[Effects of daily consumption of Iranian yogurt drink doogh fortified with vitamin D or vitamin D plus calcium on the anthropometric and glycemic indices in type-2 diabetes patients]

Poor vitamin D status has been associated with impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of daily intakes of Iranian yogurt drink doogh fortified with vitamin D or vitamin D + calcium on anthropometric and glycemic status in type-2 diabetes patients. Ninety patients with type-2 diabetes were randomly allocated to one of three groups as follows: group1: plain doogh; group 2: vitamin D-fortified doogh [fortified with 500 IU vitamin D3 and 150 mg Ca/250 mL]; group 3: vitamin D + calcium-fortified doogh [fortified with 500 IU vitamin D3 and 250 mg Ca/250 mL]. The subjects took their respective doughs twice per day for 12 weeks. Anthropometric markers [weight, body mass index, and waist circumference], fasting serum glucose [FSG], glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c], and homeostasis model of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR] were measured before and after the intervention. In both groups 2 and group 3, the mean serum 25[OH]D3 level increased significantly [P>0.001]. As compared to group 1, in groups 2 and 3 the decreases in FSG [-12.9 +/- 33.7 mg/dL [P = 0.015] and -9.6 +/- 46.9 mg/dL [P = 0.035], respectively], Hb A1c [-0.4 +/- 1.2% [P<0.001] and -0.4 +/- 1.9% [P, 0.001], respectively], HOMA-IR [-0.6 +/- 1.4 [P = 0.001] and -0.6 +/- 3.2 [P, 0.001], respectively], and waist circumference [WC; -3.6 +/- 2.7 and -2.9 +/- 3.3, respectively; P<0.001 for both] were significantly higher. An inverse correlation was observed between changes in serum 25[OH]D3 and FSG [r = 20.208, P = 0.049] and HOMA-IR [r = 20.219, P = 0.005]. Daily consumption of vitamin D-fortified doogh with or without added calcium, improves anthropometric and glycemic status in diabetic patients

[Determinants of inflammation and systolic blood presure in women with central obesity: a cross-sectional study]

High prevalence of obesity is closely associated with a prominent rise in the incidence of hypertension, both of which result in a major increase in cardiovascular disease risk. Several studies also suggest obesity as a major risk factor for systemic inflammation. The purpose of this study was to determine associations between metabolic and anthropometric indicators on the one hand and serum levels of high-sensitivity CRP [hsCRP] and blood pressure in overweight and obese women on the other hand, as well as determine the predictors of hsCRP level and blood pressure in this population. Subjects were recruited by convenience sampling from health care centers and schools in Tehran in winter. From among volunteers 200 women meeting the study criteria were selected and their fasting blood samples collected. Dietary intake was assessed, anthropometric measurements were made, and the related laboratory tests [total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, and hsCRP] were performed. Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression were used for statistical analysis. Serum levels of hsCRP were significantly associated with those of glucose[p=0.015, triglycerides [p=0.005], total cholesterol[p=0.002], body mass index [BMI][<0.0001], waist circumference [WC][p<0.001], and fat mass [FM] [p<0.0001]. Also, systolic blood pressure [SBP] was significantly associated with serum levels of glucose[p=0.018], triglycerides [p=0.011], BMI [p<0.0001], WC[p<0.0001], FM[p=0.005] and WHR[p=0.049]. In different regression models, WC and FM were found to be predictors of hsCRP [p= 0.020, 0.015], wheras BMI was a strong predictor of SBP [p <0.0001]. This study demonstrates that waist circumference and fat mass are the predictors of hsCRP, while body mass index is the main predictor of systolic blood pressure, in Tehrani obese and overweight women with waist circumference more than 88cm

Laboratory study on biological control of ticks [Acari: Ixodidae] by entomopathogenic indigenous fungi [Beauveria bassiana]

Chemical control method using different acaricides as spray, dipping solution or pour-on is routinely used for controlling ticks. Biological control agents are favorable due to their safey for animals and environment. Entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana are well known for controlling ticks. In this study, two Iranian indigenous strains of B. bassiana [B.bassiana 5197 and B. bassiana Evin] were selected and grown on specific media. The pathogenic effects of these strains were evaluated on adult stages of two Iranian Ixodidae members [H.anatolicum anatolicum Koch 1844, and H. marginatum Koch 1844] by dipping method. Two Iranian strains of Beauveria bassiana [Beauveria bassiana 5197 and Beauveria bassiana Evin] were selected and were grown successfully on specific media. The pathogenic effects of these strains were evaluated on adult stages of Iranian Ixodidae members such as, Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum and H. marginatum by dipping method [these ticks were grown up at laboratory conditions during 2002 up to 2003 and still its is continued]. There was no effect of strain 5197 on mortality of fecundity rates for ticks. There was acute phase sign of paralysis in test group after dipping ticks in suspension made from Evin strain of b. bassiana. In addition, the test groups were totally died after four months, but the control groups survived for six months. High concentration of fungal spores is needed for inducing fungal infection. Additional study using different strains and fungi on Iranian ticks is proposed

[Role of obesity in premature MI occurrence and hospital and one year follow up mortality]

Nowadays, obesity is developing as an epidemy and it is one of major risk factors of coronary artery disease, therefore this study determinated the effect of obesity on age of occurrence of MI and It's mortality. In this prospective study we studied on 212 hospitalized patients because of MI in CCU[s] from May 2001 to October 2002 and they followed for one year, questionnaires for all patients were completed and data analyzed with SPSS ver.11.00.. 34.9% of patients were overweight and 16.5% were obese. Average BMI was 25.87 +/- 4.38. Obese patients were younger than overweight and normal weight patients significantly. [P=0.039] there was a linear relationship between BMI and age of occurrence of MI. [P=0.005]. Obesity and overweight status didn't affect on hospital and late [1 year] mortality. According to our results, obesity associated with premature occurrence of AMI because obesity accelerated coronary atherosclerosis but obesity didn't associate with increased incidence of inhopsital or one year mortality. Thus we suggest to long term follow up in later studies

[Relation between admission blood glucose levels and in-hospital and one year mortality in non-diabetic acute myocardial infarction patients]

Several studies have evaluated the association of admission blood glucose levels and short and long term mortality after myocardial infarction and have had different results. The aim of this study was evaluation of association between admission blood glucose levels and in-hospital and one year mortality in non-diabetic patients with AMI. In this study, demographic, clinical and Para clinical data of 120 non-diabetic patients with AMI on admission was collected and analyzed. The patients were followed for one year. Blood glucose level >/= 140 mg/dl was defined as hyperglycemia. 78% of patients were men. The mean age and admission blood glucose level was 63 +/- 13 years and 146 +/- 76mg/dl, respectively. Death due to cardio vascular causes was seen in 20% of patients in hospital and 9.8% during the one year follow up. The mean admission blood glucose level in patients who died in hospital was significantly more than live patients and also had an influence on the in-hospital outcome. Every 100mg/dl increase in blood glucose level was associated with 11% increase in in-hospital mortality risk in non-diabetic patients. Our results demonstrate that admission blood glucose level is a good marker for diagnosing patients with worse prognosis after AMI. We suggest that later studies should focus on optimal control of hyperglycemia with insulin in patients with AMI