Analysis of relationships between altitude and distance from volcano with Stomach Cancer incidence using a geographic information system

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common cancer in the world, with a wide variation in incidence rates across different geographical areas. In Iran GC is the most common cancer in males and it is reported to be the third most prevalent after breast and colorectal in females. A geographical information system (GIS) allows investigation of the geographical distribution of diseases. The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between gastric cancer and effective climatic factors using GIS. The dispersion distribution and the relationship between environmental factors effective on cancer were measured using Arc GIS. Of all cases, 672 (73.8) were in males with a sex ratio of 3 to1. The highest incidence by cities was seen in Namin with 137.5 per 100,000. The results of this study showed that the distribution of GC around the Sabalan volcanic mountain was significantly higher than other places in the same province. These results can be considered as a window to future comprehensive research on gastric cancer

Estimating the esophagus cancer incidence rate in Ardabil, Iran: A capture-recapture method

Background: Accurate cancer registry and awareness of cancer incidence rate is essential in order to define strategies for cancer prevention and control programs. Capture-recapture methods have been recommended for reducing bias and increase the accuracy of cancer incidence estimation. Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the esophagus cancer incidence by capture-recapture method based on Ardabil population-based cancer registry data. Patients and Methods: Total new cases of esophagus cancer reported by three sources of pathology reports, medical records, and death certificates to Ardabil province cancer registry center in 2006 and 2008 were enrolled in the study. All duplicated cases between three sources were identified and removed using Excel software. Some characteristics such as name, surname, father�s name, date of birth and ICD codes related to their cancer type were used for data linkage and finding the common cases among three sources. The incidence rate per 100,000 was estimated based on capture-recapture method using the log-linear models. We used BIC, G2 and AIC statistics to select the best-fit model. Results: After removing duplicates, total 471 new cases of esophagus cancer were reported from three sources. The model with linkage between pathology reports, medical record sources and independence with the death certificates source was the best fitted model. The reported incidence rate for the years 2006 and 2008 was 18.77 and 18.51 per 100,000, respectively. In log-linear analysis, the estimated incidence rate for the years 2006 and 2008 was 49.71 and 53.87 per 100,000 populations, respectively. Conclusions: Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that none of the sources of pathology reports, death certificates and medical records individually or collectively were fully covered the incidence cases of esophagus cancer and need to apply some changes in data abstracting and case finding. © 2016, Iranian Journal of Cancer Prevention

Computer-aided dermoscopy for diagnosis of melanoma

BACKGROUND: Computer-aided dermoscopy using artificial neural networks has been reported to be an accurate tool for the evaluation of pigmented skin lesions. We set out to determine the sensitivity and specificity of a computer-aided dermoscopy system for diagnosis of melanoma in Iranian patients. METHODS: We studied 122 pigmented skin lesions which were referred for diagnostic evaluation or cosmetic reasons. Each lesion was examined by two clinicians with naked eyes and all of their clinical diagnostic considerations were recorded. The lesions were analyzed using a microDERM(® )dermoscopy unit. The output value of the software for each lesion was a score between 0 and 10. All of the lesions were excised and examined histologically. RESULTS: Histopathological examination revealed melanoma in six lesions. Considering only the most likely clinical diagnosis, sensitivity and specificity of clinical examination for diagnosis of melanoma were 83% and 96%, respectively. Considering all clinical diagnostic considerations, the sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 89%. Choosing a cut-off point of 7.88 for dermoscopy score, the sensitivity and specificity of the score for diagnosis of melanoma were 83% and 96%, respectively. Setting the cut-off point at 7.34, the sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 90%. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic accuracy of the dermoscopy system was at the level of clinical examination by dermatologists with naked eyes. This system may represent a useful tool for screening of melanoma, particularly at centers not experienced in the field of pigmented skin lesions

The role of spectrophotometry in the diagnosis of melanoma

Background. Spectrophotometry (SPT) could represent a promising technique for the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma (CM) at earlier stages of the disease. Starting from our experience, we further assessed the role of SPT in CM early detection. Methods. During a health campaign for malignant melanoma at National Cancer Institute of Naples, we identified a subset of 54 lesions to be addressed to surgical excision and histological examination. Before surgery, all patients were investigated by clinical and epiluminescence microscopy (ELM) screenings; selected lesions underwent spectrophotometer analysis. For SPT, we used a video spectrophotometer imaging system (Spectroshade® MHT S.p.A., Verona, Italy). Results. Among the 54 patients harbouring cutaneous pigmented lesions, we performed comparison between results from the SPT screening and the histological diagnoses as well as evaluation of both sensitivity and specificity in detecting CM using either SPT or conventional approaches. For all pigmented lesions, agreement between histology and SPT classification was 57.4%. The sensitivity and specificity of SPT in detecting melanoma were 66.6% and 76.2%, respectively. Conclusions. Although SPT is still considered as a valuable diagnostic tool for CM, its low accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity represent the main hamper for the introduction of such a methodology in clinical practice. Dermoscopy remains the best diagnostic tool for the preoperative diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions

Evaluation of the Effect of Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on in Vitro Growth and Maturation of Mouse Oocytes

