[Comparison of amitriptyline pain relief with carbamazepine in patients with diabetic neuropathy in patient reffered to diabetic clinic of Ahvaz Golestan]

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common diseases in general population. Its prevalence is 5-8 percent in Iran. The disease has symptoms such as neuropathy. The prevalence of neuropathy is equivalent to 7 percent at onset of the disease, but as the underlying disease advances the prevalence of neuropathy can reach to as much as 50 percent. In some patients with neuropathy, the neuropathic pain can affect their daily functioning and quality of life. The subjects of this clinical trial were 60 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who referred to diabetes clinic of Ahvaz Golestan hospital. After proving painful neuropathy, and according to their history, physical examination and EMG-NCV, and considering their inclusion and exclusion criteria for the study, they were randomly divided into two equal groups. The study was accomplished in a double blind method. One group was treated with amitriptyline [50 mg / d] and the other group was treated with carbamazepine [200mg TID]. Based on brief pain inventory quantitative scale amount of pain was scored before and six weeks after the beginning of study. Both drugs were found effective, but no significant difference in pain relief was noted. Hb A1C in patients who received carbamazepine was found lower in comparison with other group. If the glucose declining effect of carbamazepine would be proved in the future, it can be administered as an adjunct therapy

[Public awareness of diabetes mellitus in Ahvaz]

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most important chronic diseases which is substantially increasing in the world especially in developing countries. Nowadays changes in life style, inadequate diabetic habits, sedentary life and obesity are among the most significant causes of type 2 diabetes. Increase in general population knowledge can greatly reduce the expansion of the disease and progression of its complications. The aim of the present study was determine population knowledge of diabetes mellitus in Ahvaz. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study on 400 visitors of Simorgh exhibition of Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences which was held during the 10 days of Fajr in 2009 were the subjects of this study. Data were collected by a questionnaire and analyzed by chi-square test with SPSS. The awareness of diabetes amont Ahvazians was good in 36.8%, at intermediate level in 44.2% and weak in 19% of the subjects of the study. Average age of participants was 31years.Women's knowledge was more than men [P<0.001]. Married persons had more knowledge than unmarried [P<0.001]. With increasing in education level, knowledge on diabetes also increased. Housewives and official clerks had more knowledge than others. The presence of diabetic patients augmented the knowledge of other members of the family. Friends, acquaintances and relatives were the main source of information and the other sources, in descending order, were magazines and books, radio and TV and physicians. The results of this study suggest that the overall population's knowledge on diabetes is at an intermediate level. We conclude that although the population knowledge on diabetes is in an intermediate level, removing two factors of increasing age and presence of diabetic patients in the family from the study yields in an intensely reduced knowledge and thus it is required to get knowledge on diabetes from lower ages

Evaluation of psychological problems in diabetic patients

Psychological problems can arise following a general medical condition, especially chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus. The purpose of the present study was to assess the prevalence and type of psychological problems in patients with diabetes mellitus. In this cross-sectional study, the subjects included 125 volunteers [75 female and 50 male] with diabetes referring to diabetes clinic of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. Patients completed symptoms checklist SCL-90-R and a demographic form. The results showed that 40% of patients suffered from a psychological disorder, including: depression [0.82], obsessive compulsive disorders [0.78], somatic disorders [0.67] and anxiety [0.67]. There was a significant relationship between psychological disorders and duration of diabetes [p<0/001]. A significant relationship was also observed between psychological problems and insulin dependent diabetes [P<0.016], complications of diabetes mellitus such as retinopathy [P<0.007], neuropathy [P<0.020] and HbAlc [P<0.001]. Gender, diabetes type and family history of diabetes were not correlated with psychological problems. Our finding indicates that psychological problems are common in patient with diabetes. Therefore, routine psychological assessment in patient with diabetes for early diagnosis is recommended

Assessment of hypokalemic periodic paralysis in hyperthyroid patients

Prevalence and characteristics of hypokalemic periodic paralysis has been reported differently in various societies. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of hypokalemic periodic paralysis in hyperthyroid patients referred to endocrine OPD of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciensis. A questionnaire including age, sex, cause of hyperthyroidism, ophtalmopathy, skin manifestation of Graves disease, history of paralysis, organs involved, predisposing factors, the number of paralysis attack, the beginning time of the paralysis and potassium levels during the attack, were completed in all hyperthyr-otoxic patients. About 52% of patients had Graves' disease. About 69% of patients were women. Nineteen [0.8%] had history of hypokalemic periodic paralysis especially in warm months and all were males with Graves' disease and their mean age were 30.2 +/- 10.7 years. ECG disturbance and paralysis of respiratory muscles were not detected in any patients. The mean serum potassium level during paralysis was 2.6 +/- 0.67 mEq/L. Predisposing factors for paralysis attacks were physical overexertion, carbohydrates and sweets consumption, infections, and corticosteroid injection. No predisposing factor was found in 9 [47.3%] of the patients. There were no episodes of hypokalemic periodic paralysis after successful treatment of hyperthyroidism in any patients. Hypokalemic periodic paralysis was mainly seen in males with Graves' disease in warm climate and after discontinuation of anti-thyroid treatment. No episodes of paralysis were detected after successful treatment of hyperthyroidism