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Background Metabolic syndrome (Mets) is a common metabolic disorder in which hypoadiponectinemia is one of the consequences for the body caused by inflammation, and vitamin D may help improve inflammatory symptoms. LncRNAs (long non-coding RNA) play several different regulatory roles in the body. The goal of this study was to see how adding vitamin D to milk affected the levels of adiponectin and inflammatory lncRNAs in the serum of people with Mets. Methods This clinical trial was conducted on staff and students between the ages of 30 and 50 at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences and met the International Diabetes Federation’s criteria for Mets. Eighty-two Mets were assigned randomly to one of two groups for ten weeks: fortified milk (FM) with 1500 IU vitamin D or non-fortified milk (NFM). Total RNA was extracted from both frozen clinical samples using Trizol reagent. APQ AS and MALAT1 lncRNA gene expression were measured by Real-Time PCR. Results Serum adiponectin levels in the FM group increased significantly compared to the NFM group (p = 0.01). Also, the expression of APQ AS and MALAT1 genes decreased after ten weeks, which showed a significant decrease in APQ AS (p = 0.036). Conclusion As in FM, vitamin D may have anti-inflammatory effects and increase adiponectin levels in people with Mets via decreasing APQ AS gene expression.

A randomized clinical trial high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol uptake capacity (CUC) is reduced in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). We have assessed the effect of crocin supplementation on HDL CUC in patients with MetS. Forty-four subjects with MetS were randomly allocated to one of two groups: one group received placebo and the other group received crocin at a dose of 30 mg (two tablets of 15 mg per day) for 8 weeks. Serum biochemical parameters were measured using an AutoAnalyzer BT3000 (BioTechnica). The modified CUC method is a cell free, simple, and high-throughput assay that used to evaluate HDL CUC of serum samples. The decision tree analysis was undertaken using JMP Pro (SAS) version 13. The mean age of the crocin and placebo groups were 38.97 ± 13.33 and 43.46 ± 12.77 years, respectively. There was a significant increase in serum HDL CUC in the crocin group compared to that of the placebo group in patients with MetS (p-value< 0.05). The decision tree analysis showed that serum HDL functionality was more important variable than HDL-C level in predicting patients with hypertension at baseline (p-value < 0.05). Crocin administration (30 mg for a period of 8 weeks) was found to improve serum HDL CUC in patients with MetS. Trial registration: IRCT2013080514279N1.

Aim of the work: Early cardiovascular disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study was designed to assess the relationship between the serum levels of adipokines and atherosclerotic risk factors in SLE patients. Patients and methods: 56 patients and 31 control were included. Serum levels of leptin, adiponectin, traditional and new risk factors for atherosclerosis including plasma glucose levels, lipid profile, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and homocysteine were measured. The intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid was measured by ultrasonography. The SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI-2k) was assessed. Results: The patients mean age was 30.8 ± 9.9 years, disease duration was 55.7 ± 59.3 months and were 54 (91.5%) females and 5 (8.5%) males. Serum adiponectin levels were significantly lower in patients (3.58 ± 0.4 ng/ml) compared to control (3.9 ± 0.26 ng/ml) (p

Background Systemic inflammation is emerging as an important factor in the etiology of psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. Therefore, the inflammatory potential of the diet may also be an etiological factor for these conditions, and this may be estimated by calculating the dietary inflammatory index (DII®) score. We aimed to investigate the association between DII score and incidence of depression and anxiety among a representative sample in northeastern Iran. Methods This cross-sectional study undertook in a sub-sample of 7083 adults aged 35 to 65 years recruited as part of Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder (MASHAD) cohort study population, and after excluding subjects with incomplete data. All participants completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), and a validated 65-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between DII score and depression/anxiety score. Results Of the study participants, 37.1% (n = 2631) were found to have mild to severe depression, and 50.5% (n = 3580) were affected by mild to severe anxiety. After adjusting for confounding factors, in women, the third (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.06–1.88, p-valuesp-values Conclusion There was a significant association between DII score and severe depression among women but not men in this Iranian population. In order to confirm the association between DII food score, depression, and anxiety, further research is required in different populations, and perhaps an intervention study.

Background Anthropometric indices such as body mass index (BMI) and percent body fat (PBF) are easily measurable and have been consistently reported to be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors. Aims We aimed to compare the association of several CVD risk factors with BMI and PBF to determine which of these adiposity indices had the greater predictive value. Methods and materials Data were derived from the MASHAD cohort study. The cohort was categorised into 4 groups: group 1 (low or normal BMI and PBF, N = 1670), group 2 (low or normal BMI but high PBF, N = 992), group 3 (high BMI and low or normal PBF, N = 837), and group 4 (high BMI and PBF, N = 6245). The best cut-off points were defined by ROC analysis. Results BMI was more strongly correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum urate, serum hsCRP, fasting plasma glucose and TC/HDL-C ratio compared to PBF. But BMI was less strongly correlated with three lipid parameters (total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol), Logistic regression analysis showed that BMI was the best predictor for the majority of risk factors, apart from LDL-C in men and LDL-C, TC and non-HDL-C (NHC) in women. ROC analysis showed that BMI had a greater AUC for risk factors other than for SBP, HTN, DM, TC, LDL-C, impaired fasting glucose, non-HDL cholesterol in men and for TC, TG, TC, DBP, HTN, and non-HDL Cholesterol, among female subjects. Conclusions The results suggest that in our population from northeastern Iran, BMI may be a better predictor of several CVD risk factors compared to PBF.

Background: The present study aimed to estimate the survival of HIV-positive patients and compare the accuracy of two commonly used models, Shared Random-Effect Model (SREM) and Joint Latent Class Model (JLCM) for the analysis of time to death among these patients. Methods: Data on a retrospective survey among HIV-positive patients diagnosed during 1989-2014 who referred to the Behavioral Diseases Consultation Center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences was used in this study. Participants consisted of HIV-positive high-risk volunteers, referrals of new HIV cases from prisons, blood transfusion organization and hospitals. Subjects were followed from diagnosis until death or the end of study. SREM and JLCM were used to predict the survival of HIV/AIDS patients. In both models age, sex and addiction were included as covariates. To compare the accuracy of these alternative models, dynamic predictions were calculated at specific time points. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to select the more accurate model. Results: Overall, 213 patients were eligible that met entry conditions for the present analysis. Based on BIC criteria, three heterogeneous sub-populations of patients were identified by JLCM and individuals were categorized in these classes (“High Risk”, “Moderate Risk” and “Low Risk”) according to their health status. JLCM had a better predictive accuracy than SREM. The average area under ROC curve for JLCM and SREM was 0.75 and 0.64 respectively. In both models CD4 count decreased with time. Based on the result of JLCM, men had higher hazard rate than women and the CD4 counts levels of patients decreased with increasing age. Conclusion: Predicting risk of death (or survival) is vital for patients care in most medical research. In a heterogeneous population, such as HIV-positive patients fitting JLCM can significantly improve the accuracy of the risk prediction. Therefore, this model is preferred for these populations.

