Comparing vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms in rs11568820, rs7970314, rs4334089 between COVID-19 patients with mild and severe symptoms: a case control study.

The associations of vitamin D receptor (VDR)- single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the symptoms of COVID-19 may vary between patients with different severities of COVID-19. Therefore, in the present study, we aim to compare VDR polymorphisms in severe and mild COVID-19 patients. In this study, a total number of 85 hospitalized patients and 91 mild/moderate patients with COVID-19 were recruited. SNPs in VDR genes were determined using ARMS and then confirmed by sanger sequencing. The mean (SD) age of participants in hospitalized and non-hospitalized group was 59.0 (12.4) and 47.8 (14.8) years, respectively. Almost 46% of participants in hospitalized and 48% of participant in non-hospitalized group were male. The frequency of TT genotype of SNP rs11568820 was significantly lower in hospitalized than non-hospitalized group (3.5% vs. 17.6%; P = 0.018). However, there was no significant differences between genotypes of SNPs rs7970314 and rs4334089 and also alleles frequencies in all SNPs of two groups. The genotype of rs11568820 SNP had an inverse association with hospitalization of patients with COVID-19 after adjustment for comorbidities [OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.04, 0.88; P = 0.034]. While, there was no relationship between genotypes of SNPs rs7970314 and rs4334089 and hospitalization. The TT genotype of rs11568820 plays protective role in sever COVID-19 and hospitalization. Further studies with a large sample size which consider various confounding factors are warranted to confirm our results.

The association between daytime sleep and general obesity risk differs by sleep duration in Iranian adults.

BACKGROUND: Sleep duration and daytime napping and obesity are related to adiposity; however, it is not clear whether the association between daytime napping and adiposity measures can differ by sleep duration. AIM: To clarify the association between daytime napping and general and abdominal obesity based on sleep duration of participants. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,683 individuals (837 men and 846 women) aged ≥ 35 years. Height, weight and waist circumference (WC) were measured according to the standard protocols. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Self-reported sleep duration (in a 24-hour cycle) was recorded. The odds of general and abdominal obesity were compared between nappers and non-nappers, stratified by their sleep duration (≤ 6 h, 6-8 h, ≥ 8 h). RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of participants was 47.48 ± 9.35 years. Nappers with a short sleep duration (≤ 6 h) had greater BMI and higher risk for overweight/obesity compared with counterpart non-nappers after adjustment for potential confounders (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.07-2.41). In subjects with moderate sleep duration (6-8 h), nappers had a tendency towards higher BMI in comparison with non-nappers (28.04 ± 0.25 vs. 26.93 ± 0.51 kg/m2; p = 0.05), however, no significant difference was observed for the risk of obesity. Daytime napping was not related to the risk of obesity in long sleepers. No significant association was observed for abdominal obesity measures. CONCLUSIONS: Daytime napping is associated with increased risk of overweight/obesity in short sleepers. However, in subjects with longer sleep duration, it is not related to the risk of overweight/obesity.

The relationship between a plant-based diet and mental health: Evidence from a cross-sectional multicentric community trial (LIPOKAP study).

BACKGROUND: Dietary patterns emphasizing plant foods might be neuroprotective and exert health benefits on mental health. However, there is a paucity of evidence on the association between a plant-based dietary index and mental health measures. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to examine the association between plant-based dietary indices, depression and anxiety in a large multicentric sample of Iranian adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in a sample of 2,033 participants. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate dietary intakes of participants. Three versions of PDI including an overall PDI, a healthy PDI (hPDI), and an unhealthy PDI (uPDI) were created. The presence of anxiety and depression was examined via a validated Iranian version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: PDI and hPDI were not associated to depression and anxiety after adjustment for potential covariates (age, sex, energy, marital status, physical activity level and smoking). However, in the crude model, the highest consumption of uPDI approximately doubled the risk of depression (OR= 2.07, 95% CI: 1.49, 2.87; P<0.0001) and increased the risk of anxiety by almost 50% (OR= 1.56, 95% CI: 1.14, 2.14; P= 0.001). Adjustment for potential confounders just slightly changed the associations (OR for depression in the fourth quartile= 1.96; 95% CI: 1.34, 2.85, and OR for anxiety in the fourth quartile= 1.53; 95% CI: 1.07, 2.19). CONCLUSIONS: An unhealthy plant-based dietary index is associated with a higher risk of depression and anxiety, while plant-based dietary index and healthy plant-based dietary index were not associated to depression and anxiety.

