Dietary habits and the 10-year risk of overweight and obesity in urban adult population: A cohort study predicated on Yazd Healthy Heart Project.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Overweight and obesity are thought to be associated with increased risk of chronic disease in the Middle East. The present study aimed to determine the association between dietary habits and the incidence of overweight and obesity in urban adult population in the central part of Iran after a 10-year follow-up. METHODS: This cohort study was initiated with 2000 participation aged 20-74 years from Yazd city in Iran based on Yazd Healthy Heart Project (YHHP). The participants without overweight and obesity at the baseline of the study were followed up to 10 years. Demographic data, anthropometric measurements, behavioral and metabolic risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and dietary habits were assessed at baseline and phase II. RESULTS: After a 10-year follow up, 516 non-overweight and 1068 non-obese participants were included for the final analysis. Once adjustments were made for all potential confounders including age, sex, smoking, economic status, physical activity and education, it was identified that lack of weight control increased the risk of obesity (hazard ratio; 95% CI) in total population (1.9; 1.06, 3.4), as well as the risk of overweight (2.39; 1.07, 5.27) and obesity (2.65; 1.13, 6.25) in men. Moreover, consumption of mayonnaise increased the 10-year risk of overweight in women (6.09; 1.2, 30.99). CONCLUSIONS: As revealed by the present study, unhealthy dietary habits can increase the incidence of overweight and obesity in central part of Iran. Therefore, changing the lifestyle appears to be urgent in reducing the risk of overweight and obesity.

Development of a tool for comprehensive evaluation of population-based cancer registries.

OBJECTIVE: Several methods have been suggested for evaluation of population-based cancer registries (PBCR) worldwide. However, most of these methods evaluate the data and outputs of the cancer registries. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive tool and protocol for evaluation of inputs, processes and outputs of a PBCR. METHODS: The standards of the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) were used to draft a comprehensive checklist. In addition, the national guidelines of PBCR were used to develop a questionnaire for evaluation of knowledge and practice of the PBCR personnel. Furthermore, a protocol for evaluation of the completeness and validity of the PBCR data was developed according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the NAACCR guidelines. A 0-4 Likert based score and expert opinions (10 experts) were used to assess validity of the eight questionnaires/checklists. A modified Delphi method was applied to validate the checklists and questionnaires. Questions with a score higher than 3 remained in the final tools. RESULTS: The final package consists of 546 questions including 108 (19.8%) for evaluation of guidelines, 54 (9.9%) for analysis and reports, 87 (15.9%) for governance and infrastructure, 155 (28.4%) for information technology, 21 (3.8%) for personnel knowledge and 121 (22.2%) for their practice. Additionally, data quality indicators were also considered for evaluation of PBCRs. CONCLUSION: This comprehensive tool can be used to show the gaps and limitations of the PBCR programs and provide informative clues for their improvement.

Evaluation the Survival of Patients with Gastric Cancer Treated with Adjuvant or Palliative Chemotherapy.

AIM: Our aim was to evaluate impact of chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil plus docetaxel and cisplatin) on the survival of gastric cancer cases. METHOD: Seventy-nine patients were eligible to take part in this study between November 2006 and April 2013, who received 5-fluorouracil (700 mg/m2, 21-h infusion within 5 days), cisplatin (60 mg/m2 on day 3), and Docetaxel (60 mg/m2 on day 2). Radiotherapy was added to the treatment only in the cases with entire stomach body cancer (positive margin) and with giant ulcer (above 50 mm) in proximal gastric cancer. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were female and 55 were male. The median age was 54. In this study, 54 % of the tumors were located in the proximal and 46 % in the distal of stomach. Seventy five percent of patients were at stage I-III (adjuvant chemotherapy), and 25 % at stage IV (palliative chemotherapy). Ninety-one percent of the patients at stages I-II, 68.3 % of the patients at stage III, and one out of 20 patients at stage IV were alive at the end of follow-up. Median disease-free survival for the patients at stages I-III was 63 months, and the overall survival for all patients was 50 months. CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that the survival of the patients with stomach cancer increases with chemotherapy. Radiotherapy was used for our patients with gastric cancer in specific cases.

