The Association of Fat-Mass-and Obesity-Associated Gene Polymorphism (rs9939609) With Colorectal Cancer: A Case-Control Study

Background and Aim: The association between the rs9939609 polymorphism of fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) and risk of colorectal cancer is controversial. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between FTO rs9939609 polymorphism and colorectal cancer (CRC) in Iranian people. Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 125 patients with CRC and 250 healthy subjects in Tehran, Iran. Demographic data and blood samples were collected from all participants. Genotyping of rs9939609 polymorphism was performed by the tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR) method. Results: The occurrence of AA genotype of FTO rs9939609 polymorphism in the colorectal cancer patients was significantly higher compared to that of healthy subjects (16.4 vs. 2.9%, respectively, P=0.02). The association between the frequency of risk allele of the FTO polymorphism and CRC (B=1.67, P=0.042) remained significant after adjustment for age. Further adjustment for gender (model 2) and marital status (model 3) did not change this result (B=1.67, P= 0.042 and B=1.67, P=0.043, respectively). The results remained significant after additional adjustment for ethnicity (B=1.57, P= 0.047). Conclusion: We found a positive association between the A allele of the rs9939609 polymorphism and CRC. Future studies are required to identify the underlying mechanisms

The association between fat mass and obesity‐associated ( FTO ) genotype and serum vitamin D level in breast cancer patients

Abstract: The preventive effect of vitamin D against breast cancer can be influenced by gene polymorphisms. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum level of 25(OH) vitamin D and FTO genotype in breast cancer patients. A cross‐sectional study was carried out on 180 newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer in Tehran, Iran. The blood samples were collected from the participants in order to assess the FTO gene rs9939609 polymorphism by the tetra‐primer amplification refractory mutation system (Tetra‐ARMS) PCR method. The serum level of 25(OH) vitamin D was measured using the direct competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The association between vitamin D and the FTO genotype in patients with breast cancer was assessed after adjustment for cofounders. The frequency of TT, AT and AA genotypes in the breast cancer patients were 43% (n = 77), 49% (n = 89) and 8% (n = 14), respectively. All patients with higher than 40 ng/dl of serum 25(OH) vitamin D had one or two copies of FTO rs9939609 risk allele (p = 0.019). No linear association was found between the number of FTO risk allele and the level of serum vitamin D. All patients with high serum level of 25(OH) vitamin D had one or two copies of FTO rs9939609 risk allele. FTO gene polymorphisms may counteract the beneficial effects of vitamin D in breast cancer prevention. Further studies can help to better understand the genetic factors predisposing to breast cancer and their effect on the association between vitamin D and breast cancer

Mental Health Conditions, Including Depression and Stress, Are Associated with Increased Odds of Gastric Cancer—Insights into the Role of Diet: A Case-Control Study

Several risk factors, including nutritional/lifestyle ones, play a role in gastric cancer etiology. Further interactions with mental health have also been emphasized. We hypothesized that individuals with mental disorders would exhibit compromised nutrient intake, increasing their risk of gastric cancer. The state of mental health was evaluated in 82 patients with gastric cancer and 95 healthy controls using the 21-item Depression–Anxiety–Stress Scale. The participants’ dietary intakes were evaluated by a 168-item food frequency questionnaire. Based on fully adjusted logistic regressions, there was a significant association between depression (OR = 1.938, CI 95%: 1.009–3.723) and stress (OR = 2.630, CI 95%: 1.014–6.819) with increased odds of gastric cancer. According to fully adjusted multinomial regressions, vitamins A and B6, beta-carotene, and black tea decreased the odds of depression, based on comparing the control group with cases of depression, while sugar and salt increased its odds. The highest significant association was found for salt intake and anxiety in cases with present anxiety (OR = 4.899, 95% CI: 2.218–10.819), and the highest significant protective effect was found for vitamin B6 and depression in cases with present depression (OR = 0.132, 95% CI: 0.055–0.320). However, considering causal relationships and clarifying the underlying mechanisms is imperative and requires further investigation. Advising healthy dietary patterns, e.g., a Mediterranean diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals such as vitamin A, B6, beta-carotene, and fiber, is expected to reduce the odds of gastric cancer, possibly related to lower levels of anxiety and depression

Insecticide susceptibility of Anopheles stephensi to DDT and current insecticides in an elimination area in Iran

