Arya Atherosclerosis
Volume:5 Issue: 1, Spring 2009

Elevated free radical generation in inflamed joints and impaired antioxidant systems have been implicated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The present study was performed to evaluate dietary nutrient intake and plasma oxidant status in RA patients. This case-control study comprised 75 RA patients and equal number of age- and gender-matched controls. Nutrient intake was estimated by using a semi-quantitative food fre-quency questionnaire. Blood samples were obtained from each group, and as an indicator of oxidant status, plasma concentrations of malondiadehyde (MDA) were measured. The mean calorie intake of RA patients was lower than that of the healthy controls. Energy-adjusted intake of fat, vitamin A and ß-carotene were significantly lower in patients than in control. Plasma MDA concentration was significantly higher in RA patients than in controls (4.9±1.8 vs 2.1±0.6 nmoles/ml respectively,P < 0.01). These results suggest proper antioxidant nutrient intake management may re-duce free radical generation and improve antioxidant status in RA patients.

Ultraviolet radiation can contribute to various damages to body organs espe-cially to skin. However, the effect of Ultraviolet B on the function of viruses, immunologic changes and antioxidants levels which protect human skin health are still unknown. We aimed to find the harmful level of UVB that can be helpful in taking preventive action against the in-creasing depletion of Ozone layer. In this cross-sectional study conducted in Isfahan population, two areas with high and low levels of UVB radiation were investigated based on the information obtained from Meteorologi-cal Office. Samples in each area were selected by a cluster-sampling method. 250 persons were as-signed to each group. The antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxide level of samples were meas-ured. Data were analyzed with Student t test by using SPSS software. The mean (± standard deviation) of Malondialdehide in high and low UVB radiation areas were 2.8 ± 0.32 and 1.65 ± 0.38 nmoles/ml, respectively (P < 0.001). Mean (± standard deviation) of antioxidants capacity levels were 81.6 ± 2.36 μmol/l in patients living in low UVB radiation area and 76.5 ± 2.6 μmol/l in patients living in high UVB radiation area (P < 0.0001). Glutathione Peroxide levels were 38.2 ± 1.7 and 35.3 ± 1.9 μmol/l in areas with low and high UVB radiation respectively (P < 0.0001). Findings of this study indicates that the amount of free radicals and antioxi-dant capacity in high UVB radiation areas are less than areas with low levels of UVB radiation. Therefore, it is suggested that necessary considerations should be taken into account for the residents of such areas in order to reduce its health damages.

The study aims to determine the relationship between anxiety and quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Study participants included 56 CAD patients referred to Chamran Heart Center and Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center both affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sci-ences. Sampling was random and Cattle anxiety scale and McNew quality of life questionnaire were used for data collection. A questionnaire was filled in for demographic characteristics. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The findings showed a strong significant inverse correlation between anxiety and quality of life in CAD patients. The strongest correlation among anxiety (manifest-hidden) and quality of life categories (physical -emotional – social category) was that between manifest anxi-ety and different categories of quality of life. Considering the significant relation between anxiety and quality of life in CAD patients, it is recommended to include methods of controlling anxiety in the treatment program of these patients.

Heart failure (HF) due to left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction has lesser survival than diastolic HF. We examined the correlation of two new angles( and ) of QRS complex in the electrocardiogram (ECG) with indices including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),left ventricular end systolic dimension (LVESD) and left ventricular end diastolic di-mension (LVEDD) for predicting LVEF. In this cross–sectional study,159 subjects with clinical signs of LV systolic dysfunc-tion who presented to the Al-Zahra hospital in Isfahan, Iran, underwent echocardiography. First, on the ECG, two new angles defined and then these two angles compared manually and with computerized analysis by two different observers blinded to the another data. After confir-mation of excellent correlation between these two forms, then two angles measured manually with protractor in 159 patients (wide QRS complex in 59 and normal in 100 patients). Then, cor-relation between these angles and echocardiographic indices were assessed. Statistical analysis revealed that in normal QRS complex, there was no correlation between any of two angles and echocardiographic indices. In contrast, in wide QRS complex, angle and / ratio was correlated with any three echocardiographic indices (negative correla-tion with LVEF and positive correlation with LVESD and LVEDD) i.e. with decrease in LVEF and increase in LVESD and LVEDD, angle is widened and ratio increases.A LVEF of 30% corresponded to ratio of 2 in wide QRS complex patients on the regression line. Linear regression analysis generated the regression line equation for predicting the LVEF. The equation is LVEF = 60.6 – (14.5/ ratio). angle and ratio can predict LVEF in patients with suspected HF and wide QRS complex.

Childhood obesity is associated with many cardio-metabolic risk factors, and different anthropometric measures have been considered to be associated with these risk fac-tors. The aim of this study was to determine the best anthropometric index associated with cardio-metabolic risk factors among obese children and adolescents. This study was conducted by using data of the records of 2064 obese children and adolescents aged 6-18 years. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist- to- hip ratio (WHR) and waist- to-stature ratio (WSR) were considered as anthropometric indexes. The cardio-metabolic risk factors were total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C),HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), fasting blood sugar (FBS), diastolic and systolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP).Data were analyzed with SPSS16 using Receiver Operator Curve (ROC) and Pearson correlation analyses. The prevalence of high LDL -C, TC, TG, FBS, SBP / DBP and low HDL - C was higher in boys than in girls. No single anthropometric index was found to be associated with risk factors in different sex and age groups. BMI, WC and WSR but not WHR had significant correla-tion with TC, LDL - C, TG, and FBS, whereas HDL - C had no significant correlation with an-thropometric indexes. Our results showed that in spite of all its limitations in differentiating fat mass and obesity pattern, BMI can be considered as a useful anthropometric index for predicting cardio-metabolic risk factors in obese children and adolescents. It may be clinically useful in pe-diatric population to routinely use WC and WSR -but not WHR- as a screening tool to identify at-risk children.