Biomedical subjects

Simin Rota

Publications and source records attributed to Simin Rota.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Effects of balneotherapy on serum IL-1, PGE2 and LTB4 levels in fibromyalgia patients.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effects of balneotherapy in the treatment of Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) and to determine if balneotherapy influences serum levels of inflammation markers, IL-1, PGE2 and LTB4. 24 primary fibromyalgia female patients diagnosed according to American College of Rheumatology criteria were included to the study. Their ages ranged between 33 and 55 years. FMS patients were randomly assigned in two groups as, group 1 (n = 12) and group 2 (n = 12). Group 1 received 20-min bathing, once in a day for five days per week. Patients participated in the study for 3 weeks (total of 15 sessions) in Denizli. Group 2 did not receive balneotherapy. FMS patients were evaluated by tenderness measurements (tender point count and algometry), Visual Analogue Scale, Beck's Depression Index, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire. Ten healthy women recruited group three as the controls. Serum PGE2, LTB4 and IL1-alpha levels were measured in all three groups. The biochemical measurements and clinical assessments were performed before and at the end of general period of therapy. Statistically significant alterations in algometric score, Visual Analogue score, Beck's Depression Index and PGE2 levels (P < 0.001), numbers of tender points (P < 0.01) and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire score (P < 0.05) were found after the balneotherapy between group 1 and 2. Mean PGE2 level of FMS patients were higher compared to healthy control group (P < 0.0001) and decreased after the treatment period, only in group 1 (P < 0.05). As in the group 2 and 3, detectable IL-1 and LTB4 measurements were insufficient, statistical analysis was performed, only in group 1. After balneotherapy IL-1 and LTB4 significantly decreased in group 1 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, balneotherapy is an effective choice of treatment in patients with FMS relieving the clinical symptoms, and possibly influencing the inflammatory mediators.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Increased serum malondialdehyde levels in chronic stage of ischemic stroke.

Serum lipoperoxidation products such as malondialdehyde (MDA) reflect oxidative stress. There are contradictory results addressing the levels of lipoperoxidation products in chronic phase of ischemic stroke. In the present study, we aimed to determine the serum MDA levels in stroke patients 6 months after the cerebrovascular accident. We also compared serum MDA levels in two major groups of patients with ischemic stroke resulting from small vessel and large vessel diseases, respectively. Serum MDA levels of thirty-eight patients who had ischemic stroke (19 with atherothrombotic ischemic stroke and 19 with lacunar infarction) and 30 healthy volunteers were measured. While there was no significant difference in serum MDA levels between the chronic ischemic stroke subgroups (p = 0.795), the serum MDA levels of patients with atherothrombotic ischemic stroke (p < 0.001) or with lacunar infarction (p < 0.001) were significantly higher compared to the control group. We also demonstrated that serum MDA levels of the patients with and those without hypertension (p = 0.846), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.891), or dyslipidemia (p = 0.38) were not significantly different. In conclusion, serum MDA levels were elevated in chronic stroke patients with small or large vessel diseases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing that serum MDA levels of these two groups are not significantly different. Furthermore, serum MDA levels do not differ solely by the existence or nonexistence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus or hyperlipidemia.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Relationship of serum interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels with abdominal fat distribution evaluated by ultrasonography in overweight or obese postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to measure associations of circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) levels with anthropometric and abdominal fat distribution in overweight or obese postmenopausal women. METHODS: One hundred eight overweight or obese postmenopausal were evaluated. Demographic and anthropometric measurements were done. Serum IL-6, TNF-alpha, glucose, and insulin levels were measured. Insulin resistance was calculated by using homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The assessment of abdominal fat distribution was performed by ultrasonography. Statistical analysis was made with Pearson and partial correlation analysis. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between serum IL-6 and TNF-alpha (r = .19; p = .047). IL-6 was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) (r = .43; p = .0001), waist circumference (r = .41; p = .0001), and visceral fat layer (r = .33; p = .0001) measurements and HOMA-IR index (r = .31, p = .001). A positive relationship between HOMA-IR and visceral fat layer thickness was observed (r = .320; p = .0001). TNF-alpha was positively associated with BMI but not with any measures of central obesity. When adjustment for BMI was performed, there were no significant relationships between the studied parameters. CONCLUSIONS: There are no significant correlations between abdominal fat distributions measured by ultrasonography and circulating IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels. BMI may have a stronger association with circulating inflammatory cytokine concentrations than with different measures of central obesity in overweight or obese postmenopausal women.

Abdominal Fat↗

PubMed2005

Skin tags and atherosclerotic risk factors.