Objectives: Obesity is a risk factor for several chronic conditions, including sleep disorders. We aimed to analyze the relationship between BMI, body fat percentage (FAT%), hip and waist circumference, and weight on the duration of nocturnal sleep.Methods: This study was part of the MASHAD cohort study. In all participants BMI and FAT% were measured. BMI was used to categorize individuals as obese, overweight, and normal subjects. FAT% was used to categorize individuals into tertile: tertile 1 (low) < 27.5, tertile 2 (medium) 27.5–41, and tertile 3 (high) > 41. The level of nightly sleep duration was categorized into three groups: 8 h.Results: There was a significant inverse association between body weight and duration of sleep (p < 0.05). Obese and overweight participants had 1.152 OR (CI:1.083–1.225) and 1.126 OR (CI:1.063–1.194) for a short duration of nocturnal sleep, respectively, relative to those with a normal BMI.Conclusion: BMI was an independent determinant of nocturnal sleep duration; obesity and overweight may have negative consequences on sleep duration. Weight control should be considered as a factor in adjusting sleep quality.

Introduction The aim of this study was to establish RIs for clinically important markers including superoxide dismutase (SOD), serum copper, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate in a cohort of healthy Iranian adults. Materials A subsample from MASHAD cohort study was used to assess serum SOD, copper, zinc, calcium, magnesium and phosphate. Serum SOD was measured according to its inhibitory potential of pyrogallol oxidation. Micro‐ and macro‐minerals were measured using flame atomic absorption spectrometry and a BT3000 autoanalyzer, respectively. Sex‐ and age‐specific RIs were then calculated based on CLSI Ep28‐A3 guidelines. Results Reference value distributions for studied parameters did not demonstrate any age‐specific differences that were statistically significant. In addition, sex partitioning was not required for all parameters, apart from serum magnesium, which showed a wider range in females (0.81–1.26 mg/dl) compared with males (0.82–1.23 mg/dl). Conclusion The RIs established in this study can be expected to improve mineral assessment and clinical decision‐making in the Iranian adult population., The aim of this study was to establish RIs for clinically important markers including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and serum copper, zinc, calcium, magnesium and phosphate in a cohort of healthy Iranian adults. Sex‐ and age‐specific RIs were then calculated based on CLSI Ep28‐A3 guidelines. Age and sex partitioning were not required for all parameters, apart from serum magnesium, which showed a wider range in females (0.81–1.26 mg/dl) compared to males (0.82–1.23 mg/dl).

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element for the synthesis, storage, and release of insulin. The relationship between serum Zn and MetS is controversial. In this study we have evaluated whether serum Zn levels are associated with hsCRP level according to MetS phenotypes. Method: A total of 9493 individuals (3768 men and 5635 women) were recruited as part of the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Association Disorder (MASHAD) study. We measured the concentration of serum Zn by flame atomic absorption (Varian AA240FS) and we divided the subjects into quartile of serum Zn. We used SPSS version 18 statistical analyses for all. GraphPad Prism 6 for figures was used.Results: In this study there were significant differences between quartiles of Zn according to sex. The results showed that the level of serum hs-CRP were higher in subjects with metabolic syndrome who also had a serum Zn >95 µg/dl. In subjects with serum Zn Conclusion: Serum hs-CRP concentrations were related to MetS phenotypes. This relationship was modified by serum Zn level. According to the number of MetS components serum Zn levels decreased as the number of MetS component increased, and low serum zinc levels (Q1) showed an overall greater prevalence of MetS.

Background Scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SR-BI) encoded by SCARB1 gene serves as a multifunctional HDL receptor, facilitating the uptake of cholesteryl esters from HDL to the liver. Recent studies have identified the association between the P376L missense mutation of the SCARB1 gene with increased serum HDL-Cholesterol level. However, the contribution of this variant to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains unclear. Objective We have investigated the association between the P376L polymorphism with the properties of HDL and CVD outcomes in a population sample recruited as part of the Mashhad-Stroke and Heart-Atherosclerotic-Disorders (MASHAD) cohort. Methods Six hundred and fifteen individuals who had a median follow-up period of 7 years were recruited as part of the MASHAD cohort. Anthropometric, biochemical parameters and HDL lipid peroxidation (HDLox) were assessed. Genotyping was performed using TaqMan-real-time-PCR based method. The association of P376L-rs74830766 with cardiovascular-risk-factors and CVD events were evaluated. Results Carriers of the P376L variant were significantly more likely than non-carriers to develop CVD using multivariate analyses adjusted for traditional CVD risk factors defined as: age, sex, BMI, presence of diabetes, or hypertension, positive smoking habit, and total cholesterol (OR: 3.75, 95%CI: 1.76–7.98, p = 0.001). In an adjusted model, there was a two fold increase in cardiovascular endpoints among individuals who were heterozygous for the P376L variant (hazard ratio, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.12-to 3.84, p = 0.02). Although there was no association between the presence of the P376L variant and HDL-C level, serum HDLox, measured as dysfunctional HDL, was 13% higher among carriers of the P376L variant than non-carriers. Conclusion We have found that carriers of the P376L variant possessed higher HDLox and were at increased risk of CVD in a representative population-based cohort, as compared to non-carriers.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), one of the main mortality causes worldwide is considered to be affected by general oxidative stress and inadequacy antioxidant system. Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), a cytosolic antioxidant enzyme has a key role in neutralizing the excessive prooxidant by scavenging the super oxide anions. SOD1 polymorphic variants exhibit the altered activity properties. In the current study, we are aimed to investigate the association between the SOD1 polymorphism and CVD prevalence. A 6-years case control follow up study was designed to genotype the 526 participants (311 controls and 215 cases) for studying the 50 bp INS/DEL polymorphism at SOD1 promoter gene and analyze their blood lipid profile and anthropometric characteristics. Among the two possible alleles of the SOD1 gene (Wild [W] and Mutant [M]) the meaningful association was detected between the Mutants' frequency and the prevalence of CVD patients (p-value

