Evaluation and Comparison of Serum Vitamin D Levels between Injection Drug Users with and without Chronic Hepatitis C Infection in Hamadan-Iran.

Background and objective: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes disruption in the metabolism of biochemicals, such as vitamin D, and subsequently alters their serum level via the involvement of the liver. The current study aimed at determining the serum level of vitamin D in injection drug users with chronic HCV infection. Methods:The current case-control study was conducted on 46 injection drug users referred to Imam Khomeini Specialty Clinic in Hamadan City, Iran, between 2017 and 2019, when their HCV infection was diagnosed with HCV PCR test, and 46 healthy injection drug users as the control group in order to compare serum vitamin D levels and liver enzymes. Both the case and control groups were matched for age and gender. ELISA technique was used to measure serum vitamin D level. The collected data were analyzed with STATA software based on 95% significance level. Results:In the present study, 43 (93.5%) of all subjects were male and three (6.6%) females. The mean age of subjects in the case and control groups was 41.87 ± 11.97 and 40.66 ± 11.89 years, respectively. The mean serum vitamin D levels in the case and control groups were 21.20 ± 19.84 and 42.42 ± 29.08 ng/L, respectively (P = 0.001). The mean serum vitamin D levels in the injection drug users with mild, moderate, and severe HCV infection was 32.90, 30.34 and 29.74 ng/L, respectively (P = 0.454). The correlation between vitamin D level and AST and ALT enzymes was -0.053 and -0.103, respectively (P >0.05). Conclusion:Serum vitamin D level decreases in addicts with chronic HCV infection. With increasing the severity of HCV infection, the serum level of vitamin D decreases.

Association of calorie and carbohydrate intake with tumour grade in early diagnosis of breast cancer: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the association of calorie and carbohydrate intake with tumour grade in early detection of breast cancer (BC) in Iranian women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case-control study carried out on 62 women with high grade BC and 93 women with low grade BC. Information about confounding variables was collected through a questionnaire. Dietary intake of calorie and macronutrients was assessed by a valid 122-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: Individuals with high grade BC had significantly lower calorie (0.16, 0.04-0.61) and higher carbohydrate intake (4.02; 1.28-12.63) compared with those with low grade BC after controlling for age. This correlation remained significant after adjusting for confounding factors. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that lower intakes of calorie and higher carbohydrate are directly related to the high grade of tumour at the early detection of people with BC after modifying a wide range of confounding factors.

The Vitamins Involved in One-Carbon Metabolisms are Associated with Reduced Risk of Breast Cancer in Overall and Subtypes.

Background: Some micronutrients like folate, vitamin B12, B6, and B2 are the source of coenzymes, which participate in one-carbon metabolism. Any disruption in this metabolism can interfere with DNA replication, repair and regulation of gene expression and ultimately promote the likelihood of carcinogenesis. This study aimed at investigating the relationship between the intakes of micronutrients involved in one-carbon metabolism with breast cancer (BrCa) and its subtype's odds. Methods: Nutrients' intake from diet and supplements were collected through interviewing 151 cases and 154 controls by a 168-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between dietary and/or total intake of studied nutrients and odds of BrCa and its subtypes. Results: After adjusting the effects of confounding variables in the models, the odds of BrCa was significantly lower in the highest intake quartile compared with the lowest quartile for total intake of vitamin B2 (OR = 0.17, 95% CI, 0.07-0.39; Ptrend < 0.001), vitamin B6 (OR = 0.11, 95% CI, 0.05-0.27; Ptrend < 0.001), vitamin B12 (OR = 0.20, 95% CI, 0.09-0.43; Ptrend < 0.001) and folate (OR = 0.09, 95% CI, 0.04-0.21; Ptrend < 0.001). Also, those with the highest quartile of vitamin B6, B12, B2 and folate intake compared with the lowest quartile were less likely to develop estrogen receptor (ER)+ and progesterone receptor (PR)+ subtypes, ER- status, PR- and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)+ subtypes and HER2- status. Conclusion: High intakes of vitamins B2, B6 and folate are associated with reduced odds of BrCa in overall and all ER, PR and HER2 subtypes. Also, high intakes of vitamin B12 reduced the odds of all subtypes of BrCa except ER- subtype.

