Epidemiology characteristics and trends of incidence and morphology of stomach cancer in Iran

Background: Stomach cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death through the world. It is predicted that the number of new cancer cases will be more than 15 million cases by 2020. Regarding the lack of studies on this topic in the country, we have thoroughly examined the patho-epidemiology of stomach cancer in Iran. Materials and Methods: In this cross- sectional study data were collected retrospectively reviewing all new stomach cancer patients in Cancer Registry Center report of health deputy for Iran during a 6-year period (2003-2008). The study also examined the morphology of common stomach cancers. Trends in incidence and morphology underwent joinpoint regression analysis. Results: During the six-year period, a total of 35,171 cases of stomach cancer were registered. Average age standardized rate for females and males were equal to 7.1 and 15.1 per 100,000 persons, respectively. Most common histological type was adenocarcinoma, NOS with 21,980 cases (62.50). The annual percentage change (APC) in age-standardized incidence rate (per 100,000) was increase in both females and males at 11.1 (CI: 4.3 to 18.3) and 9.2 (CI: 5.2 to 13.4), respectively. Conclusions: According to our results, the incidence of gastric cancer is increasing in Iran, so further epidemiological studies into the etiology and early detection are essential

Epidemiology characteristics and trends of lung cancer incidence in Iran

Background: Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and a major cause of death from cancer. One of the important indicators to compare the prevalence and incidence of the disease is a change in the trend. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the incidence of lung cancer in Iran. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted based on existing data obtained from a national registry of cancer cases and the Disease Management Center of Ministry of Health in Iran. All cases registered in the country were included during 2003-2008. Incidence rates were reported based on the direct method and standard population of World Health Organization. The study also examined the morphology of common lung cancers. Trends in incidence underwent joinpoint regression analysis. Results: Based on the results of this study, 14,403 cases of lung cancer have been recorded of which 10,582 cases were in men and 3,821 in women. Highest incidence rates were observed in the 80-84 age group. Considerable variation across provinces was evident. In females squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) demonstrated a reduction from 24 to 16 of lesions over the period of study, while adenocarcinoma rose from 21 to 29. In males a similar reduction in SCC was apparent (42 to 29, again with increase in AC (13 to 18). Conclusions: The results show that the increase in the incidence of lung cancer the trend is that more men than women and in men and may be caused by changes in smoking pattern. The incidence of lung cancer in the North West and West provinces was higher than in other regions

The effect of atrovastatin on the ovarian arterial blood flow and serum androgen level in PCOS patient

Various researches have been conducted over the recent years on the therapeutic effects of statins on the metabolic and hyper-androgenic state of the patients suffering from PCOS. The present research seeks to evaluate the treatment with atorvastatin and its effect on the lipid profile level, serum androgen status and morphology and blood flow of polycystic ovaries. A double blind clinical trial was designed for this research where the women with PCOS resorting to the gynecology clinic of Firouzgar Hospital were randomly divided into two groups: case and Control. Early at the beginning of the research, variables such as body mass, lipid profile, blood androgen level, fasting blood Sugar, size of the ovary, and resistance of the stromal artery of ovary were studied. For a period of 6 weeks, one group was given with a daily dose of 40 mg atorvastatin, while the other group just received placebo. All the variables were studied once again after 6 weeks and the results were analyzed using SPSS v.16. The case group included 20 patients suffering from PCOS who received atorvastatin, while there were 20 patients with PCOS in the witness group who just received placebo. The average ages in the atorvastatin and placebo groups were 27.7 ± 3.41 and 30.9 ± 4.8 years old respectively. A significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of changes in the average cholesterol and LDL levels before and after the intervention. This reduction was more significant in the atorvastatin group. After prescription of atorvastatin, the level of Androstenedione had decreased significantly in treatment group. A statistically significant reduction was observed in the size of left and right ovaries in the group receiving atorvastatin. No significant changes were observed in the size of the ovaries in the group receiving placebo. The average arterial resistance level of left and right ovaries before and after intervention in atorvastatin group exhibited a significant reduction. Having discarded the confounding effect of RI, this difference with the witness group was statistically significant. Keeping in mind the effects of atorvastatin such as improving the lipid profile status and reduction of androstenedione among those with PCOS, it can be used as an auxiliary treatment to control symptoms and long-term side effects among patients. Considering the shrinkage of ovary size and enhancement of blood flow to PCOS ovary, future researches can focus on effectiveness of statins in improving the ovulation status of performance of PCO ovaries

The effect of pulsed electrodeposition parameters on the microstructure and magnetic properties of the CoNi nanowires

Abstract CoNi nanowires were deposited by pulsed electrodeposition technique into porous alumina templates. The effect of off time between pulses (t off ) and reductive/oxidative time (t reduc/oxid ) on the microstructure and magnetic properties of the CoNi nanowires were investigated. Maximum coercivity and squareness were obtained for samples fabricated at t reduc/oxid = 0.5 ms and t off =400 ms. The coercivity increases in the range of 930-1990Oe by increasing of off time from 20 to 400 ms. The initially hcp structure of the nanowires was converted to an amorphous structure by increasing of off time between the pulses. JNS All rights reserved Article history

Does pesticides pollution affect rice plants in the southern coastline of the Caspian Sea?

