[Body weight and body composition changes in cancer patients during chemotherapy in Iran university of medical sciences-affiliated hospitals, 2006-7]

Bioelectrical impedance analysis [BIA] is a simple and noninvasive body composition analysis technique. The aim of this study was to assess the body composition and its trend of changes in adult cancer patients referred to Tehran Rasol-e-Akram and Firoozgar Hospitals for chemotherapy. In this cross-sectional study, 71 patients [41 men and 30 women, 51.9 +/- 15.4 years old] with different types of malignancies were selected from the 2 hospitals by stratified sampling. Body composition was determined by the BIA technique at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of the chemotherapy treatment period. Data were analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA and Wilcoxon tests, using the SPSS12 software. Nonsignificant changes were observed in the mean weight, fat-free mass, fat mass, dry fat-free mass and total body water of the 50 patients who successfully completed the treatment [average of 5 months]. Twenty-one patients died during the treatment cycles [average of 2.5 months]. They had a significant decreasing trend for weight, fat mass and dry fat-free mass [P= 0.01, P= 0.02, and P= 0.01, respectively] they had a higher reduction of fat mass than fat-free mass [2 +/- 3.8 kg and 0.7 +/- 1.9 kg respectively]. Weight reduction of the cancer patients who died during the study was due to both fat mass and dry fat-free mass reductions, while in the patients who successfully completed the treatment no significant changes in body weight or body compositions were observed. It can be concluded that weight loss due to reductions in fat mass and dry fat-free mass in cancer patients during chemotherapy may result in their decreased survival

[ relationship between copper and zinc concentration and free radical markers in copper industry workers]

Copper and zinc play a key role in oxidative reactions and in vivo studies have shown their different effects. In this study we examined the influence of exposure to copper and zinc on catalase and superoxide dismutase [SOD] activities in erythrocytes, total serum antioxidant capacity and malondiadehyde [MDA] production of copper industry workers. In the present study, 70 workers in a Copper Industry and 70 healthy controls with the age range of 35-55 years were studied. The catalase assay and SOD activity in RBC lysate and total antioxidant were measured by spectrophotometric methods. Using thiobarbitoric acid reaction, MDA concentration was determined. The results showed a higher copper and zinc concentration in serum of worker group [113.8 +/- 2.2 and 148.3 +/- 3.2micro g/L respectively, P<0.001] in comparison with the control group [104.5 +/- 1.5 and 107.7 +/- 2micro g/L respectively]. Serum catalase and SOD activities in RBC were higher in workers [7621.7 +/- 199.3 and 1489.5 +/- 12.3micro /l] than in the control group [7049.1 +/- 157.4 and 1421.7 +/- 11.1 micro /l respectively, P<0.05, for SOD only]. Serum total antioxidant was significantly higher in workers than controls [1.6 +/- 0.03 vs. 1.4 +/- 0.01] and it was the same for MDA concentration [245.5 +/- 3.7nmol/gHb in the worker group compared to 205 +/- 3.2nmol/gHb in the control group]. No correlation were found between copper and zinc concentrations and the other factors [P>0.05]. These results suggest that occupational exposure to copper and zinc induces oxidative stress followed by anti oxidative defense system

[Comparison of antioxidant system in patients with ischemic heart disease and control group and its relation to ceruloplasmin]

