Alteration in Gut Microbiota Composition of Older Adults Is Associated with Obesity and Its Indices: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Obesity in the older adults is a health concern that increases the risk of several life-threatening diseases. Previous research has been revealed that alterations in the gut microbiota composition is related to obesity. So, understanding the gut microbiota changes in older adults' obesity may help to provide promising strategies for their health management. OBJECTIVES: Here we conducted a systematic review that investigate the alteration of gut microbiota composition in association with obesity and its indices in the older adults. DESIGN: Systematic review. SETTING: A comprehensive systematic search was performed through PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Embase databases for all relative studies up to 2023 with the main search concepts as Microbiota, Obesity and Elderly. The data about gut microbiota in association with obesity indices had been extracted. PARTICIPANTS: Older adults (≥60 years). INTERVENTION: None. MEASUREMENTS: None. RESULTS: Within 10741 recordes, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. Most of them indicated the gut microbiota alterations in obese compared with non-obese older adults. However, the gut microbiome composition in obese older adults is affected by other underlying diseases like diabetes and metabolic syndrome. The most important taxa that had abundance alteration in association with obesity in older adults were Christensenellaceae, Porphyromonadaceae and Rikenellaceae, Akkermansia, Blautia, Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium. CONCLUSION: The gut microbiota composition is associated with obesity in older adults. Considering the other factors affecting the composition of gut microbiota, such as age, underlying diseases and lifestyle, a more accurate conclusion about this matter requires more future studies.

Effects of metabolic syndrome on bone health in older adults: the Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) program.

Based on the clinical, BMD, and TBS data of 2380 participants aged ≥ 60 which was gathered during the BEH program, stage II, we showed that MetS was positively associated with BMD, while a negative or no association was observed between MetS and TBS depending on the sex and the adjustment model. INTRODUCTION: The results of previous reports in regard to the effect of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on bone health are not conclusive. This study aimed to evaluate the association between MetS with bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS) as an indicator of bone quantity and quality, respectively. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, this study was carried out based on the data collected during the BEH Program, stage II. MetS was defined according to NCEP-ATP III criteria. BMD (at the lumbar spine and the hip) and lumbar spine TBS were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry device. RESULTS: The data of 2380 participants (women = 1228, men = 1152) aged ≥ 60 were analyzed. In the fully adjusted regression models (including BMI), significant associations between MetS and mean BMD were observed across all locations in men (P values ≤ 0.001) and in the lumbar spine in women (P value = 0.003). In addition, the prevalence of osteoporosis (based on BMD) was significantly lower in those with MetS than those without MetS in both sexes, even after full adjustments (women, OR = 0.707, P value = 0.013; men, OR = 0.563, P value = 0.001). In contrast, in age-adjusted regression analyses, the prevalence of degraded bone microarchitecture (TBS ≤ 1.2) was significantly increased in those with MetS than those without, irrespective of the participants' sex (P values < 0.05). The mean TBS was also negatively associated with MetS in women (ß = - 0.075, P value = 0.007) but not in men (ß = - 0.052, P value = 0.077), in age-adjusted regression models. However, after including BMI in the adjusted models, all significant associations between TBS values and MetS disappeared. CONCLUSION: It seems that a positive association exists between MetS and BMD, while MetS is either not associated or negatively correlated with bone quality as measured by TBS.

Evaluation of adipokines, adiponectin, visfatin, and omentin, in uncomplicated type I diabetes patients before and after treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is potentially a lethal complication of uncontrolled, especially type 1, diabetes. Understanding the mechanisms underlying adipokine involvement in the regulation of glucose metabolism is important to prevent complications of hyperglycemia. The role of novel adipokines during DKA in human remains unclear. METHOD: The method is to determine the changes in the circulating levels of adiponectin, visfatin, and omentin after treating DKA in the patients referred to Shohadaye Khalij-e-Fars hospital at the Bushehr University of Medical Sciences. Measuring adipokines (adiponectin, visfatin, and omentin) in 31 patients with DKA who are admitted in Shohadaye Khalij-e-Fars hospital at the Bushehr University of Medical Sciences. Adipokines are measured at the time of admission and after recovery from DKA, using ELISA method. RESULTS: After recovery from DKA, omentin-1 serum concentration decreased significantly (from 183 to 165), but adiponectin and visfatin did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: Omentin-1 may play a significant role in insulin resistance during the DKA and could be potentially recommended as a marker of recovery in DKA.

