Background The rate of cesarean section is increasing worldwide. Adiponectin is a hormone related to anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic effects; and it′s concentrations may change in response to inflammatory situations including surgical intervention. The aim of the current study was to investigate serum adiponectin levels in maternal and umbilical cord blood according to different modes of delivery and their relationship with anthropometric measurements and fetal sex. Methods The study population initially comprised 90 healthy pregnant women referred to the teaching hospital. Eventually, 40 participants in the vaginal delivery group and 35 subjects in the cesarean delivery group were recruited in to the study. Umbilical cord blood and maternal serum samples were analyzed according to the standard protocol from the manufacturer. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS-16 software. P-value < 0.05 was considered as the significance level for all tests. Results Our results indicated a significant association between maternal adiponectin and the mode of delivery, with adiponectin levels significantly higher in vaginal delivery compared to cesarean section (P < 0.001). However, no difference was found in umbilical cord blood adiponectin between the two groups (P = 0.51). A significant positive correlation was found between maternal serum adiponectin in the first day after birth and umbilical cord blood adiponectin in the vaginal delivery group (P = 0.007). Nevertheless, this correlation was not statistically significant in the cesarean delivery group (P = 0.62). There was also no significant correlation between fetal sex and anthropometric measurements with maternal adiponectin (P = 0.44) and umbilical cord blood adiponectin (P = 0.86). Conclusions The result of the current study revealed that maternal adiponectin concentration was significantly higher in vaginal delivery compared to cesarean section, which might be due to the increased levels of maternal adiponectin release during labor.

Objective: The present study is one of the few population-based studies that have been conducted in the Middle East, aimed to determine the incidence of stroke in Qom, one of the central provinces of Iran. Methods: The Qom province includes an estimated at-risk population of about 1 million. During a twelve-month period (November 2018–November 2019), all first-ever strokes occurring in the target population were registered. Hospitalized cases were ascertained by discharge codes. Out-of-hospital cases were ascertained by a prospective screening of EMS services, emergency departments, ambulances records, primary care clinics, rural and urban public health centers, primary care physician offices, and neurologists' offices. Crude and age-adjusted incidence rates (per 100,000 person-years) were calculated using the direct method with the world standard population. Results: During the study period, 1462 first-ever strokes occurred with a mean age of 68.1 (17-103) years, of these, 45.2% were female (661 cases). The crude annual incidence rate per 100,000 at-risk populations was 145.4 (95% CI, 138.1 to 153.0) for all types of stroke (156.5 for male and 134.3 for female), 26.4 (95% CI, 23.5 to 29.8) for hemorrhagic stroke, and 114 (95% CI, 105 to 121) for ischemic stroke. The incidence rate adjusted to the world population was 201.4 (95% CI, 193-210) per 100,000 at-risk populations (adj incidence, 218.5 for male vs 187.4 for female). The total fatality rate during the first 28 days, was 19.6%. Conclusion: This study confirms the higher incidence of stroke and at a younger age, in this region, accompanied by the higher prevalence of underlying stroke risk factors than the global average.

Background There is a growing body of evidence regarding the association between Adiponectin and mental disorders. We aim to evaluate the association between serum level of Adiponectin hormone and postpartum depression and marital satisfaction scores. Methods A prospective cohort study of 90 pregnant women was conducted in Mahdieh Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Blood samples were collected during the first 24 h after delivery. The serum Adiponectin concentration was measured with an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit. The depression score was measured using a validated Iranian version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) questionnaire at six weeks (6-weeks) and twelve weeks (12-weeks) after delivery. Using the Kansas questionnaire at twelve weeks (12-weeks) after delivery, the marital satisfaction score was measured. The measurements were compared between two groups, satisfied and dissatisfied mothers. P-values lower than 0.05 were considered significant. Results The mean serum level of Adiponectin was significantly higher in the dissatisfied group. It was 10.9 ± 13.4 μg/ml and 15.2 ± 17.7 μg /ml in the satisfied and dissatisfied groups, respectively (P = 0.04). The postpartum depression scores of 6- and 12-weeks after delivery were significantly higher in the dissatisfied group. At 6-weeks after delivery, the postpartum depression scores were 3.6 ± 3 and 8.7 ± 5.6 in satisfied and dissatisfied groups, respectively. Those were 2.7 ± 2.7 and 7.6 ± 5 at 12-weeks after delivery, respectively. There was a significant difference statistically (P <  0.001). Conclusion Mothers in the dissatisfied group, experienced higher depression scores at 12-weeks postpartum while they had shown higher serum Adiponectin levels at the first 24 h after delivery.

Objective: To evaluate the level of inflammatory factors of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and reactive protein C in benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Material and Methods: In this case-control study, patients who were referred because of an enlarged thyroid gland were selected, patients who had undergone surgery for the thyroid nodule were included in the study. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and reactive protein C were measured before surgery in patients who were candidates for thyroid surgery. The histopathological records of patients were retrospectively reviewed. Relevant cases had a cytological evaluation of thyroid nodules by fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). The mean of ESR / CRP in both groups was compared using an independent t-test (p>0.05). Results: In malignant tumor type, in all patients, with Pill (PTC), analyzes in the malignant group showed a significant difference between the mean ESR / CRP in both groups with and without thyroid history. Sub-analyzes in the malignant group were significantly different between the mean ESR / CRP in both groups with and without thyroid histories (p=0.009) (40.16 ± 28.81). The association between ESR and CRP, ESR / CRP and tumor size, ESR / CRP and age in each group as well as in the whole patients were evaluated using Pearson correlation test, which showed a positive association between ESR age and ESR (p=0.024, r=0.375). In the malignant group, a negative correlation was found between the age and the CRP rate (p=0.027, r=-0.441), and in the total patients between the age and the rate (ES=0.043, r=-0.256). Conclusion: Factors such as ESR and CRP, which are considered acute phase reactors and their levels increase in acute inflammatory conditions, may not have a significant increase in chronic inflammatory conditions and malignancies.

Background Orexin as an adipokin hormone plays an important role in appetite regulation, energy metabolism, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The main source of orexin secretion in nonpregnant and pregnant women is adipose tissue and placenta, respectively. This research was conducted to evaluate the association between orexin‐A level and the mode of delivery, anthropometric indices, and sex of the infant. Methods This prospective cohort study was conducted on 69 normal pregnant women. The samples of umbilical cord blood were obtained at the time of delivery, and maternal blood was taken within 24 h of delivery. Serum orexin‐A levels were measured by using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS and p < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results We found a significant difference between postpartum maternal and umbilical cord orexin‐A level both with the mode of delivery (p < 0.001). Also, a significant positive correlation was seen between maternal and umbilical cord serum orexin‐A levels (r = −0.61, p < 0.001). There was no relationship between serum orexin‐A levels with anthropometric indices and the sex of the neonate (p > 0.05). Conclusion Both maternal and umbilical cord serum orexin‐A levels were associated with the mode of delivery. Maternal and cord blood orexin‐A levels in normal vaginal delivery are higher than cesarean section.