[ association of dietary fat sources with leptin gene expression from visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues among tehranian adults]

Introduction: leptin, as an adipokine, plays a role in the regulation of metabolism and could be affected by dietary intake. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the association of usual dietary intakes of fats with leptin gene expression in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues in adults

Materials and Methods: visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues were gathered from 97 participants aged >/= 20, who had undergone elective abdominal surgery. Dietary fats including olive oil, hydrogenated oil, non-hydrogenated oil, and animal fat were collected using a valid and reliable food-frequency questionnaire. Leptin gene expression in adipose tissues was measured using Real-Time PCR

Results: a significant inverse relation was observed between olive oil intake and leptin gene expiration in subcutaneous [[beta]=-0.441, P=0.017] and visceral [[beta]=-0.552, P<0.001] adipose tissue. In addition a direct association was also observed between dietary animal fat and leptin gene expression in subcutaneous [[beta]=0.328, P=0.020] and visceral [[beta]=0.305, P=0.015] adipose tissue. Furthermore, non-hydrogenated oil consumption was inversely associated with leptin gene expression visceral adipose tissue [[beta]=-0.348, P=0.031]

Conclusion: dietary intake of olive oil was inversely and animal fat was directly associated with leptin gene expression in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues independent of body mass index and insulin indicating the importance of fat sources on adipose tissue leptin gene expression

[Prevalence of human adenovirus 36 and its association with overweight/obese and lipid profiles in the Tehran lipid and glucose study]

Nowadays, obesity is a major public health problem in the most developed countries and its persistence impacts the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Compared to genetical and other behavioral factors, the viral origin of obesity has been less studied, which is why we undertook to assess the prevalence of human adenovirus 36 [Adv36] antibody and its association with obesity and lipid profiles in a Tehranian population. In this cross-sectional study, 348 individuals were selected randomly from among participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study [TLGS]. Anthropometric, blood pressure, and biochemical factors were measured and the human Adv36 antibody was determined using the ELISA method. The prevalence of seropositive Adv36 was 61.8% [N =215], and that of anti-Adv36 was lower in overweight and/or obese subjects in comparison to non-obese ones [57.3 vs. 68.6%; p<0.05]. Children and adolescents with Adv36 seropositive had higher mean height, weight, waist, TC, LDL-C, TG, DBP, and SBP and lower HDL-C. Adv36 seropositive adults had higher mean height, weight, and TG and lower HDL-C. Despite the high prevalence of Adv36 in this Tehranian population, no significant correlation was found between Adv36 seropositivity and BMI, although, it has been associated with lipid disorders. Therefore, further research using neutralization confirmatory methods is recommended

[Studying the interaction effects of gene polymorphisms on low level of HDL over time using transition logic regression: Tehran lipid and glucose study]

As High-density lipoprotein [HDL] is directly associated with cardiovascular disease, the factors affecting the levels of this fat can be effective in reducing heart diseases. In addition to biochemical and environmental factors, genetic interactions also affect HDL level. Since polymorphism effects can be time-dependent, study of genetic interactions on HDL over time is important. In this study, we proposed Transition Logic Regression to analyze interactions in binary longitudinal data and used it to investigate polymorphism interactions related to low HDL over time. Data of 329 subjects who participated in three phases of TLGS was analyzed using the proposed model. Results showed that subjects with high triglyceride levels and increased waist circumference have an odds ratio of 2.29 [CI 95%: 1.51, 3.48] of having low HDL. Also, being in phase 2 and being a carrier of the minor allele of ApoA1M1 or being homozygous for the common allele of ApoCIII, were associated with an increased odds of having low HDL [OR= 2.30, CI 95%: 1.77, 2.99]. The odds ratio for having low HDL in male subjects with high blood pressure or being homozygous for the minor allele of SRB1 is 0.38 [CI 95%: 0.25,0.59]. Considering the identification of gene interactions in genetic studies and their importance over time, Transition Logic Regression was introduced and used to find gene interactions influencing low HDL over time and the most important models for gene interactions were identified

[Assessment of the causes and risk factors associated with neonatal mortality based on international coding diseases]

