relation between serum vitamin D levels and blood pressure: a population-based study

Vitamin D deficiency has been proposed as an associating factor with increased blood pressure. We studied the relationship between serum vitamin D and blood pressure in a large representative sample of Iranian population. In this cross-sectional study, based on the data of 2508 adults [aged between 20 and 70 years] from the Iran Multicenter Osteoporosis Study [IMOS], the association between serum vitamin D and blood pressure was investigated. There was a significant difference between mean [ +/- SD] vitamin D levels of the individuals with stage I hypertension and that of the three other groups [Normal: 32.9 [ +/- 27.5]; Prehypertension: 34.4 [ +/- 27.2]; Stage-I: 38.7 [ +/- 29.2]; Stage-II: 34.7 [ +/- 24.0] ng/ml; P<0.05. In multivariate regression models, the weak positive association of vitamin D and systolic blood pressure values disappeared after age and Body Mass Index [BMI] adjustment. We found a statistically positive but weak association between vitamin D serum concentration and systolic blood pressure. Considering the difference noted between our results and previous studies, further research is needed to assess the potential effect of ethnicity and genetic factors on these findings

effect of fetal liver-derived cell suspension allotransplantation on patients with diabetes: first year of follow-up

Stem cell-based therapies have recently opened up new horizons for treatment of various types of diseases including diabetes mellitus. However, long-term efficacy and safety of these novel modalities still remain a serious question. Hereby, we aim to report the one-year follow-up results in the diabetic patients who underwent fetal liver-derived hematopoietic stem cell allotransplantation. Fifty six patients with type one [n=30] and type two [n=26] diabetes, aged 10-58 years old [32.8 +/- 16.3] were divided into the intervention and placebo group. The patients in the intervention group underwent fetal liver-derived hematopoietic stem cell transplantation while the patients in the placebo group received 5 ml of normal saline both via an intravenous route. The patients were visited at regular intervals to evaluate the efficacy of transplantation in glycemic control as well as possible complications. In the 6[th] month of the follow-up, there was a significant decrease in HbA[1]c levels in all groups without any rise in the fasting c-peptide. However, none of the precipitants transiently or continuously became insulin free in the first year after transplantation. It can be concluded that, in this study, fetal liver-derived hematopoietic stem cell transplantation had no significant effects on glycemic control. The heterogeneity of our patients might account for the negative results. Hence, longer follow-up results will be reported in the near future.

Serum copper concentration in neural tube defects pregnancies in Gorgan-northern Iran: a case control study

To determine an association between copper deficiency and neural tube defects in Northern Iran, which is reported to have a high prevalence of neural tube defects. This hospital based case control study was conducted on 13 mothers with newborns having neural tube defects and 35 healthy controls mothers in Northern Iran during 2005-2006. Serum copper was measured by spectrophotometery. Serum copper level in mothers with NTD affected newborns and mothers with normal newborns was 15.9 +/- 6.1 micromol/litter and 15.2 +/- 6.2 micromol/litter, respectively. Overall 15.4% of mothers in case group and 25.7% of mothers in control group had copper deficiency. Logistic regression analysis showed no association between the presence of NTD and copper deficiency [OR =0.5, 95% Cl: 0.05-3.2]. This study showed that there is no association between the presence of neural tube defects [NTD] and copper deficiency

[Nutritional characteristics in patients with colorectal cancer in Golestan Province of Iran, a case-control study]

Colorectal cancer is the third common malignancy in the world. Personal habits including life style and nutrition have been proposed as risk factors of colorectal cancer. We conducted this study to assess the nutritional characteristics in colorectal cancer patients in Golestan province of Iran. This case-control study was done on 47 colorectal cancer cases, diagnosed during 2004-05 and 47 healthy controls. A questionnaire containing socio-demographic and nutritional characteristics [FFQ] was filled for each of the participants. Chi square test was used to assess the relationship between variables. In each of the two groups, 40.4% were females and 59.6% were males. The mean +/- SD age of age in cases and controls were 52.4 +/- 13.4 and 52.1 +/- 13.1 years, respectively. Total energy expenditure of higher than 1837.5 Kcal/day was significantly related to colorectal cancer [OR= 3.8; 95% CI: 1.2-11.3]. Colorectal cancer risk was higher in individual with frying cooking method [OR=3; 95% CI: 0.8-11.1]. The risk of colorectal cancer was 6.5 times higher in individuals with fat consumption of higher than 118.5 grams/day [95% CI: 1.5-28.8].No significant relationship was seen between vegetables consumption and the risk of colorectal cancer. This study showed that high total energy expenditure, high fat consumption and using frying method for cooking are risk factors of colorectal cancer in Golestan province in Northern of Iran

