Public awareness of risk factors for cancer and its determinants in an Iranian population.

Cancer is increasingly being seen as a disease that is preventable and manageable. Knowledge often does constitute one element in the behavior change process. In addition, to promote the cancer prevention programs, data on level of knowledge among the target population are needed. The present research (as the first) aimed at providing information on level and correlates of awareness of cancer risk factors among the general public in Iran. The level of knowledge about 12 cancer risk factors (as a section of a multipart questionnaire) was assessed in a representative sample of 2500 adults (aged >18 years) in Tehran, Iran. The data were analyzed using latent class regression with the R statistical package. A small proportion of the respondents (12.2%) had high knowledge level and most of them had mixed (56.9%) and low level of awareness (30.9%). The most important determinants of knowledge level included level of education, gender, and family history. The results provided valuable clues and guidelines toward the formulation of relevant cancer prevention strategies, especially within the scope of health education. The applied statistical model presented a new descriptive and analytical perspective to evaluate the level of knowledge about the cancer risk factors and its determinants.

Generation of IL-8 and TNF-alpha in platelet concentrates during storage.

BACKGROUND: Platelet transfusion is accompanied by febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions. The generation of cytokines (like IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha) in platelet concentrates by white cells is suggested to be responsible for febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions. The number of white cells in the platelet concentrates is crucial to cytokine generation. METHODS: This study was performed to determine whether WBC reduction in platelet concentrates by prestorage leukodepletion filters or inactivation by gamma radiation reduced the levels of these cytokines during storage for 3 days. Each of the platelet concentrates (n = 54) was prepared from a single random donor by platelet-rich plasma. This was then divided into four groups: 1) unfiltered, nonirradiated random-donner platelet concentrates (n = 13); 2) unfiltered, gamma-irradiated random-donner platelet concentrates (n = 16); 3) filtered, nonirradiated random-donner platelet concentrates (n = 14); and 4) filtered, gamma-irradiated random-donner platelet concentrates (n = 11). Cytokine levels in platelet concentrates supernatants were measured by ELISA kits according to the manufacturer's recommendations. RESULTS: Our results showed that IL-8 was detected in unfiltered, nonirradiated, and gamma-irradiated random-donner platelet concentrates but not in the filtered random-donner platelet concentrates. TNF-alpha was only detected in unfiltered, nonirradiated units. Compared with unfiltered platelet concentrates, prestorage filtration prevented a rise in the IL-8 and TNF-alpha on day 3 of storage. The concentration of IL-1 beta was lower than the minimum concentration value of the kit used for this purpose. IL-6 was detected only in 7 units of all filtered platelet concentrates on day 3. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that gamma irradiation can not prevent generation of IL-8 in platelet concentrates during storage, but prestorage leukoreduction of platelet concentrates can prevent accumulation of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha during storage.

Investigating the knowledge, attitude and its relationship with the mean of using emergency contraception.

The aim of this study was to investigate women s knowledge about and attitude toward emergency contraception (EC) in women who referred to health centers of Tehran University of Medical Science. The subjects in this study consisted of 250 married women of fertility age who had been selected randomly and interviewed by the researcher. The majority of the subjects had not used EC. Just 5.2% (13 women) had used this method and 8.31% had knowledge and information about EC. There was a significant correlation between knowledge about and use of this method (p = 0.0001). Although the users of this method were more knowledgeable about EC than nonusers, a majority of subjects (76.57%) had a positive attitude toward EC; however, there was not a significant correlation between positive attitude and use of EC (p = 0.184).