IRANIAN JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM (IJEM)
Year:2020 | Volume:22 | Issue:3|Papers Count:8

Introduction: In recent decades, the prevalence of obesity in adolescents has increased worldwide. In some studies, there has been an inverse relationship between long breastfeeding and obesity. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between breastfeeding duration and Body Mass Index (BMI) in adolescence. Also, relationships with other influential factors, including birth weight, parental BMI, type of delivery (cesarean/vaginal), socioeconomic status, occupation, and education of parents were also assessed. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 496 adolescents aged 13-14 years. Information on the duration of breastfeeding and birth weight was collected using growth charts. The parents' economic status and BMI were asked from the parents by a questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 18 software. Results: There was no significant difference in the duration of breastfeeding between lean, normal, and overweight adolescents (P-value=0. 061). The birth weight of overweight or obese adolescents was significantly higher than that of adolescents with normal or lean BMI (Pvalue= 0. 011). In addition, the parental BMI was significantly higher in overweight and obese adolescents than in adolescents with normal or lean BMI (P-value=0. 004 for mothers and Pvalue= 0. 019 for fathers). Conclusion: It seems that environmental factors, including birth weight and parental BMI, play an important role in determining the weight in adolescence.

Adiponectin, the most abundant circulating peptide secreted by adipocytes, regulates metabolism through blood glucose control and fatty acid oxidation. In contrast to the initial dogma that adipose tissue is the only source of adiponectin secretion, it has recently been demonstrated that skeletal muscle can also produce and secrete it. Hence, the identification of skeletal muscle as a source of adiponectin expression has attracted the interest of many researchers to explore its role as a circulating adipokine, as well as a myokine, with autocrine/paracrine properties. Numerous animal studies have described adiponectin as a salutary cytokine because of insulinsensitizing, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic, and anti-cancer properties. Paradoxically, other evidence suggests that elevated adiponectin levels can be associated with the induction or existence of some pathologies. However, underlying mechanisms involved in this paradox are not well-understood. On the other hand, many studies have shown the beneficial effects of long-term exercise on increased adiponectin levels, regardless of exercise protocol and status of participants. However, even approximately 25 years after the discovery of adiponectin, its properties and related mechanisms responsible for its high circulating levels, as well as how it affects various tissues and organs, remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to summarize and discuss the literature available to date regarding the introduction of adiponectin, its receptors, and signaling pathways in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, along with its changes in disease and exercise conditions.

Introduction: The antioxidant system, which protects the body against the damaging effects of oxidants, can be affected by a variety of factors, including exercise. The present study aimed to compare the effects of high-intensity interval training versus moderate-intensity continuous training on the oxidative and antioxidant indices in overweight middle-aged women. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 inactive and obese/overweight women, aged 40-50 years, with a BMI>27 kg/m2, were randomized to high-intensity interval training, moderate-intensity continuous training, and control groups. The exercise intervention consisted of 12 weeks of training in three supervised sessions per week. Before and after the exercise program, the subjects’ blood samples were tested for the total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) level. Repeated measures ANOVA and student’ s t-test were applied in SPSS version 20 for data analysis (P<0. 05). Results: The results showed that after 12 weeks of regular exercise, the total antioxidant capacity increased significantly in the groups of moderate-intensity continuous training and high-intensity interval training (P<0. 05). Also, the results showed no significant differences in the MDA and SOD levels. Conclusion: Twelve weeks of high-intensity interval training or moderate-intensity continuous training both result in an increase in the total antioxidant capacity that could be effective in reducing the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

Introduction: Diabetes leads to metabolic disorders, which increase susceptibility to lifethreatening complications that negatively affect the patients' and their family members' quality of life (QoL). The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of insulin pump therapy on QoL in type 1 diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: This before-and after-intervention study was performed on 47 patients with type 1 diabetes who referred to Loghman Hospital in Tehran during 2018 and 2019. The short form of the Diabetes Quality of Life Questionnaire (DQOL) was used to collect data. Results: The mean score of QoL before providing the intervention was 38. 23± 7. 95 that increased to 51. 72± 12. 15 after the intervention (P<0. 001). Scores for both dimensions of QoL, including patient care behaviors and satisfaction with disease control, increased significantly after providing the intervention (P<0. 001). There was a significant direct association between the patient's age and the duration of the disease with increasing QoL score (r=0. 365, P=0. 015), (r=0. 306, P=0. 039). Conclusion: Using an insulin pump could improve the QoL of patients with type 1 diabetes and its dimensions, such as patient care behaviors and satisfaction with disease control.

Introduction: Melatonin is available as a dietary supplement and is frequently used for sleep disorders. Decrease in cholesterol absorption, increase in LDL oxidation, and decrease in free fatty acids have been associated with melatonin use. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of melatonin on changes in the lipid profile of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: This double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on patients with diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. They were allocated to receive either 6 mg/d of melatonin or placebo for a minimum of eight weeks. The levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the study. Results: The demographic characteristics, baseline lipid profiles, and current medication use were found to be similar in the two groups, except for metformin use (100% vs. 86. 11%; P=0. 02). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the lipid parameters, such as cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, and HDL levels (P=0. 26, 0. 81, 0. 21, and 0. 66, respectively). There were no serious adverse drug reactions in the two groups during the study. Conclusion: According to the results of this trial, 6 mg/d of melatonin does not change the lipid profile of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

According to retrospective studies on hospitalized patients, there is a clear association between hyperglycemia (with or without a known history of diabetes) and hypoglycemia with increased mortality and health consequences. These studies also showed that appropriate control of blood sugar and preventing hyper/hypoglycemia is not only associated with reduced mortality rate but also can prevent consequences of the disease. However, there is no unique evidence-based guideline, based on common practices in hospitals, to manage such conditions. Hence, currently, providers mostly use their knowledge or different guidelines without any support for potential problems such as general use of insulin tables with no planned prescription. The present study aimed to firstly review the prevalence of hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients with both critical and non-critical conditions, and secondly to provide practical measures for treating such conditions in order to prevent negative consequences.

Introduction: Obesity is steadily growing around the world and is one of the most important threats to human health in the 21st century. It not only increases the incidence of obesity-related disorders, but also impairs the health-related quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to evaluate the health-related QOL in severely obese women after bariatric surgery. Materials and Methods: A total of 476 patients, aged  18 years, attending Tehran Obesity Treatment Center, were enrolled in this study. Anthropometric and biochemical information of the participants was obtained before and one year after surgery. Health-related QOL was assessed using the Iranian version of the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Results: The mean age of the patients undergoing bariatric surgery was 38. 7± 10. 9 years. The body mass index (BMI) before bariatric surgery was 45. 1± 6. 0 kg/m2, which decreased to 30. 2± 4. 8 kg/m2 after one year of follow-up (P<0. 001). The mean scores of anthropometric and metabolic indices improved one year after bariatric surgery. The mean score of the physical dimension of QOL improved from 227. 6± 54. 3 to 316. 6± 63. 2, and the mean score of the mental dimension also increased from 236. 7± 70. 9 to 288. 6± 62. 9 (P<0. 001). The overall mean scores of QOL in the physical and psychological dimensions were not significantly different after one year of follow-up in the two groups of sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass. Conclusion: QOL greatly improved at one year after bariatric surgery. The improvements were comparable after sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass.