Tehran University of Medical Sciences

About: Tehran University of Medical Sciences is a education organization based out in Tehran, Iran. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 35661 authors who have published 57234 publications receiving 878523 citations. The organization is also known as: TUMS.

Health impact assessment of air pollution in megacity of Tehran, Iran

Abstract: The aims of the present study were to provide quantitative data on the impact of air pollution on the health of people living in Tehran city, the most populated city of Iran. The approach proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) was applied using the AirQ 2.2.3 software developed by the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Bilthoven Division. Concentrations of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm (PM10) were used to assess human exposure and health impacts in terms of attributable proportion of the health outcome, annual number of excess cases of mortality for all causes, and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The annual average of PM10, SO2, NO2 and O3 in Tehran were 90.58, 89.16, 85 and 68.82 μg/m3, respectively. Considering short-term effects, PM10 had the highest health impact on the 8,700,000 inhabitants of Tehran city, causing an excess of total mortality of 2194 out of 47284 in a year. Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone caused about, respectively, 1458, 1050 and 819 excess cases of total mortality. Results indicate that the magnitude of the health impact estimated for the city of Tehran underscores the need for urgent action to reduce the health burden of air pollution.

Genotype–phenotype correlation in 1,507 families with congenital adrenal hyperplasia owing to 21-hydroxylase deficiency

Abstract: Over the last two decades, we have extensively studied the genetics of congenital adrenal hyperplasia caused by 21-hydroxylase deficiency (CAH) and have performed 8,290 DNA analyses of the CYP21A2 gene on members of 4,857 families at risk for CAH—the largest cohort of CAH patients reported to date Of the families studied, 1,507 had at least one member affected with one of three known forms of CAH, namely salt wasting, simple virilizing, or nonclassical CAH Here, we report the genotype and phenotype of each affected patient, as well as the ethnic group and country of origin for each patient We showed that 21 of 45 genotypes yielded a phenotypic correlation in our patient cohort In particular, contrary to what is generally reported in the literature, we found that certain mutations, for example, the P30L, I2G, and I172N mutations, yielded different CAH phenotypes In salt wasting and nonclassical CAH, a phenotype can be attributed to a genotype; however, in simple virilizing CAH, we observe wide phenotypic variability, particularly with the exon 4 I172N mutation Finally, there was a high frequency of homozygous I2G and V281L mutations in Middle Eastern and Ashkenazi Jewish populations, respectively By identifying the predominant phenotype for a given genotype, these findings should assist physicians in prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling of parents who are at risk for having a child with CAH

The efficacy of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. (silymarin) in the treatment of type II diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.

Abstract: Oxidative stresses are increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications which may either cause direct pancreatic beta-cell damage or lead to metabolic abnormalities that can induce or aggravate diabetes. The valuable effect of antioxidant nutrients on the glycemic control of diabetic patients has been reported in experimental and clinical studies. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of the herbal medicine, Silybum marianum seed extract (silymarin), which is known to have antioxidant properties on the glycemic profile in diabetic patients. A 4-month randomized double-blind clinical trial was conducted in 51 type II diabetic patients in two well-matched groups. The first group (n = 25) received a silymarin (200 mg) tablet 3 times a day plus conventional therapy. The second group (n = 26) received the same therapy but a placebo tablet instead of silymarin. The patients were visited monthly and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1)c), fasting blood glucose (FBS), insulin, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL, triglyceride, SGOT and SGPT levels were determined at the beginning and the end of the study. The results showed a significant decrease in HbA(1)c, FBS, total cholesterol, LDL, triglyceride SGOT and SGPT levels in silymarin treated patients compared with placebo as well as with values at the beginning of the study in each group. In conclusion, silymarin treatment in type II diabetic patients for 4 months has a beneficial effect on improving the glycemic profile.