The dietary inflammatory index (DII) is a novel way of describing diet that has been studied in relation to various health conditions, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) in several populations. We aimed to investigate the association between DII and CVD events among a representative population sample in northeastern Iran. This prospective cohort study was a subsample of 4,672 adults aged 35-65 years, and recruited as part of Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder cohort study population. The DII was computed at baseline according to a 65-item validated food frequency questionnaire. Cox regression was used to determine the association of DII with incident CVD. One hundred twenty-four participants developed CVD (including 24 cases of myocardial infarction [MI], 34 cases of stable angina [SA], and 66 cases of unstable angina [UA]). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, a hazard ratios of 1.06 (95% confidence interval: 0.70-1.60), 1.36 (95% confidence interval: 0.52-3.52), 1.33 (95% confidence interval: 0.60-2.94), and 0.86 (95% confidence interval: 0.48-1.53) were found for total CVD, MI, SA, and UA events, respectively, among the participants with proinflammatory diet (DII ≥ 0) versus those with anti-inflammatory diet (DII < 0). There was no statistically significant association between the DII and total CVD, MI, SA, or UA in this population of middle-aged Iranian men and women.

Background and Objectives: Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the fourth cancer-related cause of death worldwide. CRC is a multi-stage cancer, which is curable during the early stages of the disease. Therefore, determining the time of cut-point existence could improve treatment planning and help directly allocate resources. This study aims to determine the cut point in the age of CRC diagnosis. Methods: This study, covering the course 1985 to 2012, consisted of 345 colorectal cancer patients registered in Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran and followed up to 2013. The cut-point in the age of CRC diagnosis was obtained using a mixture cure model. The data were analyzed using SPSS and R, V. 20 and 2.15.0, respectively. Results: The results showed that the cut point in the age of CRC diagnosis was 50 years. Based on our estimation, 65% of the patients diagnosed with CRC at or younger than 50 were cured, while 31% of them diagnosed older than 50 were cured, and the younger group had a better survival over the older group. Conclusion: Since access to a cut-point and analysis of created prognostic groups are important in screening and treatment planning, our results suggested that it is better to estimate the cut-point in the age of curable cancers in early stages via survival cure models, and the cure rate would increase by CRC timely screening.

Background: Anxiety is one of the most prevalent psychological complications in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization that can be effective on the patients' understanding to do self-care to prevent some complications such as contrast induced nephropathy. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of education by group discussion with videotape on anxiety and contrast induced nephropathy of Coronary catheterization patients. Method: A randomized clinical trial was implemented with 213 patients in three groups at Javad-Al-Aemeh Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, during February to September 2018. An organized educational program was first developed based on an integrative review. The patients were randomly allocated to three groups: group discussion (n=71), film (n=73) and control (n=69) using randomized time blocks. Anxiety was assessed using Spiel Berger Inventory before and 1 hour after the education, before transferring to Cat Lab. The serum creatinine was assessed on arrival, 24 and 72 hours after the procedure. The data were analyzed using ANOVA, Tukey, repeated ANOVA, paired t test and chi square tests by SPSS16. Results: There was no significant difference in mean anxiety between groups before the intervention (P= 0.64), but the anxiety in the videotape group and group discussion decreased significantly after the intervention (pConclusion: Using Group discussion and film screening can be recommended to the community nurses to reduce the cardiac catheterization candidate patient's anxiety and prevent contrast-induced nephropathy.The present study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials with a code of IRCT2016022626776N1.Registration date in IRCT : 2017-07-23, 1396/05/01https://www.irct.ir/trial/22094

Background The efficiency of high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) to efflux cholesterol contributes to the reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) pathway as one of HDL’s proposed functions and depends on the ability of HDL to uptake cholesterol. We aimed to investigate cholesterol uptake capacity (CUC) by a newly developed assay in samples from the MASHAD (Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorders) cohort study. Method The study population comprised 153 individuals developed CVD diagnosed by a specialist cardiologist, over 6 years of follow‐up, and 350 subjects without CVD. We used a modified CUC method to evaluate the functionality of HDL in serum samples. Result The CUC assay was highly reproducible with values for inter‐ and intra‐assay variation of 13.07 and 6.65, respectively. The mean serum CUC was significantly lower in the CVD group compared to control (p = 0.01). Although, there were no significant differences in serum HDL‐C between the groups and there was no significantly association with risk of progressive CVD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that there was a significantly negative association between CUC and risk of CVD after adjustment for confounding parameters (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.38–0.87, p = 0.009). The CUC was also inversely and independently associated with the risk of CVD event using Cox proportional hazards models analysis (HR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.41–0.94, p = 0.02). We determined the optimum cutoff value of 1.7 a.u for CUC in the population. Furthermore, the CUC value was important in determining the CVD risk stratification derived from data mining analysis. Conclusions Reduced HDL functionality, as measured by CUC, appears to predict CVD in population sample from north‐eastern Iran., Mashhad‐Stroke and Heart‐Atherosclerotic‐Disorders (MASHAD) cohort; 530 healthy individuals, over 6 years of follow‐up,350 individuals without CVD, 153 individuals with CVD. A modified CUC method was used to evaluate the HDL functionality of serum samples. The mean value of serum CUC was significantly lower in the group developed CVD compared to healthy individuals (p = 0.01). multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that there was a significantly negative association between CUC and risk of CVD after adjustment for confounding parameters (OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.41–0.94, p = 0.02). The CUC was also independently inversely associated with the risk of a CVD event using Cox proportional hazards models analysis (HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.41–0.94, p = 0.02). The CUC value was important in assigning the CVD risk stratification derived from data mining analysis. Reduced HDL functionality, as measured by CUC, appears to predict CVD in our population sample from north‐eastern Iran. CEC: Cholesterol Efflux Capacity; CUC: Cholesterol Uptake Capacity. ​

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic imposes serious problems to health systems around the world and its rapid expansion makes it difficult to serve patients with certain health conditions such as cancer patients which might be at high risk for mortality if they are infected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Aim To compare the outcomes of cancer patients admitted due to COVID‐19 and compare them with data of COVID‐19 infected patients without a history of cancer. Methods In this case‐controlled study, 93 healthy people and 92 patients with malignancy admitted for COVID‐19 were enrolled. The clinical features and laboratory indicators were assessed at the presentation and both groups were followed‐up for treatment options and outcomes prospectively and compared at the level of P ≤ .05. Results COVID‐19 related mortality rate in malignant patients was significantly higher than patients without malignancy (41.3% vs 17.2%, P = .0001). The risk of death increased significantly in patients with malignancy (OR = 8.4, P = .007) and mechanical ventilation (OR = 3.3, P = .034) independent of other variables. Fever (64.5% vs 43.5%, P = .004), chill (35.5% vs 14.1%, P = .001), malaise (49.5% and 30.4%, P = .008), dry cough (51.6% vs 26.1%, P = .0001), and vomiting (17.2% vs 5.4%, P = .012) were reported significantly lower in cancer patients. Conclusion The results suggest that cancer patients who were infected by COVID‐19 may present with atypical symptoms are at higher risk of mortality independent of the demographic data, comorbidities, and treatments.

