Objectives: The aim of this study was the evaluation of glycometabolic function, lipid profile, and liver function in patients with β thalassemia major (TM) and their relationship with serum iron and ferritin.Methods: Fasting serum glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and liver enzymes were evaluated for 78 homozygous TM patients and 122 normal control subjects. Serum iron, ferritin, and insulin resistance index (IRI) were determined for them.Results: Fasting serum glucose, TG, aspartate transaminase (AST) levels, alanine transaminase (ALT) levels, and IRI were significantly higher in the homozygous TM patients than in the controls (P<0.0001 for all). Serum cholesterol was significantly lower in patients (P=0.003), and 5.1% of cases had diabetes mellitus.Conclusions: Impaired glucose and lipid metabolism, and also liver dysfunction were observed in about 18%, 30%, and 20% of the patients, respectively. Normoinsulinemia and a high IRI suggest beta cell failure. Better evaluation of iron toxicity can protect patients from complications associated with treatment.

Background: Cardiac insufficiency is one of the leading causes of mortality in the world and affects quality of life more than other chronic diseases. Cardiac self-efficacy can be considered for improving the quality of life of patients with this disease. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between quality of life and cardiac self-efficacy in patients with heart failure. Methods: This descriptive correlational study was performed on 227 patients with heart failure who referred to the cardiac clinics of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences affiliated hospitals, Iran, 2016-17. Sampling was done in a simple random way. The data gathering tool was comprised of three parts: demographic data questionnaire, Sullivan cardiac self-efficacy questionnaire, and Quality of Life questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 22. Results:The mean score of self-efficacy was 58.45 ± 25.92 and the mean score of satisfaction and importance of quality of life was 69.73 ± 18.72 and 82.76 ± 15.46, respectively. The results of this study showed that the importance of quality of life and satisfaction with quality of life are related to cardiac self-efficacy (P < 0.001). Pearson correlation coefficients showed a direct correlation between the scores of quality of life dimensions and the score of cardiac self-efficacy (in all cases, P < 0.001). Conclusions: There is a positive and significant relationship between quality of life and cardiovascular self-efficacy in patients with heart failure.

Background Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) provides protocols based on factors for reducing delirium. Due to the lack of geriatric wards and aged care teams in Iran, it seems that some of the original HELP interventions need to be modified through a trial study. Hence, this study was conducted to determine whether the Iranian modified HELP could reduce delirium in geriatric hospitalized patients. Methods This double-blind randomized controlled trial was designed and conducted in a hospital at Kashan University of Medical Sciences in Iran. A total of 195 hospitalized patients aged ≥70 years, were 84 in the Intervention Group (IG) and 111 in the Control Group (CG). After assessing delirium risk factors, participants in the IG group received interventions based on the cognitive, vision/hearing, sleep, mobility, feeding, and hydration protocols by nursing students and the CG group received routine care. Delirium incidence was assessed by the Confusion Assessment Method. Delirium incidence, cognitive and functional abilities, frailty, fall, and length of stay were outcomes. Results The mean age of the patients was 78.53(Standard Deviation = 5.87) years. Delirium incidence was higher in the CG comparing to IG (14.71% vs 3.66%).Significant reduction observed in risk incidence of delirium because of interventions [Odds Ratio:0.124, Confidence Interval: 0.03–0.48]. Conclusion The modified HELP effectively reduced delirium rates in geriatric hospitalized patients. Trial registration This study was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20180910040995N1.

No abstract