ANTI-DUMPING IN AGRICULTURE BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES: TWO CASES OF TOMATOES

International Relations/Trade,

Cachexia index and its relationship with resection operability in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma

Introduction: Gastric cancer is one of the relatively common malignancies all over the world, and is one of major problems of health care system. Nowadays, importance of cachexia is demonstrated in prognosis of various malignancies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate frequency of cachexia index and its relationship with resection operability in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. Methods: In a descriptive-analytical study, 36 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who referred to Imam Reza and Sina educational medical centers of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran, for surgery procedures, were included and evaluated in the study. Skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated using computed tomography (CT)-scan before performing surgery, patients’ cachexia index was calculated by the following formula: . Cachexia syndrome, patients’ weight loss, resection operability, and cachexia index were evaluated in patients. Results: Among 36 patients whom were studied, 25 patients (69.4%) were men, and 11 patients (30.6%) were women. Cachexia was seen in 5 patients (13.9%). In terms of gastrostomy operability, 26 patients (72.2%) were operable, and 10 patients (27.8%) were non-operable. Gastrostomy operability in patients with cachexia were significantly less than patients without cachexia syndrome (P = 0.001). No significant differences were seen in cachexia index of operable and non-operable patients (P = 0.105). Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, gastrostomy operability in patients with cachexia was significantly less than patients without cachexia syndrome; but operable and non-operable patients do not have significant differences in cachexia in comparison to each other

Late presentation of pregnant women with chromosomal abnormalities: A barrier to legal and safe abortions in Muslim majority countries

Introduction: In Islamic countries, the prenatal diagnostic procedures are planned considering legal and religious limitations. We aimed to evaluate the indications of presentation and problems related to religious and legal limitations for presentation of Muslim parents for prenatal screening of chromosomal abnormalities. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on consecutive 920 pregnant women presenting for screening of congenital and chromosomal anomalies to Educational Medical Centers of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran, between 2011 and 2015. Previously prepared questionnaire forms were utilized for collection of information from patients and their medical records. Results: In total, 153 cases had an indication for amniocentesis, and this procedure revealed that 141 fetuses (92.2%) did not have any congenital abnormalities, but 12 cases (7.8%) had some sort of abnormality, requiring pregnancy termination. These cases included 8 fetuses (5.2%) with trisomy and four (2.6%) with single gene diseases. Of 12 patients, the justifications for pregnancy termination were issued for 7 women by the provincial Legal Medicine Organization. However, the remaining 5 patients could not obtain legal justifications for termination of their pregnancies, mostly because of late presentation, obligating them to choose illegal methods for pregnancy termination. Conclusion: Regarding the legal and religious limitation of pregnancy termination after 18th week in Islamic countries, it is highly recommended that the first trimester screening programs be performed in Islamic countries in order to obtain early decision-making

Antenatal screening for chromosomal and genetic abnormalities:Cost effectiveness and outcome

Introduction: As an essential part of antenatal care, pregnant women of all ages should be offered screening for chromosomal abnormalities before 20 weeks of gestation. This study was aimed to evaluate the type and frequency of chromosomal abnormalities following pregnancy screening tests, so that we can compare the actual pregnancy outcomes with test results, helping us in practical decision making. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 557 pregnant patients, presenting for prenatal diagnostic amniocentesis for chromosomal abnormalities, to Al-Zahra hospital, Tabriz, Iran, since 2012 to 2015. Amniocentesis was conducted by an expert obstetrician at second trimester between 16 and 22 weeks of gestation. An interview was set for pregnancy outcomes to assess the test results. Results: Of 557 cases, the mean maternal age in amniocentesis was 31.84 ± 6.92 years (range: 15-47 years). Amniocentesis revealed the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in 32 cases (5.7%). The most common diagnosed chromosomal abnormality was Down syndrome (50.0%) followed by other chromosomal abnormalities. Following up the patients, 92.4% of newborns did not have any congenital abnormality, but the remaining (7.6%) had both chromosomal and non-chromosomal abnormalities. No fetal loss was reported in this study. Assessment of total costs revealed that $US100 had been spent for hospitalization, and about$US500 for genetic tests. Conclusion: There is still no consensus on the most cost-effective strategy that should be implemented to diagnose chromosomal anomalies. Therefore, we did not have an actual gold standard to compare with amniocentesis. More studies analyzing natural outcome after prenatal diagnosis of these chromosomal abnormalities are neede

Long-term results of open gastric bypass with Roux-en-Y method for morbid obesity: brief report

Background: This study aims to evaluate the outcomes and late complications of open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in the treatment of morbid obesity. Methods: Over a 15 year-period between May 1997 and May 2012, we reviewed our experiments with 39 patients who underwent open gastric bypass for morbid obesity. The weight of the patient and surgical complications were recorded. Ideal weight, body mass index, weight loss and excess weight loss were calculated. Results: The follow up period ranged from 6 to 180 months with a mean of 100 months after operation. Average weight loss was 3.9 and 0.28 kg per month during the first and second years after operation weight loss was slower from the third year on-wards. Weight loss generally was stabilized between 12 and 18 months after operation. Only one patient (2.6%) had a weight loss failure criterion. Concomitant condition ex-isted in 14 patients (48.2%) of our series. These included hypertension in 3 cases (10.3%) that was resolved in 100%, diabetes mellitus in 4 (13.7%) that was resolved in 75%, cholelithiasis in 7 cases (24.1%) that was resolved by cholecystectomy during the operation. There was no early postoperative death. Early complications occurred in 2 patients (5.1%), including pulmonary embolism (2.6%) and gastrointestinal bleeding (2.6%). The late complications occurred in 7 patients (17.9%) involved 2 patients with anastomotic stricture at the gastrojejunostomy (5.1%), One patient with symptomatic cholelithiasis (2.6%), three patient with anemia (7.7%), and one patient had Wernicke ’s disease who died of this complication (2.6%). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is an effective procedure in the treatment of morbid obesity with minimal late complications