Considering the increasing rice consumption in the world and also the excessive application of pesticides to increase production, an experiment was conducted to determine the pesticide residues and their effects on nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus content of Hashemi, Khazar and Gohar (SA13) rice cultivars, in a factorial design at randomized complete block design with three replications. In this study, rice plants were treated with three pesticides including insecticide Diazinon, herbicide Butachlor and fungicide Tricyclazole which are commonly used in the paddy fields of the southern coastline of the Caspian Sea, with standard concentrations recommended for these pesticides. The results indicated that the impacts of different pesticides on nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents in rice grains of Hashemi and Khazar cultivars were not significantly different. However, the nitrogen content reduced significantly in Gohar cultivar treated by Butachlor and Tricyclazole in comparison with control (p≤0.01). Determination of pesticides residues showed that Diazinon residue in white grains of Hashemi, Khazar and Gohar cultivars was lower than recommended limit determined by Codex (0.1 ppm), and also Tricyclazole amount was below the limit of detection. Therefore, using pesticides in permissible limits is strongly recommended. However, it cannot be concluded that using pesticides; even in permissible limits, does not have dangerous impacts over time on living organisms of the Caspian ecosystem

Risk factors for suicide in Hungary: a case-control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hungary previously had one of the highest suicide rates in the world, but experienced major social and economic changes from 1990 onwards. We aimed to investigate the antecedents of suicide in Hungary. We hypothesised that suicide in Hungary would be associated with both risk factors for suicide as identified in Western studies, and experiences related to social and economic restructuring.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We carried out a controlled psychological autopsy study. Informants for 194 cases (suicide deaths in Budapest and Pest County 2002–2004) and 194 controls were interviewed by clinicians using a detailed schedule.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Many of the demographic and clinical risk factors associated with suicide in other settings were also associated with suicide in Hungary; for example, being unmarried or having no current relationship, lack of other social contacts, low educational attainment, history of self-harm, current diagnosis of affective disorder (including bipolar disorder) or personality disorder, and experiencing a recent major adverse life event. A number of variables reflecting experiences since economic restructuring were also associated with suicide; for example, unemployment, concern over work propects, changes in living standards, practising religion. Just 20% of cases with evidence of depression at the time of death had received antidepressants.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Suicide rates in Hungary are falling. Our study identified a number of risk factors related to individual-level demographic and clinical characteristics, and possibly recent societal change. Improved management of psychiatric disorder and self-harm may result in further reductions in suicide rates.</p

Identification of uPAR-positive Chemoresistant Cells in Small Cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND: The urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR/CD87) are major regulators of extracellular matrix degradation and are involved in cell migration and invasion under physiological and pathological conditions. The uPA/uPAR system has been of great interest in cancer research because it is involved in the development of most invasive cancer phenotypes and is a strong predictor of poor patient survival. However, little is known about the role of uPA/uPAR in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), the most aggressive type of lung cancer. We therefore determined whether uPA and uPAR are involved in generation of drug resistant SCLC cell phenotype. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We screened six human SCLC cell lines for surface markers for putative stem and cancer cells. We used fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), fluorescence microscopy and clonogenic assays to demonstrate uPAR expression in a subpopulation of cells derived from primary and metastatic SCLC cell lines. Cytotoxic assays were used to determine the sensitivity of uPAR-positive and uPAR-negative cells to chemotherapeutic agents. The uPAR-positive cells in all SCLC lines demonstrated multi-drug resistance, high clonogenic activity and co-expression of CD44 and MDR1, putative cancer stem cell markers. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that uPAR-positive cells may define a functionally important population of cancer cells in SCLC, which are resistant to traditional chemotherapies, and could serve as critical targets for more effective therapeutic interventions in SCLC

