Cytomorphometric Assessment of Buccal Mucosa Cells and Blood Sugar Status in Diabetic Patients in Zahedan (2019).

Background: Diabetes mellitus is one of the major global health threats. Diabetes can cause adverse cytopathological changes in cells and predispose them to pathological lesions. The present study aimed to investigate the cytopathological changes of oral mucosal cells in type 1 and 2 diabetes patients and its relationship with blood sugar status. Methods: This study descriptive-analytical was performed on 40 type-1 diabetes patients, 40 type-2 diabetic patients, and 20 non-diabetic individuals (control group) with simple sampling in Zahedan (2019). Their buccal mucosa was sampled by a cytobrush and the microscope slides were prepared with Papanicolaou staining. The nuclear and cytoplasmic area and cytoplasmic-nuclear ratio were calculated. Furthermore, the relationship of hemoglobin A1C and fasting blood sugar with these parameters were also examined. Data was analyzed with one-way-ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, Post Hoc Tukey, Mann-Whitney, Pearson correlation and Spearman correlation tests. In this regard, the statistical software SPSS (version 21) was used and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Based on the findings, only the nuclear area was significantly larger in type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients, compared to the control group (p<0.001 and p=0.010), respectively. Moreover, the comparison of cytomorphometric changes between type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients did not show a significant difference. In addition, the hemoglobin A1C levels were merely associated with the cytoplasmic area in type 2 diabetes patients (p=0.011), while fasting blood sugar levels were not associated with any of the parameters in type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients (p>0.050). Conclusion: Diabetes, as an independent factor, can cause cytomorphometric changes in the buccal mucosal cells of type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients. It seems that the type of diabetes does not affect these changes. hemoglobin A1C levels were correlated with cytoplasmic area in type 2 diabetes patients.

Baseline levels determine magnitude of increment in 25 hydroxy vitamin D following vitamin D3 prescription in healthy subjects.

INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D deficiency is a major health problem which affects about one billion people in the world. Although, vitamin D supplementation is recommended as standard treatment of vitamin D deficiency, there are controversies on dose response relationship. In this regard, the present study aimed to determine the impact of vitamin D3 supplement on raising of serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D[25(OH)D] in healthy subjects with varying degrees of vitamin D deficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this clinical trial 114 subjects with varying degrees of vitamin D deficiency were entered and divided into three groups: serum levels of 25(OH) D less than 10 ng/ml, 10-20 ng/ml, and 20-30 ng/ml. All of the participants were given 50,000 units vitamin D3 per week for 8 weeks, thereafter, changes in serum levels of vitamin D and PTH were evaluated at week twelve. The results were analyzed using SPSS version 16 and P < 0.05 was considered to be significant. RESULTS: Of the 114 vitamin D deficient subjects, serum level of vitamin D was below 10 ng/ml in 22 persons (19.3%), 10-20 ng/ml in 52 persons (45.6%) and 20-30 ng/ml in 40 persons (35.1%). Following vitamin D prescription all people with varying degrees of vitamin D deficiency obtained a favorable serum level. The increase in vitamin D levels were 26.4, 18.5, and 8.3 ng/ml, in individuals with baseline vitamin D levels below 10 ng/ml, 10-20 ng/ml and 20-30 ng/ml, respectively. The changes in 25(OH) vitamin D in all three groups were significant (P < 0.05), nonetheless no significant alterations in serum levels of PTH were observed (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results indicated an inverse relationship between baseline serum levels of 25(OH) D and its increment following treatment with vitamin D3. Therefore, the magnitude of increments in serum 25(OH) D is greater in subjects with lower baseline levels of 25(OH) D.

Evaluation of Outcome and Tolerability of Combination Chemotherapy with Capecitabine and Oxaliplatin as First Line Therapy in Advanced Gastric Cancer.

Background: Combination chemotherapy is accepted as a high efficacy treatment for gastric cancer, whereas choice of standard treatment is unclear. Multiple chemotherapeutic regimens have been used to achieve higher efficacy and lower toxicity. This study was designed to evaluate the treatment results of advanced gastric cancer with Capecitabine and Oxaliplatin regimen. Subjects and Methods: All cases with documented gastric adenocarcinoma and advanced disease were candidates for receiving Xelox regimen (Capecitabine - 750 mg/m2/twice daily/ 1-14 days and Oxaliplatin 125 mg/m2 in 1st day). Results: Twenty five cases with advanced gastric cancer entered in study while 24 cases continued treatment protocol and were evaluated. Mean age was 59.5 ± 12.1 years (range: 20-75), male and female cases were 66.7% and 33.3%, respectively. All cases received at least four cycles of Xelox regimen. Overall response rate was 74.99% with 29.16% complete response. Overall survival rate was 13 ± 0.53 months and DFS (disease-free survival) was 6 ± 1.09 months. Extremities neuropathy (62.5%), headache (45.8%) and muscle cramps (29.2%) were the most common complains. Haematological changes were rare and 16.7% of cases had mild cytopenia. Treatment related death was not observed. Conclusion: Xelox regimen is a safe and highly effective first line treatment for gastric cancer; however, considering it as first line therapy needs larger studies.