[Effect of supplementation with grape seed extract [vitis vinifera] on serum lipid profiles in patient with type 2 diabetes]

Lipid abnormalities are a major cause of cardiovascular diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes. The present study was therefore designed to investigate the supplemental effects of grape seed extract on serum lipid profiles of patients with type 2 diabetes. The study was a randomized, triple-blind, clinical trial in which 48 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to 2 groups, the grape seed extract supplement and the placebo group. The patients in the grape seed extract group received 200 mg/d grape seed extract for 8 weeks while the placebo group received a corresponding placebo. At baseline and or the end of the 8[th] week of the study, 5 ml blood was collected after a 12 to 14-hour fast from each patient and serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL-C were measured. There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to mean changes of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL-C. The results of the present study indicate that grape seed extract supplement has no effect on serum lipid profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes

Association between modifiable lifestyle factors and inflammatory markers in patients with metabolic syndrome

There is accumulating evidence suggesting that inflammation is the bridging link between cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. Recent studies have shown a relationship between inflammatory markers and modifiable lifestyle factors including fitness, diet, exercise and smoking. We carried out a cross-sectional study of 195 patients with metabolic syndrome. Data on nutritional intake, physical activity level and smoking habits were collected through a questionnaire. Weight and body composition were determined and C-reactive protein and interluekin-6 concentrations were measured. C-reactive protein level had a significant association with body mass index [r = 0.18], adiposity [r = 0.23], smoking [r = 0.20], carbohydrate intake [r = 0.19] and saturated fatty acid [r = 0.20]. Interluekin-6 concentration was significantly correlated with dietary carbohydrate [r = 0.15], saturated fatty acid [r = 0.15] and glycaemic load [r = 0.15]. No association was observed between physical activity level and inflammatory markers

Evaluation of anterior pituitary function following traumatic brain injury

Neuroendocrine dysfunction following traumatic brain injury [TBI] is frequently missed due to the absence of major symptoms and very often, no appropriate management is prescribed, thus delaying the patient recovery. This study is aimed to determine the frequency and pattern of anterior pituitary dysfunction following TBI. From June to December 2009, over a period of seven months, a total of 156 cases were admitted to a trauma center following TBI. Of the seventy patients, [61 males and 9 females mean age 30 years] included in the study, 39 patients had moderate [GCS; 9 - 12] and 31 cases had severe [GCS < 8] TBI. Patients were tested 6 months after injury for possible secretory abnormalities of anterior pituitary hormones. Anterior pituitary secretary function was assessed by measurement of serum levels of FT4, TSH, basal GH, IGF-1, 8 am Cortisol, FSH, LH, total testosterone and prolactin. Dynamic tests of ACTH and glucagon stimulation were used to evaluate the pituitary-adrenal axis and GH secretory status. Forty-one patients [58.6%] were found to be suffering from at least one hormonal secretory abnormality, with patterns and frequencies of: Gonadotropins [LH, FSH], 12.9%, corticotrophin [ACTH], 12.9%, somatotropin [GH], 4.3%, and prolactin [PRL], 1.4%. There was no case with thyrotropin deficiency. Hyperprolactinemia was found to be present in 23 cases [31.5%]. The results of this study showed that anterior pituitary hormone deficiencies occur frequently, 6 months following traumatic brain injury. The two most commonly involved axes were the pituitary-gonadal and the pituitary-adrenal. Hypocortisolism may be particularly harmful for the patients' health

Thyroid autoimmunity in patients with breast cancer

There is a lack of national/regional data on the relationship between breast cancer and thyroid diseases and the limited data available are controversial. This study was designed and conducted to investigate thyroid autoimmunity in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. In a case-control study, 40 women with confirmed diagnoses of breast cancer and 40 age-matched healthy counterparts were recruited during a 12-month period from outpatient clinics of the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The case group were enrolled for the study before receiving treatment. Thyroid and physical examination was carried out in all participants and serum levels of TSH, FT4, ATPO and ATG were determined. The results were compared between two groups, and different histopathological subgroups of breast cancer. The mean age was 49.4817.75 and 46.80 +/- 7.00 years in the case and control groups respectively. Thyroid and physical examination were normal in all participants. TSH, ATPO and ATG serum levels were comparable between the two groups; however, the median level of serum FT4 was significantly higher in the case group [1.20 microg/dl vs. 1.03 microg/dl; p<0.001]. Increased levels of serum TSH and FT4 were found in 7.5% of the cases, while there were decreased levels in 2.5% of the cases, with no significant differences between the two groups. Thyroid tests were comparable between the different histopathological subtypes of breast cancer. No relationship was found between thyroid autoimmunity and breast cancer, a finding in concordance with some reports and in contrast with others. It seems that further studies with larger sample sizes are needed for conclusive findings

[Efficacy of oral angipars in chronic diabetes foot ulcer: a double blind placebo controlled study]

Diabetes mellitus is the most common human metabolic disease and chronic non healing diabetic foot ulcers are a critical complication for these patients. ANGIPARS is a new herbal extract which has been introduced to accelerate healing of these ulcers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of oral ANGIPARS in patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers and also its effect on inflammatory blood markers. In a double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 40 patients with diabetic foot ulcers of at least 4 weeks duration, were randomized to receive either oral ANGIPARS, or placebo twice a day, until the ulcer was completely healed or for a maximum of 6 weeks and followed up to 12 weeks. Standard foot ulcer care was given to all patients. The healing process was assessed with measuring ulcer surface area and time needed to achieve complete wound healing. Drug safety was assessed by monitoring adverse events, using clinical and laboratory evaluations. In both groups, wound surface area decreased significantly [p<0.0005]. Mean improvement ratio was 95.8% in the ANGIPARS group and 79.2% in the placebo group, although mean percent of wound area reduction in the former group was higher than in the placebo group at weekly assessments, this difference was not statistically significant [p=0.25] except for at the 4[th] week. [84/2% vs. 56%, p=0.013] Ultimately, complete wound healing was achieved in 90% and 70% of ANGIPARS group and placebo group, respectively, after 12 weeks. Time to achieve complete wound healing, also, was not different significantly in either groups. [6.2 vs 7.4 weeks, p=0.3] Significant reduction in ESR was sent in the ANGIPARS group. [p=0.04] There was no significant changes in laboratory parameters. Two complications most likely attributable to ANGIPARS reported were worsening of proliferative diabetic retinopathy in one patient and acute renal failure and acute hepatitis in another patient with diabetic nephropathy. Although ANGIPARS enhanced wound healing at least within weeks 2 to 4 of treatment, we did not observe a significant effect in the outcome. Therefore, standard foot ulcer care seems to be the cornerstone of diabetic foot ulcer management and ANGIPARS should probably be reserved for treatment of the non-healing or difficult-to-heal ulcers that do not respond to standard treatments. Further studies are required to assess the efficacy of this new herbal extract

[Effects of total extract of urtica dioica on insulin and c-peptide secretion from rat [RIN5F] pancreatic beta cells and glucose utilization by human muscle cells]

The hypoglycemic effects of the Uritca Dioica [UD] extract, used for treatment of diabetes mellitus for many centuries, have been documented in several studies. The present study was designed to determine the possible mechanisms of hypoglycemic effects of UD on human muscle cells and RIN5F rat pancreatic beta cells. In the cell culture laboratory of the Drug Applied Research Center, pancreatic Beta cells and human muscle cells were prepared in multiple flasks containing culture media. Alcoholic extract of UD at concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 micro g/mL were added to muscle cell flasks. The same concentrations of extract plus insulin were added to other muscle cell flasks.Glucose levels were measured in the flasks before and after 60, 120, and 180 minutes after adding of extract. Also the same concentration of UD were added to flask containing RIN5F rat pancreatic beta cells, and insulin and C-peptide level were measured at 0, 60, 120 and 180 minutes. Mean glucose level in the muscle cell media with UD alone and UD plus insulin, at the concentrations and time intervals mentioned, did not change significantly. Insulin levels in pancreatic cells media, before and after applying of UD at different concentrations, and at different times was

[Incidence of osteoporotic hip fracture in above 50 year old peoples of Tabriz in years 2004-2006]

Nontraumatic hip fracture due to osteoporotic is one of the most serious complications of this significant worldwide health problem. Osteoporotic hip fracture constitutes almost 20% of orthopedic ward admissions in most countries, with significant health related budgets being spent for care of these patients. Considering the lack of precise statistical data of osteoporotic hip fracture rates in our country, and any previous investigations regarding the problem in Tabriz [a large city in northwestern part of Iran], we investigated the frequency of this epidemic in residents aged over 50 years of Tabriz. In a retrospective - descriptive study, we reviewed medical records of all patients over 50 years inhabitants of Tabriz, admitted with hip fracture in city hospitals, during 24 months, from March 2005 to February 2007. Data regarding age, sex, type of trauma, type of fracture, and in-hospital morbidity and mortality were extracted, and analysis was performed using SPSS14 software. During the study period there were 878 admissions for hip fracture in subjects aged over 50 years there were 779 patients with nontraumatic hip fracture [398 males and 381 females] mean age 75.1 +/- 9.1. It is estimated that the rate of nontraumatic hip fracture in these citizens of Tabriz is 175 per 100000 population, 174 for females and 176 for males, with a female to male ratio of 0.96. The frequency of nontraumatic osteoporotic hip fracture among individuals aged over 50 years of Tabriz, is high, although these rates are lower than those reported from Sweden and the Netherlands, and similar to France and Portugal. The age related surge of osteoporotic hip fracture occurs 10 years earlier in our country, and female to male ratio is lower than those of other countries

Long-term effects of processed Berberis vulgaris on some metabolic syndrome components

Metabolic syndrome is complex of metabolic disorders that correlates with cardiovascular disease. This study aimed at investigating the effect of processed Berberis vulgaris [B.vulgaris] on some metabolic syndrome components. Participants, type2 diabetics, were recruited in a randomized controlled clinical trial [n = 57] and randomly assigned into three groups: 1] processed B.vulgaris [n =19], 2] apple vinegar group [n =19] and 3] control group [n =19]. Height, weight, serum total cholesterol, HDL-, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and insulin concentrations were measured at baseline and at the end of the 8th week and BMI, total/HDL-cholesterol ratio and insulin resistance were estimated. Processed B.vulgaris group showed no significant effects on BMI, total cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose concentrations, whereas LDL-cholesterol concentration [22.48 +/- 35.44mg/dl] and total/HDL-cholesterol ratio [2.56 +/- 4.87] significantly decreased and HDL-cholesterol concentration [12.33 +/- 20.58mg/dl] increased [P < 0.05]. No significant effect on lipid profiles was found in the apple vinegar group. Increased insulin concentration and insulin resistance was observed in all of these groups [P < 0.001], independent of processed B.vulgaris and apple vinegar effects. Findings of the present study showed the beneficial effects of processed B.vulgaris on certain atherosclerosis risk factors