[Effect of raisin consumption on some coagulation factors and total serum antioxidant capacity in hyperlipidemic patients: a randomized clinical controlled tria]

Introduction: High circulating levels of hemostatic factors are associated with increased CVD risk. Raisins contain polyphenolic compounds which can reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In this study the effect of black raisin consumption on some coagulation factors, lipid profile and serum Total Antioxidant Capacity [TAC] in hyperlipidemic patients was evaluated

Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 40 hyperlipidemic patients [25 women, 13 men], mean age of 41.05 +/- 10.4 years, participated and were randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group consumed 90 gr black raisins for 5 weeks while the control group received no intervention. Plasma levels of fibrinogen and factor VII, lipid profile and TAC were determined at baseline and after 5 weeks of intervention. Physical activity and 24-hour recall were also evaluated questionnaire at baseline and at end of the study. Data were analyzed using independent T-test and paired T-test and significant was set at P values<0.05

Results: Physical activity and energy intake did not differ significantly between the two groups. After 5 weeks of daily intakes of raisin, TAC was significantly increased in the raisin group compared to the control group [P=0.001]. Although levels of lipid profile, factor VII and fibrinogen were decreased in the raisin group, they were not significant compared with control group [P=0.459, P=0.633]. Mean serum total cholesterol [P=0.018] and LDL-C [P=0.01] was significantly reduced, compared to baseline, but no significant difference was observed between the two groups [P=0.797, P=0.855]

Conclusion: These results indicate that consumption of black raisin which is rich in polyphenolic compounds has beneficial effects on serum antioxidant capacity in patients with hyperlipidemia

Distribution of ABO blood groups and rhesus factor in a Large Scale Study of different cities and ethnicities in Khuzestan province, Iran

Background: The demand for blood and blood products has increased due to advances in medical science, population growth and increased life expectancy. This has increased the need for various blood groups in Khuzestan province because of the higher incidence of thalassemia and other blood transfusion dependent disorders in this province

Aim of the study: Due to the presence of various ethnic groups in Khuzestan province, several types of blood components are required. Knowing the distribution of blood groups in different blood collection centers and tribes is vital for proper object oriented blood collection

Subjects and methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of 29,922 donors visiting Ahvaz transfusion center, affiliated centers and mobile teams [except for teams established in garrisons] during three months in 2014. Forward and reverse blood grouping was conducted based on hemagglutination and hemolysis reactions. Data analysis was done by Chi-square test using SPSS software

Results: The highest percentage of blood groups in Khuzestan province was related to blood group O [40.21%] with the highest prevalence in Izeh and the lowest in Shadegan. The second most prevalent group was A for which Ramhormoz and Bandar-e Emam Khomeini had the highest percentage, and AB blood group had the lowest percentage and was most frequent in Shadegan. Moreover, blood group B was the most prevalent after group O among different ethnicities except for Bakhtiaris

Conclusion: Our study showed ethnicity-related prevalence. Overall, the blood group O had the highest prevalence and AB the lowest percentage among the ethnicities, indicating a significant difference with studies in other parts of the world

Prevalence and molecular identification of mediterranean glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Khuzestan Province, Iran

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G6Pd] deficiency is the most frequent genetic enzymatic disorder in human, which is inherited as an X-linked gene. It encodes a housekeeping enzyme, which is vital for cell survival. According to previous investigations, Mediterranean mutation [C563T] of g6pd gene is the most prevalent mutation in some provinces of Iran and neighboring countries. We aimed to study the Mediterranean mutation of g6pd gene in Khuzestan province of Iran. A total of 1064 randomly selected male blood samples were selected in Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province, in 2008 and screened for G6PD deficiency using fluorescent spot test method. In order to determine the frequency of G6PD Mediterranean variant, 144 G6PD deficient samples were analyzed by PCR-RFLP method. Eighty-one out of 1064 random selected screened samples were G6PD deficient, so a 7.6% frequency was obtained for G6PD deficiency. In addition, 105 out of 144 collected deficient samples had Mediterranean mutation that resulted in a 72.91% allel frequency. Corresponding to other investigations in Middle East countries and some provinces of Iran, we found that the Mediterranean mutation of g6pd gene was the most prevalent variant and G6PD deficiency occurred in a high frequency

TTV prevalence in Ahwaz blood donors by using semi-nested PCR

Occurrence of new infectious agents threatens access to zero risk in blood transfusion and enhancement of blood safety. Although sensitive methods are available for diagnosis of hepatitis, yet some hepatitis cases do not have a known etiology. In 1997, the novel DNA virus was isolated from post-transfusion serum samples of patients affected by non-A-G hepatitis. Nowadays this novel virus is known as transfusion-transmitted virus. This circular single stranded unenveloped and virucidally resistant virus is the first human circovirus and has universal distribution. It is believed that TTV may cause hepatitis and aplastic anemia. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of TTV in healthy blood donors in Ahwaz and set up N22 PCR for subsequent first-time viral studies in south region in Iran. In 2003, We studied the presence of TTV DNA by using Okamoto primers with PCR in plasma of blood donors in whom serologic tests for hepatitis A-C and HIV-Ab were negative. Our study showed that the virus prevalence in blood donors was 23.7% [60/253] and there was not any significant differences between prevalence of TTV and background variables. Our findings showed the same prevalence rate as in neighboring countries; however, in comparison with thalassemic patients that were studied in parallel with the present research, the difference was significant [143/250; 57.3%]. It shows the importance of blood transfuison in transmission of the virus