Imaging of the muscle and bone from benchtop to bedside.

Studies have begun to show that muscles and bones play a role in the regulation of biological functions through a combination of biomechanical and biochemical signals. In vivo and ex vivo imaging techniques are crucial in the understanding of the morphology and architecture of muscle and bone for further understanding of musculoskeletal physiology and pathophysiology. This systematic review of the literature summarizes current knowledge and outlines new insights into the functions of muscle and bone elucidated by imaging techniques, with a focus on the recent advances in the musculoskeletal system enabled by novel technologies, such as CLARITY, Fast Free-of-Acrylamide Clearing Tissue (FACT), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET). This may serve as guidance for the development of new strategies to prevent and diagnose motor or metabolism disorders related to the malfunction of muscle and bone.

Inverse association between cigarette and water pipe smoking and hypertension in an elderly population in Iran: Bushehr elderly health programme.

The collected data in Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) Program which had detailed the data on participants' smoking status and habits, was analysed to investigate the association between smoking of both water pipes and cigarettes and hypertension in an elderly population. Three thousand elderly men and women who participated in the baseline assessment of the BEH Program-a prospective population-based study being conducted in Bushehr, Iran-were selected randomly through a multistage, stratified cluster sampling method. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured twice using a mercury sphygmomanometer, and researchers asked participants about medical history of hypertension as well as history of cigarette and water pipe smoking. Researchers used binary logistic regression models to assess the association of hypertension and smoking, and found an inverse, statistically significant association between current smoking and hypertension (odds ratio (OR)=0.50 (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.41, 0.60)). The association remained statistically significant after controlling for age, education and body mass index (OR=0.54 (95% CI=0.45, 0.66)). Findings were consistent for cigarette and water pipe smoking by sex (all ORs were inverse and statistically significant). Both cigarette and water pipe smoking were associated with reduced hypertension among older people, but the strength of association was different between men and women and also between cigarette and water pipe smoking. The reasons behind the association as well as the differences observed need to be investigated through more comprehensive, longitudinal studies.

Association of serum uric acid with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the independent correlation between serum uric acid and low-grade inflammation (measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, hs-CRP) in postmenopausal women. METHODS: A total of 378 healthy Iranian postmenopausal women were randomly selected in a population-based study. Circulating hs-CRP levels were measured by highly specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method and an enzymatic calorimetric method was used to measure serum levels of uric acid. Pearson correlation coefficient, multiple linear regression and logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between uric acid and hs-CRP levels. RESULTS: A statistically significant correlation was seen between serum levels of uric acid and log-transformed circulating hs-CRP (r = 0.25, p < 0.001). After adjustment for age and cardiovascular risk factors (according to NCEP ATP III criteria), circulating hs-CRP levels were significantly associated with serum uric acid levels (ß = 0.20, p < 0.001). After adjustment for age and cardiovascular risk factors, hs-CRP levels ≥3 mg/l were significantly associated with higher uric acid levels (odds ratio =1.52, 95% confidence interval 1.18-1.96). CONCLUSION: Higher serum uric acid levels were positively and independently associated with circulating hs-CRP in healthy postmenopausal women.

A Simple Green Synthesis of Palladium Nanoparticles with Sargassum Alga and Their Electrocatalytic Activities Towards Hydrogen Peroxide.

This study presents the synthesis of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) using the extract derived from the marine alga, Sargassum bovinum, collected from Persian Gulf area. Water-soluble compounds that exist in the marine alga extract were the main cause of the reduction of palladium ions to Pd nanoparticles. The basic properties of PdNPs produced in this method were confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). TEM confirmed the monodispersed and octahedral shape of PdNPs within the size ranges from 5 to 10 nm. Catalytic performance of the biosynthetic PdNPs was investigated by electrochemical reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). PdNP-modified carbon ionic liquid electrode (PdNPs/CILE) was developed as a nonenzymatic sensor for the determination of hydrogen peroxide. Amperometric measurements showed that PdNPs/CILE is a reliable sensor for the detection of hydrogen peroxide in the range of 5.0 µM-15.0 mM with a sensitivity of 284.35 mAmM(-1) cm(-2) and a detection limit of 1.0 µM. Moreover, PdNPs/CILE exhibits a wide linear range, high sensitivity and selectivity, and excellent stability for the detection of H2O2 in aqueous solutions.

