Metabolic and clinical effects of Ramadan fasting in patients with type 2 diabetes

To evaluate the effects of fasting on anthropometric indices and carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in patients with type II diabetes. Design: Observational non-interventional study. Place and Duration of Study:: Diabetes clinic, Shariati Hospital, Tehran, Iran during Ramadan 1419 [winter 1998-99]. Patients and Fifty-seven volunteers with type II diabetes underwent anthropometric and biochemical evaluation before and on the 14th and 28th days of Ramadan. Biochemical markers were measured by standard laboratory methods and anthropometric indices by WHO criteria. Statistical analysis was done by ANOVA for repeated measurements and Friedman's two-way ANOVA using SPSSv6 software. Daily cholesterol intake increased in all subjects [p<0.03]. Body mass index increased in women [p<0.03], but BMI and waist-hip ratio both decreased in men [p<0.01]. Blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and serum fructosamine did not change during the study. Plasma insulin [p<0.05], C-peptide [p<0.01] and insulin resistance [p<0.01] decreased only in men. Total and LDL cholesterol increased significantly in all subjects during the study. Ramadan fasting does not alter carbohydrate metabolism or tissue insulin sensitivity in patients with type II diabetes given appropriate dietary education and rescheduling of oral hypoglycaemic medication. Lipid profile is unfavourably altered due to changes in both diet and biochemical response to starvation

Perrault's syndrome: a Clinical and genetic investigation of three sisters

Perrault's syndrome [P.S] is rare. The combination of gonadal dysgenesis and hearing loss was accompanied by 46,XX karyotype in three sisters with parental consanguineous marriage Genetic investigation revealed normal female.karyotype, positive Barr and negative fluorescence [F] bodies, which was confirmed by molecular study on the basis of fluorescence in situ hybridization [FISH], with application of Xcen probe, showing the presence of two signals in 95% of the cell of these 3 Iranian sisters. The pedigree showed parental consanguinity [first cousin] with an autosomal mode of inheritance for both Perrault's syndrome and hearing loss. These findings together with normal thyroid function, serum prolactin, high level of serum gonadotropins is similar to the menopausal period in all 3 sisters. Estrogen and progesterone were recommended for all 3 sisters. This combined therapy led to mensturation and after a few months their breasts were normally developed. For further management cochlear implantation, speech therapy and training courses were suggested in order to improve hearing and intellectual abilities