The effect of vitamin D therapy in the improvement of cardiac performance and exercise capacity in patients with heart failure: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Low vitamin D status may contribute to the pathogenesis of heart failure (HF), but therapeutic roles of vitamin D on cardiac performance are not well known. We evaluated vitamin D effects on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class in patients with HF for the first time.

Methods: This study was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Impacts of insulin infusion protocol on blood glucose level and outcomes in acute coronary syndrome patients with diabetes mellitus.

Background: Acute coronary syndrome is the most common disease in the world. Several studies suggest that hyperglycemia is associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of insulin infusion protocol and conventional therapy on the blood glucose level and outcomes in acute coronary syndrome patients with diabetes mellitus.

Calcium and vitamin D status in heart failure patients in Isfahan, Iran.

Both calcium and vitamin D play important roles in cardiac muscle contraction and performance. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the status of serum calcium, PTH and 25(OH)D(3) and their correlation with left ventricular Function and NYHA Functional class in 95 heart failure patients referred to Shahid Chamran Hospital, Isfahan, Iran, by colorimetric, immunoradiometric, and Immunochemiluminescent assays, echocardiography and interview respectively. The study was performed between Oct 2007 and Feb 2008.

Prevalence rate of Cryptosporidium infection in hemodialysis patients in Iran.

Cryptosporidium is one of the most common causes of diarrhea in the world, which can be severe and prolonged in immunocompromised patients. We compared the prevalence rate of Cryptosporidium infection in hemodialysis patients and 2 control groups (i.e.