Background and aim: Premature menopause (PM) is defined by the occurrence of the menopause before the age of 40 years. It is often associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between PM-associated genotypes cardio metabolic disorder risk factors. Methods: One hundred seventeen women with PM and one hundred eighty-three healthy women without PM were recruited in this study. DNA was extracted and analyzed using ASO-PCR or Tetra ARMS-PCR. Lipid profiles were also assessed.Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that individuals with GG vs. TT genotype of the rs1046089 SNP were more likely to have high serum LDL risk (p = 0.03) compared to the control group. There was also a significant association between low serum HDL risk and rs2303369 and rs4806660 SNP genotypes in the PM group. In the PM group, the percentage of those with a high total cholesterol was lower in those with a CC genotype compared to those with a TT genotype (p = 0.03).Conclusion: Some SNPs reported to be associated with PM appear to be independently associated with dyslipidemia. These results may be helpful to identify subjects with PM who may be susceptible to CVD.

Background: Liver diseases, mainly hepatitis B and C, commonly occur in patients with end-stage renal diseases (ESRD). Alanine and aspartate aminotransferase are important for the diagnosis and monitoring of liver diseases. Several studies demonstrated that patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have lower levels of serum aminotransferases than the normal population. The present study was designed to compare these enzymes in different types of dialysis in ESRD patients and the general population in Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ESRD patients who were candidates for organ transplants in Montaserieh Hospital in Mashhad (Iran) from 2007 to 2014 were enrolled. The data of 1116 patients were collected by reviewing their medical records. Patients were divided into two groups of hemodialysis (n = 1034) and peritoneal dialysis (n = 82); their liver enzymes were compared with 510 healthy individuals from the MASHAD study. Results: There was a significant difference between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients and the control group regarding the age (P < 0.0001) and gender (P = 0.005). Conclusions: The reduction in serum aminotransferase levels in ESRD cases compared to the control group suggested that renal failure influences liver enzymes that were mildly increased in peritoneal dialysis versus hemodialysis patients in samples provided before the dialysis session.

OBJECTIVE Coronary artery disease (CAD) as an important cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SCARB1) plays an essential role in the reverse cholesterol transport. We have explored the association between a genetic variant, rs5888, in the SCARB1 gene with CAD and serum HDL-C levels. METHODS Patients were categorized into two groups' angiogram positive (>50% coronary stenosis) and angiogram negative (

There is a strong genetic predisposition to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Loss-of-function variants of the angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) gene have been reported to be associated with several lipid-related CVD risk factors that include serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG) level, and total cholesterol (TC). We aimed to determine the association of two genetic variants, rs1748195 and rs11207997, of the ANGPTL3 locus and CVD risk in the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorders (MASHAD) cohort study. The participants were 1002 individuals in the MASHAD cohort, with or without CVD, during the 6 years of follow-up. The subjects were categorized into two groups according to serum HDL concentration. DNA was extracted by the routine salting-out method, and genotyping of rs1748195 and rs11207997 variants of the ANGPTL3 gene was performed using the ARMS PCR method. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis was used to assess the two gene variants' association with incident CVD and baseline lipid profile. There was a significant relationship between rs1748195 GG genotype and CVD risk in the individuals with a normal serum HDL-C. There was a significant association between the CT genotype of the rs11207997 polymorphism and CVD risk in individuals with a low serum HDL-C. Furthermore, carriers of the GG genotype of the rs1748195 and CT genotype of rs11207997 variant of ANGPTL3 had a higher risk of developing CVD disease. We have shown that the 1748195(GG) and 11207997(CT) gene variants of the ANGPTL3 locus are associated with an increased risk of CVD in an Iranian population sample.

Aim and Objective: Diabetes mellitus is associated with inflammation and increased oxidative stress. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and serum pro-oxidantantioxidant balance (PAB) in a large population-based study. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 7888 individuals recruited as part of the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorders (MASHAD) cohort study. Participants were divided into three groups, based on their serum PAB values (levels < 36.4, 36.4-82.6 and > 82.6 HK). Serum PAB values were measured using a colorimetric method and enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Serum PAB in subjects with and without diabetes was reported 76.85 ± 61.07 HK and 69.51 ± 55.50 HK. In subjects with a serum PAB > 82.6 HK the risk of T2DM was 1.2 fold higher in comparison to subjects with a serum PAB < 36.4 HK (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.09 – 1.47, P-value: 0.002). This association remained significant after adjustment for confounding factors in multivariable analysis (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.02 – 1.38, P-value: 0.027). Conclusion: Increased pro-oxidant levels may be a major complication of T2DM in our study subjects and PAB could be an indicator of higher oxidative stress in T2DM patients from northeastern Iran.

Reference intervals (RIs) are important tools for improving medical decision-making. Hematology reference values can be influenced by important covariates such as genetic and environmental factors, rendering it essential to define RIs for specific populations. Therefore, we aimed to establish accurate and robust RIs for hematological markers in a healthy adult male Iranian population. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a population of 723 males aged 20-60 years old. Hematological parameters were routinely measured using a Sysmex auto analyser system (KX-21 N). The quality of assays was monitored using commercial quality control samples. The nonparametric rank method, as recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines, was used to calculate the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles as the lower and upper reference limits, respectively. Of the 12 hematological parameters assessed, only mean platelet volume (MPV) demonstrated significant age-specific differences, requiring two partitions from 20 to 35 years (8.7-12.2 fL) and 35 to 65 years (8.5-11.5 fL). The remaining hematological parameters (e.g. leukocyte, erythrocyte, and platelet parameters) could be defined by one age range. This study established RIs for 12 routinely used hematological parameters in a healthy male population living in the northeastern region of Iran. Established RIs differed from those previously reported by other cohorts, highlighting the importance of population-specific RIs.

