[ evaluation of correlation between plasma level of CRP and WBC with ischemic stroke severity and infarct volume]

Stroke is one of the important causes of death. However the prognostic factors are not clearly defined. There are many evidences which show the role of inflammatory factors during the progression of stroke but the relation of CRP and stroke is still vague. This study was designed to determine the relation between CPR Level and WBS with severity of stroke [according to CNSS score] and volume of infarct in stroke patients. This is a cross sectional study performed during the winter and spring of 2007 on 49 patients with stroke hospitalized in Vali-e-Asr hospital of Arak. Clinical examination was done by using CNSS scoring. The CRP and WBC were measured in the first 72 hour of onset of the disease. The CT scanning together with infarct volume estimation was performed at the same time. There was no correlation between the volume of infarct with CRP serum level [r=-0.14, p=0.39] and WBC [r=-0.17, p=0.92. Also there was no correlation between CNSS score with CRP level [r=-0.04, p=0.81] and WBC [r=-0.124, p=0.40] too, but there was a significant correlation between CNSS score and stroke volume in brain CT scan [r=-0.43, p=0.006]. According to data in this study there was no correlation between serum acute phase reactant, the volume and severity of infarction

Comparing the oxidative stress indexes of CVA patients with control group

In the recent years, oxidative stress was attended as one of the causal factors of ischemic stroke. In terms of the role of genetic, geographic and ethnic factors in the prevalence of stroke, This study was designed to compare the oxidative stress indexes of stroke patients with normal healthy subjects in this geographic area. In this case-control study, 36 patients older than 50 years with ischemic stroke and 45 healthy subjects with same age and sex, were enrolled. Five milliliter blood were drawn from all subjects. Samples were centrifuged and plasma was separated. Total antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation and thiol levels were measured respettively by FRAP, TEA and HU methods. Then the result was analyzed using t-test. Results showed total antioxidant capacity and thiol plasma levels were lower in stroke patients in compare to healthy subjects, but only the thiol group had significant difference [P = 0/001]. Although lipid peroxidation showed a slight but non-significant difference in stroke patients in compare to control group. These findings suggest oxidative stress in patients with acute ischemic stroke may be conseaqence of an imbalance in oxidant/antioxidant homeostasis. Therefore it may be useful to recommend antioxidant medications or diet for these patients

[Evaluation of the relation between dehydroepiandrostrone [DHEA] level and insulin sensitivity]

DHEA and its sulfate form is an adrenal hormone and is the most common steroidal hormone in body and despite of other adrenal hormones increases with age, so it is called youth fountain. Recently, DHEA is noticed increasingly because of its multiple effects. Its effect on insulin sensitivity is controversial. In this study the relation between Dehydroepiandrostrone [DHEA] level and Insulin sensitivity is investigated. In this cross-sectional analytical study, samples were selected among female relatives of diabetic patients referring to Isfahan Endocrine Research Center. They were divided into three groups including; diabetic, impaired glucose tolerance and normal glucose tolerance, each 30 persons. In these groups blood sugar, lipid, CBC, Insulin and DHEA-S levels were evaluated and the rate of Insulin sensitivity was determined using HOMA-IR and the relation between insulin sensitivity rate and DHEA in the three groups was compared. Data was analyzed using one way ANOVA and T tests. The mean of variables in the three groups of diabetic, impaired glucose tolerance and normal glucose tolerance for DHEA-S was 127, 113, 129 mcg/dl; Insulin 7.7, 1.10, 8.3 mcg/ml; HOMA-IR 1.6, 3.5, 1.8 and fasting blood sugar 86, 135, 89 mg/dl; respectively. Comparison of mean of variables showed that the difference between DHEA-S in groups was not significant. Also there was no meaningful relationship between DHEA-S and blood sugar. In the group with normal glucose tolerance, DHEA-S with HOMA-IR and insulin had a partial meaningful relation [p<0.06]. Overally DHEA has no meaningful relation with insulin sensitivity and HOMA-IR, but this relation is meaningful in the three groups and the relation between DHEA-S with HOMA-IR in the group with normal glucose tolerance is partially meaningful

[ comparsion of nortriptiline and vit B12 effects on diabetic neuropathy]

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent disease in the world.Today there are 100 milion diabetics around the world and in Iran it is about 1.5 milion. The prevalence of symptomatic neuropathy is 15% but with NCV it will increase to 50%. Regarding the suffer produced by neuropathy and that there is no effective treatment for that, this is necessary to investigate new treatment options. This is a clinical trial study, done during a 3 months period in vali-e-asr hospital in year 2004. 100 diabetic patients were selected randomly and divided into two equal groups. A complete sensorimotor assessment was performed and a questionnaire consisting history and clinical symptoms including limb pain, murmur and paresthesia and examinations such as pin prink test, position and vibration assessment, was completed. NCV was also done and blood sugar and HbAlc was measured. In case group 2000 micrograms vit B12 was prescribed twice weekly and in control group 10mg nortiptiline every night was prescribed. After 3 months patients were assessed again. Data was analysed using mean and standard deviation and Chi square, K-S, Leven, T and Mann Whitney tests. Based on visual analage scale the difference between pain number before and after treatment was decreased 3.66 [3.66-4.25] in case and 0.48 [0.54-1.13] in control group [P< 0.0001]. Also the difference between paresthesia number before and after treatment was decreased 2.98 [2.51-3.44] in case and 1.06 [064-1.47] in control group [P< 0.001]. The differene between murmur number before and after treatment was decreased 3.48 [2.93-4.02] in case and 3.48 [2.93-4.02] in control group [P< 0.001]. There was no significant difference between NCV, vibration, position and pin prink test results. Changes in clinical symptoms in case group in comparison to those in control group was significant, but change in physical assessment findings [pin prink, Position, vibration and NCV] was not significant