International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume:5 Issue: 2, Jun 2007

Correct prediction of menarcheal age prepares girls in time for whatever changes they may ex-perience in the future. Very limited data on this subject and related factors from Iran is available. This was a cross sectional descriptive study of 629 girls from 24 provinces of Iran. Data regarding onset of menarcheal age of participants was obtained using question-naires filled out by each participant assisted by a family member. In the 454 cases that were past men-arche, mean of age at onset of menarche was 13.18±0.06 years. It was 12.9±0.25 and 13.6±0.14 years in their grandmothers and mothers, respec-tively. The regression model showed that the age at menarche was predictable based on the cur-rent height of the case (P<0.001), height of the place of above sea level (P<0.001), number of brothers (P=0.006), and number of sisters (P=0.008) [P=0.001, R-square = 0.99]. Comparing the mean of age at men-archeal onset in grandmothers as the oldest gen-eration to that of mothers and aunts as the mid-dle, and the cases and their sisters as the young-est generation in this study showed an evident increase in menarcheal age in the younger gen-erations.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is com-mon in patients with type 2 diabetes and its diagno-sis in clinics is based on ultrasonography. The aim of this study is to examine the role of some clinical and laboratory variables in predicting NAFLD diag-nosed by ultrasonography in patients with Type 2 diabetes. The study was performed on 76 consecutive alcohol-negative and hepatitis B and C virus-negative patients, attending an endocrine clinic; all of them had undergone a complete clinical and biochemical work up, including demographic and anthropometric factors, lipid profiles, fasting plasma glucose, glycosilated hemoglobin (HbA1c), liver transaminases and alkaline phosphatase. Using ultrasonography, patients were divided into two groups, one with and the other without NAFLD. A logistic regression model was developed in stepwise manner to evaluate predictors of NAFLD. Average age was 60±9 years. Forty-nine (64.5%) patients were female. Sixty-three patients (82.9%) had ultrasonography-diagnosed NAFLD. Average body mass index (BMI) was higher in NAFLD patients (29.4±4.4 kg/m2 vs. 24.8±3.8 kg/m2, P<0.05). Among age, gender, FPG, duration of diabe-tes, triglycerides, waist circumference and BMI, the only independent factor associated with ultrasound-diagnosed NAFLD was BMI [adjusted odds ratio for 25≤BMI<30 kg/m2: 7.8 (95% CI: 1.9 to 32.4); BMI ≥30 kg/m2: 24 (95% CI: 2.6 to 223), P<0.001]. The findings demonstrate that BMI per se can be considered as an independent predictor of NAFLD in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Trigonella foenum graecum (fenugreek) is one of the best herbs known for its anti diabetic properties. This study was designed to compare the effects of the carbon tetrachloride extract of fenugreek with those of insulin on liver glyco-gen. Diabetes was induced by stereptozotocin in three groups of male Wis-tar rats. One group served as control (non-treated); in the second group NPH insulin was administered, and the last group received the carbon tetrachloride extract of fenugreek (4 g/kg) orally. Plasma glucose was measured before and after intervention. Water intake was measured daily and liver glycogen was determined at the end of the treatment. The results showed that fenugreek ex-tract, like insulin, causes a significant decrease in plasma glucose and daily water intake (P<0.05). A significant increase was seen in liver glycogen of the groups treated with insulin (57±5 mg /g of wet weight) and the extract (54±3 mg/g of wet weight) compared to the control group (17±3). In conclusion, the results of this study confirm the efficacy of the traditional use of fenugreek for diabetes treatment, and provide further insight into the formulation of carbon tetrachloride extract of fenugreek as an oral hy-poglycemic agent in treatment of insulin de-pendent diabetic patients.