Neonatal mortality is one of the important indices of development for every nation. The first step to promote this index is determining respective causes which are dependent on numerous factors and are not the same in different centers. To determine the causes and risk factors of neonatal mortality in AL-Zahra hospital, Rasht, northern Iran, from 2006 to 2011, according to international coding diseases. This cross sectional retrospective study was conducted on 643 dead neonates among 23796 live births. Sex, birth weight, mode of delivery, gestational age, Apgar score and causes of death were assessed. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 15. The commonest cause of mortality was respiratory distress syndrome [RDS] [61.6%]. The second cause was congenital abnormalities [7.9%]. As revealed, 89/9% of the dead neonates were premature and the remaining ones were term [p=0.0001]. Most of the dead cases had birth weight under 2.5 KG and died in the first 24h after birth. These neonates were born by cesarean section and were with first and fifth apgar scores below 7. [In all the above-mentioned findings P= 0.0001]. Since most dead neonates were premature and with low birth weights, and the most frequent cause of death was RDS, it is necessary to expand prenatal care, NICU and neonatal ward facilities all around the northern province

Association of the APOAI-CIII-AIV gene cluster polymorphisms with the level of lipids in Tehranian population

Changes in lipids and apo lipoproteins levels are considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The APOAI-CIII-AIV gene cluster plays an important role in regulating of the metabolism and level of lipids. The aim of this study was to elucidate the associations of five single nucleotide polymorphisms in the Apo11q cluster gene with lipid levels. A cross-sectional study of 823 subjects [340 males and 483 females] from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study [TLGS] was performed. Anthropometrical and serum concentrations of TG, Chol, HDL, Apo AI, Apo AIV, Apo B, Apo CIII were measured. The segments of the APOAI-CIII-AIV gene cluster were amplified by PCR and the polymorphisms were revealed by RFLP using restriction enzymes. Allele frequencies of each SNP did not differ significantly between males and females. Genotypes and alleles distributions were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, except for Apo AI [+83C>T]. Results demonstrated a significant association between TG, HDL-C, HDL2, Apo AI and Apo B levels and the presence of some alleles in the polymorphisms studied. After haplotype analysis not only did the association between these variables and SNPs remain, but the levels of total cholesterol and LDL-C were also added. The results of the present study showed that in addition to environmental factors, genetic variations are also important in the regulation of the metabolism and level of lipids such as TG and HDL-C

[Association of apolipoprotein A-IV Gene G360T polymorphism with metabolic syndrome: Tehran lipid and glucose study]

Metabolic syndrome [MetS] is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the association between the G360T polymorphism of apolipoprotein A-IV gene and MetS. For this cross sectional study, 782 individuals, aged >19 years, were selected randomly from among TLGS participants; these included 325 men [61 with MetS and 264 controls], and 457 women [131 with MetS and 326 controls]. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured. The Apo A-IV gene polymorphism was studied using the PCR-RFLP method by Fnh4HI restriction enzyme. Frequencies of the G and T alleles in men with MetS and those without were 85.2, 14.8, and 83.3, 16.7%, respectively, and in women with and without MetS these were 82.4, 17.6, and 85.9, 14.1%, respectively, values not significant. The GG and TT genotypes had the highest and lowest frequency, respectively [84.4% and 0.3%]. Analyses of data showed that presence of T allele was significantly associated with lower levels of HDL-C [p<0.05] in women with MetS, and with lower apolipoprotein CIII levels [p <0.05] in normal women, and higher diastolic blood pressure [p <0.05] in men without MetS. The findings of the current study showed significant effects on HDL-C levels in women with MetS. Considering the association observed between the G360T polymorphism of Apo A-IV gene and lipid factors in women with MetS and the high prevalence of this syndrome in Iranian women, further studies recommended to assess the association of Apo AIV gene variation with lipids factors for prevention and treatment of the syndrome

Effect of 8 weeks endurance training with two different durations on plasma HDL and ghrelin in male rats

Nesfatin-1, a novel anorexigenic protein derived from the Nucleobindin-2 [NUCB2] gene, is expressed in adipose tissue and is found in plasma. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an eight-week endurance training regimen on nesfatin gene expression and its concentration in the male rat liver. Eleven adult Wistar male rats were used. Animals were randomly divided into the training [TS, n=6] and control [CS, n=5] groups. Training groups were given exercise on a motor-driven treadmill [0% grade, 60 min, and 5 days/week for 8 weeks, 50-55%VO2max]. Samples of liver were excised and stored in liquid nitrogen to extract nesfatin-1 mRNA, and to determine its concentration and that of glycogen by RT-PCR, ELISA and colorimetric assay respectively. Although liver nesfatin mRNA expression and its concentration were increased, changes were not significant. Also liver glycogen concentration was significantly higher in trained rats compared to controls. The results of this research showed for the first time that nesfatin-1 is first expressed in the liver as a peripheral tissue and it then changes with endurance training. The insignificant variations of nesfatin-1 in the liver might be attributed to its role in energy balance. It seems that relative improvement in the liver's energy status is influenced by nesfatin gene expression, whereas as an indicator of source ATP, was lower in trained group compared to control group

