BACKGROUND: Prevalence of chronic pain and its association with demographic characteristics have been reported by different studies from different geographical regions in the world. However, data from many Middle East countries including Iran (especially southern Iran) are scare. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the prevalence of chronic pain and its association with demographic, psychological and socioeconomic factors in an Iranian population. METHODS: In this population-based survey, the target population was comprised of subjects aged 20 to 85 years residing in Jahrom, southern Iran during 2009-2011. All eligible subjects were invited to participate in the study. Before a detailed questionnaire was given; face to face interviews were done for each individual. RESULTS: There were 719 men and 874 women with an average age of 40.5 years at the onset of the study. Among the study population, 38.9% (620/1,593) complained of chronic pain, of whom 40.8% (253/620) were men and 59.2% (367/620) were women. Foot and joint pain were observed in 31.9%. Hip and spine pain, migraine and tension headaches, heart pain, and abdomen pain were observed in 21.5%, 15.5%, 9.5%, and 8.0% of chronic pain cases, respectively. There was a significant association among the covariables age, sex, overweight, educational level, income, and type of employment with chronic pain as the dependent variable (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show the prevalence of chronic pain and its association with demographic, psychological and socioeconomic factors. Individuals with low incomes and less education became accustomed to pain due to a lack of knowledge.
Abdomen ; Aged ; Aging ; Arthralgia ; Chronic Pain ; Employment ; Female ; Foot ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Heart ; Hip ; Humans ; Iran ; Male ; Middle East ; Migraine Disorders ; Overweight ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Spine ; Tension-Type Headache

BACKGROUND: Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) is a transcription factor in the Wnt signaling pathway. High levels of TCF7L2 have been reported in most human tissues, including the heart, lung, brain, liver, kidney, placenta, adipose tissues, and pancreatic beta-cells. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between TCF7L2 polymorphisms (rs12255372 and rs7903146) and type 2 diabetes mellitus in the city of Jahrom, Iran. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted with 200 patients referred to Diabetes Clinics and 200 healthy subjects in Jahrom City. Biochemical characteristics were first determined. TCF7L2 rs1255372 and rs7903146 polymorphisms were then genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. RESULTS: T-allele frequencies of both single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were significantly higher in diabetic patients than in normal glucose-tolerant subjects (rs12255372: 20.3% vs. 14.5%; rs7903146: 28.5% vs. 22.25%). The rs12255372 (G/T) polymorphism analysis showed an odds ratio of 0.473 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.170 to 1.314; P=0.151) for the TT genotype and 0.646 (95% CI, 0.410 to 1.019; P=0.060) for the TG genotype, compared with the GG genotype. The rs7903146 (C/T) polymorphism odds ratios for TT and TC genotypes were 0.564 (95% CI, 0.280 to 1.135; P=0.109) and 0.751 (95% CI, 0.487 to 1.157; P=0.194) compared with the CC genotype, respectively. CONCLUSION: The rs12255372 and rs7903146 SNPs of the TCF7L2 gene were not associated with insulin resistance in the evaluated population.
Brain ; Case-Control Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Genotype ; Heart ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Iran* ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Odds Ratio ; Placenta ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Transcription Factors* ; Wnt Signaling Pathway

BACKGROUND: Estrogen plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Very few studies have shown the association between estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha), PvuII and XbaI gene polymorphisms with T2DM in both men and women. We evaluated the hypothesis that PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms of ERalpha gene may be associated with T2DM in adult. METHODS: From spring of 2010 to the fall of 2011, a case-control study was performed at clinical centers of Jahrom University of Medical Sciences. We included 174 patients with T2DM including men and women and 174 age, sex, and body mass index frequency-matched health controls. We analyzed the PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms of ERalpha by using the polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism method. RESULTS: No significant differences between demographic characteristics of control and patients groups were observed. Allele frequencies of both PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms were significantly different between patients and control subjects (P=0.014 vs. P=0.002, respectively). When the group was separated into women and men, logistic regression analysis of genotype distribution of PvuII (pp vs. Pp+PP) in both sexes revealed that there was no significant association of PvuII genotype with men (odds ratio [OR], 1.67; confidence interval [CI], 0.86 to 3.28; P=0.89) and women (OR, 0.96; CI, 0.53 to 1.74; P=0.12). CONCLUSION: PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms in ERalpha are related with T2DM in the inpatient population.
Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; Estrogens ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Iran ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

In this article, the affiliation of the first author should be changed.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate test-retest reliability of trunk kinematics relative to the pelvis during gait in two groups (males and females) of patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (NCLBP) using three-dimensional motion capture system. METHODS: A convenience sample of 40 NCLBP participants (20 males and 20 females) was evaluated in two sessions. Participants were asked to walk with self-selected speed and kinematics of thorax and lumbar spine were captured using a 6-infrared-cameras motion-analyzer system. Peak amplitude of displacement and its measurement errors and minimal detectable change (MDC) were then calculated. RESULTS: Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were relatively constant but small for certain variables (lower lumbar peak flexion in female: inter-session ICC=0.51 and intra-session ICC=0.68; peak extension in male: inter-session ICC=0.67 and intra-session ICC=0.66). The measurement error remained constant and standard error of measurement (SEM) difference was large between males (generally ≤4.8°) and females (generally ≤5.3°). Standard deviation (SD) was higher in females. In most segments, females exhibited higher MDCs except for lower lumbar sagittal movements. CONCLUSION: Although ICCs were sufficiently reliable and constant in both genders during gait, there was difference in SEM due to difference in SD between genders caused by different gait disturbance in chronic low back pain. Due to the increasing tendency of measurement error in other areas of men and women, attention is needed when measuring lumbar motion using the method described in this study.
Biomechanical Phenomena* ; Female ; Gait* ; Humans ; Low Back Pain* ; Male ; Methods ; Pelvis* ; Reproducibility of Results ; Spine ; Thorax*