Gender and Body Mass Index-Related Serum Level of Adipokines and Metabolic Syndrome Components in Bipolar Patients Who Received Lithium and Valproic Acid.

Background: This is the study to assess alterations on adiponectin, leptin, and metabolic syndrome components in women and men bipolar disorder (BD) patients with normal weight and obesity who received valproic acid (VPA) and lithium (Li). Methods: Thirty-six women and 51 men were included. Commercial kits were used to determine all parameters. Metabolic syndrome components were determined according to the NCEP ATP III criteria. Results: Patients who received Li and VPA significantly differ in waist circumference (WC) and triglyceride (TG) levels (in women and men). Normal weight patients received both drugs, significant differences were considered in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), WC, and TG levels compared to healthy controls, but there were significant differences in TG, leptin, and adiponectin levels in obese patients who received VPA. There were significant negative and positive correlation between leptin and adiponectin and WC and TG in women and men BD patients treated with VPA and Li. There were significant positive correlation between leptin and adiponectin and WC and TG and significant negative correlation with HDL-C in normal weight BD patients treated with VPA and Li, respectively, while there was only a significant positive correlation between leptin and adiponectin, and TG in obese BD patients treated with VPA. Conclusions: It looks like that patients treated with both drugs for our suggested time may increase leptin and adiponectin levels. Correlation differences between leptin and adiponectin, and metabolic syndrome components may be important parameters in women, men, normal weight, and obese BD patients. Monitoring of body composition and adipokines may benefit in medical care of these patients.

The effect of melatonin on quality of sleep in patients with sleep disturbance admitted to post coronary care units: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Patients with cardiovascular disease who required to be admitted in coronary care units (CCU) would have sleep deprivation. During the admission some factors such as continuous ambient light exposure can suppress melatonin release, in consequence sleep deprivation will be occurred and hinder the progress of patients' treatment. The aim of study was to evaluate the effect of melatonin on the sleep quality of patients admitted to post-CCU. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was carried out on 110 patients admitted to post-CCU at SayyadeShirazi Hospital, Gorgan, Iran. Patients with a poor sleep quality (Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) global score>5) were randomly allocated into two intervention and placebo groups. Patients in the intervention group received melatonin (3 mg; 30 minutes before bedtime), and the placebo group received placebo for 2 weeks, and their sleep quality was re-evaluated after the end of intervention. Data were analyzed using paired t test, Wilcoxon, and Chi-square tests by SPSS version 21. RESULTS: The results showed that mean of the patients' PSQI scores decreased significantly in intervention group (from 14.95 ± 1.48 to 11.65 ± 1.50, P < 0.001), while in placebo group the difference was not significant (from 15.48 ± 1.47 to 15.24 ± 1.71, P = 0.129). Post-intervention score of patients in intervention group was also lower than the placebo group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The melatonin can improve the sleep quality of the patients admitted to post-CCU who suffer from sleep disturbance.

The association between leptin and adiponectin, and metabolic syndrome components and serum levels of lipid peroxidation in bipolar disorder patients treated with lithium and valproic acid.

BACKGROUND: The aim of study is to assess a relation between the adiponectin and leptin levels, and metabolic syndrome components and lipid peroxidation treated with Li and VPA in bipolar disorder patients and compared with controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 56 patients and 31 healthy controls were enrolled. The ATP III criteria were used to determine metabolic syndrome components. Leptin, adiponectin, lipid peroxidation and lipid profiles were measured. RESULTS: Malondialdehyde in Li patients was higher than VPA patients. BMI, waist circumference (WC), triglyceride, malondialdehyde and adiponectin levels were increased, whereas HDL-cholesterol (VPA treated patients) and leptin were decreased in patients compared with controls. Leptin and adiponectin were correlated with WC, triglyceride and malondialdehyde in both groups. Adiponectin was correlated with HDL-cholesterol in VPA patients. CONCLUSION: Patients should be checked metabolic syndrome components, serum leptin and adiponectin level occasionally to prevent possible deficiency or pathologic increase of these parameters.

