Association between lipid profiles and cigarette smoke among adults in the Persian cohort (Shahedieh) study.

OBJECTIVES: Exposure to cigarette smoke introduces a large amount of nicotine into the bloodstream through the lungs. So, smoking can be a risk factor for many diseases. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of active and passive cigarette smoke on the blood lipid profile and dyslipidemia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 5052 individuals who participated in the recruitment phase of the Shahedieh cohort study. A logistic regression model was used to investigate the relationship between smoking exposure status and lipid profiles. RESULTS: The prevalence of abnormal low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), abnormal HDL-C, abnormal total cholesterol (TC), abnormal triglyceride (TG), and dyslipidemia were 254 (5.00%), 562 (11.10%), 470 (9.30%), 1008 (20.00%), and 1527 (30.20%), respectively. Adjusting for confounders, it was observed that current smokers had higher odds of having abnormal HDL-C [OR (95% CI), 2.90 (2.28-3.69)], abnormal TG [OR (95% CI), 1.71 (1.38-2.13)] and dyslipidemia [OR (95% CI), 1.86 (1.53-2.25)]. Ex-smokers also had greater odds of abnormal HDL-C [OR (95% CI), 1.51 (1.06-2.16)] compared to non-smokers who were not exposed to cigarette smoke. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that current smokers had higher TG and lower HDL. So, necessary measures should be taken to reduce smoking. The findings also showed that the prevalence of abnormal TG and HDL in ex-smokers was lower than in current smokers. Therefore, the existence of incentive policies to quit smoking seems necessary.

Sleep Quality and Cancer-Related Fatigue in Patients with Cancer.

Introduction: Sleep problems and fatigue are common symptoms reported by cancer patients. In this study, the researchers used a specialized tool to measure fatigue in cancer patients and its relationship with sleep quality in Yazd, Iran. Methods: This descriptive correlational study included 149 cancer patients (age range: over 18 years) referred to Shahid Sadoughi Hospital in Yazd, Iran. Data were collected by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Cancer-Related Fatigue Questionnaire. A PSQI score of ≥5 indicated a poor sleep. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 13.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), Pearson's correlation, t test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and linear regression. Results: The mean (SD) PSQI score of patients was 13 (4.85) out of 21. About 69.3% of patients had a poor sleep quality. While the mean (SD) of sleep duration was 5.57 (0.54) hours, it was 69.44 (46.58) minutes for sleep latency. Also, with increasing the mean of sleep quality, the mean of fatigue significantly increased (P < 0.001, R=0.63). Conclusion: According to the results, there was a relationship between the sleep quality and fatigue in cancer patients, so that patients with better sleep quality had less fatigue.

Construction and Validation of Breast Cancer Awareness Scale in Iranian Women.

Introduction: Application of a single valid and reliable questionnaire in future studies in the area of Iranian women's awareness of breast cancer provides the health policymakers with a comprehensive view over the issue. In designing the current questionnaires in Iran, the prior researchers neither explained about the design procedure, nor calculated the validity and reliability of the questionnaire completely. In this regard, researchers decided to design a standard questionnaire to examine women's awareness about the symptoms and risk factors of the breast cancer. Methods: This methodological study was conducted on 250 women in Yazd. Data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire. The reliability was determined using the Cronbach's alpha and test-retest method. Factor analysis was used to determine the construct validity in SPSS version 21. Results: The face validity of the questionnaire was evaluated by the target population. The results of the impact score indicated that all questions had a score equal or greater than 1.5. The qualitative content validity of the questionnaire was evaluated by the expert panel. Content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI) obtained close to one for questionnaire. Construct validity was confirmed by performing factor analysis and dimensions of the questionnaire were determined. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for all dimensions was higher than 0.8. Also, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for all dimensions was close to one and was between 0.84-0.95. Conclusion: Validity and reliability of designed questionnaire in this study for Iranian women are acceptable and suitable.

Construction and Validation the Lifestyle Questionnaire Related to Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Healthy lifestyle is a significant factor in cancer etiologic and prevention of cancer. There are instruments to measure a healthy life style, but the lifestyle questionnaires only examine one or a few more aspects of lifestyle. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to construct a comprehensive instrument to examine all aspects of lifestyle related to cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional study that was conducted in Yazd city in Iran. A questionnaire was designed to assess and measure various aspects of lifestyle related to cancer using similar studies. Researchers used the Cronbach's alpha and test-retest method to determine the reliability. Also, construct validity was determined using the factor analysis method in SPSS 16 software. RESULTS: Face validity was examined using a panel of experts. Cronbach's alpha for the whole scale was appropriate (α = 0.87). Also, Cronbach's alpha for all dimensions of questionnaire was acceptable (perfect score). Test-retest method was used to determine the reliability. The results indicated that ICC was in the range of 0.84 to 0.94. Based on the obtained results of factor analysis method, 8 dimensions of the questionnaire were extracted (physical health, physical activity and exercise, mental health, drug and alcohol avoidance, balanced consumption of food, environmental pollutants and harmful substances, weight control and nutrition, and reproductive health). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the present questionnaire can be used as a valid and reliable tool for collecting data about the lifestyle of people related to cancer.

Effect of Carrot Intake in the Prevention of Gastric Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: Gastric cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality, with the incidence and mortality being higher in men than in women. Various studies have shown that eating carrots may play a major role in the prevention of gastric cancer. We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the relationship between carrot consumption and gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched multiple databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Persian databases like Scientific Information Database (SID) and IranMedx. The following search terms were used: stomach or gastric, neoplasm or cancer, carcinoma or tumor, and carrot. Statistical analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta Analysis/2.0 software. RESULTS: We retrieved 81 articles by searching the databases. After considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 5 articles were included in this study. The odds ratio (OR) obtained by fixed effects model showed that a 26% reduction in the risk of gastric cancer has been associated with the consumption of carrots) OR=0.74; 95% confidence interval=0.68~0.81; P<0.0001). According to funnel graph, the results showed that the possibility of a publication bias does not exist in this study. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study showed an inverse relationship between the consumption of carrots and the risk of gastric cancer.

Five year survival of women with breast cancer in Yazd.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a non-communicable disease that is considered deadly in many cases. In recent years, the mortality rates from breast cancer have increased with increasing incidences. The present study was conducted to determine five year survival of women with breast cancer in Yazd, in the central region of Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective study, data were obtained from the patient's medical records with breast cancer that were referred to the Shahid Sadoughi hospital and radiotherapy center from 2002-2007 and followed up for 5 years. The data collected were analyzed by SPSS/16 and Kaplan-Meyer test and log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard model was used. RESULTS: The mean age of breast cancer diagnosis was 48.3±11.7 years. The 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year cumulative survivals for breast cancer patients were 95%, 86%, 82%, 76% and 70%, respectively. There were significant differences with age distribution (p=0.006). A significant decrease in the 5-year survival in patients with involvement of lymph nodes was lso observed. CONCLUSIONS: Education for early diagnosis in women must be considered and these findings support the need for breast cancer screening programs.