Pathological evaluation of differentiated thyroid cancer in patients with positive serum thyroglobulin and negative iodine scan.

OBJECTIVE: There is no investigation that emphasizes the pathology of DTC (differentiated thyroid cancer) patients with positive Tg and negative iodine scan. The present study was performed to assess the pathology of these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, the records of 500 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer between June 2005 and November 2011 were assessed, and those patients who had elevated serum thyroglobulin (Tg) with a negative whole body I-131 scan (Tg+/WBS-) were included in the study. Patients were followed for clinical and pathological findings of thyroid cancer, including type, variant, local invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis, and serum Tg, TgAb, and TSH levels. RESULTS: A total of 38 patients, including 31 (81.6%) females and 7 (18.4) males with a mean age of 44.2 ± 15.6 years (range, 14 to 77 yrs) took part in the study. All 38 patients had the papillary type of differentiated thyroid cancer (PCDTC), and none had the follicular type of differentiated thyroid cancer (FCDTC). For the variant type of PTC in 16 patients, it was found that 7 were classic type (43.8%), 7 were follicular type (43.8%), and 2 were tall cell (12.4%) for papillary thyroid cancer. In 22 patients no distinct variant had been reported. CONCLUSIONS: This report demonstrated that all of the 38 patients were PTC (100%), which is different from other previous studies. It may be concluded that the overall pathologic subtypes changes of DTC could mainly be due to the iodine fortification program in various geographic regions. The relationship between DTC pathologic subtypes and frequency of Tg+/WBS- condition was difficult to assess in this work. Therefore, further studies are required to evaluate this issue.

Clinical significance of mild inferolateral wall ischemia of the left ventricle on 99mTc-MIBI myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

INTRODUCTION: Mild ischemia in the inferolateral wall on myocardial perfusion imaging is seen frequently in practice. The aim of this study is to assess the importance of the above issue on myocardial perfusion SPECT with coronary angiography. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients enrolled in this study exhibited mild ischemia of the inferolateral wall on myocardial single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with 99mTc-MIBI, using the 20 left ventricular segments model. Each patient completed a questionnaire, including type of chest pain, risk factors, and previous examinations, and all cases were followed up for one year. Luminal stenosis of >50% was classified as significant stenosis on coronary angiography. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: During investigation, 105 cases had mild ischemia on myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) of which 36 subjects (22 male and 14 female) underwent coronary angiography. The mean age was 56.62±10.23 years old (age range: 36-73 years). The inferolateral wall was compared to the left circumflex (LCX) territory. Nineteen out of 36 (52.7%) cases had stenosis in the LCX. Twenty-three of 105 (21.90%) underwent revascularization during the one year follow up. In multiple logistic regressions, with LCX stenosis on angiography as the dependent variable, only abnormal MPI was independently associated significantly. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study may indicate that even a mild perfusion defect in the inferolateral wall should be carefully managed, especially in high-risk subjects for coronary artery disease.

The association between schoolchildren intelligence and refractive error.

PURPOSE: The relationship between refractory errors and intelligence and the importance of genetic, regional and environmental factors in such associations, were investigated in a group of school children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and thirty-seven students (34.3% boys and 65.7% girls) from two primary schools were enrolled in the study. Cycloplegic refraction was performed and a spherical equivalent (SE) > or = 0.5D were determined as hyperopia; <-0.5D myopia and <1 cyl D astigmatism. Demographic factors, parent's education level, teacher based assessment of school performance and average score were also evaluated. RESULTS: Seventy-eight (56.9%) of subjects showed a form of refractory error; 27%, 3% and 2.9% were myope, hyperope or astigmat, respectively, whereas 12.4% of them had both myopia and astigmatism and 10.2% showed hyperopia and astigmatism; 43.1% were normal. CONCLUSIONS: Although our data revealed no distinction of average score between normal group and myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism or hyperopia-astigmatism, there is a statistically significant difference between normal group and those who had both myopia and astigmatism in which the later had a lower mediocre. Our results is somehow in contrast with other parallel studies demonstrating that positive connection between school performance and myopia can be explained by the geographical or racial discrepancies as well as subjects involved in the study and divergent set of cut off limits.