BackgroundThe prevalence of depression increased about 18% during a 10-year period between 2005 and 2015. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between serum zinc and copper, PAB, SOD and hsCRP in men with depression.MethodsIn this study, 3768 men, were recruited as part of MASHAD study. Demographic, anthropometric and metabolic data measured and recorded for all subjects. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used for assessing depression in all participants. Serum zinc and copper concentration, hs-CRP, PAB (Pro-oxidant- Antioxidant Balance), and SOD (Superoxide dismutase) were measured in all subjects.Results:The mean level of copper in males with depression is significantly lower than normal males (p 0.05). The median of hs-CRP and mean of PAB were significantly higher in depressed subjects (p Conclusion:Inflammation and copper status, not zinc concentration, are two factors that may play a role in depression in male patients.

Cervical cancer is among the most aggressive gynecological tumors and is a consequence of interactions between genetic and epigenetic factors. Several genetic polymorphisms related to cervical cancer have been reported in previous clinical studies. In this study, we aimed to explore the possible relationship between polymorphisms of the ANGPTL4 gene locus and susceptibility to cervical cancer.We investigated the relationship between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the ANPGTL4 gene (rs116843064) and risk of cervical cancer in a total of 378 individuals with (n = 151), or without (n = 227) cancer. DNA was extracted, and genotyped using a Taq-Man based real time PCR.The ANPGTL4 polymorphism was found to be associated with an increased risk of developing cervical neoplasia using dominant model (OR = 12.48, CI = 4.9-31.82, p0.0001) and additive model (OR = 30.54, CI = 7.35-126.89, p0.0001).Our results indicate that there is a strong association between ANPGTL4 and the susceptibility for cervical cancer suggesting that it is a potential risk factor for cervical neoplasia.

Fat reduction and body contouring have become popular procedures in the cosmetic surgery industry over the past decade. There have been studies to replace invasive methods such as liposuction, with safer non-invasive procedures. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a non-invasive combination therapy of ultrasound cavitation and cryolipolysis on abdominal adipose tissue.This pilot interventional study comprised 90 female individuals aged 18-65-years-old who were recruited into one of three groups of 30 participants. Group 1 was treated with diet alone (the control group), group 2 with cryolipolysis and diet, and group 3 with a combination of ultrasound cavitation, cryolipolysis, and diet for 8 weeks. Anthropometric parameters were measured before, during, and after the trial included total body weight, body mass index(BMI), body fat mass, fat-free mass, and abdomen circumference.All three groups demonstrated significant reductions in each parameter at the end of the intervention (P 0.01). Apart from fat-free mass (P = 0.66), the combination therapy significantly reduced body fat mass, weight, BMI, and abdomen circumference compared to the control group (P 0.01). There was no significant difference between the combination therapy and cryolipolysis-alone groups.Treatment using a combination of cryolipolysis and ultrasound cavitation is no more effective in improving the anthropometric indices than cryolipolysis alone.

BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) is the third prevalent cancer worldwide, and it includes 10% of all cancer mortality. In Iran, men and women have the third and the fourth incidence rate of CRC, respectively. Survival analysis methods deal with data that measure the time until an event occurs. Artificial neural networks (ANN) and Cox regression are methods for survival analysis.ObjectivesThe current study was designated to determine related factors to CRC patients’ survival using ANN and Cox regression.MethodsIn this historical cohort, information of patients who were diagnosed with CRC in Omid Hospital of Mashhad was collected. A total of 157 subjects were investigated from 2006 to 2011 and were followed up until 2016. In ANN, data were divided into two groups of training and testing, and the best neural network architecture was determined based on the area under the ROC curve (AUC). Cox regression model was also fitted and the accuracy of these two models in survival prediction was compared by AUC.ResultsThe mean and standard deviation of age was 56.4 ± 14.6 years. The three-, five- and seven-year survival rates of patients were 0.67, 0.62, and 0.58, respectively. Using test dataset, the area under curve was estimated 0.759 for the chosen model in ANN and 0.544 for Cox regression model.ConclusionsIn this study, ANN is an appropriate approach for predicting CRC patients’ survival which was superior to Cox regression. Thus, it is recommended for predicting and also determining the influence of risk factors on patients’ survival.

Obesity is an important feature of the metabolic syndrome and is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between body fat percentage and an imbalance of the prooxidant/antioxidant balance (PAB), serum superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and inflammation (serum hs-CRP) and increase risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus. In this study, 9154 individuals were recruited as part of the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Association Disorder (MASHAD) study. Subjects were categorized into two groups according to body fat percentage as defined >25% in male and > 30% in female, according to gender. Biochemical factors, including serum PAB, SOD1, and hs-CRP were measured in all subjects. SPSS version 18 was used for statistical analyses for all. GraphPad Prism 6 for figures was used. Of total number of subjects (9154), 6748 (73.7%) were found to have a high body fat (BF) percentage. Serum hs-CRP and PAB were significantly higher in individuals with a high BF percentage (P 0.05). BF percentage, serum PAB and serum hs-CRP were significantly higher in individuals with metabolic syndrome and diabetes versus those without metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus (P < 0.05), however serum SOD1 was significantly lower in individuals with metabolic syndrome (P < 0.005). Oxidative stress and inflammation are two factors that may link the presence of high BF percentage with the development of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. © 2018 BioFactors, 45(1):35-42, 2019.

Hypertension (HTN) is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease. Its frequency is increasing globally. The aim of our study was to evaluate the reference range of blood pressure (BP) in the Iranian population stratified for age and gender. A total of 1449 subjects without diabetes, CVD, dyslipidemia, HTN history and with a normal BMI (18.5 ≤ BMI25) were recruited in the present study. Participants were enrolled from the Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder study. Anthropometric indices and demographic data were collected by two health care specialists. A quantile regression model was used to estimate the expected systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) at specific ages. A P-value of.05 was considered significant for all analyses. All statistical analyses were performed using R (version 3.4.1) and SPSS software. The population included more men than women (51.6% vs. 48.4%). The mean and standard deviation of age in men (47.5 ± 8.4) was 2 years higher than women (45.63 ± 7.9; P .001). SBP and DBP were higher in men than women (P .001). By using a quantile regression model, we concluded that the 5th to 90th percentile of SBP in men, aged 30-69 years, ranged from 95 to 148.08 mm Hg and in women ranged from 86.66 to 140 mm Hg. The 5th to 90th percentile of DBP in men, aged 30-69 years, ranged from 60 to 91.66 mm Hg and in women ranged from 60 to 91.22 mm Hg. We have, for the first time, established the BP percentiles (1st, 5th, 10th, 50th, 90th, 95th, 99th) in an Iranian population stratified by age and gender. These data suggest that a local program for health promotion is necessary for the early identification of HTN in adults aged ≥30 years.

