The frequency of four common cancers in Kermanshah City, Iran, during the years 2004-2011

BACKGROUND: Cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases in today’s civilized world, with an increasing number of sufferers with each passing day. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of common cancers in Kermanshah City, Iran, in a period of eight years between 2004 and 2011.METHODS: This was a historic cohort study. Data were collected from Kermanshah Province Health Center (Cancer Registry). Data analysis was performed using SPSS software.RESULTS: 6,146 people were diagnosed with cancer in Kermanshah during these eight years. The prevalence of skin, stomach, breast, and bladder cancers, without considering the patients’ genders, was 35.24, 24.58, 23.73, and 16.45 percent, respectively. The highest frequency belonged to skin cancer with 309 persons in 2007.CONCLUSION: Considering the fact that cancer has increased in the city of Kermanshah, it is necessary to change the lifestyle of all the people in order to prevent and reduce different types of cancer. Managers, officials, and health professionals are the most suitable individuals that can start changing the lifestyle, habits, and the improper way of living in this community

The frequency of skin cancers in Kermanshah City, Iran, during the years 2003-2012

BACKGROUND: Skin cancer is the most common malignancy in the world, and besides the malignant type that has a high mortality rate, other cancers causes many complications and deaths as well. The incidence of skin cancer has increased over the recent decades. The present study aimed to assess the incidence of skin cancers in the city of Kermanshah, Iran, in a period between 2003 and 2012.METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study, for which all the data was collected from the Cancer Registry Health Center in Kermanshah Province. The study population consisted of 2,660 individuals that had been diagnosed with skin cancer between the years 2003 and 2012. Analysis of obtained data was performed using SPSS statistical software.RESULTS: The prevalence of skin cancer in Kermanshah was 2,660 people over the last ten years. Skin cancer had a uniform trend, but it had increased from 212 individuals to 282 over the past decade. Although this cancer could be found in all ages, but in 2004, it was mostly diagnosed in the seventh decade of life.CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the prevalence of skin cancer is in fact high. Given that skin cancer is one of the most common cancers, it is necessary to take steps toward reducing the risk factors of this cancer by management and proper planning

The frequency of four common cancers in Kermanshah City, Iran, during the years 2004-2011

BACKGROUND: Cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases in today’s civilized world, with an increasing number of sufferers with each passing day. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of common cancers in Kermanshah City, Iran, in a period of eight years between 2004 and 2011. METHODS: This was a historic cohort study. Data were collected from Kermanshah Province Health Center (Cancer Registry). Data analysis was performed using SPSS software. RESULTS: 6,146 people were diagnosed with cancer in Kermanshah during these eight years. The prevalence of skin, stomach, breast, and bladder cancers, without considering the patients’ genders, was 35.24, 24.58, 23.73, and 16.45 percent, respectively. The highest frequency belonged to skin cancer with 309 persons in 2007. CONCLUSION: Considering the fact that cancer has increased in the city of Kermanshah, it is necessary to change the lifestyle of all the people in order to prevent and reduce different types of cancer. Managers, officials, and health professionals are the most suitable individuals that can start changing the lifestyle, habits, and the improper way of living in this community

A study on the relationship between spiritual health and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common chronic diseases and one of the major health problems in all countries worldwide. Considering the role of mental health in improving the health and quality of life (QOL) of patients with chronic diseases, this study was carried out aiming to determine the relationship between spiritual health and QOL among patients with type 2 DM.METHODS: This was a correlation descriptive study in which 330 patients with DM were selected using systematic sampling. Demographic, spirituality (Parsian and Dunning), and World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaires were used for collecting data. Moreover, descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlation coefficient, simple linear regression, and multiple regression tests were exploited to analyze the data.RESULTS: The mean scores of the patients' spiritual health and QOL were 62.04 ± 14.36 and 67.85 ± 11.79, respectively. Spiritual health and all of its four dimensions had a direct and significant correlation with QOL. Meanwhile, two dimensions of self-awareness (r = 0.542) and spiritual needs (r = 0.511) had the highest correlation with QOL in these patients (P < 0.001). Furthermore, spiritual health and its two aspects, including self-awareness and spiritual needs had a significant effect on the QOL of the patients (P < 0.001).CONCLUSION: The results showed that spiritual health affected QOL of the patients significantly; moreover, two of its dimensions, self-awareness and spiritual needs, had the greatest effect. Therefore, to improve the QOL of such patients, it is necessary to design and implement appropriate training programs with emphasis on these two dimensions

Synergistic antibacterial effects of methanolic extract of Melissa officinalis L. and Mouthwash Vi-one on Streptococcus mutant and Streptococcus sanguinis

Introduction: The use of chemical and vegetable compounds reduces the microbial plaque of the tooth. The aim of this study was to investigate the synergistic antibacterial effects of methanolic extract of Melissa officinalis L. (Lemon balm) and mouthwash Vi-one on Streptococcus mutant and Streptococcus sanguinis. Methods: Methanolic extract of lemon balm was prepared by Soxhlet method. The concentrations of 250, 125, 62.5, 31.25, 15.26, 7.81, 3.9, 1.95, 0.97 and 0.48 mg/ml of methanol extract and mouthwash prepared and mixed in the same proportion. Agar well diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were used to determine the antibacterial effect. Results: The highest non-growth zones were 21 mm for Streptococcus mutant and 22 mm for Streptococcus sanguinis which observed at a concentration of 250 mg/ml. The best value of MIC and the MBC for both bacteria were 7.81 and 62.5 mg/ml, respectively. As the concentration increased, antibacterial activity increased as well (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed the synergistic antibacterial effects of lemon balm and mouthwash on bacteria. More in vivo researches are needed to confirm and use the above combination