hossein hajianfar

Disorders in intestinal permeability have been reported in the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) that may be compensated by complementary therapies through modifying the composition of the intestinal microflora. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of probiotic yogurt on intestinal permeability in patients with IBD.

In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 86 patients in the probiotic yogurt group (intervention patient), 90 patients in the plain yogurt group (control patient) and 84 volunteers in healthy control group  receiving 250 g of commercial probiotic/plain yogurt daily for 8 weeks. At the end of the eighth week, a lactulose/mannitol ratio (LMR) test was used to assess intestinal permeability.

The mean age of participants in the study was 37.7 years and the mean body mass index in all subjects was 24.17 ± 2.65 kg/ m2. There was no significant difference in the LMR of the intervention group and control patient group at the beginning of the study (P=0.08) However, at the end of the period, this ratio decreased significantly in the intervention group compared to the control patient group (P=0.023). Importantly, this indicator in the healthy control group in comparison with intervention group was significantly lower at the beginning and at the end of the study.

The results of the present study showed that probiotics consumption via diet such as its use in dairy products such as yogurt can be a good way to improve gastrointestinal damage, including improving the permeability of the intestine and prevent or repair mucosal damage.

Body of evidence is increasing about the importance of Vitamin D (VD) for normal development of the fetus and for maternal health. As limited data are available regarding the association between maternal VD level and pregnancy‑related complications and neonatal anthropometric measures, the present study aimed to evaluate the neonatal anthropometric measures including weight, high, and head circumference and pregnancy‑related complications such as preeclampsia, blood pressure, gestational diabetes mellitus, and nausea and vomiting in pregnancy with 25(OH)VD level.

The current prospective observational study was conducted among 812 Iranian pregnant women during the first trimester in Isfahan, Iran. Needed data were collected using validated questionnaires and biochemical examinations.

Overall, this study demonstrated an inverse significant association between VD level and chance of having low‑weight infant in the adjusted model (odds ratio [OR]: 0.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.004–0.26, P < 0.001) in the first VD assessment. The same results were obtained in the second VD assessment (OR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01–0.40, P < 0.01). However, such associations were not seen about other neonatal measures and pregnancy‑related complications.

We found that low maternal VD level might be associated with risk of low‑weight infant. Such findings could be considered to implement informative interventional programs to control newborn adverse outcomes. Further studies are required to confirm these findings

Most pregnancy-related complications are associated with increased risks of adverse outcomes for mother and her infant. Although, relations between diet and pregnancy’s complications indicate that there may be some benefits of nutritional factors to prevent such disorders, there are rare studies regarding the associations of dietary patterns and mentioned complications. So, the aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between dietary patterns and risk of pregnancy-related complications.

The current prospective observational study was based on the data collected from 812 pregnant women. Dietary data was collected using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire.

Three major dietary patterns identified according to the results from the factor loading matrix were: (i) ‘western dietary pattern’; (ii) ‘traditional dietary pattern’; (iii) ‘healthy dietary pattern’. Overall, this study demonstrated a marginal significant inverse association between high adherence to healthy dietary pattern and chance of having pre-eclampsia. Also, a high chance of pre-eclampsia was observed among women with the most adherence to western dietary pattern.

We found that dietary patterns might be associated with the risk of pregnancy-related complications. Further studies are required to confirm these findings

Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, which increases health-care costs. It has been reported that some dietary components such as aged garlic, one of the garlic preparations with no strong odor and harsh irritating taste, exhibits anticancer effects. This review summarizes the potential beneficial effects of aged garlic on cancer incidences as well as prevention and improvement of factors related to malignancy. Electronic databases, including MEDLINE, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched. All study designs which were focused on cancer incidence, or indices related to malignancy as outcomes in human, animal, and human cells studies, and aged garlic and its ingredients as exposures were reviewed in accordance to the items for systematic reviews (PRISMA) guidelines. Initially, 304 articles were identified. Then, 25 articles which met the inclusion criteria were selected. Based on the evaluation, overall quality score of human studies was well. Although there were inconsistent evidence from human studies, results of the animal and laboratory results were mostly consistent. The overall findings may suggest that intakes of aged garlic are inversely associated with cancer. In this regard, the studies have shortcomings. Therefore, more precise investigations will be necessary to decide whether aged garlic

