prevalence of metabolic syndrome in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; a population-based study

Background: Some evidence, not in large study populations, suggests that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] and metabolic syndrome [MetS] share common interactions. We aimed to determine the prevalence of NAFLD and MetS in a large population registered to Kavar Cohort Study center. We also assessed the role of each component of MetS in NAFLD existence

Method: Data were obtained from 3415 volunteers who called and refereed to our center. Complete anthropometric and laboratory measurement and abdominal ultrasonography was done for these individuals to screen NAFLD and its grade. A questionnaire was also used to obtain information on demographical and medical history and alcohol consumption. MetS was defined in all participants based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III [2001] [NCEP/ATP-III] and criteria for clinical diagnosis of metabolic syndrome in Iranian adults [CCDMIA]

Results: Among the refereed individuals, 2980 peoples were aged ?18 years with male to women ratio of 1:2.45. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasound in 32.9% and 27.4% of men and women, respectively. MetS was detected in 65.9 and 64.6 of the patients with NAFLD [based on NCEP/ATP-III] and in 30.1% and 73.7% [based on CCDMIA] of men and women, respectively. There were no significant differences between two gender in none of the components [P>0.05]. Although, OR for hyperglycemia and abdominal obesity were approximately high in CCDMIA criteria [0.9613 and 1.2082, respectively], the differences were not statistically significant

Conclusion: NAFLD was associated with MetS. However, it was not possible to determine whether NAFLD predating the development of MetS

relationship between quality of work life and human resource productivity in knowledge worker

Introduction: Health care systems depend critically on the size, skill, and commitment of the health workforce. Therefore, researchers have a close observation on the subjects which leads to an increase in the productivity of human resources. This study aims at determining the relationship between the quality of work life and the productivity of knowledge workers of the central field of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, in order to determine the factors effective in the quality of their working life

Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 individuals selected by stratified random sampling method. On 761 knowledge workers of the central field of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences by using Timossi questionnaire of Quality of Work Life and Knowledge Worker Productivity Assessment questionnaire of Antikainen, during May and June 2011 The collected data were recorded by SPSS version 15 software and then it underwent statistical analysis using Pearson correlation. The P value level for statistical significance was set at 0.05

Results: In general, 50% of the knowledge workers were dissatisfied about their quality of work life, and the other 50% had little satisfaction. 18% of the staff were in an unfavorable condition and 82% had a poor productivity. Also, the quality of work life had a positively significant relationship with the productivity of human resources [r=0.568; P>0.001]

Conclusion: Most of the knowledge workers in the central field of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences had low productivity and quality of work life. Considering the relationship between the two variables, taking measures to improve the quality of work life can lead to more creative and profound planning in presenting services and, as a result, improving the productivity of the knowledge workers

Common Carotid Intima-media Thickness in Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Population-based Case-control Study / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Metabolic syndrome is a well-known risk factor for atherosclerosis. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has features of metabolic syndromes. This study aimed to investigate the association between NAFLD and atherosclerosis. METHODS: In a population-based study in southern Iran, asymptomatic adult inhabitants aged more than 20 years were selected through cluster random sampling, and were screened for the presence of fatty liver and common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), with abdominal and cervical ultrasonography, respectively. Those with fatty liver were compared to the same number of individuals without fatty liver. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety individuals were found to have fatty change on abdominal ultrasonography, and were labeled NAFLD. Compared to normal individuals, NAFLD patients had significantly higher prevalence of increased CIMT (OR, 1.66; p<0.001). Those with hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), higher waist circumference (WC) and older ages had significantly higher prevalence of thick CIMT. Through adjusting the effects of different variables, we indicated that NAFLD could be an independent risk factor for thick common carotid intima-media (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.17-3.09; p=0.009). It was also shown that age could be another independent risk factor for thick CIMT. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with risk factors such as HTN, DM, and high WC are prone to develop atherosclerosis of the carotid artery. The presence of NAFLD should be considered as another probable independent factor contributing to the development of carotid atherosclerosis.

Age specific reference levels of serum prostate-specific antigen, prostate volume and prostate specific antigen density in healthy Iranian men

It is relevant to highlight that there is not a precise and perfect report on either 95 percentile value [upper limit of normal range] or on appropriate reference intervals for serum PSA in Iranian population. To determine age-specific reference ranges for serum prostate-specific antigen [PSA] concentration and PSA density [PSAD] and prostate volumes in a population of healthy Iranian men. Nine-hundred and thirteen healthy Iranian men, aged 50-79 years, underwent a detailed clinical evaluation including a digital rectal examination, a serum PSA determination [DRE] and transrectal ultrasound [TRUS]. PSA test was performed on 666 of the subjects and TRUS was done on 633 of them. None of the subjects had any evidence of prostate cancer by any one of the three diagnostic tests and had no history of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms [LUTS]. Age specific ranges for PSA levels, PSA density and prostate volume were determined. The serum PSA concentration correlated directly with the subjects' age [r=0.280; p < 0.001] and prostatic volume [r=0.327; p < 0.001]. Also prostatic volume was directly proportional to age [r = 0.197; p < 0.001].The serum PSA ranges [95th percentile] for each age range in Iranian men were: 0.00-2.61 ng/ml for 50-59 years; 0.00-3.59 ng/ml for 60-69 years; and 0.00-4.83 ng/ml for 70-79 years. The respective prostate volumes were: 14-59, 16-66 and 18-73ml. Also respective PSA densities were: 0.00-0.076, 0.00-0.10 and 0.00-0.14 ng/ml/ml. The present study confirms earlier reports that serum PSA levels and prostate volume and PSAD are age- and race- dependent, so it is appropriate to have age- specific reference ranges for these variables in various communities around the world. This will increase the positive predictive value of PSA estimation in the diagnosis of prostate cancer in different communities

Evaluation of plasma interleukin-8 concentration in patients with prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia

Prostate specific antigen [PSA] has been used as a screening test for the early detection of prostate cancer [PC] for many years. Although the introduction of PSA test led to a considerable increase in reported prostate cancer cases, there is still some controversy over the sensitivity and specificity of this marker in distinguishing PC patients from those with benign prostate hyperplasia [BPH], the most common benign prostate condition. An attempt is made to elucidate if the plasma level of Interleukin 8 [IL-8] could be used effectively as a marker for the detection of prostate cancer. Plasma levels of IL-8 and PSA were measured in two groups of 40 BPH and PC patients using enzyme-linked immunosorbent [ELISA] and radioimmunoassay [RIA] techniques, respectively. In addition IL-8 levels in PC3 and DU145 cell line supernatants were measured by ELISA technique. The concentration of IL-8 in the plasma of PC patients was not significantly higher than the BPH subjects. Although, a correlation between plasma IL-8 concentration and the Gleason score of PC patients was found, no indicated correlation was detected between the concentration of IL-8 or PSA and age of the patients in both groups. DU145 and PC3 cell lines produced and secreted IL-8 in the media. Data of this investigation collectively conclude no correlation between IL-8 concentration in PC and BPH patients