[ early warning system for flash floods in Golestan Province: the model of village disaster taskforce]

This research looked at the current situation of the early warning system for flash floods in Golestan. Using the questionnaire developed by the Secretariat of the United Nations' International Strategy for Disaster Reduction [ISDR] for assessment of early warning systems, we examined the following components in the province's early warning system: hazard knowledge, monitoring and warning, dissemination/communication and response capacity. The first stage of the study examined current literature on the experience gained so far in Iran and worldwide. Next, we reviewed the existing evidence and documentation from the province's Natural Disaster Center. The third phase of the research began as a qualitative study consisting of in-depth interviews with eight specialists and four people residing in disaster-stricken areas. This was followed by the formation of an 8-member Expert Panel that debated the key issues until agreement was reached by at least four thirds of the members. The study revealed serious flaws in the current warning system, including its inability to make reliable geographical point predictions and possible delays in the transfer of warning from the meteorological services [where most of the predictions are made] to end-users and other organizations. The public receive little warning on rising water levels, and the rare warning messages that do get through are often vague and incomprehensible. There are no clear-cut warning response strategies, including local evacuation programs; hazard maps are non-existent, and response thresholds remain ill-defined. It is clear that many components of the early flash flood warning system in Golestan are in need of functional improvement. A model- to be tested in future studies- is proposed here for the creation of a Village Disaster Taskforce, based on local capabilities and the concept of initiating the warning process at the local level

[Comparison between efficacy of Tamsulosin and Terazosinin alpha-adrenergic blockers in spontaneous passage of ureter stones after ESWL [A double blind clinical trial]]

Nephrolithiasis has a high prevalence in population. Our objective was to compare time of stone passage, severity of pain, frequency of the use of analgesics and the course of disability between groups A, B and C. In this randomized controlled trial study, 240 patients were selected .inclusion criteria was all patient with 5-9mm stone diameter, and exclusion criteria was opium addiction. All of patients were categorized in 3 groups with Block Balance Randomize and double blind method. Each group consisted of 80 persons. In group A [i.e. control group] patients were given daily Diclofenac suppositories of 100mg and Diclofenac tablets of 25mg.In group B patients were given Tamsulosin tablets of 0.4 mg in addition to routine treatment and in group C patients were given Terazosin tablets of 2 mg in addition to routine treatment. Patients were visited three months after lithotripsy. The rate of ureteral stone passage in group B [85.5%] was more than group A [80%] and group C [83.3%], the mean expulsion time group A with 14.9 days was more than group B [12.1 days] and group C [12.2 days],also severity of pain on the basis of VAS chart in group B [4.7] less than group A [5.5] and C [5.2], extra analgesic requirement in alpha blockers group [B:4 patients and C:2 patients] less than control group [8 patients], and all of these were non significantly different. alpha blockers are decrease symptoms of pain and no effective response on expulsion of stones

Serum copper concentration in newborns with neural tube defects in northern Iran; a case control study

This study was conducted to determine the eventual association between copper deficiency in newborns with neural tube defects [NTD] in Northern Iran. A high prevalence of neural tube defects has been reported from this region. This hospital based case control study was carried out on 13 newborns having neural tube defects and 35 healthy controls in Northern Iran during 2005-2006. Serum copper was measured by spectrophotometery. Serum copper level in newborns with NTD and healthy normal newborns was 16.5 [ +/- 7.2] micro mol/l and 16.7 [ +/- 6.6] micro mol/l, respectively. In case group 38.5% of newborns and in control group 28.6% had copper deficiency. Logistic regression analysis showed no association between the presence of NTD and copper deficiency [OR:1.6, 95% CI=0.3-7.1, P=0.5]. This study showed no association between NTD and copper deficiency in newborns

[ assessment of risk factors for prostate cancer in Mazandaran province, Iran]

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men after lung cancer. Therefore, this study was done to assess of risk factors for prostate cancer in Mazandaran province, Iran. A matched case-control study was conducted on 104 prostate cancer patients and 104 controls in Mazandaran province during 2005. The addresses of the patients were obtained using the cancer registry information existed in Babol research center in Iran. The data were collected using a questionnaire by in-person interview of cases and their controls and were analyzed using STATA [8.0]. Univariate condition logistic regression showed that age, prostatitis, drinking alcohol, using chopoghe, family history of prostate cancer, having other cancer, intensity of activity, time of job activity were found to be the risk factors although higher BMI and execreise were protective for prostate cancer [P<0.20]. In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for the effect of the confounders, prostatitis, age, alcohol consumption and family history of prostate cancer were found to the most important risk factors. This study identified prostatitis, age, alcohol consumption and family history of prostate as the independent risk factors for prostate cancer. We suggest that men after the age of 60 should be screened for prostate cancer annually