Context: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. In recent years, Cucurbita ficifolia intake has been identified as one of the most widely used herbal medications in treatment of DM. Since previous studies have suggested the benefits of C. ficifolia intake in treatment of DM, we reviewed available literature concerning effects of C. ficifolia on Type 2 DM..Evidence Acquisition: Databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google scholar were searched. Key words included type 2 diabetes, blood glucose, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and Cucurbita. After removing irrelevant article, ten articles were reviewed.. Studies reported beneficial effects of C. ficifolia on serum insulin and glucose level. Some of the studies showed a correlation between low level of lipid profiles and plasma glucose and increase intake of C. ficifolia. Although the exact role of C. ficifolia intake on DM has not been identified, the benefits might be due to the effects of active compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, polyphenolic components, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase.. Cucurbita ficifolia intake might have useful effects on prevention and treatment of DM. Cucurbita ficifolia has beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity and risk factors of DM; however, due to the small number of available studies, more researches are needed in this field..

Brewer’s yeast may have beneficial effects on insulin receptors because of itsglucose tolerance factor in diabetic patients. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of brewer’s yeast supplementation on glycemic indices in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In a randomized double‑blind controlled clinical trial, 84 adults (21 men and 63 women) aged 46.3 ± 6.1 years old with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited and divided randomly into two groups: Supplement group receiving brewer’s yeast (six 300mg tablets/day, total 1800 mg) and control group receiving placebo (six 300mg tablets/day) for 12 weeks. Body weight, height, body mass index, food consumption (based on 24h food record), fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin sensitivity, and insulin resistance were measured before and after the intervention. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 18.0). The changes in FBS, glycosylated hemoglobin, and insulin sensitivity were significantly different between the two groups during the study (respectively P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.02 independent sample t‑test). There was a significant difference in FBS, glycosylated hemoglobin, and insulin sensitivity at the end of the study between the two groups after removing the effects of baseline values (respectively P = 0.002, P < 0.001, P = 0.02, analysis of covariance). Changes in body mass index, 24h food record, insulin resistance were not significant. Dietary supplementation with brewer›s yeast besides the usual treatment of diabetes can ameliorate blood glucose variables in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

One of the most effective faiths in relaxation is good ethics and belief، because it may give an individual feeling happiness and improve mental health and thus make physical health and guide person to current life activities. One of the top goals of religions of Islam is completion of ethic as far as the Holy Prophet say: “currently I appointed for good ethics”. Nice ethic furnishes relaxation and the territory of good social relation with effaces of venoms and attract of heart. Imam Ali (PBHU) said: “everyone who has a nice ethic، the life will be comfortable”. Thus this study was conducted to assess ethic role on mental health in view of Imam Ali (PBHU). This research was a library study that checked the role of good ethic on the mental health in viewpoint of Imam Ali (PBHU) and tried to use Quran، Nahjalbalaghe and Gherrar Alhekam. At first، the definition of ethic and then nice ethic is raised in speech of Imam Ali (PBHU) which expresses it in mental health. In this study، by assessing the role of mental health in viewpoint of Imam Ali (PBHU) the results of the study showed good behavior is one of the important effect on mental health and good behavior effect on promotion of good mental health. Ethics are made of one series of adjective good behavior that humans agree with them such as ethic elements. The human get to relaxation and mental health with God remember and good ethics. The Holy Prophet knows the sweetest person is the most favorite person close to God. Imam Ali (PBHU) said good ethic is the criteria of devout specification. Good ethics، respect، tolerance، patient، absolution، visiting relationship and family، connivances، sacristy، and fairness are some of the adjectives that help mental health and provide better social relations.

