Comparison of colorectal and gastric cancer: Survival and prognostic factors

Background/Aims: Gastric and colorectal cancers are the most common gastrointestinal malignancies in Iran. We aim to compare the survival rates and prognostic factors between these two cancers. Methods: We studied 1873 patients with either gastric or colorectal cancer who were registered in one referral cancer registry center in Tehran, Iran. All patients were followed from their time of diagnosis until December 2006 (as failure time). Survival curves were calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier Method and compared by the Log-rank test. Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors was carried out using the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: Of 1873 patients, there were 746 with gastric cancer and 1138 with colorectal cancer. According to the Kaplan-Meier method 1, 3, 5, and 7-year survival rates were 71.2, 37.8, 25.3, and 19.5%, respectively, in gastric cancer patients and 91.1, 73.1, 61, and 54.9%, respectively, in patients with colorectal cancer. Also, univariate analysis showed that age at diagnosis, sex, grade of tumor, and distant metastasis were of prognostic significance in both cancers ( P < 0.0001). However, in multivariate analysis, only distant metastasis in colorectal cancer and age at diagnosis, grade of tumor, and distant metastasis in colorectal cancer were identified as independent prognostic factors influencing survival. Conclusions: According to our findings, survival is significantly related to histological differentiation of tumor and distant metastasis in colorectal cancer patients and only to distant metastasis in gastric cancer patients

A case report: An unusual variation in the facial artery

The facial artery is the main artery supplying the face occasionally. It gives three branches on the face, the inferior labial, the superior labial, and the lateral nasal, and terminates as the angular artery. Due to congenital vascular variations in the facial artery, it has been considered in the dissection of the head and neck region. During the dissection of a 65-year-old woman to expose this region, we discovered that the left facial artery is terminated by the superior labial artery after giving off the submental and inferior labial branches. At the level of the left oral commissure, the facial artery was attached to the buccinator muscle as connective tissue, with a noticeable decrease in diameter. The purpose of this study is to report a new variation of the facial artery that is particularly important for cadaver dissection, and head and neck surgeries, as well as for facial artery angiography

The Prevalence of Obesity and its Associated Demographic Factors in Tehran, Iran

Background: Obesity is one of the most common health problems in the world and its prevalence is increasing in both developed and developing nations with changes in dietary habits and activity levels. The present study aimed to provide population-based data on the prevalence of obesity and some demographic factors associated with obesity. Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional survey was done on 3,000 individuals in Tehran province, Iran, From May 2006 through December 2007. Respondents were asked about their height and weight in the questionnaire. Body mass index was assigned as the measure of overall obesity and was calculated as body weight (kg) divided by height squared (meters). Results: The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was 38.3% and 17.5%. The combined prevalence of both overweight and obesity was 51.7% in males and 58.3% in females. The mean BMI ± SD for the total population studied was 26.1 ± 4.7 and it was higher in women than in men (P < 0.05). The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was 39.7% and 12.0% in men, and 37.4% and 20.9% in women. The multivariate analysis showed that there was a higher percentage of obesity among older individuals, females, married and less educated subjects. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the prevalence of overweight and obesity are relatively high in Tehran and must be considered as a significant public health problem especially among women. Keywords: Obesity, Body mass index, Tehra

Frequency of colorectal cancer in healthy individual's relatives: A cross-sectional population-based study

Introduction: Family history of colorectal cancer has been shown to be related to the risk of developing colorectal cancer. This risk depends on the number of affected relatives and the age at diagnosis. In this study we aimed to estimate the frequency of a positive family history of colorectal cancer in a random sample from Tehran population. Materials and Methods: This study was a community-based cross-sectional survey conducted from May 2006 to December 2007 in Tehran province, Iran. A total of 5,500 peoples (age≥20 years) drawn up randomly by random sampling according to postal codes and invited to participate in the study. All participants completed a detailed health data registry form on family history status of colorectal cancer. Results: The mean age of men with a positive family history was significantly different from men with negative family history. There was no significant difference between mean age of women responders with or without positive family history. Among all participants (n=5,500), 162 responders (2.9%) had a history of colorectal cancer. Of 162, 67 responders (1.22%) had one and 4(0.07%) had two or more first-degree relative with colorectal cancer. Of 5,500 participants, 18 subjects (0.33%) reported having two or more first-degree relative with colorectal cancer or one first-degree relative with colorectal cancer diagnosed at age <50 years. Four subjects (0.07%) had three or more first-degree relative with colorectal cancer. Conclusion: Based on the findings, we estimate that more than 570,000 subjects in the Iran in the age group≥20 years have at least two to three times increased risk of developing colorectal cancer which should be identified and encourage to participate in screening and surveillance protocols of colorectal cancer

Prognostic factors in gastric cancer using log-normal censored regression model

Background and Objective: Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Although its incidence is decreasing, it rarely is detected early, and the prognosis remains poor. The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors in gastric cancer using log-normal regression model. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was done on 746 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma from February 2003 through January 2007. Gender, age at diagnosis, family history of cancer, tumor size and pathologic distant of metastasis were entered to a log-normal model. Relative risk (RR) was employed to interpret the risk of death. Results: Results indicated that patients who were upper than 45 years at diagnosis had an increased risk for death (RR=1.01 95% CI, 1.01-1.03), followed by greater tumor size (RR=1.64, 95% CI, 1.07-2.25) and pathologic distant metastasis (RR=2.14, 95% CI, 1.60-2.86) and similar results in multivariate analysis for greater tumor size (RR=2.04, 95% CI, 1.23-3.33) and pathologic distant metastasis (RR=2.01, 95% CI, 1.13-3.56). Conclusion: This study showed that the early detection of patients in younger and in primary stages and grade of tumor is important to decrease the risk of death in patients with gastric cancer and increase the survival rate