Background:  Periodontal diseases and diabetes are two common diseases with high prevalence. Many clinicians have accepted the relationship between these two diseases. Some investigators have reported that periodontal treatment may enhance the metabolic control of diabetes. The effects of non‐surgical periodontal treatment on metabolic control in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) were examined. Methods:  Forty patients with DM2 and chronic periodontitis [mean age = 50.29 years; mean glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) = 8.72] were randomly assigned to two groups. The treatment group (n = 22) received full‐mouth scaling and root planing, whereas the control group (n = 18) received no periodontal treatment. Gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol levels were recorded at baseline and compared to data collected three months later. Results:  The groups did not differ in gender ratio, age or clinical parameters [PPD (p = 0.107), CAL (p = 0.888), PI (p = 0.180)] and biochemical markers at baseline [FPG (p = 0.429), HbA1c (p = 0.304), TG (p = 0.486), TC (p = 0.942), LDL (p = 0.856) and HDL (p = 0.881)]. FPG, HbA1c and clinical parameters differed between the treatment and control groups (p = 0.006, 0.003 and 0, respectively). From baseline to follow‐up (after three months), HbA1c levels decreased in the treated group (p = 0.003). In the same time period, FPG, GI, PPD and CAL increased in the control group (p = 0.016, 0.0, 0.0 and 0.004, respectively) but HbA1c did not change significantly. Conclusions:  Non‐surgical periodontal therapy could improve metabolic control in diabetic patients.

Article Type: Original ArticleIntroduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder in women of reproductive age. Psychosocial factors can play a role in PCOS. Methods: To determine the psychosocial factors associated with PCOS in a case control study, 742 PCOS cases were compared to 798 women without PCOS for psychiatric disorders and social conditions. The data were collected using a validated questionnaire of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). The Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders. Patient Health Questionnaire (DSM-IV) was used to diagnose major psychopathological disorders and other depressive and anxiety syndromes. The suspected psychopathology was evaluated by a clinical psychiatrist. Results: There was a significant difference between cases and controls in education level (71.8% vs. 80.4%; (P<0.001), and employment status (60% vs. 53%; P=0.01) (respectively). Chronic anxiety (35.7% vs. 26.8%; P<0.001), depression (18.9% vs. 7.9 %; P<0.001), anxiety disorders (7.7% vs. 3.3%; P<0.001), and personality disorders (2.9% vs. 1.7%; P=0.01), were higher in the PCOS patients compared controls, respectively. Conclusion:The results showed that chronic anxiety and depression were the most pscycologic pattern in PCO patients. Lower educational level and unemployment were higher in the cases than controls.

Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy-related multi-systemic hypertensive disorder and affects at least 5% of pregnancies. This randomized clinical trial aimed at assessing the effect of low doses and high doses of folic acid on homocysteine (Hcy) levels, blood pressure, urea, creatinine and neonatal outcome. A randomized clinical trial was done at Alzahra Teaching Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences from April 2008 to March 2013. Four-hundred and sixty nulliparous pregnant women were randomly assigned into two groups. Group 1 (n = 230) received 0.5 mg of folic acid and group 2 (n = 230) received 5 mg of folic acid per daily. They were followed until delivery. Blood pressure and laboratory changes, including plasma Hcy levels, were measured and compared between the groups. Homocysteine concentrations were significantly higher at the time of delivery in group 1 (13.17±3.89 μmol/l) than in group 2 (10.31±3.54, μmol/l) (p<0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.84 and 0.15, respectively). Birth weight was significantly higher in group 2 (p = 0.031) and early abortion was significantly higher in group 1 than group 2 (p = 0.001). This study has provided evidence that a high dosage of folic acid supplements throughout pregnancy reduces Hcy concentrations at the time of delivery.Trial Registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT201402175283N9

Background:Methylphenidate, a medication prescribed for individuals suffering from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is increasingly being misused by students.Objective:The aims of this study were to evaluate the frequency of methylphenidate use among a group of Iranian medical students and to assess their knowledge of methylphenidate.Methods:Anonymous, self-administered questionnaires were completed by all medical students entering the university between 2000 and 2007.Results:Methylphenidate users’ mean knowledge score was higher than that of nonusers (15.83 ± 3.14 vs 13.66 ± 3.10, P = 0.008). Age, gender, and school year were positively correlated with knowledge score (P < 0.05). Data analysis demonstrated that 27 participants (8.7%) had taken methylphenidate at least once in their lifetime. The respondents believed that the most common motive for methylphenidate use among youths was that it aided concentration and therefore ability to study.Conclusion:This study indicates a relatively low level of knowledge about methylphenidate among Iranian medical students. More educational programs regarding the use of methylphenidate are required and should be focused on the student suppliers, clinicians, pharmacists, and medical students.

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BackgroundInsulin resistance is of utmost importance as an underlying mechanism for increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assessed the association between Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA-IR) and two surrogate subclinical atherosclerosis markers (SCA) among individuals with and without type 2 diabetes (DM), those who did not have any clinical presentation of the CVD.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study, 208 participants (105 diabetics and 103 non-diabetics) were enrolled from referred patients with diabetes to an academic outpatient clinic and their non-diabetic relatives in-law. Fasting serum levels of insulin, blood glucose and lipid profile, were measured. Anthropometric and blood pressure were measuremented standardly. Body Mass Index (BMI) and Homeostatic Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) index were calculated. Coronary Artery Calcium Score(CACS) was measured using a Multi-Detctor CT scanner. Flow mediated dilation (FMD) was measured using bimode ultrasonography (with linear transducer 13,000 MHZ). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between these SCA markers and HOMA index in adjusting models.ResultsCACS and HOMA-IR were higher and FMD was lower in diabetic participants than non-diabetic ones (P < 0.01) In a stepwise logistic regression model, CACS and FMD were associated with HOMA-IR (odds ratio = 1.778; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.211–2.726 and odds ratio = 1.557; 95 % CI: 1.601–2.275, respectively) in non-diabetics but not among diabetic participants.ConclusionsCACS and FMD are related to insulin resistance among non-diabetic individuals, but we could not find this relationship among diabetic patients.

BackgroundCognitive impairment is a prevalent health problem in older people and its global prevalence tends to increase parallel to the extended life expectancy in world. The beneficial effect of ω-3 PUFAs on cognitive impairment has been demonstrated in some experimental and cohort studies. In this study we aimed to assess the effect of low dose docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) supplementation on cognitive status in the elderly.MethodsIn a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study, 199 individuals aged ≥65 years with normal or mild to moderate cognition impairment were assigned to receive either 180 mg of DHA plus 120 mg of EPA or placebo for 180 days. Cognitive status was assessed using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) score.ResultsMMSE and AMT scores were not different at the time of allocation [18.84 (5.37), 18.55 (5.12), (P = 0.70) and 4.81 (2.79) and 4.64 (2.77), (P = 0.67) respectively] and over 6 months between the ω-3 PUFA- and placebo- treated groups [18.57 (5.21), 18.39 (5.10), (P = 0.80) and 4.64 (2.77) and 4.48 (2.69) and (P = 0.67)]. The participants were categorized based on MMSE score into normal cognition, mild and moderate cognitive impairment. After multivariate adjustment, there was no significant difference among categorized groups regarding the ω-3 PUFA effect except in normal cognition group, that amount of decline in AMT in ω-3 poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) was less than placebo group.ConclusionsIt seems that prescription of low dose ω-3 PUFAs for 6 months had no significant beneficial effects on improvement of cognition or prevention of cognitive decline in older people.

ObjectiveWe aimed to report the most current data on the prevalence, incidence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) associated with osteoarthritis (OA) for the 21 countries and territories located in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region from 1990 to 2019 by age, sex, cause, and sociodemographic index (SDI).MethodsPublicly available data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study were used to report the OA-related burden. Estimates are reported as counts and age-standardized rates, along with their corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs).ResultsIn 2019, the age-standardized prevalence of OA in MENA was 5,342.8 per 100,000 (95% UI: 4,815.9–5,907.8), which is 9.3% higher than in 1990 (8.1–10.5%). Similarly, the age-standardized annual incidence of OA per 100,000 was 430.4 (382.2–481.9), demonstrating a 9.4% increase since 1990 (8.3–10.5). OA was the cause of 185.4 (92.8–370.2) age-standardized YLDs per 100,000 in 2019, which was 10% higher than in 1990 (8.7–11.4). Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iran had the highest OA burden in MENA, while Yemen, Afghanistan, and Sudan had the lowest burden. In all MENA countries, OA affected more women than men, had an increasing burden with increased age, and had the highest impact on the knee, hip, and hand joints, respectively. OA was also positively associated with the SDI.ConclusionThe burden of OA increased over 1990–2019 in the MENA region. The study emphasizes the importance of early preventative approaches in order to control any future health, economic, and quality of life crises imposed by OA in this region.