relationship between plasma antioxidant enzymes activity and sex hormones during the menstrual cycle

There is increasing evidence for the role of oxidative stress in female reproductive tract. The purpose of this study was to determine the activity of antioxidant enzymes during menstrual cycle. In addition, the relationship between activity of antioxidant enzyme and sex hormones was evaluated. In this study the activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase and total antioxidant capacity during the menses, follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle in twenty women with regular menstrual cycle were studied. Furthermore, the correlation between activity of antioxidant enzymes and estradiol, progesterone, LH, FSH and testosterone were evaluated, There was no significant difference between activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase and total antioxidant capacity during the menses, follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle [P>0.05]. We found significant correlation, in luteal phase, between superoxide dismutase and FSH [P<0.05

[Health- related quality of life in patients with type 1 diabetes]

Considering the importance of quality of life [QoL] affected in chronic diseases including diabetes, this study conducted to evaluate health-related quality of life in patients with type 1-diabetes. In this cross-sectional study, 150 patients with type 1 diabetes were enrolled from the Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism. A quality of Life questionnaire validated previously for assessment of QoL in people with type-1 diabetes in Iran was used. The questionnaire included 20 questions in five areas of social relationships, emotional, daily activity, academic performance and treatment. Mean age of the subjects and duration of disease were 22.14 +/- 6.84, 8.97 +/- 7.14 years respectively. The mean score for general quality of life was 70.70 +/- 13.95 in men and 67.27 +/- 11.87 in women. There was no significant difference in general quality of life between men and women. However, regarding treatment, the quality of life in men [65.64 +/- 16.65] was higher than in women [P<0.05]. General quality of life was significantly correlated with duration of diabetes and type of insulin. In patients treated with insulin-analogues, general quality of life and areas of emotional, social relationships, academic performance and treatment were better. To conclude, comprehensive diabetes care, including mental health counseling and structured patient education programs might improve QoL in Iranian patients with type 1 diabetes

Comparison of waist-to-height ratio and body mass index for prediction of type 2 diabetes mellitus risk in women: Tehran lipid and glucose study

The aim of this study was to determine which indicator of obesity index is the best predictor of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Iranian women. In an urban Iranian population, we examined 2801 females, aged >/= 20 years who were non-diabetic at baseline. Over a median 3.5 year [11months to 6.3y] follow up, we compared the ability of central obesity indicators [waist circumference [WC], waist-to-hip ratio [WHR], waist-to-height ratio [WHtR]] to body mass index [BMI] in the prediction of type 2 diabetes, based on American Diabetes Association 2003 criteria. To estimate odds ratio [OR] of developing diabetes associated with each quartile of anthropometric variables, we used a multivariate model adjusted for age, hypertension, triglycerides, HDL-C, family history of diabetes [model 1] and a full model adjusted for the variables in model [1] plus abnormal glucose tolerance at the baseline [model 2]. Receiver operator characteristic [ROC] analyses were used to determine the predictive power of each indicator in the development of type 2 diabetes, after adjustment for age. During our follow up, 114 individuals developed diabetes [4.1%]. The OR [95% CIs] of developing diabetes increased to 4.8 [2.1-10.9], 6.7 [2.6-17.1], 8.7 [3.0-24.7], 8.0 [3.1-20.6] for the highest quartiles of BMI, WC, WHR and WHtR compared to the lowest quartile in model [1] respectively. In model [2] the ORs [95% CIs] of the fourth quartile of anthropometric variables decreased, compared to value in model [1], but remained significant [BMI: 3.1 [1.3-7.2], WC: 3.1 [1.1-8.3], WHR: 4.0 [1.3-11.8], WHtR: 3.3 [1.2-8.8]]. Compared to BMI, the WHtR had a higher area under ROC curve [0.72 vs 0.69 P < 0.05], while there was no difference between ROCs of BMI and other anthropometric variables In Iranian women, WHtR is a better predictor of type 2 diabetes than BMI