ABSTRACT
Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a reversible condition of fat accumulation that is associated with liver inflammation and can disrupt the normal activity of the liver. People with a diagnosis of NAFLD have a higher risk of all- cause mortality than the general population. The purpose of the present study was to determine, the efficacy of orlistat in the treatment of patients with NAFLD.Methods: This semi-experimental study was performed on 45 fatty liver patients of the gastroenterology clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ardabil city in April 2016 to April 2017. Data was collected by a checklist which included demographic and clinical data such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride (TG), cholesterol and result of ultrasound before and after orlistat consumption.Results: The mean decrease in the variables examined was as follows: weight 8.3 kg, BMI 3.5 kg/m2, ALT 31.6 U/l, AST 18.1 U/l, cholesterol 15.5 mg/dl and TG 33.1 mg/dl. All of the upper indexes were decreased significantly following received drug.Conclusions: Orlistat therapy was associated with significant decreases in ALT, AST, TG and cholesterol level. Orlistat is effective in weight loss, body mass index reduction and can be used to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
ABSTRACT
Background: In different studies the correlation between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and disease activity with vitamin D has been shown. The role of different interferons especially interferon alpha (IFN-?) in lupus pathogenesis have been previously shown. Considering the role of vitamin D and IFN-?, it is possible that these two could demonstrate the SLE activity. This study aimed to investigate the association between vitamin D levels and IFN-? with disease activity index in Ardabil city SLE patients.Methods: In this case control study, 50 SLE patients and 50 age and sex matched healthy subjects were recruited. Patients had serum 25-OH Vitamin D concentration and disease activity recorded. Vitamin D and IFN-? levels were compared between two groups and also, levels of anti-dsDNA, and SLEDAI in case group was measured. Statistical methods were used to determine the correlation between vitamin D and IFN-? with disease activity index at baseline.Results: Vitamin D deficiency (<40 nmol/L) was detected in 20% of SLE patients. Vitamin D level in case group significantly lower than control group (23.94±11.93 vs. 29.10±11.40 ng/ml, p=0.02). The IFN-? amount in case group significantly upper than control group (396.60±54.73 vs. 200.38±14.42, p=0.001). There was significantly negative correlation between vitamin D with IFN-? (r=-0.413, p=0.003), SLEDAI (r=-0.492, p<0.001) and anti-dsDNA (r=-0.417, p=0.003). There was positive correlation between IFN-? with SLEDAI (r=0.358, p=0.01) and anti-dsDNA (p=0.297, p=0.03).Conclusions: Results showed that the low vitamin D was associated with a higher disease activity in SLE patients. Also, it seems that, the improvement of vitamin D levels by decreasing IFN-? could help in controlling disease activity in future.
ABSTRACT
Bacground and aim: There are few reports from Iran about the epidemiology and clinical features of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this study, we aimed to determine the epidemiologic profile and clinical features of ulcerative colitis (UC) in Northwest of Iran. Methods: This retrospective study covered the time period from 1998 to 2008 and included all patients of a private gasteroenterology clinic in the northwest of Iran, who had diagnosis of UC at the time of presentation or those whose diagnosis had been made later. In addition to description of epidemiology and clinical feature of disease, an attempt was made to identify factors associated with severity of disease. Results: A total of 105 patients including 61 females (58.1%) were evaluated. Mean age of the patients was 33.5 ± 13.1 years. The median time interval from initiation of symptoms to diagnosis was 9 months. The commonest presentation was proctosigmoiditis. (48.6%). Among extraintestinal manifestations, sclerosing cholangitis had the highest frequency and was found in 2 (1.9%) patients. Among all evaluated variables, only family income (the higher the income the more severe the disease) and cigarette smoking (inverse association) were find to have significant association with severity of disease. Conclusion: A case profile of patients with ulcerative colitis from Northwest Iran suggests that the disease is seen most commonly in the third decade of life with a female preponderance. Family income and smoking influenced the course of ulcerative colitis in Iranian patients.