BACKGROUND: To examine the effects of soy [in the form of textured soy protein (TSP) and soy-nut] on body composition in elderly women with metabolic syndrome (MetS).
METHODS: A 12-week randomized clinical trial was conducted on 75 women between 60-70 years of age with MetS in rural health clinics around Babol, Iran in 2009. The participants were randomly assigned to one of the three groups of soy-nut (35g/d), TSP (35g/d) and control. Body fat, lean mass and anthropometric indicators were measured before and after intervention, too.
RESULTS: Participants were classified as overweight and showing android fat distribution. After 12 weeks of intervention, both soy-nut and TSP groups showed an increase of non-significant in lean mass (0.9 and 0.7 kg), hip circumference (0.45 and 0.28 cm), triceps skinfold (TSF) thickness (0.87 and 0.67mm) and reduction in BMI (-0.15 and -0.33), waist circumference (-0.83 and -1.2) and body fat (-1.5% and -1.7%). Significant increase in the mean change of TSF and lean mass was observed in the users of soy-nut compared to the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: 12-week intervention of soy had a mild favorable effect on body composition in elderly women with MetS.
KEYWORDS: Body composition; Metabolic syndrome; Older women; Soy
University students are a target group for blood donor programs. To develop a blood donation culture among university students, it is important to identify factors used to predict their intent to donate blood. This study attempted to develop a valid and reliable measurement tool to be employed in assessing variables in a blood donation behavior model based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), a commonly used theoretical foundation for social psychology studies. We employed an elicitation study, in which we determined the commonly held behavioral and normative beliefs about blood donation. We used the results of the elicitation study and a standard format for creating questionnaire items for all constructs of the TPB model to prepare the first draft of the measurement tool. After piloting the questionnaire, we prepared the final draft of the questionnaire to be used in our main study. Examination of internal consistency using Chronbach's alpha coefficient and item-total statistics indicated the constructs "Intention" and "Self efficacy" had the highest reliability. Removing one item from each of the constructs, "Attitude," "Subjective norm," "Self efficacy," or "Behavioral beliefs", can considerably increase the reliability of the measurement tool, however, such action is controversial, especially for the variables "attitude" and "subjective norm." We consider all the items of our first draft questionnaire in our main study to make it a reliable measurement tool.
Objective: This study was done to identify blood donors with thalassaemia and iron deficiency. A cross sectional study was carried out at Pusat Darah Negara (PDN), Kuala Lumpur in November 2003.
Methods: Full blood counts were done on 242 blood donors (166 males and 76 females) Hb analysis and serum ferritin assay were done for all the samples. The first time donors were used as controls.
Results: Only 20 (8.3%) donors had MCV <80 fL and MCH <26pg. Six of the 25 donors with iron deficiency had a low MCV <80 fL) and low MCH <26 pg) but all the 8 (40%) donors with thalassaemia or HbE had a low MCV and MCH! The mean ferritin levels were found to be lower among regular blood donors (95.3 ug/L) compared to first time blood donors (116.6 ug/L) but this was not statistically significant. There were 25 donors who were iron deficient: one was a first time donor and 24 were regular donors - 12 (50%) had donated 3 times a year in the last two years. Iron deficiency was seen in 12 Malays, and 9 Chinese, and 4 Indians. 13.3% of the males (22 out of 166 donors) and 4% (3 of 76) of female donors were iron deficient. Thalassaemia and HbE were found in 8 donors. HbE trait was identified in 5 Malay donors. One Malay and 1 Chinese donor had beta-thalassaemia trait. Another Chinese had alpha (a^o) thalassaemia trait. Neither HbE nor thalassaemia were seen in the Indian donors.
Conclusion: In this study thalassaemia and RbE were seen in 3.3% and iron deficiency in 10.3% of the 242 blood donors at PDN. Iron deficiency was present in 3.2% of the first time donors and 12.8% of the regular donors. Regular donors should have the serum ferritin done for their iron status and if their MCV and MCH are low, Hb analysis for thalassaemia or haemoglobinopathy.