A Cross-Sectional Study Examining the Correlation between Nocturnal Melatonin Level and Sleep Quality in Patients Admitted To the Cardiac Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Quality of sleep, as a basic need, is an important factor for surviving patients in hospitals. Many factors may contribute to disturbing patients sleep, such as continuous ambient light, is required for healthcare providers to monitor patients. Ambient light can influence patients' quality of sleep due to melatonin secretion. AIM: Study aimed to determine the correlation between nocturnal melatonin levels and sleep quality in patients admitted to the Cardiac Care Units (CCU). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was done on inpatients of CCUs at Amir-Almomenin Hospital in Kordkoy city, a cardiac referral hospital in the northeastern of Iran in 2015. Sixty-eight inpatients were selected through convenience sampling. Before data gathering light level of CCUs was measured every one hour in 2 days, the quality of nocturnal sleep was investigated through Verran and Snyder-Halpern (VSH) Sleep Scale at the second night of admission urinary melatonin level was measured at the same night in all urine excreted between 22:00 pm and 07:00 am. RESULTS: The mean and standard deviation (SD) score of sleep quality in three dimensions of sleep disturbance, sleep effectiveness and sleep supplementation were 336.6 ± 149.9, 269.0 ± 82.2, and 175.2 ± 30.7, respectively. Also, the mean and SD of nocturnal urinary melatonin levels was 323.02 ± 136.21 pg/ml. There was not a significant correlation between level of nocturnal melatonin and three domains of sleep quality; sleep disturbance (r = 0.005, P = 0.968), sleep effectiveness (r = 0.090, P = 0.464), and sleep supplementation (r = -0.037, P = 0.763). CONCLUSION: According to the result, most CCUs patients suffer from sleep disturbance. However, there was no correlation between the level of melatonin and sleep quality. There is a need for recognising the reasons for sleep disturbances in Cardiac Care Units. It is imperative for care providers to be able to recognise the causes of sleep disturbances and to modify environmental factors such as ambient light to improve sleep quality in hospitalised patients.

Metabolic syndrome in patients with severe mental illness in Gorgan.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is commonly associated with cardiovascular diseases and psychiatric mental illness. Hence, we aimed to assess the metabolic syndrome among severe mental illness (SMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 267 patients who were referred to the psychiatric unit at 5(th) Azar Education Hospital of Golestan University of Medical Sciences in Gorgan, Iran. RESULTS: The mean waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride and fasting blood glucose levels were significantly higher in the SMI with metabolic syndrome, but the high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol was significantly lower. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in SMI patients was 20.60%. There were significant differences in the mean of waist circumference, systolic (except for women) and diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol and fasting blood glucose in men and women with metabolic syndrome when compared with subjects without metabolic syndrome. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in SMI women was higher than men. The most age distribution was in range of 30-39 years old. The most prevalence of metabolic syndrome was in age groups 50-59 years old. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was increased from 30 to 59 years old. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with SMI in Gorgan is almost similar to those observed in Asian countries. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was lower than western countries. These observations may be due to cultural differences in the region. It should be mention that the families of mental illness subjects in our country believe that their patients must be cared better than people without mental illness. These findings of this study suggest that mental illness patients are at risk of metabolic syndrome. According to our results, risk factors such as age and gender differences may play an important role in the presence of metabolic syndrome. In our country, women do less physical activity than men; therefore, the incidence of metabolic syndrome is higher among women.

Comparing the effects of fluoxetine and imipramine on total cholesterol, triglyceride, and weight in patients with major depression.

BACKGROUND: There are some reports on the effects of antidepressants on metabolic syndrome. However, our search in the previously published literature showed a lack of information on the comparison of the effects of different classes of antidepressants on lipid profile. Therefore, this study was aimed to compare the effects of fluoxetine and imipramine on serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) as well as body weight (BW) in patients with major depressive disorder. METHODS: Fifty one patients, 18 to 70 years of age, with major depressive disorder complied with the criteria of this preliminary, open-label clinical trial. Subjects received either imipramine (75-200 mg/day) or fluoxetine (20-40 mg/day) for 8 weeks. Total cholesterol and TG levels, as well as BW were compared at baseline with those at weeks 4 and 8. Data was analyzed by SPSS software version 16.0. RESULTS: In the fluoxetine group, TC levels decreased from 165.71 mg/dL to 156.71 mg/dL at week 4 (P = 0.07), and to 143.94 mg/dL at week 8 (P = 0.16); TG levels decreased from 129.35 mg/dL to 115.88 mg/dL at week 4 (P <0.001), and to 110.41 mg/dL at week 8 (P = 0.56). In the imipramine group, TC levels increased from 169.10 mg/dL to 178.69 mg/dL at week 4 (P = 0.07), and to 208.69 mg/dL at week 8 (P < 0.001) while TG levels increased from 111.73 mg/dL to 128.83 mg/dL at week 4 (P = 0.005), and to 160.90 mg/dL at week 8 (P < 0.001). BW was significantly increased in the imipramine group at weeks 4 and 8. In the fluoxetine group, BW was non-significantly decreased from 75.69 ± 7.97 Kg (baseline) to 75.67 ± 8.01 Kg at week 4 (P = 0.88), and to 75.22 ± 8.67 Kg at week 8 (P = 0.20), while in the imipramine group, BW had significant increases from 72.53 ± 8.55 Kg (baseline) to 73.95 ± 8.61 mg/dL at week 4 (P < 0.001), and to 75.13 ± 8.34 mg/dL at week 8 (P < 0.001).Repeated measures ANOVA showed significant effects on both TC and TG levels as well as on BW in all patients receiving imipramine. However, in patients on fluoxetine, repeated measures ANOVA showed significant effects of this medication only on TC levels in males. CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring TC and TG and BW is recommended before starting imipramine in depressed patients with increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Fluoxetine may be the preferred agent in those with high or borderline high lipid levels.