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Introduction & Objective: The previous investigations show that cardiovascular diseases, which are spreading all over our country, account for most health and social problems. The objective of this study was to determine the relation between demographic factors, medical history as well as para clinical factors and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) within a period of 30 days for patients with chest pain. Materials & Methods: This was a prospective cohort study. Patients referred to the emergency department of Tehran heart centre with a chief complaint of chest pain without ST ـ segment elevation were followed for 30 days. The outcome variable was coronary artery disease. The Poisson Regression Model was applied in order to identify significant predictors of outcome. Applying this model, we could calculate Adjusted Risk Ratio and 95% confidence interval. The data were analyzed by standard statistical tests using SAS and Stata software. Results: 609 eligible patients were enrolled. Of these 51% were male and 49% female. Based on the final model of Poisson Regression, variables like sex, blood pressure history, heart disease history, changes in electrocardiogram, WBC and CRP had meaningful relationship with CAD. Conclusion: We concluded that prognosis in patients with chest pain needed considering clinical factors (acquired through interview), electrocardiogram and lab findings. Also we were conducted not to rely on traditional risk factors such as history of diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, smoking and family history of heart disease for prediction of the disease.

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Introduction & Objective: Calcium is a micronutrient and now receiving much attention for its doubtful effects on weight and body fatness. A few mechanisms has been suggested for calcium effects on body fatness and the most emphasized one is the reducing of lipolysis and increasing lipogenesis via reducing parathyroid hormone levels. The present study is designed to evaluate the effects of nondairy dietary calcium on adipogenesis and adipocyte size in male Sprague dawley rats. Materials & Methods: This experimental study was done from November to September of 2005 at Tehran school of health, nutrition department. 48 male Spragu-Dawley rats from Damgostar Company were used in three randomly selected groups. The rats were fed low (0.2% W/W), usual (0.5% W/W) and high (1.2% W/W) dietary calcium based on AIN-93M purified diet. Rats were housed in 12 hours light-dark cycle, 22-25°C room temperature with free access to their respective diets. At the end of the experiment, rats were decapitated and carcass fat content, carcass ash content and mean adipocyte size in testis, peritoneal and subcutaneous fat pads were compared in three groups. The SPSS 11.5 was used as statistical software, running analysis of variance for comparing the effects. Results: weight gain, carcass fat content and adipocyte size, in groups were not significantly different, while serum parathyroid hormone concentrations in high calcium group was significantly lower than low calcium group (p<0.05) and insignificantly lower than usual calcium group [12.36, 23.57 and 42.2 pg/dl respectively]. Serum concentrations of 25-hydroxy cholecalciferol were also insignificantly lower in high calcium group. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that physiological concentration of dietary calcium is not effective on weight gain, body fatness and adipocyte size. Relatively equal fat content beside significant difference in serum parathyroid hormone levels is against the parathyroid theory of calcium effects on body fatness. Finally we do not suggest any effect for calcium on body fatness and adipocyte size.

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ABSTRACT: Introduction & Objective: There are different methods for improving hypercholesterolemia, insulin resistance and hypertriglyceridemia, the major risk factors of cardio-vascular disease. Calcium, a nutrient essential for many vital functions of the body is now receiving much attention for its possible hypolipidemic effects. The large bodies of studies on the effects of calcium on the serum lipids have shown conflicting results and also there is little evidence for its effects on serum insulin and glucose. Materials & Methods: In this study, the researchers evaluated the effects of three levels of dietary calcium (0.2, 0.5 and 1.2 gram% diet) on serum cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol and serum insulin and glucose in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The amount of fecal fat excretion was measured to determine the possible mechanism of lipid lowering effects of calcium. Results: Findings showed that increasing dietary calcium lowerd the serum cholesterol (p=0.04), LDL-cholesterol (p=0.02) but had no significant effects on HDL-cholesterol, serum insulin and glucose. There was a dose dependent increase in fecal fat excretion but was not statistically different on a percent basis. Conclusion: It can be concluded that calcium is an effective hypocholesterolemic nutrient but its effects on serum triglycerids, glucose and insulin need to be evaluated.

