8 × 10-2 and 13 × 10-2 factors per Sievert. Also, to estimate the radiation risk in the exposed population, the collective effective dose and the mentioned factors were used
Results: The mean DAP, the effective dose, the radiation risk per single exposure, and the radiation risk in the exposed population were found to be 15.37 +/- [1.19], 45.52 +/- [3.28], [1.27-5.91] × 10-6, and [0.0045-0.021], respectively
Conclusion: Findings indicate that the effective dose and therefore radiation risk in NICUs for newborn infants is higher than that of other studied cities in Iran. Consequently, it is necessary to attempt to reduce radiation dose while maintaining the image quality. In addition, theoretical and practical training programs are needed to increase the knowledge and skills of radiologic technologists on the concept of As Low As Reasonably Achievable [ALARA] and possible radiation cancer risks
ABSTRACT
This study was performed to determine the effects of supplementation of folate on indices of glycemic control, insulin resistance and lipid profile in in men with type 2 diabetes, under metformin [at least 1500mg daily] treatment. This was a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial, in which 68 men with type 2 diabetes participated with written consents. Patients were randomly divided in two groups; folic acid Smg/day and placebo. All the patients received the tablets for 8 weeks. Anthropometric and nutrient intakes data were obtained from each patient, and baseline and 8th week fasting blood glucose, HbA1C, serum insulin, insulin resistance, serum total cholestrol, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, serum folate and plasma homocysteine were measured. Supplementation with folic acid led to 6.3 percent decrease in HbA1C [P=0.019], 9.5 percent decrease in fasting blood glucose [P=0.006], 15.1 percent decrease in serum insulin [P=0.028], 17.2 percent decrease in insulin resistance [P=0.043] and 20 percent decrease in plasma homocysteine [P<0.001], 18.4 percent increase in serum folate [P<0.001]. No significant changes occurred in the placebo group [P>0.05]. A pharmacological dose of folic acid supplementation decreased plasma level of homocysteine and improved glycemic control, insulin resistance and folate levels, a finding which sugqests a safe and inexpensive therapy for lowering homocysteine and improving the overall management of diabetic patients
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Blood Glucose/drug effects , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy , /metabolism , Glycated Hemoglobin/metabolism , Double-Blind Method , Insulin , Insulin Resistance/physiology , Cholesterol/blood , BiomarkersABSTRACT
To investigate the effects of zinc supplementation on pregnancy outcome in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus. During the randomized double blind clinical trial 60 women with gestational diabetes mellitus from 32nd of gestational age were assigned to two equal groups to receive 25mg zinc sulfate orally per day as case or placebo as control. Then, groups were compared regarding insulin dosage needs, macrosomia and preeclampsia. Insulin requirements and dosage changes during the investigation were lower in the case group than in the control [P<0.001]. Women in the zinc supplemental group had a lower percentage of large infants compared to control [P<0.01]. There were no significant differences between two groups regarding the rates of preeclampsia and cesarean delivery. This study showed that zinc supplementation in gestational diabetes could reduce insulin needs and improve glycemic control of these patients and it may also reduce macrosomia
ABSTRACT
In patients with diabetes, elevated homocysteine levels have been reported to be associated with endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, poor control of disease, nephropathy, macroangiopathy and oxidative stress. Thus, this observational study was performed to determine the plasma homocysteine level and its correlation with clinical, biochemical and nutritional variables. This study was performed on 70 men with type 2 diabetes under metformin [at least 1500 mg daily] treatment. Regarding plasma homocysteine, patients were divided into two groups: 31patients with normal homocysteine [group 1: Hcy<15 micro mol/L] and 39 patients with hyperhomocysteinemia [group 2: Hcy>15 micro mol/L]. 55.1% patients had hyperhomocysteinemia but none of them had folate and B12 deficiency. Significant differences between the two groups were found for serum folate, total antioxidant capacity and creatinine. No differences were found for insulin resistance and glycemic control. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis using plasma homocysteine as a dependent variable and all other clinical and laboratory parameters as independent variables indicated that age [beta=0.344], creatinine [beta=0.351], vitamin B12 [beta=0.235], total antioxidant capacity [beta=0.285] and malondialdehyde [beta=0.245] were independently associated with homocysteine concentration. No correlation was found between the homocysteine and glycemic control, HOMA-IR and intake of B vitamins and caffeine. Further studies with a large sample size are required to assess the association of plasma homocysteine with total antioxidant capacity and other biomarkers of oxidative stress in type2 diabetes
ABSTRACT
Thalassemia major is a genetic disorder, in which blood transfusion is critical for the survival of patients. Over the course of the past two and three decades, hypertransfusion therapy in these patients has significantly increased life expectancy and quality of life. Unfortunately however this type of therapy has also increased the frequency of complications due to iron overload. Today endocrine abnormalities are far more common than before in beta-thalassemia patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of endocrine disturbances in patients with thalassemia major, aged over 10 years. Fifty-six patients, aged over 10 years, with thalassemia major were enrolled. Physicians collected demographic data and history of therapies as well as menstrual history in females. Patients were examined to determine their pubertal status and SDS of height for evaluation of short stature. For evaluation of glucose tolerance, fasting blood glucose and oral glucose tolerance tests were performed. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorous, thyroid stimulating hormone, free thyroxin, luteinizing hormone, and follicular stimulating hormone, estradiol in girls and testosterone in boys were measured. Fifty-six patients 10 to 27 years with thalassemia major old were evaluated. In this study, the prevalences of diabetes mellitus, impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance test were 8.9%, 28.6% and 7.1% respectively. Short stature [SDS