Association between ultra-processed foods consumption and micronutrient intake and diet quality in Iranian adults: a multicentric study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify ultra-processed foods (UPF) contribution to daily energy and nutrient intake in Iranians and examine whether UPF intake is associated with nutrient profile and diet quality. DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study, a validated FFQ was used to evaluate usual dietary intake over the preceding year. NOVA system was applied to categorise foods based on their levels of processing. Diet quality was evaluated using the nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR), Nutrient Rich Food Index (NRF) and hybrid nutrient density. SETTING: The LIPOKAP study conducted in five cities of Iran (Isfahan, Birjand, Bandar Abbas, Kermanshah and Shahrekord). PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1994 adults aged ≥18 years were recruited using stratified multistage random cluster sampling method. RESULTS: UPF were responsible for 8·5 % of daily energy intake. In the adjusted model, UPF consumption was inversely associated with carbohydrate, protein, refined and whole grains, fibre, fruit and meat, but was positively linked to energy, total fat, saturated and trans fatty acids and cholesterol. Compared with those in the lowest tertile, individuals in the highest tertile of UPF had smaller NAR for Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, phosphorus, thiamin, niacin, folate and vitamin C. Both NRF and hybrid nutrient density decreased when the share of daily energy intake from UPF increased. CONCLUSION: The higher consumption of UPF is associated with poorer diet quality and lower nutrient intake. It is recommended that UPF be replaced with minimally processed foods to improve diet quality and nutrient profile.

The association of dietary macronutrient quality indices with depression and anxiety symptoms and quality of life in Iranian adults: The LipoKAP study.

BACKGROUND: Macronutrients' quality may impact differently on mental health and quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between the carbohydrate quality index (CQI), fat quality index (FQI), protein quality index (PQI), the affective mental symptoms and QOL among Iranian adults. METHODS: The LipoKAP is a cross-sectional study, conducted with 2456 adults in Iran. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate usual dietary intakes. A validated Iranian version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to assess the severity of anxiety and depression. QOL was assessed by EQ-5D. RESULT: In the fully adjusted model, participants in the highest tertile of CQI had lower QOL than those in the lowest tertile (OR = 1.35; 95 % CI: 1.06, 1.73). Individuals in the top tertile of FQI (OR = 0.71; 95 % CI: 0.55, 0.91) and PQI (OR = 0.78; 95 % CI: 0.60; 1.01) were less likely to report lower QOL than those in the bottom tertile. An inverse association was found between PQI and depressive symptoms (OR = 0.72, 95 % CI: 0.55, 0.95), but not for CQI and FQI. LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design of the study and the use of a memory-based dietary tool may limit the generalizability of our findings. CONCLUSION: Higher PQI was associated with lower risk of depressive symptoms and having a low-quality life. Although CQI and FQI were not related to depressive and anxiety symptoms, higher values of FQI were associated with better QOL, while CQI showed an inverse association.

The effect of educational and encouraging interventions on anthropometric characteristics and perilipin-1 levels: TABASSOM Study.

BACKGROUND: Perilipin protein located in lipid droplets is involved in formation and storage of lipid in adipocytes; thus, it is considered as one of the obesity biomarkers. This study was performed to examine the effect of educational and encouragement interventions and lifestyle modifications on anthropometric characteristics and perilipin-1 level. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on subsample of TABASSOM Study. Participants were 42 overweight and obese children and adolescents aged 6-18 years old and 80 overweight and obese adults aged 19-65 years old. Anthropometric characteristics including weight, height, waist circumference (WC), body fat percentage (BFP), and perilipin-1 level were measured at the first and the end of study (after one year). RESULTS: After intervention, the mean of perilipin-1 decreased significantly in total children and adolescents (before vs. after: 26.79 ± 13.17 vs. 22.57 ± 8.03; P = 0.006) and girls (27.75 ± 10.51 vs. 22.00 ± 8.15; P = 0.001), but decreasing was not significant in boys. In adults, perilipin-1 levels were significantly reduced in total subjects (before vs. after: 16.19 ± 13.42 vs. 15.34 ± 11.25; P = 0.029) and men (18.02 ± 15.78 vs. 15.44 ± 10.61; P = 0.003). There was no significant difference in mean of body mass index (BMI), WC, and BFP in both groups after 12 months. CONCLUSION: Educational and encouraging interventions and lifestyle modifications could lead to decreasing perilipin-1 level in adults, children, and adolescents.

