Waist Circumference and Spirometric Measurements in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the waist circumference of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), had an impact on lung function. METHODS: There were 180 patients with COPD recruited into this prospective cross-sectional study. The age, weight, body mass index and waist circumference (WC) were measured. Spirometry parameters including forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), were measured and FEV1/FVC calculated. RESULTS: The mean FEV1/FVC in both normal weight and overweight patients, did not statistically significantly correlate with WC. The COPD assessment test, positively correlated with WC ( p = 0.031). A positive correlation with body mass index ( p < 0.001), smoking ( p = 0.027), and global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease score ( p = 0.009), were observed to positively associate with WC. WC, age, C-reactive protein, duration of disease, and gender (male), were observed to be statistically significant risk factors for the severity of COPD. CONCLUSION: WC was not observed to impact upon lung function in this study but it was a predictive factor for COPD severity in patients.

Association of PTPN22 rs2476601 polymorphism with rheumatoid arthritis and celiac disease in Khuzestan Province, Southwestern Iran

Background: Single-nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] rs2476601 within protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 gene [PTPN22] has been shown to be a risk factor for different autoimmune diseases. This study explored the association of 1858 C/T SNP with rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and celiac disease [CD] in a region covering southwest of Iran

Methods: Totally, 52 patients with CD, 120 patients with RA, and 120 healthy subjects were selected. The samples were genotyped for the rs2476601 in PTPN22 gene using the tetra-amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction

Results: The frequency of +1858T risk allele was significantly increased in both RA [P=0.021, OR=2.56, 95%CI=1.19-5.47] and CD [P=0.002, OR=3.87, 95%CI=1.68-8.95] patients, as compared to the control group. However, no association was found between the +1858C/T PTPN22 gene SNP and the anticyclic citrullinated peptide and rheumatoid factor positivity in RA patients

Conclusions: PTPN22 gene could play a crucial role in people's susceptibility to certain autoimmune diseases

Review paper: approaches to post-disaster environmental recovery

Background: Environment and its ecosystems are affected by various natural and man-made disasters. The environmental management in disasters tries to protect ecosystems, sustain development, reduce disaster risk, and adapt to or decrease the impact of climate change. This study aimed to investigate the impact of disasters on the environment and methods of reducing these effects

Materials and Methods: This review study was conducted by searching PubMed, Google Scholar, Elsevier, UNEP, SID, and Magiran databases using keywords of "environment", "disasters", "recovery", and "lessons learned" from 1999 to 2015

Results: Decrease in surface and groundwater resources, pollution of water resources, deforestation, desertification, soil erosion, air pollution and extinction of animal species are among post-disaster environmental damages. As a result of such changes in the environment and ecosystem, water shortage and drought, loss of vegetation, and food insecurity will ensue. Due to these destructive incidents, the people's ability to provide necessary resources for living decreases and their very lives are threatened. Consequently, they are forced to immigrate to save their lives

Conclusion: Environmental recovery is one of the effective strategies for achieving sustainable development. In this regard, public and private organizations as well as international ones and people should work together. Responsible organizations, the stakeholders at different levels, and the public must be trained in this area and introduced to the latest international standards. Rules and policies should be reviewed and revised in accordance with today's needs and international standards

effects of acute and chronic immobilization stress and aloe vera extract on serum levels of TSH, T3 and T4 in male rats

Stress has different effects on the body and endocrine system. The main aim of this study is to determine the effects of immobilization stress and Aloe vera extract on levels of TSH, T3 or T4 in male rats. In this experimental study, 90 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 9 groups of control, receiving normal saline, receiving Aloe vera extract, acutely immobilized [8 h/day immobilization for 8 days], chronically immobilized [2 h/day immobilization for 21 days] acutely immobilized receiving Aloe vera extract, chronically immobilized receiving Aloe vera extract, acutely immobilized receiving normal saline and chronically immobilized receiving normal saline [n = 10]. Blood samples were collected using cardiac puncture method and hormone levels were measured by electrochemiluminescence [ECL] method. Data were statistically analyzed and compared among groups using ANOVA. Results showed that levels of T3 and T4 were significantly increased in rats enduring acute immobilization stress compared with animals in control group [P = 0.001]. Serum T3 and T4 were significantly decreased in Aloe vera receiving rats compared with control group [P < 0.05 or P < 0.01, respectively]. Level of T3 was significantly decreased in acutely immobilized rats receiving Aloe vera compared with control group [P = 0.001]. Level of T3 and T4 levels were significantly decreased in chronically immobilized rats receiving Aloe vera compared with control group [P < 0.05]. The findings show that acute immobilization enhances levels of T3, T4 and TSH and the use of Aloe vera extract can prevent this kind of increase

evaluation of survival in patients who need intra aortic balloon pump [IABP] after cardiac surgery

