The relationship between blood pressure, anthropometric indices and metabolic profile in adolescents: a cross sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between blood pressure, anthropometric indices and metabolic profile in adolescents. METHODS: The present cross sectional study was conducted in 1005, 12-y-old junior students referred to 15 urban health centers of Rasht. Samples were recruited randomly and data were collected in a form which consisted of demographic characteristics, history of disease in samples and their immediate families, birth weight, physical examination and clinical examination including height, weight, blood pressure and body mass index. Also, metabolic profiles including fasting blood sugar (FBS), blood sugar (BS), cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and insulin levels were measured. Data were analyzed in SPSS software, by descriptive and analytic statistics and p value 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Eight hundred fifty nine adolescents consisting of 550 (64 %) boys and 309 (34 %) girls participated in this study; 11.4 % (84/739 cases) of the participants had hypertension. The strongest correlation was seen between systolic blood pressure and weight, waist or hip circumferences and insulin levels. Also, FBS had very weak correlation with blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, weight, waist and hip circumferences, insulin levels, high TG and low HDL have been indicated as the strongest correlating factors for high blood pressure.Thus, these factors should be investigated in high risk children and followed in hypertensive child to monitor cardiometabolic risk factors.

A 10-year study of esophageal cancer in Guilan province, Iran: the Guilan Cancer Registry Study (GCRS).

BACKGROUND: Northern Iran counts as one of the highest prevalence regions for esophageal cancer (EC) worldwide. This study was designed to assess the epidemiologic aspects of EC in north central and northwest Iran over a 10 year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Guilan cancer registry study (GCRS) is a population- based cancer registry study featuring retrospective (1996-2003) and prospective (2004-2005) phases. A detailed questionnaire based on WHO standards for cancer registratration was applied to gather the required information. Two trained physicians coded information using ICD-O-3 in close coordination with an expert pathologist. RESULTS: A total of 19,936 cases of malignancy (mean age 55.4±18.0 years, range: 1-98 years) were registered, including 1,147 cases (670 males, 447 female; mean age: 64.0±11.5 years) of EC. In 1996 the male/female ratio among patients with EC was 1.25 which increased to 1.53 in 2005. The lower third of the esophagus still remained the most common site of tumors. The average age-standardized rate (ASR) was 6.9 and 4.1 per 105 men and women, respectively. In 1996, the ASRs were 7.2 and 5.2 per 105 men and women which decreased to 6.9 and 4.1 per 105 in 2004-2005. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was the most prevalent histological subtype of EC accounting over 80% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: However the prevalence of adenocarcinoma (ADC) showed an increase to 18.4%. Guilan province may be considered a relatively low incidence region for EC.

Congenital hypothyroidism: a review of the risk factors.

This study was aimed to evaluate the situation of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in Guilan using the screening program and determine the correlation of CH with birth weight, gestational age and seasonality. During 2006 to 2010, in Guilan province, neonatal screening for CH by measurement of serum TSH level was performed in 3-5 days after birth. All neonates with TSH level ≥ 5mu/l were referred to endocrinologists and serum TSH, T3 and T4 were measured. Based on public health data and profiles, total number of newborns, gestational age, route of delivery, birth season and birth weight in all screened neonates was reviewed and for ones with CH, their TSH measurements was also recorded. During 5 years, 119701 neonates were screened and CH was confirmed in 10.8% (221) of the referral cases (prevalence=1:542). No significant statistical difference was seen between gender and birth season among patients with CH and the rest of the population. Interestingly, low birth weight (LBW) (31% vs. 4.9%, P<0.01), postdate delivery (1.4% vs. 0.2%, P<0.01) and macrosomia were more prevalent in CH versus normal population (Odds ratio for post-date delivery was 6.9 and for LBW was 3.2). Rate of normal vaginal delivery (NVD) was significantly higher in neonates with CH compared to normal population (39.2% vs. 29.2%, P=0.01). LBW, postdate delivery and macrosomia are risk factors for CH. No association between sex, birth season or caesarian section delivery was seen.

The prevalence of iodine deficiency disorder in two different populations in northern province of Iran: a comparison using different indicators recommended by WHO.

Comparison of the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) in neonates and school children using two different WHO indicators. From 2006 to 2010, 119701 newborns were screened by measurement of serum TSH level by heel prick. Neonates who had blood TSH ≥ 5 mIU/l were recalled for more evaluation. In the same period of time, urine iodine was measured in 1200 school-aged children. The severity of IDD was classified using WHO, UNICEF, ICCIDD criteria. Between 2006 and 2010 a total of 138832 neonates were screened in Guilan province and the total recall rate (neonates with TSH level ≥ 5 mIU/l) was 1.8 %. The incidence rate of Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) was 1/625. The median urine iodine level in school-aged children was 200-299 µg/l. Considering the WHO, UNICEF, ICCIDD criteria, Guilan province would be classified as a none-IDD endemic area. However, health care systems should pay attention to the iodine excess and the risk of iodine induced hyperthyroidism in this population.