The effectiveness of group positive psychotherapy on depression and happiness in breast cancer patients: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in women in the world. It causes fear, despair, and takes a tremendous toll on psychological status. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of group positive psychotherapy on the depression and happiness of breast cancer patients. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was conducted with 42 breast cancer patients in The Oncology Center at Kermanshah, Iran in 2015. The Data were gathered before intervention and ten weeks afterwards. The data were collected using Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Oxford's happiness Inventory (OHI). The data were analyzed by SPSS-16, Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S), chi-squared, and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). RESULTS: The results showed a significant reduction in the depression of the group on positive psychotherapy compared with the control group. Also the positive psychotherapy group experienced a significant increase in the patients' happiness, while there was no significant increase in the control group. CONCLUSION: The results of this research showed the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy on the reduction of mental pressure and the improvement of the mental status of breast cancer patients. This economical therapy can be used to increase patients' psychological health. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRST) with the identification number IRCT2013101410063N4. FUNDING: The authors received financial support for the research from Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences.

Myeloid Sarcoma of the peritoneum at older ages: A case report and review of literature.

Myeloid sarcoma or granulocytic sarcoma (GS) is a rare disease with poor prognosis. It is characterized by the occurrence of tumor masses at an extra-medullary tissue. It is composed of myeloblastic cells and usually occurs in association with acute myeloid leukemia. Because of its nonspecific clinical and radiologic findings, its diagnosis might be challenging. It might be more commonly found in patients with specific cytogenetic abnormalities, particularly with the t (8; 21) translocation and less frequently the inv (16) type. We report a case of GS in a 62 years old man without particular previous pathologies, which brutally presented as an ascites and generalized edema. The laparoscopy showed involvement of greater omentum and peritoneum. The histologic examination of greater omentum showed granulocytic sarcoma. The bone marrow aspiration was normal. We started treatment of patient by standard acute myeloid leukemia's chemotherapy.

Challenges to promoting population-based cancer registration in Iran: a workshop report.

In December 2011, the Cancer Research Centre of the Cancer Institute of Iran sponsored a 3-day workshop on "Cancer Registration Principle and Challenges in Iran", which convened cancer registry experts. The objectives of the workshop were: to introduce standard cancer registration, to review the policy and procedure of cancer registration in Iran, and to review the best practices in the cancer registries in Iran. Challenges to cancer registration were discussed and recommendations were developed. The workshop was evaluated by participants for better organization of subsequent workshops. The objective of publication of this report is that based on Cancer in 5 Continents, many low- or middle-income countries do not meet the criteria for a standard population-based cancer registry (PBCR); on the other hand cancer is the most important cause of mortality and the essential part of any cancer control program is the cancer registry. Therefore this report focuses on problems and challenges of PBCR and provides recommendations which might help other developing countries to decrease their PBCR defects.

Prognostic value of lymph node ratios in node positive rectal cancer treated with preoperative chemoradiation.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the impact of the lymph node ratio (LNR) on the prognosis of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer undergoing pre-operative chemoradiation. METHODS: Clinicopathologic and follow up data of 128 patients with stage III rectal cancer who underwent curative resection from 1996 to 2007 were reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the lymph node ratio: LNR ≤ 0.2 (n=28), and >0.2 (n=100). Kaplan-Meier and the Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to evaluate the prognostic effects according to LNR. RESULTS: Median numbers of lymph nodes examined and lymph nodes involved by tumour were 10.3 (range 2-28) and 5.8 (range 1-25), respectively, and the median LNR was 0.5 (range, 0-1.6). The 5-year survival rate significantly differed by LNR (≤ 0.2, 69%; >0.2, 19%; Log-rank p value < 0.001). LNR was also a significant prognostic factor of survival adjusted for age, sex, post-operative chemotherapy, total number of examined lymph nodes, metastasis and local recurrence (≤ 0.2, HR=1; >0.2, HR=4.8, 95%CI=2.1-11.1) and a significant predictor of local recurrence and distant metastasis during follow-up independently of total number of examined lymph node. CONCLUSIONS: Total number of examined lymph nodes and LNR were significant prognostic factors for survival in patients with stage III rectal cancer undergoing pre-operative chemoradiotherapy.

Short and long term mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is influenced by socioeconomic position but not by migration status in Sweden, 1995-2007.