[Allele frequency of 12 microsatellites in chromosome 8, 11, 12 and 16 in Tehran lipid and glucose study]

Most linkage and population genetic studies that use microsatellites assume that the polymorphism observed at these loci is due simply to variation in the number of units of a single repeat. These variations guide us in the study of the genetic patterns of some disease. This study reports the allele frequency of 12 microsatellites in Tehranians. Five hundred and ninety-one subjects with an average age of 39 +/- 19 years, with and without metabolic syndrome, were selected for investigation of the allele frequency of 12 microsatellites, the D8S1132, D8S1779, D8S514, D8S1743, D11S1998, D11S1304, D11S934, D12S96, D12S1632, D12S329, D16S2624 and D16S3096 using and fragment analysis technique. There are different repeats in the chromosomes studied. Chromosome 8: 10-26.2bp repeats; chromosome 11: 8.1-35bp; chromosome 12: 2-32bp and chromosome 16: 9.2-28bp. The most hetrozygote marker is D8S1132 and the least is D12S96. The most significant findings of this study is reporting allele frequency of some Short Tandem Repeats for the first time in Tehran. In this study some new alleles were found in Iranian subjects, the presence of which may be a tool for genetic association studies in the future

[ case report of severe laryngomalcia, swallowing dysfunction and gastroesophageal reflux in a newborn]

Laryngomalacia is the most common cause of stridor between airways malacia in neonates.It can be accompanied by gastroesophageal reflux. Few cases of swallowing dysfunction were reported in neonates with no underlying disorders some of them had laryngomalacia and reflux too. All three causes can lead to neonatal or infantile FTT or recurrent hospitalization. Timely treatment decreased complications of diseases; we reported a case of a newborn that contracted severe laryngomalacia, swallowing dysfunction and gastroesophageal reflux which needed surgery, in order to attract physicians' attention to the aspect and clinical process of these complications, from birth to discharge. Patient was a full term baby boy who was born by normal vaginal delivery without special problem in his fetal status. His parents were not relative. His birth weight was 3100gr and he had appropriate apgar scores, he contracted mild respiratory stridor, subcostal and upper sternal retraction after birth at the delivery room and was referred to NICU. After intubation his signs eliminated, he was intubated several times during the first 2.5 months after birth. He got pneumonia repeatedly and his lung condition improved with reflux treatment. Because of disability in swallowing, milk was gavage for him. But in spite of enough intake calories, he contracted FTT. His respiratory condition improved with tracheostomy in 2.5 months, and gastrostomy was done in 3 months old. He released with a good condition in 100 days old. He was 10 months and his weight was 9kg. Although, it is impossible that laryngomalacia have got signs at birth but it should be concerned as probable cause of respiratory distress in labor room. A report of respiratory distress at birth in company with stridor, disability in milk ingestion, recurrent pneumonia and FTT [without co-existing disease] should get physiscians suspicious of coincident swallowing dysfunction and laryngomalacia. Both two disturbances can be accompanied by gasteroesophageal reflux too. If there was no response to expected medical management, surgical interventions should be necessary

G360t polymorphism in the APO AIV gene and its association with combined HDL/LDL-cholesterol phenotype: Tehran lipid and glucose study

Identifying genetic polymorphisms as risk factors for complex diseases can facilitate their prevention, diagnosis, and prognosis. The purpose of this study is to assess the association between Apo AIV polymorphism and lipid factors based on high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] levels in a population of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study [TLGS]. A total of 181 elderly TLGS subjects with Combined HDLC/low density lipoprotein-Cholesterol [LDL-C] phenotype were investigated. The distributions of a polymorphic site in the apolipoprotein gene APO AIV and its relationship with total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglycerides were investigated in subjects with LDL-C> 121 mg/dL and HDL-C< 40 mg/dL [case group] and those with LDL-C< 90 mg/dL and HDL-C> 50 [controls]. All the variables studied in the case and control groups were statistically different. At the APO AIV locus the G360T polymorphism at codon 360 showed a significant impact on total cholesterol [G: 211 +/- 1.16 vs, T: 228 +/- 1.20 mg/dL p 0.038] concentration in the case group and on Apo CIII [G: 157 +/- 66.9 vs, T: 83.18 +/- 17.1 mg/dL p <0001] level in the controls. These associations remained after adjustment for age, sex and smoking [P values: P Chol: 0.028 and P Apo CIII: 0.021]. Difference in the apolipoprotein AIV [G360T] polymorphism in the two groups with the combined HDL/LDL-C phenotype indicates that this phenotype can be a selective phenotype for genetic analysis in this field