The potential relationship between serum irisin concentration with inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress biomarkers, glycemic indices and lipid profiles in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A pilot study / Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies

Objectives@#Diabetes mellitus is a serious health-treated problem identified by disorders such as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and inflammation. Irisin, a newly discovered myokine/adipokine, is involved in metabolic homeostasis. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential relationship between serum irisin with inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress biomarkers, glycemic indices, and lipid profiles in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.@*Methodology@#This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 62 participants (n=32 obese participants with diabetes, n=30 participants with normal weight). The participants answered a demographic questionnaire. Serum irisin, glycemic indices, lipid profiles, inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress biomarkers were measured using standard methods. The difference between groups was assessed by independent-sample t-test or by a non-parametric equivalent. For qualitative variables, the Chi-Square test was used. Pearson rho coefficient was used to determine the potential relationship between irisin and inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress biomarkers, glycemic indices, and lipid profiles. A p<0.05 was defined as significant.@*Results@#The median (IQR) age of the obese participants with diabetes was 54.0 years (52.2-60.7) and in the normal weight group was 38.0 years (30.0-47.2) (p<0.001). About 78% and 60% of participants in the obese with diabetes and the normal weight groups were females (p>0.05), respectively. Significant differences were observed in serum irisin levels between the two groups, with lower levels (218.74 ng/mL, [144.98-269.26]) noted in the obese with diabetes group compared to the normal weight group (266.68 ng/mL, [200.64-336.57]) with a p=0.024. There was a substantial difference between the two groups regarding IL-6, TNF-α, and hs-CRP (p<0.05). IL-6 had a moderate negative correlation with irisin in obese patients with T2DM (r=-0.478, p=0.006).@*Conclusion@#Irisin concentration was detected to be lower in obese people with diabetes. A negative relationship was detected between irisin and IL-6. Considering emerging evidence about the beneficial functions of irisin in improving metabolic abnormalities, designing future studies with greater sample sizes that will validate these results is needed.

Prevalence and risk factors of low birth weight in Fars province, South of Iran, 2014

Background: This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of low birth weight and its risk factors in Fars province, south of Iran, 2014

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we collected data of 3,600 neonates through multi-stage random sampling. At first, we divided the hospitals into two strata, private and public. Then by stratified random sampling, we selected the neonates from delivery list in each hospital. In univariate analysis, the variables in which the p-value was less than 0.2 were entered into multivariate logistic regression analysis model for adjusting. Two-sided P<0.05 were statistically considered significant

Result: The prevalence of low birth weight in Fars province was 8.7% [95% CI: 7.8%-9.7%]. In term birth, factors such as mother's age>35 years, multiple birth and duration <24 months with previous pregnancy were risk factors of low birth weight [P<0.05] and just the father's literacy was a protective factor for low birth weight

Conclusion: The prevalence of low birth weight in Fars province was low in comparison to that of the world and other districts of Iran. But we should plan for reduction of low birth weight to achieve world health organization's goal. Variables of pregnancy interval of less than 2 years, multiple births, mother's age over 35 years and father's level of education could predict low birth weight of the neonates

Needle Stick Injuries and their Related Safety Measures among Nurses in a University Hospital, Shiraz, Iran

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors related to needle stick injuries (NSIs) and to assess related safety measures among a sample of Iranian nurses. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a random sample of 168 registered active nurses was selected from different wards of one of the hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS). Data were collected by an anonymous questionnaire and a checklist based observational method among the 168 registered active nurses. RESULTS: The prevalence of NSIs in the total of work experience and the last year was 76% and 54%, respectively. Hollow-bore needles were the most common devices involved in the injuries (85.5%). The majority of NSIs occurred in the morning shift (57.8%) and the most common activity leading to NSIs was recapping needles (41.4%). The rate of underreporting NSIs was 60.2% and the major reasons for not reporting the NSIs were heavy clinical schedule (46.7%) and perception of low risk of infection (37.7%). A statistically significant relationship was found between the occurrence of NSIs and sex, hours worked/week, and frequency of shifts/month. CONCLUSION: The study showed a high prevalence of NSIs among nurses. Supportive measures such as improving injection practices, modification of working schedule, planning training programs targeted at using personal protective equipment, and providing an adequate number of safety facilities such as puncture resistant disposal containers and engineered safe devices are essential for the effective prevention of NSI incidents among the studied nurses.

[Association between seasonal patterns and birth weight]

Season of birth is one of the environmental factors that may affect birth weight. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between seasonal patterns and birth weight in an educational center in Iran, 2010. In this cross sectional study, the check list was used for checking of 3076 women that delivered on vaginal method [NVD]. Exclusion criteria included twin delivery, intrauterine fetal death [IUFD], abortion in current pregnancy and delivery by caesarean. 81.2% women were primiparous and 53.3 percent of newborns were boys. The gestational age of 7.4, and 92.6 percent women was preterm and term, respectivly. Average neonatal birth weight was 3248.18 +/- 458 and women mean age was 25.33 +/- 5.7 years. There was a significant relationship between seasonal changes and the mean birth weight [P= 0.018] as the highest weight was in spring and lowest in summer. The highest average birth weight term was the 21 March to 20 April and the lowest month was the 23 August to 22 September [P = 0.064]. Although birth weight can be different with seasonal changes, the role of other environmental factors should not be ignored.