BACKGROUND: There are no nationwide studies on mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) among foreign-born populations that include detailed information about country of birth and information about socioeconomic position. The objective was to investigate the risk of mortality after CABG considering socioeconomic position, sex and country of birth. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included all 72 333 patients undergoing a first isolated CABG in Sweden, during 1995 - 2007 of whom 12.7% were foreign-born. The patients were classified according to educational level, sex, and country of birth and were followed up to December 2007. We estimated the risk of short and long term mortality after CABG in a multivariable model adjusted for age, calendar year of surgery, diabetes, educational level, and waiting time for surgery. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated based on the Cox proportional hazard model. FINDINGS: There were 15,284 deaths during the follow-up, 10.4% of whom were foreign-born. The foreign-born patients were 3 to 4 years younger than Sweden-born patients at the time of CABG surgery. There were no significant differences in overall early or late mortality between foreign-born and Sweden-born men and women after CABG. All-cause mortality differed in between regions and was highest in foreign-born men from Eastern Africa (HR 3.80, 95% CI 1.58-9.17), China (HR 3.61, 95% CI 1.50-8.69), and in Chile (HR 2.12, 95% CI 1.01-4.47). Patients with low level of education had worse survival compared to those with longer than 12 years of education irrespective of sex and country of birth. This difference was more pronounced among foreign-born women (HR 1.50, 95% CI 1.00-2.33). CONCLUSION: This national study showed higher CABG mortality in patients from lower socioeconomic position. Early and late mortality did not differ after isolated CABG in foreign-born and Sweden-born patients.

Adenosine Preconditioning versus Ischemic Preconditioning in Patients undergoing Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass (OPCAB).

BACKGROUND: During off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB), the heart is subjected to ischemic and reperfusion injury. Preconditioning is a mechanism that permits the heart to tolerate myocardial ischemia. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Adenosine preconditioning with ischemic preconditioning on the global ejection fraction (EF) in patients undergoing OPCAB. METHODS: In this single-blind, randomized controlled trial, sixty patients undergoing OPCAB were allocated into three equally-numbered groups through simple randomization: Adenosine group, ischemic group, and control group. The patients in the Adenosine group received an infusion of Adenosine. In the ischemic group, ischemic preconditioning was induced by the temporary occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery twice for a 2-minute period, followed by 3-minute reperfusion before bypass grafting of the first coronary vessel. The control group received an intravenous infusion of 0.9% saline. Blood samples at different times were sent for the measurement of creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI). We also recorded electrocardiographic indices and clinical parameters, including postoperative use of inotropic drugs and preoperative and postoperative EF. RESULTS: History of myocardial infarction, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, preoperative arrhythmias, and utilization of postoperative inotrope was the same between the three groups. The incidence of postoperative arrhythmias was not significant between the three groups. Also, there were no significant differences in preoperative and postoperative EF and the serum levels of enzymes (cTnI and CK-MB) between the groups. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, there was no significant difference in the postoperative EF between the groups. Although the incidence of arrhythmias was higher in the ischemic preconditioning group than in the other groups, the difference between the groups did not constitute statistical significance.

Breast cancer incidence and case fatality among 4.7 million women in relation to social and ethnic background: a population-based cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Incidence of breast cancer is increasing around the world and it is still the leading cause of cancer mortality in low- and middle-income countries. We utilized Swedish nationwide registers to study breast cancer incidence and case fatality to disentangle the effect of socioeconomic position (SEP) and immigration from the trends in native Swedes. METHODS: A nation-wide cohort of women in Sweden was followed between 1961 and 2007 and incidence rate ratio (IRR) and hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Poisson and Cox proportional regression models, respectively. RESULTS: Incidence continued to increase; however, it remained lower among immigrants (IRR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.86 to 0.90) but not among immigrants' daughters (IRR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.94 to 1.01) compared to native Swedes. Case fatality decreased over the last decades and was similar in native Swedes and immigrants. However, case fatality was significantly 14% higher if cancer was diagnosed after age 50 and 20% higher if cancer was diagnosed in the most recent years among immigrants compared with native Swedes. Women with the highest SEP had significantly 20% to 30% higher incidence but had 30% to 40% lower case fatality compared with women with the lowest SEP irrespective of country of birth. Age at immigration and duration of residence significantly modified the incidence and case fatality. CONCLUSIONS: Disparities found in case fatality among immigrants by age, duration of residence, age at immigration and country of birth emphasize the importance of targeting interventions on women that are not likely to attend screenings or are not likely to adhere to the therapy suggested by physicians. The lower risk of breast cancer among immigrant women calls for more knowledge about how the lifestyle factors in these women differ from those with high risk, so that preventative measures may be implemented.