Both human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection and Behcet’s disease (BD) are common to a similar geographic area. Furthermore, some clinical presentations of BD and HTLV-1 infection, such as ocular lesions and neurologic involvement, are the same. The aim of this study was to assess a possible association between BD and HTLV-1 infection.In this case-control study, the HTLV-1 infection frequency in BD patients was compared with that for the general population. The case group consisted of 68 patients with a definite diagnosis of BD who referred to a research center at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Mashhad, Iran. The control group consisted of 210 healthy individuals selected from the general population of Mashhad. The presence of HTLV antibodies in the sera was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the seroreactive samples were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction.HTLV-1 infection was detected in 4.41% (3/68) and 1.43% (3/210) of cases and controls, respectively; however, the difference was not statistically significant (P value = 0.16).The prevalence of HTLV1 infection in patients with BD was three-fold higher than in the general population, which suggests an association between these two conditions.

Objectives\ud The adverse effects of cigarette smoking have been widely studied before, whilst the effects of hookah smoking has received less attention, although it is a common habit in the Middle East. Here we have investigated the effects of cigarette and hookah smoking on biochemical characteristics in a representative population sample derived from the Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder (MASHAD) cohort study, from Northeastern Iran.\ud \ud Study design\ud A total of 9840 subjects from the MASHAD population study were allocated to five groups; non-smokers (6742), ex-smokers (976), cigarette smokers (864), hookah smokers (1067), concomitant cigarette and hookah smokers (41).\ud \ud Methods\ud Baseline characteristics were recorded in a questionnaire. Biochemical characteristics were measured by routine methods. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and p

Summary Background & aims Several genome-wide-association-studies have identified genetic variants in a region on chromosome 9p21 that are associated with an increased risk of Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. Here we have explored the interaction of a genetic variant of the CDKN2A/B-rs10811661 gene locus with cardiovascular risk factors and environmental-exposures (e.g., diet and physical activity) in 1165 individuals recruited from the Mashhad-Stroke and Heart-Atherosclerotic-Disorders cohort. Methods Genotyping was carried out using TaqMan-real-time-PCR based method. The association of CDKN2A/B-rs10811661 locus and its interaction with dietary intake in association with the main determinants of dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular-risk-factors were assessed in 2 cohorts. Results Our data showed that obese subjects with a TT genotype had a higher level of TG, TG/HDL ratio and Hs-CRP, compared to the subjects with the wild type genotype, or individuals with a normal BMI. Moreover, the presence of a TT genotype was associated with increased risk of hypercholesterolemia, insulin resistance and CVD. These effects were more pronounced in the sub-group with low physical activity and a high dietary energy intake (e.g., the interaction between TT genotype and total energy intake on serum cholesterol was positive (RERI: 0.2, 95%CI (−0.96–1.3), AP: 0.1, 95%CI (−0.5–0.7) and SI: 1.2, 95%CI (0.3–5.1))). Conclusions We have found a significant association between the CDKN2A-rs10811661 polymorphism with cardiovascular risk factors and dyslipidemia in a non-diabetic population. It is possible that a low energy diet and high physical activity could ameliorate the unfavorable effects of T allele of CDKN2A/B locus. Functional analysis is warranted to investigate the value of this genetic biomarker of CVD risk in obese people.

Background and Aim: Renal transplantation is one of the main treatments of chronic renal disease that creates a more optimal condition and reduces the risk of fatality. The most common reason behind the functional problems of transplanted kidney in its initial postoperation phase is acute renal transplant rejection, the timely diagnosis of which would help the doctors, begin the required treatments immediately to maintain renal functionality, and prevent further irrecoverable damages. Therefore, identifying the variables which are accurate and reliable predictors of renal transplant rejection can be hugely beneficial. Materials and Methods: In this historical cohort study, 87 nondiabetic patients with renal failure who had received treatments at Kidney Transplantation Department of Imam Reza and Ghaem Hospitals of Mashhad, Iran, were selected and their demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. Among these data, creatinine, fasting blood sugar (FBS) and serum insulin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and T3 and T4 hormones were measured four times after the transplant operation. Data were analyzed using SAS 9.3 and MedCalc 13 software. First, the missing data were imputed with appropriate imputation methods, and then using logistic regression and area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the most important detectors of acute renal transplant rejection were determined. Significance level (α) was set at 0.01. Results: Using logistic regression analysis and drawing ROC curves for average value of four measurements, the effect of serum creatinine and T4 hormone was found statistically significant (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Results showed that among six variables that were studied (creatinine, FBS, insulin, TSH, T3, and T4), serum creatinine and T4 hormone were statistically significant and also were the most important of acute renal transplant rejection.

Dyslipidemia is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is partially determined by genetic variations in the genes involved in lipoprotein metabolism. Therefore, we aimed to assess the association between a polymorphism of the Fatty Acid Binding Protein1 (rs2241883) gene locus and dyslipidemia in an Iranian cohort.This is a case-control study 2737 individuals were recruited (2203 subjects with dyslipidemia and 534 controls). Dyslipidemia was defined as total cholesterol≥200 mg/dl, or TG≥150 mg/dl, or LDL-C≥130 mg/dl, or HDL-C40 mg/dl in males and50 mg/dl in females. Serum lipid profile was determined using a Alcyon Abbott biochemical auto analyzer, USA. Genotyping was made through double amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction (ARMs PCR).The frequency of TT, CT, CC genotypes of rs2241883 polymorphism of FABP1 gene were 65.5, 33.4, 5.1 in subjects with dyslipidemia and 56.9%, 40.4%, 2.6% in subjects without dyslipidemia, respectively. Using a dominant genetic model, subjects carrying C allele (CCCT genotypes) had a 22% lower risk of dyslipidemia (OR: 0.78, CI 95%: 0.62-0.98 P, 0.03). Individuals with CT vs. TT genotypes had a significantly lower risk of a high serum TC and LDL level. Further analysis showed that there was a positive association between FABP1 genotype (CT) and isolated HTG as well as combined dyslipidemia. The change of a polar amino acid (threonine) in position T94A to a hydrophobic amino acid (alanine) can cause transformation protein.A CC genotype of the rs2241883 polymorphism of the FABP1 gene appears to confer a higher risk of dyslipidemia in our representative cohort of Iranian individuals.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Obesity is an important CVD risk factor and is increasing in prevalence. Methods: In this study, 3829 men and 5720 women (35-65 years) were enrolled as part of the MASHAD cohort study. Four categories were identified according to body mass index and waist circumference that was defined by the World Health Organization. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for the occurrence of CVD, and Cox regression model was used to evaluate the association of obesity with CVD incidence. Results: We found that the higher risk groups defined by categories of adiposity were significantly related to a higher prevalence of a high serum total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG), and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and higher fasting blood glucose (FBG) in both genders and a higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) in women (P

