Evaluation of accessibility of lodinated salt and nutritional iodine status during pregnancy

To assess accessibility of lodinated salt and urinary iodine concentrations [UIC] during pregnancy. This cross-sectional study was carried out between October and December, 2009 in Urmia County, West Azerbaijan [WA], Iran. Data on demographic characteristics and iodinated salt accessibility were gathered through a questionnaire at 1st trimester. Household salt samples and urine samples [1st -and 3rd trimesters] were analyzed for iodine content. Pregnant women [n=490] at 1st trimester were interviewed. Of these, 490 subjects [12 prenatal care centers] were enrolled. All participants declared that they were exclusive users of iodinated salt. Segregation of the household salt samples according to iodine content [0, 8, 15 and 30 ppm] revealed that the respective distributions were 3.3%, 1.4%, 23.7% and 71.6%. Median UIC levels at 1st and 3rd trimesters were 73.5 microg/L and 114microg/L respectively. Accordingly, 86% and 70% of participants exhibited UIC < 150 microg/L. Median UIC during pregnancy in WA is markedly lower than those previously reported for regions with adequate iodine status in the country. Thus, extra iodine is needed to maintain adequate iodine store during gestation. In addition, this preliminary study reveals that a significant proportion [28%] of the household salt samples had low iodine content [20 and <40 ppm] is mandatory in Iran. Further studies are deemed necessary to elucidate the cause[s] for manifestation iodine deficiency among pregnant women despite 20 years after iodine fortification strategy

[Pro oxidant and antioxidant status in patients with coronary artery disease proven angiographically]

Coronary artery disease [CAD] is the major cause of death in both industrial and developing countries. Evidences suggest that increase in free radical generation and/or attenuated antioxidant defenses may be involved in the pathogenesis of CAD. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the plasma measures of oxidative stress in patients with coronary artery disease documented by angiography. In this study case-control study, fifty eight patients with angiographic ally proven coronary artery disease as cases and fifty five control subjects [Age range: 41-70 years and 39.71 years, respectively]were recruited form heart centre at Talaghani hospital affiliated with Urmia university of medical science. Plasma vitamin E concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Plasma glutathione and malondialdehyde were studied spectrophotometrially. Data analyses were performed y SPSS-11 statistical software, using t-test. Plasma malondialdehyde leels were markedly higher in the patients group than in the controls [114.93 +/- 40.65 micro mol/L versus 50.49 +/- 17.52 micro mol/L; P<0.05]. Both vitamin E or glutathione levels were significantly lower in patient group compared with controls [28.55 +/- 6.3 micro mol/L versus 32.07 +/- 7.4 micro mol/L; P<0.05 and 43.01 +/- 48 nmol/L versus 124.4 +/- 63.4 nmol/L; P<0.05 respectively]. Significant inverse correlations were seen between malondialdehyde levels and either vitamin E or glutathione concentrations [P<0.05]. Our finding of impaired balance between antioxidant/pro oxidant suggest that enhanced oxidative stress may be involved in the pathogenesis of CAD. Understanding of the event that contribute to these changes, may provide new opportunities for rational therapeutic strategies

[ evaluation of total antioxidant capacity and related markers in patients with chronic peritoneal dialysis]

Oxidative stress due to overproduction of reactive oxygen species and impairment in antioxidant defense mechanisms have been suggested as possible factors contributing to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in patients with end- stage renal disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate antioxidant markers of oxidative stress including glutathione and glutathione related enzymes [i.e. glutathione peroxidase [GPx] and glutathione reductase [GR]] as well as total antioxidant capacity in peritoneal dialysis [PD] patients. Twelve PD patients and 17 healthy controls [age range: 25-60 and 22-53 years respectively] were selected. Erythrocyte glutathione levels and plasma activities of GPx, GR and total antioxidant capacity were determined spectrophtometrically. Glutathione levels and GPx activity were significantly lower in the patients group than in controls [1.17 +/- 0.28 vs. 1.42 +/- 0.25 micro mol/ml and 57.1 +/- 21.8 vs. 142.5 +/- 31.7 U/L; p<0.05, respectively]. Higher levels of GR activity and total antioxidant capacity were noted in patient group [57.5 +/- 16.4 U/L and 0.60 +/- 0.09 micro mol/ml; respectively] in comparison to control group [32 +/- 9.4 U/L and 0.47 +/- 0.11 micro mol/ml; p<0.05, respectively]. Decreased glutathione levels and alteration in the activities of its related enzymes imply increased oxidative stress and disturbances of antioxidant defense systems in peritoneal dialysis patients. This condition may contribute to the development of accelerated cardiovascular disease and its morbidity and mortality in these patients

