The association of 25 (OH) D3 serum level with ischemic cerebrovascular accident risk, severity and outcome in Iranian population.

OBJECTIVES: The role of combined presence of vitamin D deficiency and other risk factors of stroke in ischemic cerebrovascular accident (CVA) development in Iranian adults has been unclear, so far. The association of vitamin D status at admission with ischemic CVA severity and outcome in this community is not yet well elucidated. This study aimed to clarify these ambiguities. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study 104 hospitalized ischemic CVA patients and 104 healthy controls participated. The serum level of 25 (OH) D3 and baseline biochemical parameters were measured in ischemic patients within the first 24 h of admission, as well as healthy controls. The severity of CVA and clinical outcome were assessed using National Institutes Health Stroke Scale and Modified Rankin Scale, respectively. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test, independent t-test, and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between patients and controls regarding the presence of vitamin D3 deficiency, hypertension, smoking, and baseline level of LDL and FBS. Vitamin D3 deficiency boosted the risk of ischemic in males and those having family history of CVA. A low serum level of 25 (OH) D3 was associated with more severity and poor outcome of CVA. The CVA severity, vitamin D3 deficiency, and hypertension were predictors of poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the increased risk of ischemia in Iranians by cooccurrence of vitamin D3 deficiency and other risk factors of CVA. Clinical significance of vitamin D3 deficiency control may be suggested in those at risk of CVA and functional poor outcomes.

Awareness toward stroke in a population-based sample of Iranian adults.

Background: Stroke is the leading cause of death and functional disability. While there have been major advances regarding the management of stroke, a significant proportion of people are still unaware of stroke-related symptoms and risk factors. This study was performed to assess the awareness of stroke's warning signs and risk factors among a sample of Iranian population. Methods: A total of 649 participants were randomly selected using systematic randomization from the list of telephone numbers obtained from the telephone directory. Demographic characteristics were recorded. Participants were asked to answer questions regarding the awareness about stroke, its warning signs and risk factors. Results: Patients' mean age was 32.0 ± 12.2 years old, and 56.4% were women. Hypertension and history of stroke were major risk factors, and loss of consciousness, vertigo and ataxia were major warning signs of stroke correctly identified by respondents. Multiple linear regressions showed that age (ß = 0.277, P < 0.001), academic level of education (ß = 6.41, P = 0.01), housewifery (ß = 8.9, P < 0.001), jobs related to medical care (ß = 13.17, P = 0.016) and previous information about stroke (ß = 18.71, P < 0.001) were significant predictors of the overall awareness about stroke. Conclusion: The awareness of people about stroke, its risk factors and warning signs were good in this study. The awareness toward stroke can be associated with factors such as age, academic level of education, job and previous information about stroke. Further studies are recommended to program public multimedia and health education in academies and colleges.

Analysis of apolipoprotein E genetic variation in patients with Alzheimer disease referred to Imam Reza Clinic, Rasht, Iran, in 2015.

Background: Alzheimer disease (AD) is a progressive neurological degenerative disorder and the most common form of dementia. There are about 100 genes linked to AD including apolipoprotein E (ApoE). This gene exists in the form of three allele polymorphisms of ε2, ε3 and ε4 and six genotypes of ε2ε3, ε2ε2, ε3ε3, ε2ε4, ε3ε4, and ε4ε4. We aimed to study the association of ApoE polymorphism with AD in Guilan province, Iran. Methods: The study group consisted of 70 AD patients and 100 healthy individuals as a control group. All subjects were recruited from 21 March to 22 September 2015 at Imam Reza Clinic, Rasht, Iran. The genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from peripheral blood leucocytes, and subsequently, subjects were genotyped for ApoE using tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR). The association between the risk allele and AD was assessed using the MedCalc software. Results: The distributions of ε3ε3, ε3ε4, ε2ε2, ε2ε4, ε4ε4 and ε2ε3 Genotypes among patients were 55.7%, 30.0%, 1.4%, 2.9%, 8.6%, 1.4% and in the controls were 79.0%, 8.0%, 0%, 1.0%, 1.0%, 11.0%, respectively. The genotype frequencies were significantly different between cases and the controls (P < 0.001). The individuals with the ε4ε4 and ε3ε4 genotypes had a greater risk for AD as compared to others; odds ratio (OR) = 12.15, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.41-104.50, P = 0.020; OR = 5.32, 95% CI: 2.16-13.08, P = 0.003. In addition, the ε4 allele is significantly associated with higher AD risk among the studied population (OR = 5.63, 95% CI: 2.74-11.58, P < 0.001). Conclusion: This case-control study suggests that the subjects with ε4ε4 and ε3ε4 genotypes had an increased risk for AD in Iranian population.

Predicting in-hospital mortality in Iranian patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most fatal subtype of stroke. Despite limited effective therapy, there is no accepted clinical grading scale to predict in-hospital mortality, especially in developing nations. The purpose of this study was to assess the predictors of in-hospital mortality among a sample of Iranian patients with spontaneous ICH for use at the time of the first evaluation. METHODS: This prospective study was carried from January 2010 to the end of January 2011. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data of ICH patients were collected. Hematoma volume and perihematoma edema (PHE) were measured on brain computed tomography scan using ABC/2 formula. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent variables contributing to in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Of a total 167 consecutive ICH patients, 98 patients met inclusion criteria. Mean ± standard deviation age of patients was 70.16 ± 12.52. After multivariate analysis, five variables remained as independent predictors of in-hospital mortality included: age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03-1.23, P = 0.009], diabetes mellitus (OR = 10.86, 95% CI = 1.08-109.24, P = 0.009), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.08-1.68, P ≤ 0.001), as well as volume of hematoma (OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 1.03-1.17, P = 0.003), and PHE (OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.60-0.93, P = 0.010). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that older age, diabetes mellitus, higher NIHSS, as well as larger volume of hematoma, and smaller PHE on admission are important predictors of in-hospital mortality in our ICH patients.