One of the factors leading to peace is faith and good and worthy morals. For that the human feels the sense of joy and results in vitality and mental health. Consequently it leads to physical health and impel human to right activities in life. One of the biggest goals of Islam is evolving the moral minds، as so the holy Prophit (SAW) said: “I came to do with the most ethics”. Desirable ethics by eliminating hatred and capturing the hearts will provide grounds for good social relations and comfort. Imam Ali (AS) said “everybody has a nice ethic، will level up the way of life for him”. Thus this research aimed to evaluate the role of ethic on the moral mind from the view point of Imam Ali (AS). This study was a librarian research with the aim to investigate the role of desirable ethics in the moral mind and in the words from Quran، Nahj al-Balagha، and Gherrarol Hekam. First the ethic was described and then desirable ethical characteristics in the words of Imam Ali (AS) were mentioned، and each of their effects on mental health was discussed. In this study the role of ethic on the moral health from Imam Ali (AS) view was assessed. The results indicated that desirable morals are important factors influencing mental health، and desirable traits are effective in promoting it. Ethics is a set of traits، characteristics، and acquired morals which are recognized as ethics principles by humans. By remembrance of God and good morals، man achieves peace of mind and mental health. The holy Prophet (SAW) introduced the best good moral the most popular kind of person and Imam Ali (AS) mentioned good moral as a frontispiece feature of faith. Good moral، humility، tolerance، fairness of good moral character، forgiveness، let off، good conjecture، family visiting، forgetting the people errors، security، and equity are some of the ethics characteristics which helps to improve mental health and social relationships.

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in which antioxidant capacity changes. Omega‑3 fatty acids have extensive biological effects including their advantage on lipoprotein metabolism, platelet function, cytokine production, clotting, fibrinolysis, and inflammatory factors. This study aimed to investigate the effect of omega‑3 fatty acid supplements on antioxidant capacity in patients with type 2 diabetes. This clinical trial enrolled 71 women with type 2 diabetes in two case (treated with omega‑3 capsules) and control (treated with placebo) groups. In the first stage, participants filled out a demographics questionnaire including age, height, weight, waist circumference, and hip circumference.Their blood sample was taken to evaluate glycosylated hemoglobin and antioxidant capacity. Then the case group received intervention for 8 weeks and weight, waist circumference, and hip circumference were measured and a blood sample was taken again. The data were analyzed using SPSS 18 software. The mean difference of antioxidant capacity before and after intervention was significant (P < 0.001). Antioxidant capacity increased in the case group and reduced in the control group. With regard to the results of the present study, patients with type 2 diabetes increase their antioxidant capacity, enhance their antioxidant defense system, and probably prevent diabetes complications and related disease progress by taking omega‑3 supplements.

Hypertension is a condition normally detected in people with type II diabetes. It eventually leads to cardiovascular diseases in the patient. Visfatin is an adipocytokine which is secreted from adipose tissue and can affect the inflammatory reaction and also serum lipid levels. Additionally, omega-3 inhibits the accumulation of fat and formation of insulin resistance. The current study tried to investigate the effects of omega-3 on blood pressure compared to placebo and the relationship between serum visfatin levels and blood pressure. A total number of 71 women with type II diabetes were randomly assigned to 2 groups to receive either omega-3 capsules or placebo capsules. In the first step, a questionnaire consisting age, height, weight, waist and hip circumferences, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure was filled out for each subject. Blood samples were then collected for laboratory tests. The next step was to conduct 8 weeks of intervention. All variables, except age, were measured again after the intervention. Hip circumference was considered as the maximum circumference of the buttocks. Waist circumference was measured by placing a tape horizontally across the abdomen at the end of a normal exhalation. Laboratory tests included the assessment of visfatin, glucose, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) concentrations. Lipid profile, i.e. low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride (TG), and cholesterol, was also assessed. Using SPSS18, data obtained from the study was analyzed by a variety of appropriate statistical tests. There was a significant change in mean differences of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Blood pressure showed a significant reduction in the omega-3 group compared to the placebo group. However, no significant changes were observed in systolic and diastolic blood pressure before and after the intervention (P > 0.05). Based on the results of this study, a daily consumption of omega-3 is suggested for patients with type II diabetes.

Visfatin is a new adipocytokine which is largely secreted by visceral adipose tissue and its effects in the development of diabetes and inflammatory reactions are similar to insulin. It acts synergistically with insulin in increasing glucose cellular uptake, stimulating glucose transfer to the muscle and adipose tissue, as well as in preventing hepatic glucose production. Its insulin-like effects are mediated through direct connection and activation of insulin receptors without any change or competition with the insulin. This case-control study was conducted among 64 women consisting of 32 diabetic patients, and 32 age-matched healthy controls. The case group consisted of 32 post-menopausal diabetic women, aged 45-65 years. Those patients were eligible who had a history of at least five years of type II diabetes, without any complications of diabetes, and who were treated only by oral glucose-lowering medications. Those individuals with C-reactive protein (CRP) test of 3+ and above were excluded from the study. Results were compared with age- and sex- matched controls. Average visfatin level was significantly higher in diabetic patients than in controls (4.3 ± 1.06ng/dl vs. 3.15 ± 0.74ng/dl, respectively< 0.001). The mean values of anthropometric indexes and lipid profile were not significantly different between diabetic patients and controls. This study documented an inverse relationship between circulating level of visfatin and fasting blood glucose. This finding may suggest the role of increased visfatin level and increase in synthesis and secretion of the cytokines from adipocytes. These findings may be useful for primary and secondary preventive issues in diabetic and pre-diabetic individuals.

Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. Studies showed paraoxonase activity, and vitamin C and A levels are decreased in diabetes. The effect of omega-3 fatty acids on serum paraoxonase activity and vitamins A, E, C in patients with type 2 diabetes is not fully understood. This study aimed to determine the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on paraoxonase activity, vitamins C, A and E levels in type 2 diabetic patients. In a double-blind, placebo controlled trial, 80 type 2 diabetic patients were randomly enrolled into the study. Study subjects received daily 2714 mg of omega-3 fatty acids or placebo for 8 weeks. Ten milliliter fasting blood was collected before and after treatments. Serum paraoxonase activity and vitamin C levels were measured by spectrophotometry. Vitamin A and vitamin E were measured using high performance liquid chromatography. Nutrient intake was estimated using 24-hours dietary recall questionnaire (for 2 days) before and after treatments. Dietary data were analyzed using FPII. To compare the means of variables between the two groups, independent t-test was employed. Differences between variables before and after interventions were calculated using paired t-test. Serum levels of paraoxonase activity were significantly increased after omega-3 intake (126.47 IU/ml vs. 180.13 IU/ml). However, omega-3 intake caused no significant change in serum vitamin A, C, and E. Supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids was found to increase paraoxonase activity in diabetic patients.

Visfatin is an adipocytokine which is secreted from adipose tissue and can effect on the diabetes inflammatory reaction and also serum lipids level. On the other hand, Omega-3 can also prevent form insulin resistance. In the present study, the effect of Omega-3 on the serum Visfatin concentration was compared with placebo. A total of 71 women with type II diabetes were randomly assigned to the group that took Omega-3 capsules or control group with placebo capsules. In the first step, the study subjects filled in a questionnaire including age, height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference. In addition, their blood samples were taken for the blood tests. In the second step, the intervention was done for 8 weeks and in the third step the aforementioned were collected again. Hip circumference was measured from the middle and the largest part of it. Waist circumference was also measured from the cord at the end of a normal exhalation. In the blood samples visfatin and lipid profiles (LDL: low density lipoprotein, HDL: high density lipoprotein, TG: triglyceride and cholesterol), glucose and HbA1c were measured. There was no significant difference in serum visfatin level between Omega-3 and placebo groups before the intervention (p = 0.14), while after the intervention, the mean serum visfatin level in the Omega-3 group was significantly (p < 0.001) higher. In addition, the mean difference before and after the serum visfatin level showed a significant difference in both groups (p < 0.001). This study showed an increase in visfatin level following consuming omega-3 fats but according to controversial issues on insulin-like function of visfatin, the effects of Omega-3 on diabetes should be studied more in further studies.