Child obesity is considered a major health problem, in the prevention and treatment of which parents can play a key role. However, some parents belive obese children to be healthy, and do not really feel the need to participate in any preventive and treat-ment programs. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine parental perception of obesity in their 6-12 year old children to assess what effect educa-tion could have on their concept. This study has been done in two stages (stage 1, descriptive and second stage, experimental). Weight, length and body mass index were calculated in 300, 6-12 year old children with BMI higher than standard for sex and age were se-lected as obese. Questionnaires were completed by one of the parents. Parents who did not believe their children to be obese, were divided raudomly into two groups. One group were made familiar with obesity during four, 2-hour, sessions while the other group were not. After two months, questionnaires were completed by the two groups and the data were compared. Forty-one percent of the obese children were girls and 58.7% boys; 23.3% of their parents believed that their obese children were not over-weight, and 94.3% of those who participated in educational programs believed their children to be obese and overweight. No relationship was found between mother’s job and children’s sex and the mother’s perception. To conclude parental perceptions of their children being overweight need to be assessed and if neces-sary educative programs should be conducted to correct these concepts with a view to prevent and treat child obesity.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common medi-cal problems in the world. Approximately 18% of persons over 65 years old are diabetic. The WHO estimates that the prevalence rate of diabetes, 4% in 1995, will increase to 5.6% in 2025. Diabetic foot problems are potentially the most preventable long–term complication in diabetic patients. The purpose of this study was to test the utility of the Health Belief Model (HBM) in under-standing and predicting the intention of diabetic patients in prevention of their foot lesions and amputations. This was a Quasi ex-perimental and cohort study, carried out in 108 diabetic patients Type II in Kermanshah. They were divided in two groups (54 case and 54 con-trol groups). The data were collected by using a researcher made questionnaire in 5 sections; all of the data were collected by direct interviews and on the basis of the constructs of HBM. Data were analyzed by SPSS software. More than 33% (n=36) of patients were men. About 60% of participants were illiterate and had completed only primary school; of par-ticipants, 58% were aged between 30 and 50 years, while 37.4% were between 50-60 years old. There was no significant difference between the mean grades score of variables (knowledge, per-ceived susceptibility, perceived severity, per-ceived threat, perceived benefits perceived bar-riers, caring of foot and check list) in the case and control groups before intervention, but, t-test showed significant differences between all of mentioned variables, in these two groups after intervention(p<0.00). T-test, also showed, there was a significant difference between mean grade scores all of variables in the case group, before and after intervention. The findings of this study showed that, increasing the knowledge and constructs of HBM in patients, results in better foot care by the patients themselves, confirming that HBM constructs cause changes that improve patient behavior in taking care of themselves.

Although universal salt iodization has been used as the most effective method of providing iodine sup-plementation, in areas where salt iodization program has failed, or when iodized salt is not widely avail-able, iodized oil can be used for iodine supplemen-tation. Following administration of iodized oil, io-dine is continuously released from the lipid stores over long periods of time. The effect may last for one year after oral and up to 3-7 years after intramuscular administration, helping to prevent endemic goiter, physical and psychomotor retardation, and the un-desirable pre- and postnatal complications of iodine deficiency. Iodized oil administration decreases the size of goiter, reverses hypothyroidism, improves psychomotor performance and corrects auditory dis-turbances caused by iodine deficiency. Derma-tologic complications, iodine induced hyperthyroid-ism and hypothyroidism may occur following its use, but enhancement of thyroid autoimmunity and thyroiditis have rarely been reported. The use of io-dized oil during pregnancy has no deleterious ef-fects on the thyroid function of the offspring.

Liver metastases from carcinoid tumors are usu-ally diffuse at the time of diagnosis, and surgical resection is rarely feasible. The development and clinical application of an analog of soma-tostatin has provided a novel and frequently highly effective tool for control of carcinoid tu-mors; most patients however, become resistant to this therapy. Arterial hypervascularization of most liver metastases from carcinoid tumor ar-gues in favor of hepatic arterial chemoemboliza-tion. We report here a patient with carcinoid tu-mor with liver metastasis who has substantial tumor regression with hepatic artery chemoem-bolization