IRANIAN JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM (IJEM)
Year:2014 | Volume:16 | Issue:3|Papers Count:13

Introduction: Pregnancy complicated by diabetes requires increasing health care resources for controlling sugar levels during pregnancy and reduce the severe perinatal consequences. Now a days changing lifestyle patterns have changed susceptibility to disease. This study was conducted to determine and compare some of the lifestyle factors (pregnancy self-care، perceived social support and perceived stress) of women with gestational diabetes and healthy pregnant women.Materials and Methods: A comparative- descriptive study was conducted on 100 pregnant women with definite diagnosis of gestational diabetes (diabetic group) and 100 healthy pregnant women (controls) attending teaching health centers affiliated to the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 2013. Data were collected through interviews using a questionnaire related to pregnancy self-care، perceived social support and perceived stress. Data were analyzed using SPSS-18 software.Results: Demographics and obstetrics variables were similar in the diabetes and the controls groups mean pregnancy self-care score was 71.9 and 81.87، respectively (P<0.001)، mean perceived social support the was 65.75 and 73.88، respectively (P<0.001)، and mean score of perceived stress was 51.57 and 60.27، respectively (P<0.001).Conclusions: Study results showed that pregnant women with gestational diabetes had less self-care، social support and perceived stress. This study further reveals the importance of women’s self-care and perceived social support during pregnancy. The incidence of gestational diabetes can be prevented through increased awareness and education of pregnant women regarding appropriate lifestyles during pregnancy and any interventions that could improve them.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the main causes of death in diabetic patients and lipid disorders are among the main risk factors for these diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of Conicity index (CI), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and physical activity (PA) with lipid levels and to determine the best anthropometric measurement predictor of lipid profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes.Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 700 patients with type 2 diabetes. Measurements including weight, height, WC, BMI, CI and PA were obtained for each subject and fasting serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) were documended.Results: Overall, 97% of men and 95% women had abnormal CI. About 84.5% of participants had BMI over 25 (kg/m2). In addition, 55.3% of men and 88.5% of women had abdominal obesity based on WC. There was significant increases in TG, TC and LDL-C and reduction of HDL-C with increasing CI quartiles. BMI showed significant and positive correlation to LDL-C. The correlation between WC and TG and LDL/HDL were also significant. PA showed a positive and significant correlation to HDL-C and negative correlation to BMI, WC, CI, and LDL / HDL in all subjects.Conclusions: CI, BMI, WC and PA have significant correlations to blood lipid disorders in type 2 diabetic patients and can be used in screening and predicting the risk of lipid disorders in type 2 diabetic patients. None of the measurements however showed a stronger relationship to these disorders in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Introduction: Systemic Inflammation plays a crutal play in the development of cardiovascular disease in patients with Type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of standardized extract of ginseng (G115) in Biomarkers of Systemic Low-Grade Inflammation in patients with Type 2 diabetes.Materials and Methods: This randomized, double-blind trial was performed on 40 patients with type 2 diabetes (28 females and 12 males) were randomly assigned to two groups. Group one were given 300 mg (3×100 mg capsules) standardized extract of ginseng, while group 2 took placebos. After eight weeks, anthropometric indices, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), interleukin 6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) and high sensitive C- Reactive Protein (hsCRP) were studied. Results: In the present study, no significant differences were observed in anthropometric indices, glycated hemoglobin and TNFα in the intervention and placebo groups before and after intervention. At the end of the study, a significant reduction was observed in IL6 (8.43± 1.17 vs. 6.79±1.39 ng/L) and hsCRP (3.61±0.49 vs. 3.03±0.33 mg/dL) in the treatment group. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in IL6 (6.79±1.39 vs. 7.85±0.69 ng/L) and hsCRP (3.03±0.33 vs. 3.49±0.39 mg/dL) between the intervention and placebo groups at the end of the study.Conclusions: Administration of standardized ginseng extract for eight weeks caused reductions in IL6 and hsCRP in patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, administration of standardized extract of ginseng may play an effective role in the management of these patients.

Introduction: Obesity and hypertension disorders affect whole body and are associated with most diseases, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Children with obesity and high blood pressure are prone to adulthood health problems. Yet most parents are unaware of their child obesity and high blood pressure.Materials and Methods: This 2011 study, included 1184 boys and girls aged 10-13 years old from five districts of Tehran. Overweight and obesity were diagnosed by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) criteria. Also, systolic or diastolic blood pressure ³95 for age, height and gender were considered as hypertensive. Waist circumference according to the standard Iranian cut off for children was assessed on the basis of age, gender. Waist circumference > 90 percentile was considered as abdominal obesity. Results: Prevalences of overweight, obesity, hypertension and abdominal obesity were 21.92, 5.28, 13.16 and 25.31% respectively. The highest prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity reported in District 3, which is north of Tehran and the lowest was related to boys from region 19 of southern Tehran. Conclusions: Economic conditions can affect obesity and hypertension disorders and more attention must be paid to obesity and hypertension in particular, to creat awarences in parents for changes in lifestyle, nutrition and physical activity these children.

