RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The high socioeconomic impact of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture is due to their high mortality, morbidity, and disease-related costs. Nowadays, bone mineral density (BMD) is a comparatively expensive way to diagnose and follow up patients with osteoporosis. Transforming growth factor-ß3 (TGF-ß3) is a protein categorized into cytokines. Some previous in vitro studies showed TGF-ß3 effects on osteocytes and bone formation. Therefore, we conducted this study to find if there is any significant relationship between TGF-ß3 and BMD results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an analytical cross-sectional study conducted in 2017. We included individuals who had been referred from their physicians to undergo BMD dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Blood samples were taken from 150 participants for measuring TGF-ß3 with ELISA method. RESULTS: The mean ± standard deviation of TGF-ß3 serum level was 79 ± 30.8 pg/ml (minimum 41 pg/ml and maximum 210 pg/ml). There was a statistically significant and direct proportional relationship between TGF-ß3 and T-score as a marker for the diagnosis and follow-up of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture (P = 0.001) (Pearson's correlation = +0.95). CONCLUSION: There was a significant relationship between TGF-ß3 serum level and BMD. TGF-ß3 serum level may be used as a marker for the diagnosis and follow-up of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate the association of calcium and magnesium concentration of drinking water with cardiovascular disease (CVDs) in urban and rural areas of a city in Iran. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted in 2012 in Khansar County in Isfahan province, Iran. We used the official data of the Provincial health center regarding the chemical analysis data of urban and rural areas including the hardness, calcium and magnesium content of drinking water. Data of patients hospitalized for CVD in the only specialty hospital of the city was gathered for the years of 2010 and 2011. RESULTS: In 2010, water calcium content above 72 mg/L was associated with reduced number of CVDs in 1000 population; whereas in 2011 this decrease in CVDs was observed for calcium levels of more than 75 mg/L. In 2010, the level of water Mg content ranged from 23 to 57 mg/L. By increasing Mg hardness level above 31 mg/L in 2010 and above 26 mg/L in 2011 were associated with decreased number of CVDs in 1000 people. decrease. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests favorable protective effects of water hardness, mainly water magnesium content, on CVDs. Water hardness, as well as calcium and magnesium content of drinking water may have a protective role against CVDs. Further experimental studies are necessary to determine the underlying mechanisms and longitudinal studies are required to study the clinical impacts of the current findings.