Nuclear imaging with radiolabeled odor molecules in patients with olfactory disorder.

Smell loss originates from peripheral disorders, like intranasal obstruction and olfactory cell injury, as well as central pathway diseases. Information derived from electrophysiological and psychophysical tests are useful for identifying loss of smell, but not for discriminating between central and peripheral deficits. This is because conventional imaging modalities are unable to deliver information about functional olfactory performance. Although functional imaging is able to show abnormal changes in central olfactory pathways, it seems that it is only possible to observe such abnormalities in olfactory cell dysfunction. We hypothesize that the scanning of peripheral olfactory systems by radiolabeled odor molecules may specifically reveal olfactory dysfunction and may be useful for differentiating peripheral from central olfactory disorders.

The association of rate pressure product (RPP) and myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) findings: a preliminary study.

INTRODUCTION: The product of heart rate and systolic blood pressure, termed as rate-pressure product (RPP), is a very reliable indicator of myocardial oxygen demand and is widely used clinically. There have been previous attempts to describe the relationship between RPP and the onset of pain in angina pectoris. The current study aimed to evaluate the association between RPP results and scan findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 497 patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent gated, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging with dipyridamole, exercise, or dobutamine stress, and were included in this study. Baseline and maximum heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and electrocardiogram (ECG) results were recorded. The rate-pressure product (RPP) was calculated as the product of heart rate and systolic arterial pressure for both baseline and maximum measures. The difference between the RPP max and the basal RPP is known as the RPP reserve. Researchers also obtained semi-quantitative analyses of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), using gated software, demographic information, risk factors of CAD, and pretest likelihoods of CAD using nomograms. RESULT: Four hundred and ninety-seven cases, including 426 patients with dipyridamole stress, 59 with exercise stress, and 12 with dobutamine stress, underwent myocardial perfusion imaging. Scan results were positive in 194 (45.5%) and negative in 232 (54.5%) patients with dipyridamole stress. In patients with exercise stress, the scan was positive in 24 (40.7%) cases and negative in 35 (59.3%) cases. In dobutamine stressed patients, the scan was positive in 6 (50%) cases and negative in the 6 remaining cases. Dipyridamole stress resulted in a significant difference between HR at rest and at maximum (28.95 ± 24.53, p-value<0.0001), between systolic BP at rest and maximum (6.75 ± 12.50, p-value<0.0001) and between diastolic BP at rest and maximum (1.45 ± 5.80; p-value<0.0001). There was a significant correlation between sum stress scores (SSS) and reserved RPP (r= -0.12, p-value<0.001) which, in dipyridamole patients, was r=-0.18, p-value=0.0001). In addition, there was a significant association between reserved RPP and risk of CAD (p-value<0.001). In the patients with dipyridamole stress, the ejection fraction (EF) change (odds ratio =0.92; 95% CI: 0.86-0.98; p=0.01), reserve RPP (odds ratio =1.00; 95% CI: 1.00-1.00; p=0.04), risk of CAD (odds ratio =5.80; 95% CI: 3.21-10.50; p<0.0001) and age (odds ratio =0.94; 95% CI: 0.89-0.98; p=0.01) were associated significantly with MPI results, using multiple logistic regressions. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that RPP is associated with MPI findings using gated SPECT imaging with dipyridamole stress. However, to confirm this preliminary result, further studies are mandatory.

Impact of Ramadan fasting on intraocular pressure, visual acuity and refractive errors.

INTRODUCTION: Fasting evidently influences a variety of physiological parameters that can impact the ocular system. Among these modifications are alterations in insulin secretion, sympathetic activity, free fatty acids, lipid profile, melatonin, cortisol, electrolytes and catecholamines. In this study, we investigated the possible alterations in intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity and refractive errors during Ramadan fasting. METHODS: IOP, visual acuity and refractive errors of both eyes of volunteers were measured on the first and last days of Ramadan (once in the morning and evening). Body weight was measured so as to estimate the amount of dehydration. Data from the two examinations was analysed using one-way analysis of variance. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: 58 healthy, fasting male volunteers with a mean age of 40.7 +/- 7.1 years participated in the study. Statistical analysis demonstrated no difference in IOP, visual acuity or refractive errors on the first and last days of Ramadan, or within a single day (from morning to evening). CONCLUSION: Our results reveal that Islamic Ramadan fasting does not profoundly affect physiological IOP, refractive error or visual acuity values in healthy volunteers. However, more detailed investigations using animal models should be designed to evaluate whether fasting has a pivotal influence on pathological conditions.