The effect of educational and encouragement interventions on anthropometric characteristics, obestatin and adiponectin levels.

BACKGROUND: Lifestyle modification is the most important strategy for control of obesity and overweight. Obestatin and adiponectin are the biomarkers of obesity. Thus, this study was performed to examine the effect of educational and encouragement interventions and lifestyle modifications on obesity anthropometric as well as obestatin and adiponectin levels. METHODS: This semi-experimental study was conducted on a subsample of TABASSOM study. Participants were 41 overweight and obese children and adolescents aged 6-18 years old and 45 overweight and obese adults aged 19-65 years old. Anthropometric characteristics including height, weight, waist and hip circumferences, and body fat percentage (BFP) were measured at the first and after one year at the end of study. We implemented some educational and encouragement interventions regarding dietary modification and physical activity during the study. Obestatin and adiponectin levels were measured at the first and end of study by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. RESULTS: The study did not show significant effect on anthropometric characteristics such as body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). BFP decreased significantly in boys, total children and adolescent group, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) decreased significantly only in adolescent boys after 1 year (P < 0.050). CONCLUSION: Educational and encouraging interventions and lifestyle modifications could lead to decrease of body WHR and BFP in adolescent boys. This is helpful in controlling the increasing rate of obesity.

The effect of kangaroo mother care on physiological parameters of premature infants in Hamadan City, Iran.

INTRODUCTION: Breast-feeding and being with mother have positive effects on the preterm infant's health status. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) on physiological parameters of premature infants in Fatemiyeh Hospital in Hamadan in 2016. METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study. One hundred newborns who were admitted to in neonatal intensive care unit of Fatemiyeh Hospital in Hamadan city, Iran were selected by convenience sampling. They were randomly divided into two groups (experimental group, n = 50 and control group, n = 50). In the experimental group, newborns were taken daily KMC for an hour during 7 days. In the control group, routine care was performed in the incubator. The data gathering tool was questionnaire of infants and mother characteristics, checklists of vital signs and oxygen saturation. Data analysis was performed by SPSS 19 software using descriptive and inferential statistics (Independent t -test, Paired t-test, Chi-square, ANOVA). RESULTS: Before intervention, there was no significant difference between the physiological parameters of the infants (heart rate, respiratory rate, arterial blood oxygen saturation and temperature) in experimental and control groups. However, after intervention, there was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of physiological indices (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate the effect of KMC on enhancement of physiological indices. Therefore, it is recommended that KMC is taken as one of the routine care of premature infants.

Effect of Consultation and Educating in Preparation Classes for Delivery on Pregnancy Consequences: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Care during pregnancy and performing consultation for delivery preparation play an important role in improving pregnant women's knowledge. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of consultation and instruction in the preparation classes for delivery on pregnancy consequences, including choosing the type of delivery, the performed type of delivery, and infant's weight. METHODS: This study was conducted in 2015 on 170 pregnant women who had been referred to the prenatal clinic in Hamedan. The participants were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Eight sessions of consultation for delivery preparation were held for the women in 20 to 36 weeks of pregnancy. The control group received only the routine care. After 37 weeks of pregnancy, the participants answered a questionnaire. The infant's weight was measured after birth. Data were analyzed Using SPSS-21 and McNemar-Bowker Test, independent t-test, chi-square test, and Fisher exact test. RESULTS: Results showed a significant statistical difference between the two groups concerning their selective and performed delivery (p<0.001). The weight of infants in the intervention group was significantly higher than that of those in the control group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study showed that the consultation for delivery preparation had a positive effect on some pregnancy consequences such as selecting the type of delivery performed and infant's weight. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (http://www.irct.ir) with the IRCTID: IRCT2015012513405N9. FUNDING: The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.