[Evaluation of measures of oxidative stress in patients with proven coronary artery disease [CAD] compared with normal persons]

Cardiovascular disease accounts for about 38% of the cause of death in Iran. The traditional risk factors cannot justify the high prevalence of the disease, and therefore oxidative stress has been proposed as a contributing factor in morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma measures of oxidative stress in patients with CAD presented with myocardial infarction [MI] or without MI compared with the control group. This study consisted of three groups as follow: 38 patients suffering from CAD without MI [mean age: 56.55 +/- 8.64], 20 CAD patients with MI [mean age: 50.85 +/- 7.79] and 55 healthy subjects [mean age: 49.85 +/- 8.5] as controls. Vitamin E concentration was determined through HPLC. And the amounts of glutathione and malondialdehyde were measured by spectrophotometer. Plasma malondialdehyde levels were markedly higher in patient groups than in control groups [P<0.05]. Lower glutathione levels were observed in patient groups compared with control group, whereas, reduced Vitamin E was only noted in CAD patients without MI [P<0.05]. No significant differences were seen between measures of oxidative stress in patient groups. Reduction of glutathione molecules as antioxidants and enhanced lipid peroxidation may be involved in pathogenesis of CAD through up-regulation of signaling pathways leading to tissue damage

Oxidative stress indecies in uncomplicated type 2 diabetic patients

Type 2 diabetic patients are at increased risk for the development of complications including cardiovascular, nephropathy and neuropathy. The increased risk is not fully explainable by factors such as dyslipidemia and hypertension. Therefore, oxidative stress has proposed as an alternative explanation although the underlying mechanism[s] is not clearly understood. The objective of the present study was to evaluate plasma prooxidant/antioxidant status in uncomplicated type 2 diabetic patients. An aged-matched group of non-diabetics was used as control group. In this case-control study, 20 type 2 diabetic patients 7 males and 13 females [44.2 +/- 0.7 years] and 20 non-diabetic patients 12 males and 8 females [43.2 +/- 0.9 years] were entered into this study. Plasma malonedialdehyde, total glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase were dertermined spectrophotometrically and level of vitamin E was measured by HPLC. Statistical analyses were carried out by means of the SPSS-Win version 10 soft-ware package. The glutathione levels and vitamin E/triglyceride ratios in diabetic patients were lower than those of non diabetics [148.8 +/- 15.5 nmol/L vs 192.9 +/- 54.4 nmol/L; p<0.05 and 14.4 +/- 1.6 micro mol/mmol vs 17.0 +/- 1.1 micro mol/mmol; p<0.05; repsectively]. Compared to control group, diabetic patients exhibited slightly higher levels of malonedialdehyde [196.1 +/- 10.7 nmol/L vs 175.2 +/- 20.4 nmol/L]. Catalase content and superoxide dismutase revealed different activities in diabetic and control groups but the differences failed to show any statistical significance [571.9 +/- 65.3 micro g/L vs 541.1 +/- 67.4 micro g/L and 0.29 +/- 0.06 OD vs 0.26 +/- 0.01 OD, respectively]. This study revealed that plasma markers of oxidative stress, when compared with control group, were slightly altered in uncomplicated type 2 diabetic patients. These data provide additional support for the hypothesis that oxidative stress precedes the development of diabetic complications