Introduction: Effects of Phenotypic changes in adipose tissue due to training are a new theory. However, the cellular – molecular mechanisms for these phenotypic changes are not yet clearly understood. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and Pilates on levels of Irisin and Insulin resistance in overweight women.Materials and Methods: This study was a Quasi-experimental research with a pre-post testing. Twenty-one overweight women, aged³ 29.55 years were divided into two groups: High intensity interval training (N=12) and Pilates (N=9) groups. The first group performed one session of Vo2max testing for 30 s (15 s the with 120 % of maximum aerobic speed and 15 s rest), while second group performed one session of Pilates. Following the second blood sampling, data analysis was performed with p values<0.05 considered significant.Results: Results of this study show that Irisin levels increased significantly after exercise only in the HIIT group (P=0.039, t11= 2.3). Immediately after exercise insulin resistance increased and decreased respectively in the HIIT and Pilates groups, but changes were not statistically significant (P>0.05).Conclusions: Based on the findings, levels of Irisin increase in overweight women, whereas those of insulin resistance do not.

Introduction: The physical and apparent changes caused by PCOS such as hirsutism, obesity, acnea, hair loss and outcomes like infertility can cause decreased sexual function in the womenaffected. In the present study we aimed to evaluate the impact of PCOS clinical signs on the sexual function of married Iranian women.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 600 reproductive aged married women with PCOS selected using simple sampling from among women referring to gynecologists at private clinics. Clinical examinations and antropomethric measurements were done and a questionnaire including demographic, reproductive history, diseases and Persian version of Female Sexual Function Index were completed for all participants. Analysis was done using SPSS version 15. Results: Approximately two third of participants had sexual dysfunction. Infertility is was found to be the most influential clinical sign of PCOS on sexual function of affected women. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that PCOS women with infertility had significantly more sexual dysfunction compared to fertile PCOS women (71 vs 61%). Seventy-two percent of infertile women had sexual dysfunction in lubrication and arousal, while these values for fertile women were 54 and 52% respectively. Conclusions: Among Iranian women with PCOS, infertility affects their sexual function more than any other clinical sign, and these women experience orgasm and sexual satisfaction less than their fertile counterparts. It seems that infertility should be carefully considered during sexual consultation visits for PCOS women.

Methods: The twenty female Balb/c mice (6-8 week-old, 14±2 gr weights) were divided to two control and exercise groups. After orientation in the environment, estrogen-receptor dependent breast cancer cells (MC4-L2) were injected to them and exercise group performed endurance exercise for 6 weeks. After appearance of the tumor, the length and width of the tumor were measured by a digital caliper once a week. Finally, the mice were sacrificed; tumor tissue was removed and immediately frozen and kept in -70oC. Tumor sample was homogenized and levels of IL-10 were measured and quantified using ELISA method.Results: There was significant increase on level of IL-10 in exercise group than control group (P£0.05). Tumor volume reduced in exercise group than control group. The results showed that the amount of IL-10 significantly increased in the exercise group compared to control group Also reduction in tumor volume observed in the exercise group compared to control group. Conclusion: Increased levels of IL-10 was in parallel to reduction in tumor volume, which shows that exercise lead to reduction tumor growth through increased levels of this cytokine. Angiogenesis is a prerequisite for continued growth and spread of tumors, therefore, increased levels of IL-10 that is an angiogenesis cytokine in the exercise group compared to the control group shows exercise can inhibit from tumor growth by modulating cytokine profile within the tumor microenvironment.

Introduction: In recent years, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome has increased considerably in most countries worldwide, with an estimated age range of 10-25% in adults. In Iran, 30% adults and 10% adolescents have the syndrome, increasing their risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular by 5- and 2-fold, respectively. Flaxseed is the worlds richest vegetable source of lignin and alpha-linolenic acid, essential fatty acids and it is a good source of dietary fiber; its possible role in prevention of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes has been reported. Also, there is evidence suggesting that this functional food can have beneficial effects in reducing the incidence of metabolic syndrome by reducing its risk factors. To better understand the beneficial effects of this functional food, this study aimed to assess the effects of flaxseed and its nutritional components on metabolic syndrome and its associated risk factors.Results: A review of literature showed that taking flaxseed, its lignan or alpha-linolenic acid is effective in reducing the risk factors of Metabolic Syndrome, i.e abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, HDL decrease, impaired fasting glucose, and hypert-ension. Flaxseed can reverse insulin resistance and central obesity and hence, has an important role in the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome. It can also reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, which are inter-related indications in obesity and metabolic syndrome.