Introduction: Access to modern methods for increasing the percentage of in vitro human and animal mature oocytes can be useful in the treatment of some forms of human infertility as well as proliferation of many domestic and wild animals which generation is endangered. Effect of low- frequency electromagnetic fields on in vitro growth and maturation of mouse oocytes is recently considered as a new approach. In this study we evaluated the effect of low- frequency electromagnetic field on in vitro growth and maturation of mouse oocyte. Methods: In this study electromagnetic fields with frequencies of 5, 50 and 100 Hz and 2mT intensity were used. For observation of the effect of electromagnetic field four groups were selected: Group 1 as control group, which included 35 prenatal follicles (immature oocytes). Groups 2, 3 and 4were exposed to 5, 50 and 100 Hz electromagnetic fields, respectively. Results: Prenatal follicles exposed to 5 and 50 Hz frequencies showed no significant changes in diameter and survival rates. In contrast at a frequency of 100 Hz in 72-hour culture period a significant increase in diameter(155μm), follicles livability power(59%), oocyte maturation(52%) and GVBD(39%) was shown in comparison to other experimental groups and control group(P <0.05). Conclusion: Low-frequency magnetic field effects gene expression and thus protein synthesis, cell division, proliferation and behavior. Although this effect can be temporary, it can increase the percentage of ovulation for in vitro environment along with other environmental factors

Survey of occupational high risk behaviors leading to infection in sweepers working in one of the districtsof Tehran municipality in 2009

Background and aim Although sweepers are one of the high risk groups for HIV and HBV infections; nevertheless, there is a paucity of research into high risk behaviors of sweepers. The aim of this study was to determine occupational high risk behaviors leading to infection in sweepers who are working in district twenty, Tehran municipality.   MethodsThis study is a descriptive-analytical type. A convenience sample included 400 sweepers working in district twenty, Tehran municipality were selected by simple sampling. Demographic and occupational high risk behavior lead to infection inventories were two instruments for collecting data in the present study. Reliability and validity of scales had estimated. Statistical analysis of data was performed with SPSS 16 software for Windows.   Results Thirty percents of sweepers had a history of needle stick injuries and 35/5% of them had a history of cuts of hand from blades existing rubbishes. %25/5 of sweepers had not action encounter to discarded syringes and needles in streets and other places.   In the case of needle stick injury occurred, 2/5 percent of sweepers were washing damaged organ with clean water, 3/8% with soap and water and 7/8% with alcohol. 0/5% of them were sent out blood of damaged organ with pressure, 11 percent reported the incident to a doctor to get post-exposure treatment and 74/5% had not action. 4/8% of sweepers never wear gloves for collecting garbage and only 54% of sweepers were using gloves regularly. 4/8% of sweepers were never using boots when collecting garbage and only 41/5% of sweepers were using boots regularly . 65 percent of sweepers reported that municipal contractors provides boots and gloves and 53 percents of them reported that these tools are unsafe and thin.   Conclusion  Results of this study demonstrated that there are numerous occupational high risk behaviors which may lead to infection in sweepers. Educational talks were given to sweepers and municipal contractors on hazards, prevention and post-exposure prophylaxis to needle-stick injuries. Also, providing safety equipment including protective boots and gloves by municipal contractors for all sweepers is necessary.

Non-communicable diseases units: continuity of care factors

Aim: Continuity of care in healthcare systems is one of the success measures for improvement of health across communities, especially due to the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases in the current century. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the continuity of care in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) units. Subject and method: A total of 418 patients from NCD prevention and control units at the Southern Tehran Healthcare Center were selected through systematic random sampling, of whom 189 were contacted successfully and interviewed about their satisfaction with the services received and distance from their place of residence to the health center. Results: About two-thirds of the participants were women. Nearly half of the service receivers were illiterate and educated to elementary level, and only 6 had a high school diploma or higher. 94 were satisfied with the services provided. There was a positive linear correlation between the number of visits and the number of contacts during the period of observation (r = 0.53, P value < 0.001). Also, the length of patient follow-up by the health center and the number of visits during follow-up for patients with active records were significantly more than for those with inactive records (P value < 0.001). Conclusion: This study showed that satisfaction with services alone was not a principal factor affecting continuity of care. Indeed, we conclude that free screening care should be designed for men, the employed, and educated people. More studies are needed to find out the reasons for non-attendance and the provision of solutions to reduce existing deficiencies. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature

Major Thalassemia, Screening or Treatment: An Economic Evaluation Study in Iran

Background: Beta-thalassemia minor and thalassemia major are an autosomal recessive disease with hypochromic, microcytic anemia, and morbidities, Today, therapeutic advances have significantly improved the life expectancy of thalassemia major patients, but at the cost of financial toxicity. The present study aimed to investigate the possibility of increasing the funding for thalassemia screening programs and comparing the cost-effectiveness of screening for thalassemia in the treatment of the patients. Methods: In this study, screening for thalassemia minor was compared with the treatment of thalassemia major patients. A decision tree model was used for analysis. A hospital database, supplemented with a review of published literature, was used to derive input parameters for the model. A lifetime study horizon was used and future costs and consequences were discounted at 3. The approach of purchases of services was used to evaluate the screening test costs for patients with thalassemia major. Also, a bottom-up method was applied to estimate other screening and treatment costs. All the costs were calculated over one year. The number of gained quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) was calculated using the EQ-5D questionnaire in the evaluated patients. Results: In this study, 26.97 births of patients with thalassemia major were prevented by screening techniques. On the other hand, total screening costs for patients with thalassemia major were estimated equal to US 879 879, while the costs of preventing the birth of each thalassaemia major patient was US 32 624 by screening techniques. In comparison, the cost of managing a patient with thalassemia major is about US 136 532 per year. The life time QALYs for this is 11.8 QALYs. Results are presented using a societal perspective. Incremental cost per QALY gained with screening as compared with managing thalassaemia major was US 11 571. Conclusion: Screening is a long-term value for money intervention that is highly cost effective and its long-term clinical and economic benefits outweigh those of managing thalassaemia major patients. © 2022 The Author(s); Published by Kerman University of Medical Sciences