The association of quantitative insulin sensitivity indices (HOMA-IR and QUICKI) with anthropometric and cardiometabolic indicators in adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: Homoeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) are used to evaluate insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between quantitative insulin sensitivity indices and anthropometric and cardiometabolic indicators in adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study was conducted on 80 adolescents aged 12 to 13 years in Isfahan, Iran. Anthropometric, cardiometabolic and QUICKI and HOMA-IR indicators were measured. In the results analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used. RESULTS: There was a significant positive correlation between most of the anthropometric indicators and the HOMA-IR index and a significant negative correlation with QUICKI (all p < 0.0001). Moreover, serum triglyceride level had a significant negative correlation with QUICKI index (R = -0.33, p = 0.002) and systolic blood pressure (R = 0.44, p < 0.0001), and triglyceride level (R = 0.66, p < 0.0001) had a significant positive correlation with HOMA index. The results of these two indices were highly correlated in most of the anthropometric and biochemical indices, except for the waist circumference to the neck circumference ratio and systolic blood pressure, which had a significant positive association with HOMA-IR, but did not show a significant association with QUICKI index. CONCLUSIONS: A significant correlation between anthropometric and cardiometabolic indicators with insulin resistance indices (HOMA-IR and QUICKI) was found. Moreover, the results of these two indices were highly correlated in most of the anthropometric and biochemical indices, except for the waist circumference to the neck circumference ratio and systolic blood pressure.

Association between Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and Risk of Breast Cancer: a Case-Control Study

Background: Breast cancer (BrCa) is the most common cancer among women worldwide and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women, in developed countries. This cancer is among the top five most common cancers in Iran. Studies have shown that dietary components are implicated in the etiology of BrCa. The existence of molecular connections between inflammation and BrCa has been demonstrated via different bimolecular events. Methods: We examined the ability of the dietary inflammatory index (DIITM) to predict the risk of BrCa. This included 145 cases and 148 controls, who attended the specialized centers. DII scores were computed based on dietary intake assessed using a 168-item FFQ. Logistic regression models were used to estimate multivariable ORs. Results: Modeling DII as a continuous variable in relation to risk of BrCa showed a positive association after adjustment for age and energy (OR=1.76; 95% CI=1.43-2.18); and were nearly identical in the multivariable analyses (OR=1.80; 95% CI=1.42-2.28). DII as tertiles, and adjusting for age and energy, subjects in tertile 3 had an OR of 6.94 (95% CI= 3.26-14.79; P-trend ≤0.0001) in comparison to subjects in tertile 1. After multivariable adjustment, results were essentially identical as in the model adjusting for age and energy (OR tertile 3vs1=7.24; 95% CI=3.14-16.68; P-trend ≤0.001). Sub group analyses revealed similar positive associations with HER 2 receptor +ve, progesterone receptor +ve, estrogen receptor +ve and lymph node invasive cases. Conclusion: Subjects who consumed a more pro-inflammatory diet were at increased risk of BrCa compared to those who consumed a more anti-inflammatory diet.

The association between the Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) and breast cancer and the evaluation of nutrient intake of breast cancer patients: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer (BrCa) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among females and second cancer after lung cancer in many societies. In Iran, the risk for BrCa is 1 in 35 and each year, 8000 new patients have been diagnosed with BrCa. Studies have shown that dietary components are implicated in the etiology of BrCa. The Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) is a method of quantitative and qualitative analysis of single foods, meals, and diets. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of INQs in predicting BrCa risk. METHODS: Our case-control study was conducted from March 2015 to February 2016. The study included 145 cases and 148 controls who attended the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Cancer Research Center. INQ scores were computed based on dietary intake using a validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to estimate multivariable odds ratios adjusted body mass index, education, employment, marital status, menarche age, childbirth number, smoking, menopause status, and physical activity. RESULTS: Vitamins A, C, B1, B2, and B12 and selenium INQs as a continuous variable in relation to risk for BrCa showed a significant association after multivariate adjustment (odds ratio [OR]vitA, 0.41 [0.27-0.64]; ORvitC, 0.30 [0.20-0.47]; ORvitB1, 0.08 [0.04-0.17]; ORvitB2, 0.19 [0.11-0.34]; ORvitB12, 0.44 [0.31-0.61]; and ORselenium, 0.42 [0.26-0.67]). CONCLUSION: Women who consumed a healthier diet including vitamin A, ß-carotene, vitamin C, and folate and low-fat milk were at decreased risk for developing BrCa compared with those whose diet included more high fat and lamb meat.