Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in a hemodialysis population

The role of metabolic syndrome [MS] in hemodialysis population has not been thoroughly studied. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MS and to identify its correlates among hemodialysis patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted on patients in a hemodialysis center. The MS was defined according the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Clinical data of the patients were collected and blood samples were studied to measure fasting blood glucose and lipid profile. Eighty hemodialysis patients, including 47 men [58.8%] and 33 women [41.2%] with a mean age of 55.6 +/- 15.6 years, were enrolled in this study. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 23 patients [28.7%]. Hypertension was present in 55 patients [68.8%]. Fifteen patients [18.8%] were diabetic, 24 [30.0%]] had a high serum triglyceride, 22 [27.5%] had a low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and 20 [25.0%] had evidence of abdominal obesity. Patients with MS had significantly higher body mass indexes [P < .001], fasting blood glucose levels [P < .001], and triglyceride levels [P = .004]. Metabolic syndrome was not associated with gender, age, and duration of hemodialysis. Men showed significant abnormality in glucose metabolism [P = .008]. Prevalence of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly higher in the women than in the men [P = .02]. The prevalence of MS in our hemodialysis patients was relatively high, with the most common element being hypertension. We suggest that there needs to be a new set of criteria defined for MS in hemodialysis patients

[Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Tehran, Zanjan and Sistan-Balouchestan provinces: prevalence and frequency of Mediterranean variant of G6PD]

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD] deficiency is an enzymopathy affecting about 400 million people worldwide. The distribution of G6PD deficiency and the molecular genetics of this enzyme vary widely among different ethnic groups. The aim of this study was to find out the frequency of G6PD deficiency and characterize the Mediterranean type mutation in deficient individuals in Turk, Balouch and Fars ethnic groups in Zanjan, Iranshahr and Tehran provinces. 1500 unrelated male individuals from Zanjan and 305 unrelated male students from Iranshahr were screened for G6PD deficiency by fluorescent spot test. Genomic DNA was extracted from deficient individuals and also from 64 G6PD deficient individuals from Tehran city. PCR was used to amplify flanking regions of exons 6 and 7 of this gene. The PCR products were digested by the MboII enzyme and electrophoresed on 3% agarose gel. Thirty-three [2.2%] individuals were shown to be deficient for G6PD from Zanjan population. Twenty-four out of 33 [72.8%] of the deficient individuals showed a mutation at nt 563 which is characteristic of Mediterranean type of mutation. Nine individuals were negative for this mutation. Fifty nine [19.3%] individuals of Iranshahr were shown to be deficient for G6PD. At the molecular level, 50 [85%] of the individuals showed Mediterranean type of mutation and 15% were negative for this mutation. Our results from Tehran showed that 47/64 [73.4%] of deficient individuals had Mediterranean type mutation and 26.6% were negative for this mutation. Despite different frequencies exist for deficiency of G6PD in Turk, Balouch and Fars populations, the results of the present study and others have shown that the predominant mutation of G6PD in Iran is of Mediterranean type