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ABSTRACT: Introduction & Objective: Diabetes is regarded as a serious condition for both the individual and the society. One of the most important mortality reasons in diabetic patients is atherosclerosis. Many epidemiological studies have shown that the total homocysteine concentration is a risk indicator for cardiovascular disease. Malondialdehyde (MDA) also is a highly toxic by-product formed in part by lipid oxidation derived free radicals. Many studies have shown that its concentration increases considerably in diabetes mellitus. Epidemiological data indicate that the consumption of omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids (O3FA) leads to a reduction in cardiovascular disorders may protect against metabolic diseases. In recent years, numerous researches on omega-3 fatty acids have been done but it cannot be used as a confident additive. So in order to evaluate and compare the effects of ω3 on malondialdehyde (as fat peroxidation indicator) and homocysteine on diabetic type 2 patients, this research was carried out in Tehran University. Materials & Methods: A randomized double blind placebo controlled clinical trial was conducted on 81 type 2 diabetic patients, 45–85 years old with diabetes for at least 2 years.Diabetic patients were randomly assigned to one of the case or control groups, each subject received 3 capsules per day of omega-3 or placebo for a period of 2 months. 10 ml blood was collected from each subject at the beginning and at the end of a 2-month trial. Serum MDA was determined with Tiobarbituric acid for more sensitivity and homosystein was measured by Hitachi autoanalyzer with Enzymatic Cycling method. Nutrients intakes were estimated using 24 h dietary recall questionnaire at the beginning and at the end of the 2-month trial for 2 days and analyzed by FPп. T-test also was used to compare groups. Results: Copmaring the mean±S.D of BMI and food intake in both groups showed no significant differences. MDA level degreased 0.72 nmol/ml in case group but the difference with the control group was not significant but the differences of homosystein level in case (3.10µmol/lit) and control (0.126µmol/lit) groups were significant. Conclusion: Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation (3 gr/per day) in capsul form can decrease the serum level of homocysteine in diabetic patients without inducing any changes in MDA level and lipid peroxidation.

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ABESTRACT: Introduction & Objective: Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infection leads to development of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatoma. Both the liver damage and extrahepatic manifestation of HCV are immune-mediated. Since HCV is an RNA virus, a role for toll like receptor 7 (TLR7) in the immune response against HCV is likely. The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency of C.32T allele of TLR-7 in general and chronic HCV hepatitis, and its effect on treatment of HCV. Materials & Methods: This case –control study was carried out on 154 patients of chronic hepatitis C in 2008-2009. The patients were selected from referrals to Hepatitis clinic at Shahid Motahari Polyclinic affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran which had indication of treatment. The patients were randomly selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Control group consisted of 225 healthy subjects. The frequency of c.32T allele of TLR-7 was determined in154 patients with chronic HCV-infection, and in 225 healthy controls. Treatment with interferon-alpha and ribavirin was performed after genotype determination. Sustained virologic response (SVR) and end treatment response (ETR) were determined and effect of c.32T allele of TLR-7 on outcomes of treatment was evaluated. Results: The frequency of c.32T allele of TLR-7 in patients with chronic hepatitis C was 15.33% in male, 14.67% in female and totally 15.2%. The frequency of c.32T allele of TLR-7 in healthy control group was 16.24% in male, 10.3% in female and totally 14.67%. The rate of Sustained Virologic Response (SVR) was 75%, but in patients that had c.32T allele of TLR-7, SVR was 55% (p=0.046). Conclusion: c.32A>T single nucleotide polymorphism of TLR-7, by impairment of TLR-7 function, can be considered among host factors that had unfavorable effect on response rate to treatment of patients with chronic HCV hepatitis. Keywords: Hepatitis C virus, Toll like receptor 7 (TLR7), Sustained Virologic Response, End treatment response (ETR)

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Introduction & Objective: Unwanted pregnancies and its complications are one of the most important global problems related to mothers. The aim of the present study was to determine the factors affecting unwanted pregnancies in urban areas of the Kohgiloyeh and Boyer Ahmad province. Materials & Methods: In this case – control study conducted at Yasuj University of Medical Sciences in 2008 ,350 women were chosen as the case group, and 700 women as the control group. During the study, data collection forms were completed by each group. Subsequently, the collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 by using the logistic regression, univariate, and multivariate analysis. Results: According to the results of univariate analysis, the variables husband’s education in primary school , age of the last child under one, uncertain prevention methods and receiving means of prevention from the private sector revealed that significant differences existed between the two groups (P Value<0/05). Finally, the multivariate analysis beetwen husband education variables, age of the last child , prevention methods, and receiving a contraceptive device, a significant correlation was observed with unwanted pregnancy(P Value<0/05). Conclusion: Results of this study determined that three variables (contraceptive method, the place of obtaining means, and level of her husband education) are the most important variables which affect the chance of increasing of unwanted pregnancy in users of contraceptive methods.