Socioeconomic status and bone health in community-dwelling older men: the CHAMP Study.

SUMMARY: The association between socioeconomic status (SES) and bone health, specifically in men, is unclear. Based upon data from the large prospective Concord Health in Ageing Men Project (CHAMP) Study of community-dwelling men aged 70 years or over, we found that specific sub-characteristics of SES, namely, marital status, living circumstances, and acculturation, reflected bone health in older Australian men. INTRODUCTION: Previous studies reported conflicting results regarding the relationship between SES and bone health, specifically in men. The main objective of this study was to investigate associations of SES with bone health in community-dwelling men aged 70 years or over who participated in the baseline phase of the CHAMP Study in Sydney, Australia. METHODS: The Australian Socioeconomic Index 2006 (AUSEI06) based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations was used to determine SES in 1,705 men. Bone mineral density and bone mineral content (BMC) were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Bone-related biochemical and hormonal parameters, including markers of bone turnover, parathyroid hormone, and vitamin D, were measured in all men. RESULTS: General linear models adjusted for age, weight, height, and bone area revealed no significant differences across crude AUSEI06 score quintiles for BMC at any skeletal site or for any of the bone-related biochemical measures. However, multivariate regression models revealed that in Australian-born men, marital status was a predictor of higher lumbar BMC (ß = 0.07, p = 0.002), higher total body BMC (ß = 0.05, p = 0.03), and lower urinary NTX-I levels (ß=-0.08, p = 0.03), while living alone was associated with lower BMC at the lumbar spine (ß=-0.05, p = 0.04) and higher urinary NTX-I levels (ß=0.07, p = 0.04). Marital status was also a predictor of higher total body BMC (ß = 0.14, p = 0.003) in immigrants from Eastern and South Eastern Europe. However, in immigrants from Southern Europe, living alone and acculturation were predictors of higher femoral neck BMC (ß = 0.11, p = 0.03) and lumbar spine BMC (ß = 0.10, p = 0.008), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although crude occupation-based SES scores were not significantly associated with bone health in older Australian men, specific sub-characteristics of SES, namely, marital status, living circumstances, and acculturation, were predictors of bone health in both Australia-born men and European immigrants.

The hypolipidemic effect of Citrullus colocynthis on patients with hyperlipidemia.

Citrullus colocynthis is one of the medical herbs that traditionally have been used as an antidiabetic medication in tropical and subtropical countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the hypolipidemic effect of Citrullus colocynthis beyond the hypoglycemic impact on human. One hundred dislipidemic patients were randomly divided into two groups namely treated (n = 50) group and placebo (n = 50) group. The subjects were treated daily by powdered seeds of Citrullus colocynthis (300 mg) and placebo for 6 weeks. The serums, TG, Chol, LDL-C, HDL-C, SGOT and SGPT were measured with enzymatic methods at the beginning and the end of the project. The significance of differences within these groups was calculated by Paired T-test and by analysis of covariance between them. There were significant differences within and between treated and placebo groups during our treatment in TG and in Cholesterol after intervention (p < 0.05). A daily intake of 300 mg day(-1) of powdered seeds of Citrullus colocynthis can lower the triglyceride and cholesterol concentration significantly in nondiabetic hyperlipidemic patients.

The metabolic syndrome is not associated with homocysteinemia: the Persian Gulf Healthy Heart Study.

