[ association between duration of diabetes and balance impairment in people with diabetic neuropathy]

Introduction: Decrement in balance control ability in individuals with diabetic neuropathy may affect their daily living activities and lead to hazardous consequences such as falls and foot ulcer. Thus, it is important to predict balance impairment in this population as early as possible. The aim of this study was to determine the association between the duration of diabetes and balance impairment in people with diabetic neuropathy

Materials and Methods: Thirty diabetic patients, diagnosed with neuropathy participated in this study. We used a personal information questionnaire, Mini Mental State Examination questionnaire and the Berg Balance Scale [BBS] to evaluate basic medical status, cognitive function and functional balance, respectively. Univariate regression tests were used for statistical analysis

Results: Our findings showed a significant association between the duration of diabetes and balance control [p<0.01 and standardized beta=-0.509]. When adjusting for height, weight, body mass index and cognitive score, the association between the duration of diabetes and BBS score enhanced significantly [p<0.01 and standardized beta= -0.565, -0.527, -0.550 and -0.548, respectively]. Moreover, duration of diabetes could explained 25 to 45 percent of balance control impairments in people with diabetic neuropathy

Conclusion: Diabetes duration is a significant predictor of balance impairment in people with diabetic neuropathy. It could be used as a very simple factor to predict possible future balance impairments in these patients

[Effects of standardized extract of ginseng [G115] on biomarkers of systemic low-grade inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes: a double-blind clinical trial]

Systemic Inflammation plays a crutal play in the development of cardiovascular disease in patients with Type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of standardized extract of ginseng [G115] in Biomarkers of Systemic Low-Grade Inflammation in patients with Type 2 diabetes. This randomized, double-blind trial was performed on 40 patients with type 2 diabetes [28 females and 12 males] were randomly assigned to two groups. Group one were given 300 mg [3×100 mg capsules] standardized extract of ginseng, while group 2 took placebos. After eight weeks, anthropometric indices, glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c], interleukin 6 [IL6], tumor necrosis factor [TNFalpha] and high sensitive C- Reactive Protein [hsCRP] were studied. In the present study, no significant differences were observed in anthropometric indices, glycated hemoglobin and TNFalpha in the intervention and placebo groups before and after intervention. At the end of the study, a significant reduction was observed in IL6 [8.43 +/- 1.17 vs. 6.79 +/- 1.39 ng/L] and hsCRP [3.61 +/- 0.49 vs. 3.03 +/- 0.33 mg/dL] in the treatment group. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in IL6 [6.79 +/- 1.39 vs. 7.85 +/- 0.69 ng/L] and hsCRP [3.03 +/- 0.33 vs. 3.49 +/- 0.39 mg/dL] between the intervention and placebo groups at the end of the study. Administration of standardized ginseng extract for eight weeks caused reductions in IL6 and hsCRP in patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, administration of standardized extract of ginseng may play an effective role in the management of these patients

[Androgen- secreting adrenal tumors, 3 case reports]

Adrenal tumors that secrete androgens are rare; the tumor may be an adenoma or a carcinoma. This paper discusses the signs and symptoms, diagnostic methods, treatment and prognosis of these tumors, witnessed in 3 cases of androgen producing adrenal tumors. The first case was a 14 year old girl presented with hirsutism and virilism and primary amenorrhea. Testosterone and DHEAS showed very high levels while other adrenal hormones were within in normal limits. A pure androgen producing adrenal adenoma was diagnosed in this patient. The second case was a 7 year old girl with hirsutism, virilism and cushingoid facial features, acne and weight gain and a large abdominal mass. An adrenal carcinoma producing cortisol, testosterone, and DHEAS was diagnosed in this patient. The third case was a 10 month old baby with weight gain cushingoid facial features, acne and growth of pubic hair. High level of DHEAS, testosterone and cortisol due to an adrenocortical carcinoma, detected in this patient