Keywords: Blood donors, serum ferritin, iron deficiency, haemoglobinopathy
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of interconnected cardiovascular risk factors. This research determined the prevalence of metabolic syndrome by body mass index, sociodemography, and lifestyle habits of women 30-50 years old in Babol Iran. A systematic random sampling was used to select 984 middle aged women from an urban area in Babol, Mazandaran, Iran. Screening was used to select eligible women who fulfilled selection criteria. The Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria were used to classify participants as having metabolic syndrome. The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 31.0%. Abdominal obesity was observed in about 76.6% (n = 273) of subjects. The prevalences of hypertension, high fasting blood glucose, high triglycerides and low HDL-cholesterol were 12.1, 12.1, 41.5 and 48.6%, respectively. Older age (OR = 2.07; CI = 1.56-2.75), higher waist circumference (OR = 6.46; 95% CI = 3.48-11.96), higher systolic (OR = 3.84; 95% CI = 2.37-6.22) and diastolic blood pressure (OR = 1.89; 95% CI =1.17-3.05), low education level (OR = 2.780; CI = 1.80-4.31), housekeeping (OR = 3.92; CI = 1.24-12.44) and farming occupation (OR = 20.54; 95% CI = 3.54-119.06) were associated with increased risk for metabolic syndrome. The odds ratio (OR) showed no significant associations between metabolic syndrome and smoking or exposure to smoking. This study showed high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Iranian middle aged women. A larger area and population study is needed to enable broader recommendations for the prevention of metabolic syndrome.
Neem, Azadirachta indica, is a plant from the family Meliaceae, known as "Pokok Semambu" in Malay community. It has been extensively used in India as traditional Ayurvedic and folklore minedicine for the treatment of various diseases. This study aimed to determine the distribution of selenium in the liver of rats during hepatocarcinogenesis when neem aqueous extract and dietary selenium was supplemented.
Plastic debris is widespread and ubiquitous in the marine environment and ingestion of plastic debris by marine organisms is well-documented. Viscera and gills of 110 individual marine fish from 11 commercial fish species collected from the marine fish market were examined for presence of plastic debris. Isolated particles were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, and elemental analysis was assessed using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Nine (of 11) species contained plastic debris. Out of 56 isolated particles, 76.8% were plastic polymers, 5.4% were pigments, and 17.8% were unidentified. Extracted plastic particle sizes ranged from 200 to 34,900 μm (mean = 2600 μm ±7.0 SD). Hazardous material was undetected using inorganic elemental analysis of extracted plastic debris and pigment particles. The highest number of ingested microplastics was measured in Eleutheronema tridactylum and Clarias gariepinus, suggesting their potential as indicator species to monitor and study trends of ingested marine litter.
Presence of microplastics (MPs) in a broad range of wild and cultured marine organisms is well-documented, but transfer mechanisms by which cultured organisms are contaminated with MPs is poorly understood. MP loads in three Malaysian commercial brands of fish meal were investigated. Chemical composition of extracted MP-like particles was confirmed using micro-Raman spectroscopy. Inorganic composition of MPs and pigment particles were assessed through energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Out of 336 extracted particles, 64.3% were plastic polymers, 25% pigment particles, 4.2% non-plastic items, and 6.5% were unidentified. Fragments were the dominant form of MPs (78.2%) followed by filaments (13.4%) and films (8.4%). This study demonstrates that cultured organisms could be exposed to high levels of MPs via MP contaminated fish/shellfish used in fish meal production. Fish meal replacement with other sources of protein including meat meals and plant-based meals may mitigate MP exposure to cultured or farmed organisms.
Cytokines play a key role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of current study was to investigate the relationship between the serum concentrations of 12 cytokines with mortality and extent of CAD in individuals undergoing angiography and healthy controls. 342 CAD patients were recruited and divided into 2 groups: those with ≥50% occlusion in at least one coronary artery [Angiography (+)] or <50% obstruction in coronary arteries [Angiography (-)]. Also 120 healthy subjects were enrolled as control group. Lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, body mass index, and blood pressure were evaluated in all the subjects. An Evidence Investigator® was used for measuring 12 cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, MCP-1, IFN-γ, EGF, VEGF) using sandwich chemiluminescent assays. Univariate analysis, multivariate regression models, ROC, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used for exploring the candidate markers in CAD patients. Serum level of IFN-γ, IL-4, MCP-1, EGF, IL-6, and IL-8 were markedly higher in angiogram-positive patients, while VEGF concentrations were significantly (P 2.16 pg/mL IL-6 had a > 94% sensitivity and 70% specificity in predicting 2 years mortality in the subjects with a serum MCP-1 > 61.95 pg/ mL, and patients having IL-6/MCP-1 combination had a shorter survival.Our findings demonstrate that CAD patients with serum MCP-1 and IL-6 levels of >61.95 and >2.16 pg/mL had a higher mortality with 94.1% sensitivity and 70.5% specificity for predicting mortality in CAD patients.