The incidence of prostate cancer in Iran: Results of a population-based cancer registry

Background: Little is known about the epidemiology of prostate cancer in Iranian men. We carried out an active prostate cancer surveillance program in five provinces of Iran. Methods: Data used in this study were obtained from population-based cancer registries between 1996 and 2000. Results: The age-standardized incidence rate of prostate carcinoma in the five provinces was 5.1 per 100,000 person-years. No significant difference was seen in the age-standardized incidence rate of prostate cancer within the provinces studied. The mean±SD age of patients with prostate cancer was 67±13.5 years. Conclusion: The incidence of prostate cancer in Iran is very low as compared to the Western countries. This can partly be explained by lack of nationwide screening program, younger age structure and quality of cancer registration system in Iran

Demographic and Clinical Features of Ulcerative Colitis Patients in Kerman City during 2005-2007

Abstract: Background & Aims: Ulcerative colitis is one of the inflammatory bowel diseases with unknown etiology. Genetic and environmental factors are thought to be effective in this disease. According to the limited studies in our country, general assessment of demographic features and clinical symptoms seems to be essential. Methods: In this prospective and cross-sectional study, 85 cases of ulcerative colitis referred to the 3 gastroenterologist offices in Kerman city were evaluated during 2005-2007. The diagnosis was confirmed based on clinical features, colonoscopy, pathology and ruling out of other causes. Data were collected through direct interview and analyzed by SPSS 15 software. Results: Mean age at the time of diagnosis was 33.31_13.12. Duration of symptoms onset until diagnosis was 8 months. Male to female ratio was 0.8/1 and the most important clinical manifestations were rectorhagia and bloody diarrhea (92.9%), abdominal pain (20%), mucoid diarrhea (13.1%), weight loss (11.2%) and fever (4.4%). The pattern of disease was chronic intermittent in 83.5%, chronic continuous in 13% and acute self-limited in 3.5%. Anatomically disease was limited to the rectum (8.3%), recto sigmoid (23.5%), recto sigmoid and descending colon (28.5%), transverse colon (21.2%) and pan colitis. (18.8%). Extra intestinal manifestations were seen in 22.35% of cases of whom 12.96% had oral involvement, 5.85% had hepatic involvement and 3.53% had musculoskeletal involvement. Conclusion: Recurrent inflammatory bowel disease is one of the important reasons of referral to gastroenterologists. Ulcerative coilitis in Kerman is similar to other countries of world epidemiologically, demographically and clinically but its seems that severe clinical courses, extra intestinal manifestations and second old age peak to be less comparing to other studies. Keywords: Ulcerative colitis, Signs and symptom

Antibiotic-resistance Patterns of Helicobacter pylori isolates Obtained from Patients in Kerman-2009

Abstract: Background & Aims: Based on serological studies the prevalence of Helicobacter Pylori infection in Iranian adults is up to 80%. Gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric adenocarcinoma are common clinical outcomes of this infection in Iran. Since antibiotic resistance patterns of Helicobacter pylori are different geographically, local studies are highly required. Method: From April to December 2009, 63 isolates of Helicobacter pylori were obtained From 191 patients referred to the endoscopy unit of Afzalipour hospital in Kerman. Demographic features including age, gender, symptoms, … were recorded before the sampling and sensitivity to six common antibiotics used for the treatment of H.pylori infection was determined. Modified disk diffusion test was used to evaluate antibiotic resistance pattern. Data analysis was done through SPSS 16 and using Pearson chi-square test. Results: The patterns of antibiotics resistance were as below: metronidazole 55.5%, clarithromycin 30.1%, tetracycline 3.1%, amoxicillin 26.9%, ciprofloxacin 7.9% and no resistance to furazolidone was detected. While 12.7% of the isolates were susceptible to all the six antibiotics, 55.6% were resistant to one antibiotic, 25.4% to two antibiotics, 6.3% to three antibiotics and there was no resistance to more than three antibiotics at the same time. Conclusion: According to the obtained antibiotic resistance rates in this study, performing antibiogram tests before starting the treatment is necessary. Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, Antibiotics, Antibiotics resistanc

A novel mutation in the ALS2 gene in an iranian kurdish family with juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare disorder that affects both upper and lower motor neurons. Mutations in Alsin Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor (ALS2) correlates with three similar but distinctive syndromes, including the juvenile form of ALS. An Iranian Kurdish family was involved in this study and all members were evaluated with relevant clinical guidelines. Whole exome sequencing and sanger sequencing were applied to all family members to undermine the possible genetic factors. A substitution c. 2110 C>T (p. Arg704X) identified in the ALS2 gene. Bioinformatics analysis indicated the mutation is located in the well-conserved and functional domain of the protein. This study recognized a novel mutation in the ALS2 gene in a proband with the juvenile form of ALS. To our knowledge, this is the first identified ALS2 mutation among the Iranian population. © 2022 World Federation of Neurology on behalf of the Research Group on Motor Neuron Diseases

Incidence and age distribution of colorectal cancer in Iran: Results of a population-based cancer registry

Epidemiologic patterns of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Iran have not been studied adequately. In a recent cancer registry and active cancer surveillance, we collected data on the incidence of colorectal tumors in five provinces of Iran from 1996 to 2000. In total, 2055 were registered in this study. Age-adjusted rates of CRC in Iranian males and females were 8.2 and 7.0/100,000, respectively. Seventeen percent of the cases were younger than 40 years of age at the time of diagnosis. This proportion was similar to proportions seen in many other Middle-Eastern countries, but much higher than those seen in Western countries. A comparison of age-specific rates between Iran and the US showed similar rates in young (<40 years) Iranians and Americans, but much lower rates in older (≥40) Iranians. We conclude that Iran is still a country with low-risk of CRC, particularly for older individuals. The high proportions of young CRC cases seen in Iran, and probably many neighboring countries, are due to the young age-structure of these countries and relatively low rates of CRC in older individuals. © 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved