[Prevalence of lower limb amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulcer in Imam Khomeini and Shariati Hospitals, 1979-2001]

Diabetes Mellitus is a common disorder with numerous disabling complications, which can be largely prevented by simple, inexpensive interventions. The prevention of diabetic foot ulceration [DFU] is especially important because besides the morbidity and mortality it entails time and a heavy financial burden. In order to study the prevalence of lower limb amputations, this study was designed in patients admitted with diabetic foot ulcerations. This retrospective descriptive study was carried out at Imam Khomeini and Dr. Shariati University Hospitals in Tehran. Data pertaining to 28 1 patients admitted between 1979 and 2001 for treatment of diabetic foot ulceration was collected and analyzed using SPSS software. Over the 22-year period of the study, 28l patients [61% men and 39% women] were hospitalized for DFU. The overall lower limb amputation rate was 30%. Mean hospital stay was significantly longer in patients who eventually underwent amputation than in those who did not. The rate of lower limb amputation secondary to DFU is higher in Iran than the global average. This necessitates greater attention and better planning with regards to the prevention and treatment of DFU

Epidemiologic feature of thyroid cancer based on cancer registry data system

This study was undertaken to define the epidemiological aspects of thyroid carcinoma in Iran, an area of endemic iodine deficiency nearly until recently. The Tehran Cancer Institute Data System Registry [TCIDSR] was used to identify patients with different histological types of thyroid cancer [TC] in Iran. Data were analyzed from 438 thyroid cancer cases identified by the TCIDSR in 1998-99. Disease prevalence was calculated by age, time and place. The TCIDSR recorded 438 primary malignancies of the thyroid gland: papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic carcinomas accounted for 67.1%, 10.7%, 5.3% and 4.3% of cases, respectively. The remaining 12.6% was classified as OD [other diagnoses]. The prevalence of TC was the highest in Farsis population. The age range of patients was 8-85 yr. Mean patient age was 44.52 +/- 17.03 yr [mean +/- SD] overall, 47.74 +/- 18.10 yr in male patients and 43.04 +/- 16.34 in female patients. Anaplastic [6.5% vs. 3.3%] and medullary [10.0% vs. 3.0%] cancers were more common in men than women. Against expectation for an iodine-deficient area, the frequency distribution of tumours in our study was closer to that seen in iodine-rich areas. Additional research on the risk factors for thyroid cancer-genetic, ethnic, geographic and environmental is needed to explain the high incidence of PTC overall, and among Farsis population in particular, in Iran

[ effects of consumption of w-3 fatty acid enriched eggs on plasma lipid profile, insulin and CRP]

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids [Omega3PUFA] have a protective effect against atherosclerosis. We aimed to assess the effect of consumption of Omega3PUFA enriched eggs on blood lipid profiles, fasting insulin and high sensitivity C-Reaction protein [hs-CRP] in healthy volunteers. 42 healthy college students were divided randomly into two groups. The first group consumed two [Omega3PUFA enriched eggs per day and the second [control] group consumed two standard eggs per day for 6 weeks. Anthropometric and blood samples measurements were assessed to evaluate metabolic parameters 3 days before and 6 weeks of egg consumption. Omega3PUFA intake and decreased systolic blood pressure significantly in the first group. Total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-C] didn't change in the first group while they increased significantly in the control group. High density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] increased significantly while triglyceride, Insulin and CRP decreased significantly in the first group. Our study indicates that Omega3PUFA enriched egg could be regarded as a safe and useful food resource with beneficial effects on blood lipid profiles, insulin and -CRP