LAP has a strong and reliable diagnostic accuracy for MetS in Iranian population in the north of Iran. LAP showed a better predictability than other obesity indexes assessed in the present study.
BackgroundHepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is one of the most important causes of chronic liver disease and related problems in the world .There are few population-based studies on the prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis C infection in Iran, which could not provide enough information. Moreover, the prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis C infection are not similar in all parts of Iran.ObjectivesThe aim of this survey was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of HCV infection in the general population of the city of Amol, north of Iran.Patients and MethodsThis was a population-based study. Using a cluster sampling approach, 6145 individuals of both genders and different ages were involved from general population of urban and rural areas of Amol, The inclusion criteria were Iranian nationality, willing to participate in the study, and lifelong residence in Amol city and surrounding areas. Anti-hepatitis C antibody was measured by a third generation of ELISA. The positive results were confirmed by Recombinant Immuno Blot Assay (RIBA) and quantitative HCV-RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. Potential risk factors of HCV transmission were recorded.ResultsThe mean age of participants was 42.70 ± 17.10 years. Of these participants, 57.2% (n = 3483) were male. Anti-HCV antibody was positive in 12 individuals from which five were RIBA positive. Three of these subjects were PCR positive. The prevalence of HCV was more predominant among males than females. The common risk factors among the study subjects included history of minor or major surgery (34.7%), unsterile punctures (21.2%), history of traditional phlebotomy (5.8%), and history of hepatitis among close relatives (5.7%). In univariate regression analysis, unsterile punctures and history of infection in family members were associated with HCV infection.ConclusionsWe confirm that in Amol city and surrounding areas, the prevalence of true HCV infection is 0.05%, which is lower than that previously reported from Iran.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of idiopathic, chronic and relapsing inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, caused by an aberrant and exaggerated immunological response in the gut. Supplementation of vitamin D3 in patients with IBD exerts both direct and indirect regulatory roles on the na€ ıve T cells, thereby maintaining a balance between inflammatory and inhibitory cytokines. The direct actions of vitamin D3 on na€ ıve T cells result in the proliferation of more regulatory T cells and inhibitory cytokines such as IL-4, IL-10 and IL-5. The binding of vitamin D to dendritic cells (DCs) through vitamin D receptors inhibits the action of IL-12 on DCs, resulting in the downregulation of Th1 and Th17. On the other hand, this interaction favours Th2 and Treg upregulation and facilitates the maintenance of immune homoeostasis between inflammatory and inhibitory cytokines which is essentially significant in the management of patients with IBD. The aim of this review was to explore the current and mounting scientific evidence on the roles of vitamin D3 in immunoregulation of inflammatory and inhibitory cytokines in patients with IBDs. An extensive literature search was conducted using keywords such as Vitamin D3*, IBD*, inflammatory cytokines*, inhibitory cytokines*, na€ ıve-T-cells* and antigen presenting cells* through PubMed, SCOPUS and MEDLINE search engines. The results of the accumulated bodies of research that have been conducted demonstrate that vitamin D3 plays a major role not only in the immunoregulation of cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of IBDs but also in many other inflammatory disorders.
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