Introduction: In some cases, assist devices are required to ensure an adequate cardiac output after cardiac surgery. Intra-aortic balloon pump [IABP] is the most commonly used cardiac assist device, which provides first-line support for patients with heart failure. The aim of this study was to determine factors affecting the mortality rate of patients receiving IABP

Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 235 patients requiring IABP support were analyzed over 14 years period [between January 1999 and December 2013] from which 137 patients survived the 30 days follow-up. Perioperative and demographic factors such as age, weight, underlying disease, ejection fraction, ventricular aneurysm and cardiopulmonary bypass [CPB] and cross clamp time were recorded and analyzed

Results: The overall operative mortality was reported to be 41.7%. Male-to-female ratio was 131:104 and the mean age of the subjects was 57.58 +/- 11.07 years. Early mortality rate was higher among young subjects and those with prolonged CPB [162.71 +/- 35.25, P<0.001] and ACC [129.94 +/- 54.39, P<0.001]. In addition, mortality rate was higher among females [P=0.04]. Patients' weight, comorbidity, preoperative ejection fraction, ventricular aneurysm and stenosis of the left main coronary did not affect the mortality rate [P>0.05]

Conclusion: IABP is a simple, effective method for temporary cardiac support, especially for aged patients. In addition, lower duration of surgery is associated with better surgical outcomes

Effects of Sesame Oil on the Reproductive Parameters of Diabetes Mellitus-Induced Male Rats

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of sesame oil on the reproductive parameters of diabetic male Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The adult male rats in a split plot design were divided into normal (n=10), normal 5% (n=5; 5% sesame oil enriched diet), diabetic (Streptozocin induced diabetes; n=9), diabetic 5% (n=9; 5% sesame oil enriched diet), and diabetic 10% (n=9; 10% sesame oil enriched diet) groups. Diet supplementation continued for 56 days. RESULTS: Sesame oil supplementation did not reduce the plasma glucose concentration of rats in the diabetic groups (p>0.05). The total spermatogonia, spermatocytes, Leydig cells/tubule, and the germ cell to Sertoli cell ratio were lower in the diabetic rats than the normal ones (p<0.05), and with the exception of spermatogonia counts, these values improved by the addition of sesame oil to the diet (p<0.05). The sperm progressive motility and viability were lower in the diabetic rats (p<0.05) and sesame oil supplementation did not improve them. Incorporation of sesame oil into the diet improved the plasma testosterone concentration of the diabetic rats in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, sesame oil supplementation improved the reproductive parameters of diabetic rats at the levels of the testicular microstructure and function, but was not effective in protecting the epididymal sperm.

[Effects of calcitonin nasal spray on serum bone resorptive marker CTX and other laboratory findings in osteopenic menopausal women: a clinical trial]

Various therapeutic options such as calcitonin have been suggested for patients with low bone density, despite uncertain efficacy in most patients. C-telopeptide of type I collagen [CTX] is a new bone marker used for the assessment of bone resorption. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of nasal spray calcitonin in women with osteopenia via serum CTX and other laboratory tests. We conducted a self controlled clinical trial in 2009 on 105 women of menopausal age diagnosed in Baqiyatallah Hospital Clinic with osteopenia based on a bone mineral density score of 1.5 SD lower than peak bone mass. The patients were assigned to receive nasal spray calcitonin [200 IU/day], calcium [1000 mg/day] and Vit-D [400 IU/day] for 6 months. Serum CTX and other laboratory parameters were measured before and after the treatment. The data were analyzed by SPSS, version 17, using t-tests and a P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Fifty-two patients completed the study and the mean CTX level decreased significantly from 3.10 +/- 2.03 to 2.61 +/- 1.82 pmol/lit [P<0.001], but total serum levels of PTH, Ca, AST, ALT and Alkaline Ph decreased insignificantly. It seems that nasal spray of calcitonin is significantly effective in preventing disease progression and treatment of low bone density by inhibiting bone tissue resorption indicated by CTX although further studies with larger samples sizes and inclusion of control groups are warranted