Metabolically obese normal weight (MONW) individuals are potentially at increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Serum zinc and copper concentrations were assessed in individuals with MONW to determine whether MONW is associated with altered serum zinc and/or copper status. Normal weight subjects (total n = 2419; 1298 men and 1121 women), were recruited as part of Mashhad Stroke and Heart Association Disorder (MASHAD) Study cohort. They were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of MetS, defined using IDF criteria. Serum zinc and copper concentrations were determined by atomic absorption. Of the 2419 normal weight adults, 377 had MetS. Of this group, 53.7% and 49.7% had a serum zinc 131 µg/dl (Q4) (p = 0.034), and 18.8% had a serum zinc >95 µg/dl (Q4). Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the odds ratio (OR) for an association of serum zinc, copper and zinc to copper ratio with MetS in normal weight subjects. The subjects with a serum zinc >95 µg/dl (Q4) had 0.386 [OR: 0.614(95%CI 0.457–0.823)] lower chance of MetS (p = 0.001) and the subjects with a serum copper >131 (Q4) had OR 1.423 (95% CI: 1.09–1.857) higher chance of MetS (p = 0.009). These data remained significant after adjustment for age and sex, for serum zinc and copper, respectively. Furthermore, our results strongly suggested that zinc and copper were the independent risk factor for metabolic syndrome in normal weight subjects. There is an imbalance between serum copper and zinc concentrations among individuals with MONW when compared with normal BMI individuals without MetS. This may increase the risk of individuals with MONW developing conditions associated with this imbalance, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Background: Despite the high prevalence of occupational airway disorders, they are usually underestimated by physicians. This study designed to study the prevalence of work-related symptoms (WRS) and their association with occupational exposure in outpatient pulmonary clinics. Methods: Adults with more than one year of lower respiratory symptoms were included. Retired patients, housewives and those unable to perform spirometry were excluded. Demographic, anthropometric and medical data were documented. The Persian version of National institute for health and safety respiratory questionnaire was used to classify job titles. WRS were defined as 2 (or more) positive questions with improvement of symptoms on days off work. Job exposure matrix (JEM) was used for classifying the type of occupational exposure into one of three categories: high molecular weight (HKW), low molecular weight (LMW) and mixed. Results: A total of 250 patients (69% male) with mean (±SD) age of 40 (±11.6) years, 178 cases of asthma and 59 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cases entered. Occupational exposure was seen in 51.2% of patients (26, 51 and 51 cases with HMW, LMW and mixed, respectively). WRS were lower in those who exercised regularly (24.6% vs. 39.4%) and higher in those with eczema (62.5% vs. 33.6%). Eczema had an odds ratio (OR) of 4.13 (95% CI 1.3 to 12.9, P = 0.01). Exposure to LMW almost tripled the risk of WRS (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.4 to 5.9, P = 0.003) in our patients. Conclusion: Pulmonologists are firmly advised to take their patients’ occupational and vocational exposures into consideration for treatment plans, especially in those with positive history of eczema and exposure to LMW.

Several chronic diseases are mediated by oxidative stress. Oxidative stress affects cell morphology and function and is associated with alterations in the serum protein component. In the current study, we analyzed four individual prognostic factors associating with serum Pro-Oxidant-Antioxidant Balance (PAB): neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), Vitamin D, anti-heat shock protein 27 (anti-hsp27) antibody titer, and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) to evaluate them as the potential prognostic markers. In the current study, we attempted to investigate the relationship between serum PAB, RDW, NLR, serum vitamin D and anti-hsp27 concentration.A total of 852 participants (438 males and 414 females) aged 47.64 ± 7.77 years were recruited in a cross-sectional study based on the Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorders (MASHAD) cohort study data. Hematological parameters, and vitamin D, PAB and anti-hsp27 antibody titers were measured using the Sysmex auto analyzer system and enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA), respectively.The results showed a significant correlation between Vitamin D and anti-hsp27 antibody titers (r = -0.13 and p0.001) as well as between RDW and serum PAB (r = 0.120 and p0.001). Moreover, we found that serum PAB was positively associated with serum anti hsp27 antibody titers. The results showed increasing 1 unit of serum vitamin D can cause 3% decreases in anti hsp 27 values (OR = 0.97; CI 95% (0.96-0.99); p = 0.004). While this association was not significant for RDW, NLR and PAB (p0.05) we found a significant association between serum PAB and serum anti hsp-27 antibody titers. Subjects with PAB levels 36.31-82.63 had a higher risk (1.83 fold) of having an increased anti-hsp27 antibody titers in comparison to the reference group (PAB level36.31) (OR = 1.83 (95% CI = 1.33-2.52), p0.001).The present study shows that serum vitamin D can be associated with reduction in inflammatory status probably by decreasing levels of serum anti-hsp27 antibody titers, reduction in oxidative stress and therefore may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Anti-hsp27 antibody titers are associated with oxidative stress through the serum PAB, therefore these factors may be of prognostic values in detecting oxidative stress and risk of atherosclerosis. The evaluation of these factors in a larger population may help further confirm these findings.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) function rather than level may better predict cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the contribution of the impaired antioxidant function of HDL that is associated with increased HDL lipid peroxidation (HDLox) to the development of clinical CVD remains unclear. We have investigated the association between serum HDLox with incident CVD outcomes in Mashhad cohort. Three-hundred andthirty individuals who had a median follow-up period of 7 years were recruited as part of the cohort. The primary end point was cardiovascular event, including myocardial infarction, stable angina, unstable angina, or coronary revascularization. In both univariate/multivariate analyses adjusted for traditional CVD risk factors, HDLox was an independent risk factor for CVD (odds ratio, 1.62; 95% confidence interval, 1.41-1.86; p 2.5-fold increase in cardiovascular risk in individuals with HDLox higher than cutoff point of 1.06 compared to those with lower scores, suggesting HDLox > 1.06 is related to the impaired HDL oxidant function and in turn exposed to elevated risk of CVD outcomes (hazard ratio, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.88-3.94). HigherHDLox is a surrogate measure of reduced HDL antioxidant function that positively associated with cardiovascular events in a population-based cohort.

Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors that include: abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and glucose intolerance. Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) is a circulating peptide that is an inhibitor of lipoprotein lipase, a key enzyme in lipid metabolism. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of ANGPTL4 gene variants (E40K) with fasting serum triglyceride levels and with cardiovascular risk factors, that included the presence of MetS in 817 subjects recruited from the Mashhad stroke and heart Atherosclerosis Disorders (MASHAD) cohort Study. Method ANGPTL4 genotypes were determined using a TaqMan genotyping based real time PCR method. The association of the genetic variant with the risk of metabolic syndrome and its relationship with lipid profile were determined. Result The frequency of GG, GA and AA genotypes were 96.9, 2.7 and 0.4% in individuals with MetS, and 78.8, 20.8, 0.4%, in those without MetS. The GA genotype of the rs116843064 polymorphism was associated with a lower risk for MetS (e.g., OR in Codominant genetic model: 0.14, 95% CI: (0.06–0.33), p

Subject There have been a few studies on the association between the angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). But there is no consensus about the association of ANGPTL3 haplotypes and cardiometabolic disorders. We aimed to determine the association of three variants of the ANGPTL3 gene and CVD risk factors, which included: diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and dyslipidaemia in the MASHAD population cohort. Method DNA extraction and genotyping were undertaken in1002 individuals who were recruited as part of the Mashhad-Stroke and Heart-Atherosclerotic-Disorders (MASHAD) cohort. The association between the rs1748195, rs11207997, and rs10789117 variants with CVD event following 6 years follow-up and individual CVD risk factors were assessed using multivariate analysis. Result Individuals with a GTC haplotype had a reduced risk of CVD, dyslipidaemia, obesity, and DM. Moreover, we found that of all 8 haplotypes, the CTC was associated with a 1.5-fold higher risk of HTN. Carriers of an uncommon allele of the ANGPTL3 gene had a lower risk of obesity, HTN, MetS and DM (rs10789117), and in those with the rs1748195 variant there was a lower risk of obesity compared to the wild-type genotype. Conclusion We found that the GTC and CTC haplotypes of the ANGPTL3 gene may help identify individuals with a genetic susceptibility to cardiometabolic disorders.

The main goal of the present study is to compare the serum pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factor profile (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, MCP-1, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-4, VEGF, and EGF) in individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes and control subjects matched for age and gender. This study included 270 normal control subjects, 41 pre-diabetics, and 104 diabetic subjects. Demographic and anthropometric characteristics and serum biochemistry parameters, smoking status, and blood pressure were determined. Serum cytokine and growth factor measurements were performed using a multiplex biochip array based method. After removing the effects of confounders such as age, sex, smoking, BMI, serum triglyceride and cholesterol, hypertension, and treatment with anti-diabetic drugs, serum IL-4 (p = 0.015), IL-1α (p = 0.031), and VEGF (p = 0.012) were significantly associated with the presence of diabetes mellitus. The presence of pre-diabetes was positively associated with serum IL-4 (p

Background Obesity is associated with a state of systemic inflammation, mediated by adipose tissue-derived cytokines that may also have metabolic effects, including an effect on insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to compare the serum profile of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in obese and non-obese subjects. Methods A total of 242 subjects who were either overweight or obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m2) and non-obese subjects (body mass index 2), were recruited in Mashhad in northeastern Iran. The concentrations of serum interleukin-1α, -1β, -2, -4, -6, -8 and -10 (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10), were measured in all subjects, together with serum vascular endothelial growth factor, interferon-γ, epidermal growth factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and tumour necrosis factor-α. Results The groups differed significantly with respect to measures of adiposity and fasted lipid profile. Serum pro-inflammatory cytokines interferon-γ and interleukin-1α, and anti-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-10, and epidermal growth factor were significantly different between obese and non-obese individuals, as was serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Multivariate regression showed that waist circumference was significantly and independently related to serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-1concentrations ( P = 0.001). Conclusion Despite significant differences in several cytokines between the groups, only monocyte chemoattractant protein-1appeared to be independently related to a measure of adiposity in this population sample from Iran.

Obesity is a major risk factor of chronic-diseases, including cardiovascular-diseases (CVD). Increasing evidence is showing the association of heat-shock protein (HSP) with type-2 diabetes and CVD; however, there is little data on the relationship between the genetic-polymorphisms of HSP70-2 with obesity.The present study has investigated the association between 1267HSP70-2 genetic polymorphism and obesity in an Iranian population with 317 subjects.Anthropometric parameters and biochemical measurements were measured in all the samples, while genotypes were determined using PCR-RFLP. Univariate/multivariate analyses were conducted to explore the relationship between the genetic-polymorphisms and obesity.The data showed a significant association between 1267HSP70-2 polymorphism in obese subjects, compared to the non-obese group. Moreover, it was observed that this polymorphism was associated with obesity in the CAD + group, which had a high BMI compared to non-obese controls.The 1267HSP70-2 polymorphism is associated with obesity in an Iranian population, supporting a possible potential genetic link between obesity and cardiovascular diseases.

Background: Diabetes mellitus remains one of the major health problems of the 21st century and is associated with comorbidities including obesity and metabolic abnormalities. The study was conducted to evaluate serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, as a marker of inflammation, in a large sample of Iranian population without a history of cardiovascular or inflammatory disease and cancer, and to relate this to fasting blood glucose (FBG) and the presence of diabetes mellitus. Methods: The study consisted of 7,762 subjects divided into four groups—nonobese/nondiabetic, obese/nondiabetic, nonobese/diabetic and obese/diabetic—based on the BMI classification and their FBG. Anthropometric characteristics were measured and blood was collected for the evaluation of fasted lipid profile, FBG and serum hs-CRP levels. Results: Several clinical and biochemical characteristics were significantly different among the four groups: FBG, P 3 mg/dl had higher TC (P < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, P < 0.001), TG (P < 0.001), fat percentage (P < 0.001), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.001) compared with subjects with a serum hs-CRP