Abstract Background Iran has recently initiated a malaria elimination program with emphasis on vector control strategies which are heavily reliant on indoor residual spraying and long-lasting insecticidal nets. Insecticide resistance seriously threatens the efficacy of vector control strategies. This study was conducted to determine the insecticide susceptibility of Anopheles stephensi to DDT and current insecticides in Jask county as an active malaria focus in southeastern Iran. Methods In this study, the anopheline larvae were collected from different aquatic habitats in Jask county and transported to insectarium, fed with sugar and then 3-day-old adults were used for susceptibility tests. WHO insecticide susceptibility tests were performed with DDT (4 %), malathion (5 %), lambda-cyhalothrin (0.05 %), deltamethrin (0.05 %) and permethrin (0.75 %). Results The field strain of An. stephensi was found resistant to DDT and lambda-cyhalothrin. The LT50 values for DDT and lambda-cyhalothrin in this species were 130.25, and 37.71 min, respectively. Moreover, An. stephensi was completely susceptible to malathion and permethrin and tolerant to deltamethrin. Conclusion The present study results confirm the resistance of the major malaria vector, An. stephensi, to DDT and lambda-cyhalothrin, and tolerance to deltamethrin, which could gradually increase and spread into other malaria endemic areas. Thus, there is a need for regular monitoring of insecticide resistance in order to select suitable insecticides for vector control interventions towards malaria elimination

Lifestyle of Hormoz Island Residents: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objective: Lifestyle-related diseases are among the most important causes of mortality in Iran. Evidence suggests an association between unhealthy lifestyle and the incidence of diseases and health problems. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the status of lifestyle and its related factors among the residents of Hormoz Island, Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 inhabitants of Hormoz island with the age of over 15 years in 2016. The study population was selected by two-stage cluster sampling method. The demographic information and data related to life-style were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire, confirmed to be reliable and valid. Data analysis was performed in SPSS (version 19) using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and one-way ANOVA. Results: According to the results, the mean age of the participants was 36.1±14.52 years. In terms of lifestyle, the consumption of liquid oil, low-salt food, regular physical activity, and non-smoking had the frequencies of 81%, 20.3%, 37%, and 68.3%, respectively. Furthermore, the mean consumptions of fruits, vegetables, and fish were 2.48, 3.55, and 3.65 food units per week, respectively. Additionally, there was a significant relationship between education level and salt consumption (P=0.002), economic status and type of consumed oil (P<0.005), as well as healthy diet pattern and economic status of individuals (P<0.05). Conclusion: As the findings indicated, the promotion of nutritional knowledge, increased awareness of the disadvantages of smoking in people with low education, implementation of cheap policies, availability of healthy food, increased tobacco taxes, implementation of physical activities, as well as notification and normalization in the field of safety behaviors are among the important factors for the promotion of lifestyle

Fish consumption based on transtheoretical model among housewives

Background: Consuming fish plays a key role in human health and prevention of diseases. The aim of this study was using transtheoretical model to analyze the trend of fish consumption among women. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytic research, 383 housewives who referred to health centers in Bandar Abbas were selected through a stratified sampling method. Data were collected by a questionnaire to determine fish consumption based on transtheoretical model and analyzed by using SPSS software version 19.0. with the significance level of P < 0.05. Results: Nearly 11.7% of the patients were found to be at the precontemplation stage; 3.9% were at the contemplation stage; 13.6% were at the preparation stage; 7.3% showed to be at the action stage, and 63.4% were at the maintenance stage. The results showed a significant relation of the constructs of the model with the stages of change of consuming one or two meals of fish a week. Moving through the stages of change from the precontemplation stage to maintenance stage was accompanied by an increase in decisional balance, self-efficacy, and processes of change (P < 0.05). Conclusion: It is suggested that in designing educational interventions in the light of this model, more emphasis is placed on perceived benefits and self-efficacy. The processes of change are advised to be used more often, and perceived barriers to fish consumption need to be reduced as far as possible

Association between Maternal Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and Abortion in Iranian Women and Validation of DII with Serum Concentration of Inflammatory Factors: Case-Control Study

Background: Previous studies have shown that some dietary components may be implicated in the etiology of abortion. However, the possible relationship between diet-related inflammation and the risk of abortion has not yet been investigated. Methods: We examined the ability of the literature-derived dietary inflammatory index (DII) to predict the abortion incidence in women suffering from recurrent abortion in a case-control study conducted from April 2010 to March 2011. This included 67 incident cases and 68 controls, frequency-matched to cases on age, who attended infertility and miscarriage specialized centers in Tehran, Iran. The DII was computed based on dietary intake assessed using a validated and reproducible 168 item FFQ. Logistic regression models were used to estimate multivariable ORs adjusted for age, education, occupation and BMI. Results: Subjects with higher DII scores (i.e., a more pro-inflammatory diet) had higher odds of abortion, with the DII being used as a continuous variable (OR continuous 2.12, 95% CI: 1.02-4.43). When analysis was carried out with DII expressed as a dichotomous variable, women in the pro-inflammatory diet group (DII >1.24) were at 2.12 times higher odds of having abortion compared to women in the referent group (DII â ¤1.24) (ORDII >1.24 /â ¤1.24 =2.12; 95% CI: 1.02-4.43). In the same study, for every one-unit increase in DII, there was a corresponding increase in IL-6 by 0.15 pg/ml, 95% CI (The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author