An association between skin tags and insulin resistance, obesity, impaired carbohydrate and lipid metabolism has been suggested. However, there still is a need for comprehensive and controlled clinical studies. We aimed to evaluate the atherogenic risk factors in patients with skin tags. Thirty-six patients with skin tags who were admitted to the dermatology department and 22 healthy controls were included in this study. Possible subjects who were taking systemic drugs or who had a systemic disease that may be associated with lipid or carbohydrate metabolism abnormalities were excluded from the study. All the measurements were completed in 26 patients. Standard oral glucose tolerance tests were performed on the patient and control groups. Serum insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol levels were measured. LDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol ratios and HOMA-IR and body mass indices were calculated. The mean levels of body mass index, HOMA-IR, and total cholesterol were significantly higher in patients than in controls. In conclusion, skin tags may not be innocent tumoral proliferations; instead, follow-up of such patients with regard to the development of diseases associated with atherosclerosis may be beneficial.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

C-reactive protein levels in non-obese pregnant women with gestational diabetes.

A low-grade systemic inflammation is concomitant in diabetes. There is a pathophysiological relation between gestational diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus, which was further supported by significantly elevated risk of type 2 diabetes in women with a history of previous gestational diabetes mellitus. We investigated the relation between low-grade systemic inflammation expressed as C-reactive protein and gestational diabetes in non-obese pregnant women. This study included 20 non-obese pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus and 30 non-obese pregnant women without gestational diabetes mellitus as a control group. The body mass index of all the subjects were < 25 kg/m2. During 26-28 gestational weeks 100-g oral glucose tolerance test was performed and simultaneously fasting C-reactive protein levels were measured. Serum median C-reactive protein level was higher in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (p = 0.0001). C-reactive protein was strongly associated with glycemic parameters and weight gain during pregnancy. A model consisting of glucose intolerance, age, parity, and weight gain during pregnancy accounted for 61% of the variance in log C-reactive protein. We demonstrated that serum C-reactive protein level was related with gestational diabetes mellitus and weight gain during pregnancy in late second and early third trimesters.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in atherosclerosis.

In recent years, the results of some studies have revealed the possible potential role of several infectious agents in the inflammatory mechanism of atherosclerosis. The detection of specific antibodies against microorganisms such as and as well as Chlamydia pneumoniae and cytomegalovirus as well as antibodies directed to heat shock proteins in the sera of atherosclerotic patients and the presence of genomic material in atheromatous plaques all provide evidence supporting the presumptive role of infectious agents in atherosclerosis. There are some findings that can be accepted as clues for the possible involvement of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in atherosclerosis. These consist of the presence of high levels of mycobacterial heat shock protein 65 in atherosclerotic patients, and in animal studies, the detection of atherosclerotic changes in the vascular wall of animals vaccinated with recombinant heat shock protein 65, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis containing heat shock protein 65. The probable proatherogenic effect of the specific immune response to BCG-associated heat shock protein was also suggested. The mycobacterium cell wall contains a phospholipid, phosphatidylinositol, which was shown to have a procoagulant effect similar to that of a cytomegalovirus possessing phosphatidylserine, another phospholipid showing a procoagulant effect. These data suggest that Mycobacterium tuberculosis may also be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

PubMed2005

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA does not exist in atheromatous plaques.

The possible potential role of several infectious agents in atherosclerosis has been shown. Several infectious agents DNA in atheromatous plaques have been displayed by PCR. In patients with atheromas antibody levels against Hsp65 were higher. Vaccination of mice with recombinant Hsp65 and Hsp65-rich M. tuberculosis resulted in formation of atheromatous plaques. We attempted to detect M. tuberculosis DNA in atherosclerotic plaque samples by PCR. In endarterectomy tissue samples obtained from patients during coronary artery bypass graft surgery DNA was prepared by proteinase-K digestion, phenol/chloroform extraction and ethanol precipitation. After amplification with M.tuberculosis complex IS6110 region specific primers, the products were analyzed on electrophoresis. M. tuberculosis DNA was negative in all tissue samples. More data on etiological studies with mycobacteriaceae will be yield information on atherosclerosis pathogenesis.

Coronary Artery Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of resistance or aerobic exercises on metabolic parameters in obese women who are not on a diet.

This longitudinal, controlled clinical study was conducted to compare the effects of resistance exercise (RE) and aerobic exercise (AE) on body mass index (BMI), weight, fat mass (FM), serum lipid profile, and insulin resistance in obese women who cannot adhere to energy-restricted diets. A total of 60 obese women with severe eating disorders were evaluated. Patients were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group with no exercise (n=20), group 1 with AE (n=20), and group 2 with RE (n=20). Demographic and anthropometric measurements were taken. Serum lipid fractions and fasting (FGlc) and postprandial glucose insulin (PGlc) levels were measured. Insulin resistance was calculated with use of homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Total body FM was measured by bioelectric impedance analysis. After 12 wk of exercise, significant decreases in BMI, waist and weight measurements, and FGlc, PGlc, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels were noted in each of the study groups. Reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level and FM and HOMA-IR measurements were observed only in group 1 (with AE). This study indicated that AE and RE training induces improvement in body fat composition and has a favorable metabolic effect in obese women with severe eating disorders.

Adipose Tissue↗