Coronary heart diseases, specially myocardial ischemias due to atherosclerosis, are among the major causes of mortality in industrialized societies. Oxidative stress occurs during ischemia. This finding has been confirmed by in vitro studies which have shown some changes in antioxidant concentration during ischemia. However, antioxidant system status and its relation to ceruloplasmin as a risk factor have not been studied in patients with ischemic heart disease [IHD]. This study was conducted to evaluate this status. This case-control study carried out on 99 men, aged 35-55 years. Two groups including 29 patients with IHD due to coronary artery stenosis above 70 percent, confirmed by angiography and exercise tests, and 70 healthy men without heart disease, diabetes and hypertension background were studied. Blood samples were collected from all subjects early in the morning. Then catalase and superoxide dismutase [SOD] activities, total antioxidant of serum [TAS], ceruloplasmin and malondialdehyde [MDA] concentrations were measured by a spectrophotometric method. TAS, SOD and catalase levels were 0.9 +/- 0.04 mmol/L, 1224 +/- 21.40 U/g Hb and 5657 +/- 290.60 U/g Hb respectively in patients which were significantly lower than those of controls 1.6 +/- 0.02 mmol/L, 1488 +/- 13.03 U/g Hb and 7546 +/- 176.80 U/g Hb [p<0.05]. MDA and ceruloplasmin concentrations were 36 +/- 0.92 mg/dl, 277 +/- 6.90 nmol/g Hb] respectively in cases and 29 +/- 0.60 mg/dl and 247 +/- 4.20 nmol/g Hb in controls which showed a significant difference [p<0.05]. There was no statistical correlation between antioxidants and ceruloplasmin level in these groups. In patients with IHD, antioxidant system capacity was lower than that of controls which can explain higher lipid peroxidation in these patients. Also we can not predict lipid peroxidation severity by measuring ceruloplasmin level because no association was found between these two factors

UNESCO chair in health education: a step toward public health improvement

The UNESCO Chair in Health Education in TUMS [TUMS], Iran, was established in Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute in April 2004. The purpose of this chair is to promote an integrated system of research, training, information and documentation activities in the field of health education. The target group includes the public, health care workers, students, trainees and researchers. During its one year existing, the Chair has supported financially eleven admitted proposals and supported technically eight submitted proposals in divers fields regarding health issues with the cooperation of other research institutes in TUMS. It has made connections with most of the national research institutes and universities to establish multi-centric collaborations. The activities of the Chair are being directed towards the health priorities of the country and region. The Chair has contributed to an important international congress on immunodeficiency disorders as well as another meeting on Asthma in near future. The Chair is to publish several educational books, booklets and CDs related to health education; it is also going to prepare a thorough proposal on HIV/AIDS prevention with collaboration of other institutions, which could be applicable regionally, and in neighboring countries and states

Role of nitric oxide and ATP-sensitive K+ channels in regulation of basal blood flow and hypercapnic vasodilatation of cerebral blood vessels in rabbit

The mechanisms underlying cerebral hypercapnic vasodilatation are not fully understood. To investigate the role of nitric oxide [NO] and ATPsensitive potassium [KATP] channels in basal blood flow regulation and hypercapnia-induced vasodilatation in rabbit cerebral blood vessels. The change in cerebral blood flow was measured by a laser Doppler flowmeter in 18 New Zealand white rabbits, in two groups, under general anesthesia with sodium pentobarbital. Nomega- nitro-L-arginine methyl ester [L-NAME] and glibenclamide were administered locally and systemically before and during induction of hypercapnia. The change in cerebral blood flow was not significant following local and systemic L-NAME administration, showing a nonsignificant role of local and systemic NO in regulation of rabbit basal cerebral blood flow. Hypercapnia increased cerebral blood flow by 17.3 +/- 4.4% before and 17.3 +/- 5.8% after local, and 5.8 +/- 3.2% [p<0.05] after systemic L-NAME administration. The change in cerebral blood flow was not significant after local and systemic administration of glibenclamide indicating a lack of KATP channel role in basal blood flow regulation. Hypercapnia increased cerebral blood flow by 27.2 +/- 8.7% before and 24.7 +/- 6.4% after local, and 49.3 +/- 9.7% after systemic administration of glibenclamide [p: NS in both cases]. Regional NO production had no role in basal cortical blood flow regulation and systemic NO contributed to 66% increment in cerebral blood flow during hypercapnia. Also, the KATP channels did not mediate the effect of NO or other vasodilators responsible for increasing cerebral blood flow during hypercapnia