Subtype-specific risk of testicular tumors among immigrants and their descendants in Sweden, 1960 to 2007.

BACKGROUND: Testicular cancer is the most common cancer among young male adults in several populations. We compared subtype-specific risk of testicular cancer among migrants and their descendants to that of Swedish-born men to elucidate importance of genetic and environmental factors in testicular cancer etiology and the potential timing of exposures. METHODS: We followed a nationwide cohort of 3.6 million men ages 15 to 54 years between 1960 and 2007 through linkage between Swedish National Registers. Incidence rate ratio (IRR) adjusted for age and calendar year with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was estimated using Poisson regression. RESULTS: A total of 5,801 cases of testicular cancer occurred during 80 million person-years of follow-up. Compared with Swedish-born men, first-generation immigrants from low-risk countries had a lower risk (IRR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.38-0.49) and first-generation immigrants from high-risk countries had a higher risk (IRR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.42-1.83) of testicular cancer. The risk among first-generation immigrants varied remarkably by birthplace, reflecting the risk in their countries of birth. The risk of seminomas was statistically significantly modified by age at immigration and duration of residence among immigrants born in high-risk areas. We observed a statistically significantly convergence of risk among second-generation immigrants toward the risk in Sweden (IRR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.93-1.12). The risk among second-generation immigrants was not affected by the duration of stay of their mothers in Sweden before pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides evidence that life-style and environmental factors play an important role in the etiology of testicular cancer.

Risk of prostate cancer among Swedish-born and foreign-born men in Sweden, 1961-2004.

To elucidate the importance of environmental and genetic factors in prostate cancer etiology, we compared the risk of prostate cancer among foreign-born men to that of Swedish-born men in Sweden and to that in the country of origin. We estimated rate ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusted for age, calendar period of year and education using Poisson regression in a cohort of 3.8 million men aged 45 years and older between 1961 and 2004. During the 45 years of follow-up, 8,244 and 187,675 cases of prostate cancer occurred among foreign-born and Swedish-born men, respectively. Overall, foreign-born men had a significantly 40% decreased risk of prostate cancer compared to Swedish-born men (RR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.61-0.63). Men born in Middle Africa and in the Caribbean had an increased risk (RR = 1.89, 95% CI = 0.95-3.78 and RR = 1.24, 95% CI = 0.71-2.19, respectively). The overall risk in both strata of duration of residence or age at immigration was lower among immigrants compared to Swedish-born men. After additional adjustment for birthplace and age at immigration, although the risk remained lower among immigrants compared to Swedish-born, but it was increased among immigrants who stayed 35 years and longer compared to those who stayed shorter (RR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.21-1.46). Both environmental and genetic factors seem to be involved in the etiology of prostate cancer. Duration of residence was an important factor affecting the risk among immigrants. Studies focusing on the etiology of prostate cancer specifically in African immigrants and their descendants and increasing preventive and diagnostic activities on old immigrants are recommended.

Cervical, endometrial and ovarian cancers among immigrants in Sweden: importance of age at migration and duration of residence.

In order to compare the risk of gynaecologic cancer among foreign-born women to the risk among those born in Sweden and to elucidate risk of cancer in relation to age at migration and duration of residence, we followed a cohort of 5.3 million women between 1969 and 2004 in Sweden. Through linkage with the national cancer register, we estimated cancer risk as rate ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Poisson regression. We reported RRs adjusted for age, calendar year of follow-up and years of education. Overall, 18,247 cases of cervical, 35,290 cases of endometrial and 32,227 cases of ovarian cancers occurred during 117 million person-years of follow-up. We found that adjusted RRs of all the three cancers were lower or the same among foreign-born women compared to those born in Sweden. As for cervical cancer, women aged 35-49 years born in Poland and Bosnia and women aged 50 years or more born in South America showed an increased risk, which was related to increasing age at migration. The risk was lowest among women born in Iran, Iraq, Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) and Finland, and highest among women born in Bosnia and Eastern Europe during their first 5 years since immigration. RRs for endometrial and ovarian cancers did not vary by duration of residence or by age at migration. Health care providers should be aware of the higher risk of cervical cancer among immigrants from high-risk areas, especially among those who immigrate at older ages. On the other hand, protective factors for ovarian and endometrial cancers seem to be retained upon migration.