BACKGROUND: It is uncertain whether homocysteine and the metabolic syndrome or its components are related in the general population, as studies investigating the association between homocysteine levels and insulin resistance have shown conflicting results. METHODS: In an ancillary study to the Persian Gulf Healthy Heart Study, a cohort study of Iranian men and women aged >or=25 yr, a random sample of 1754 subjects were evaluated for the association of plasma homocysteine levels and the metabolic syndrome using National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)-Adult Treatment Panel (ATP)-III criteria. Total homocysteine levels and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: Subjects with lower HDL-cholesterol and higher blood pressure showed significantly higher homocysteine levels (p=0.001 and p<0.0001; respectively). There was no significant difference in serum levels of homocysteine between subjects with and without the metabolic syndrome. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the metabolic syndrome did not show a significant association with serum homocysteine levels after adjusting for sex, age, smoking, fruit and vegetable intake pattern, body mass index, and physical inactivity. Concurrent elevated CRP levels and the metabolic syndrome also did not show a significant association with serum homocysteine levels after adjusting for sex, age, and lifestyle cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: There was no association between the metabolic syndrome using NCEP-ATPIII criteria and homocysteinemia in this study. These data refute the hypothesis that homocysteine levels are influenced by the metabolic syndrome, at least in general healthy population.

Unhealthy lifestyles and ischaemic electrocardiographic abnormalities: the Persian Gulf Healthy Heart Study.

We assessed prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and unhealthy lifestyles in 3723 participants aged > or = 25 years in the northern Persian Gulf region; 96.0% had > or = 1 cardiovascular risk factor. Over 60% had unhealthy body weight, only 8.3% ate the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, 70.6% were physically inactive and 19.0% were current smokers. Prevalence of electrocardiogram (ECG) with evidence of IHD was 12.7%. Present or past smoking and truncal obesity were independently associated with IHD ECGs in men, and past or present smoking and obesity in women. Hypertension and diabetes were independently associated with increased risk of IHD ECG.

Unhealthy lifestyles and ischaemic electrocardiographic abnormalities: the Persian Gulf Healthy Heart Study

We assessed prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, ischaemic heart disease [IHD] and unhealthy lifestyles in 3723 participants aged >/= 25 years in the northern Persian Gulf region; 96.0% had >/= 1 cardiovascular risk factor. Over 60% had unhealthy body weight, only 8.3% ate the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, 70.6% were physically inactive and 19.0% were current smokers. Prevalence of electrocardiogram [ECG] with evidence of IHD was 12.7%. Present or past smoking and truncal obesity were independently associated with IHD ECGs in men, and past or present smoking and obesity in women. Hypertension and diabetes were independently associated with increased risk of IHD ECG

Germline RET mutations in exons 10 and 11: an Iranian survey of 57 medullary thyroid carcinoma cases.

The susceptibility gene for hereditary Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC) is the RET proto-oncogene. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of common germline RET mutations in exons 10 and 11 among Iranian MTC patients. Fifty-seven non-related MTC patients were examined in this study (Females: Males =1.2:1.0, Mean age = 40.0 +/- 11.5 years) and the existence of mutations was assessed through the PCR-RFLP technique. The only Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) patient displayed a C634W mutation in exon 11. Among 53 apparently sporadic MTC patients, one patient showed a C620R mutation in exon 10 and two other patients displayed C624Y mutations in exon 11 of RET proto-oncogene. Neither the only Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2B (MEN2B) patient nor two Familial MTC patients was found to carry germline mutations in exons 10 and 11. This study reports, for the first time, the prevalence of common RET mutations among Iranian, apparently sporadic MTC patients, underlining the critical importance of screening for RET mutations in such patients.

Pulmonary symptoms and spirometric values in Kangan Sour Gas Refinery workers.

In this study, the author measured the frequency of symptoms and/or alterations in respiratory functions in workers of the sour gas refining industry. All workers (n = 62) were employed in the most-exposed units of the Kangan Sour Gas Refinery. The refinery is approximately 250 km east of Bushehr Port along the Persian Gulf. This cross-sectional study involved a comprehensive health questionnaire, standardized clinical examinations by physicians blinded to subjects' symptoms and concerns, and multiple spirometric values. Although gas refinery workers experienced more respiratory symptoms than the 30 controls (i.e., 37.7% vs. 23.3%, respectively), who were matched for age and smoking status, pulmonary function data were not statistically different (p > .05) between the groups. The authors concluded, therefore, that in Kangan Sour Gas Refinery workers there were no respiratory or spirometric values associated with chronic low-dose exposure to sour gas plant emissions, including hydrogen sulfide.