The global, regional, and national burden of inflammatory bowel disease in 195 countries and territories, 1990�2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background: The burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising globally, with substantial variation in levels and trends of disease in different countries and regions. Understanding these geographical differences is crucial for formulating effective strategies for preventing and treating IBD. We report the prevalence, mortality, and overall burden of IBD in 195 countries and territories between 1990 and 2017, based on data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017. Methods: We modelled mortality due to IBD using a standard Cause of Death Ensemble model including data mainly from vital registrations. To estimate the non-fatal burden, we used data presented in primary studies, hospital discharges, and claims data, and used DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian meta-regression tool, to ensure consistency between measures. Mortality, prevalence, years of life lost (YLLs) due to premature death, years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were estimated. All of the estimates were reported as numbers and rates per 100 000 population, with 95 uncertainty intervals (UI). Findings: In 2017, there were 6·8 million (95 UI 6·4�7·3) cases of IBD globally. The age-standardised prevalence rate increased from 79·5 (75·9�83·5) per 100 000 population in 1990 to 84·3 (79·2�89·9) per 100 000 population in 2017. The age-standardised death rate decreased from 0·61 (0·55�0·69) per 100 000 population in 1990 to 0·51 (0·42�0·54) per 100 000 population in 2017. At the GBD regional level, the highest age-standardised prevalence rate in 2017 occurred in high-income North America (422·0 398·7�446·1 per 100 000) and the lowest age-standardised prevalence rates were observed in the Caribbean (6·7 6·3�7·2 per 100 000 population). High Socio-demographic Index (SDI) locations had the highest age-standardised prevalence rate, while low SDI regions had the lowest age-standardised prevalence rate. At the national level, the USA had the highest age-standardised prevalence rate (464·5 438·6�490·9 per 100 000 population), followed by the UK (449·6 420·6�481·6 per 100 000). Vanuatu had the highest age-standardised death rate in 2017 (1·8 0·8�3·2 per 100 000 population) and Singapore had the lowest (0·08 0·06�0·14 per 100 000 population). The total YLDs attributed to IBD almost doubled over the study period, from 0·56 million (0·39�0·77) in 1990 to 1·02 million (0·71�1·38) in 2017. The age-standardised rate of DALYs decreased from 26·5 (21·0�33·0) per 100 000 population in 1990 to 23·2 (19·1�27·8) per 100 000 population in 2017. Interpretation: The prevalence of IBD increased substantially in many regions from 1990 to 2017, which might pose a substantial social and economic burden on governments and health systems in the coming years. Our findings can be useful for policy makers developing strategies to tackle IBD, including the education of specialised personnel to address the burden of this complex disease. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licens

Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

© 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access Article under the CC BY 4.0 license. Background: Health system planning requires careful assessment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) epidemiology, but data for morbidity and mortality of this disease are scarce or non-existent in many countries. We estimated the global, regional, and national burden of CKD, as well as the burden of cardiovascular disease and gout attributable to impaired kidney function, for the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017. We use the term CKD to refer to the morbidity and mortality that can be directly attributed to all stages of CKD, and we use the term impaired kidney function to refer to the additional risk of CKD from cardiovascular disease and gout. Methods: The main data sources we used were published literature, vital registration systems, end-stage kidney disease registries, and household surveys. Estimates of CKD burden were produced using a Cause of Death Ensemble model and a Bayesian meta-regression analytical tool, and included incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability, mortality, years of life lost, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). A comparative risk assessment approach was used to estimate the proportion of cardiovascular diseases and gout burden attributable to impaired kidney function. Findings: Globally, in 2017, 1·2 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 1·2 to 1·3) people died from CKD. The global all-age mortality rate from CKD increased 41·5% (95% UI 35·2 to 46·5) between 1990 and 2017, although there was no significant change in the age-standardised mortality rate (2·8%, −1·5 to 6·3). In 2017, 697·5 million (95% UI 649·2 to 752·0) cases of all-stage CKD were recorded, for a global prevalence of 9·1% (8·5 to 9·8). The global all-age prevalence of CKD increased 29·3% (95% UI 26·4 to 32·6) since 1990, whereas the age-standardised prevalence remained stable (1·2%, −1·1 to 3·5). CKD resulted in 35·8 million (95% UI 33·7 to 38·0) DALYs in 2017, with diabetic nephropathy accounting for almost a third of DALYs. Most of the burden of CKD was concentrated in the three lowest quintiles of Socio-demographic Index (SDI). In several regions, particularly Oceania, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, the burden of CKD was much higher than expected for the level of development, whereas the disease burden in western, eastern, and central sub-Saharan Africa, east Asia, south Asia, central and eastern Europe, Australasia, and western Europe was lower than expected. 1·4 million (95% UI 1·2 to 1·6) cardiovascular disease-related deaths and 25·3 million (22·2 to 28·9) cardiovascular disease DALYs were attributable to impaired kidney function. Interpretation: Kidney disease has a major effect on global health, both as a direct cause of global morbidity and mortality and as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. CKD is largely preventable and treatable and deserves greater attention in global health policy decision making, particularly in locations with low and middle SDI. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation