Male breast cancer: a 32-year retrospective analysis in radiation therapy referral center in northern Iran.

Background: Breast cancer commonly occurs in women, and male breast cancer makes up less than 1% of all cases of breast cancer. The limited prevalence of male breast cancer has led to decreased attention being paid to this condition, resulting in its diagnosis occurring at later ages and at more severe disease stages. Objectives: This study evaluates the demographic and clinicopathological characteristics of male patients diagnosed with breast cancer who visited the northern region of Iran from 1992 to 2023. Methods: This descriptive study reviewed data from 58 cases of male breast cancer between 1992 and 2023. The study aimed to examine and describe the information connected to these patients. The data were analyzed with SPSS.22 set at P value less than 0.05. Results: The mean age of the patients examined was 62.10±13.40 years, while their mean BMI was 27.08±4.95. The study found no statistically significant correlation between BMI with stage and kinds of recurrence, including metastasis and local recurrence (P>0.05). The right and left breast involvement rates were equal (48.28%) in 28 cases, and 2 cases (3.40%) had bilateral involvement. The bone was the predominant site of metastasis, accounting for 69.23% of cases. The analysis revealed no significant correlation between stage and metastasis (P=1.000) or local recurrence (P=0.543). Most metastasis and all the local recurrence were observed in stages 3 and 4. Conclusion: Male breast cancer mainly occurs in older age and is diagnosed in the advanced stages of the disease. Therefore, it is recommended to inform men and develop suitable screening programs, especially in high-risk families.

The effectiveness of pubertal health group counseling based on problem-solving, on body image concerns and anxiety in adolescent girls: Study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Body image concerns are accepted as a pervasive problem by a large segment of society. Problem-solving counseling is one of the practical counseling techniques that mainly focuses on improving people's adaptability in stressful situations. We intend to determine the effectiveness of pubertal health group counseling based on problem-solving on body image concerns and anxiety in adolescent girls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A semi-experimental study will be conducted on 12-13 years old students in Babol (Mazandaran, Iran). One hundred people were determined as the final Sample size (50 people in each group) and will be selected to enter the study. A multistage sampling method will be used. The students of the intervention group will receive the necessary training in the problem-solving method regarding pubertal health, once a week for six weeks. Students in the control group will not receive education during the intervention period. Sociodemographic questionnaire, Littleton's body image concern, and Zong's anxiety will be used to evaluate students' body image concerns and anxiety. Analyzes will be done by statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 25 software and a significance level of 5% will be considered. Descriptive statistics and frequency percentage will be determined for classification variables. Median, range, and mean along with standard deviations (SD) will be calculated. The Chi-square test, Repeated Measures ANOVA and ANCOVA test will be used in this study. Percentage prevalence for each categorical variable is calculated with 95% confidence interval (CI). DISCUSSION: The effectiveness of counseling based on problem-solving has been reported in various studies on adolescent puberty health concerns and common adolescent mental health problems, hence its application on girls' body image can be effective.

Outcomes of surgical correction of Peyronie's disease with plaque excision and grafting: Comparison of testicular tunica vaginalis graft versus bovine pericardium graft.

Objective: Peyronie's disease (PD) is an abnormal wound healing in the penile tunica albuginea. After fibrotic plaque excision, different graft materials have been used to repair the defects, but the optimal graft remains unknown. This study aimed to compare the functional outcomes of testicular tunica vaginalis grafts and bovine pericardium grafts in patients with severe PD. Methods: A retrospective comparative study was conducted on 33 PD patients undergoing partial plaque excision and grafting from September 2015 to May 2021. The patients were divided into two groups depending on the type of graft used. For 15 patients in Group B, testicular tunica vaginalis grafts were used to repair the defect, while for 18 patients in Group A, bovine pericardium grafts were used. Data of the patient's age, comorbidities, sexual function, penile curvature, postoperative complications, need for further treatment, change in penile length, and satisfaction were gathered and compared between the groups. Sexual function was evaluated using the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), and a functional less than 20-degree penile curvature after surgery was considered a successful intervention. Results: There was no difference in age, comorbidities, degree of curvature, perioperative IIEF-5, operative time, plaque size, or complication rates. After surgery, a statistically significant improvement in curvature degree (p<0.05) and satisfactory penile appearance (p<0.05) were seen in both groups without any superiority between the two groups (p=0.423 and p=0.840, respectively). With a 30-month follow-up, the IIEF-5 was consistent in both groups, with no statistical significance between the groups (p=0.492). The main change in penile length during the operation was increased and still positive in the last follow-up in both groups without statistical significance (p=0.255 and p=0.101, respectively). Conclusion: Partial plaque excision and corporoplasty with both testicular tunica vaginalis or bovine pericardium grafts are equally effective in treating males with clinically significant PD.

The relationship between social media dependency and psychological distress due to misunderstanding and fear of COVID-19 in medical students.

Improper use of social media during the COVID-19 outbreak, leading to fear and misunderstanding, can contribute to psychological disorders in vulnerable populations. This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 on 511 medical students of Babol University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected using demographic, psychological distress, fear and misunderstanding questionnaires related to COVID-19 and social media dependency. A total of 511 medical students, with an average age of Mean and S.D; 23.57 ± 3.03 participated in the study. The average psychological distress score was 23.82 ± 7.73 (out of 54), the average score of social media dependency was 17.53 ± 3.09 (out of 30), for the fear of COVID-19 was12.63 ± 2.56 (out of 35), and for the misperception of COVID-19 was 0.53 ± 0.09 (out of 18). Path analysis results) showed that direct path from improper use of social media to psychological distress is significant (P < 0.001, B = 0.19) but this relationship is not significant through fear and misperception related to COVID-19. Improper use of social media, identified as the strongest predictor, can directly increase psychological distress in medical students, without mediation through fear and misperception related to COVID-19. These findings should be taken into consideration when designing and evaluating interventions aimed at promoting mental health and fostering appropriate use of social media among students during disease outbreaks.

The relationship between demographic factors and known risk factors with breast cancer in women aged 30-69.

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most important causes of cancer deaths in women. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between demographic factors and known risk factors with breast cancer in women aged 30-69. Method: This case-control study was conducted with two matched and unmatched control groups. Three hundred fifty women aged 30-69 with breast cancer, 350 age-matched women without cancer, and 350 not age-matched women were included in the study. Controls were selected from the records of women whose breast cancer screening results were normal. Study subjects were evaluated regarding the risk factors for breast cancer. The data collection tool was a checklist including the risk factors investigated in the integrated health system. The collected data were analyzed utilizing SPSS22 software at a significance level of less than 0.05. Results: The average age in the case group was 46.63±11.77 years and 49.61±8.39 in the unmatched control group. The average age of marriage in the case group was 21.54±4.31, and the average age of women at first pregnancy in the case group was 24.06±3.39 years. In the case group, 163 people (46.57%) lived in the city, 221 people (63.14%) were over 40 years old, and 337 people (96.28%) were married. In multivariate analysis, the variable 'age of marriage' 0.821 (0.691-0.976) and 'age of first pregnancy' 1.213 (1.020-1.443) showed a significant relationship with breast cancer which were observed as predictors of breast cancer in comparison to the unmatched control group (P-value <0.05). Conclusion: The age of the first pregnancy and the type of delivery were observed as predictors of breast cancer. Therefore, by performing breast cancer screening in women who are exposed to these risk factors, early diagnosis of the disease and increasing the speed of their treatment can be significantly helped.

Examining the trend of mortality of genitourinary system cancers in Babol, North Iran (2013-2021).

BACKGROUND: Cancers of the genitourinary system, particularly prostate, bladder, and kidney cancer, exhibit a high prevalence. Consequently, predicting the morbidity and mortality of genitourinary cancers holds great significance for future planning and implementation. This study aimed to examine the crude and age-standardized rates of mortality and the trend of genitourinary cancers over nine years in northern Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data on the number of deaths attributed to genitourinary cancers recorded in Babol City between 2013 and 2021 through the cause of death registration and classification system. Population estimates were derived from the latest census reports. Subsequently, crude and age-standardized rates, as well as trends for genitourinary cancers, were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 307 deaths occurred, with an average age of 75.6 ± 14.3 years due to genitourinary cancers. The crude and age-standardized rates of genitourinary cancers increased from 2.7 and 1.9 per hundred thousand people in 2013 to 7.7 and 5.9 per hundred thousand people in 2021, respectively. Over the study period, death rates significantly rose for men (P < 0.001) and remained constant for women (P = 0.444). Examination of genitourinary cancers revealed an upward trend for bladder (P = 0.012) and prostate (P = 0.012) cancers, while a stable trend was observed for kidney (P = 0.070) and testicular (P = 0.139) cancers. CONCLUSIONS: The age-standardized rate and trend of genitourinary cancers are rising. Consequently, this study emphasizes the importance of prevention through screening programs, raising awareness, and utilizing appropriate diagnostic methods.

Body image concern and demographic characteristics as predictors of anxiety in adolescent girls.

OBJECTIVES: Adolescence is a critical and sensitive period of growth, marked by significant physical and psychological changes. During this time, adolescents often experience increased anxiety and concerns about their body image. This study aims to examine body image concern and demographic characteristics as predictors of anxiety in adolescent girls. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 381 female students aged 12-13 from Babol city. The participants were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria. Multi-stage sampling method was employed, and the samples were selected from six middle schools. The data collection tools consisted of a demographic information questionnaire, Littleton's body image concern scale, and Zung's anxiety scale. RESULTS: The mean score for body image concern was 16.59±44.82, while the mean score for anxiety was 10.53±37.31. When investigating the relationship between body image concern and anxiety, a significant and positive correlation between these two variables was observed during regression analysis (p<0.001). Both univariate and multivariate regression analyses indicated that for every one-unit increase in students' body image concern score, their overall anxiety score increased by an average of 0.34 units in both models (B: 0.34, 95 % CI: 0.29-0.39) (p<0.001). Additionally, in univariate regression analyses students who received puberty information from sources other than their mother exhibited 2.68 units higher anxiety levels, which was statistically significant (B: 2.68, 95 % CI: 0.38-4.98) (p<0.001) and, concerning the preferred source of information, students who favored a non-mother source experienced 3.91 units increase in their anxiety score (B: 3.91, 95 % CI: 1.74-6.08) (p<0.001). The results of multivariate regression analysis showed that with the presence of all independent variables in the model, 30 % of the dependent variable changes can be predicted (explained) (R 2 =0.302). CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated a positive association between body image concerns and anxiety among students. Moreover, students who relied on sources other than their mother for obtaining information about puberty displayed higher levels of anxiety. Consequently, it is imperative to implement preventive and supportive programs targeting adolescents as well as empowering mothers to effectively deal with these issues.

Analyzing the trend of mortality due to traffic and nontraffic accidents: a study in the north of Iran.

Background: Examining the raw and standardized mortality rates is the primary strategy for improving life expectancy and human health in society through identifying risk factors and dealing with the factors that cause them. Objectives: This study examined the trend of mortalities due to traffic and nontraffic accidents. Methods: This cross-sectional study examines the registered mortalities during the years 2016-2022 in the form of a census in the health department's death registration and classification system. Mortality was analyzed as raw and standardized mortality in each 100 000 population. Results: Out of 18 265 deaths during 2016-2022, 1305 (7.15%) were related to accidents and incidents. The age-standardized total mortality rate in the first year was 32.9, and in the final year of the study, it was 33.3 per 100 000 people; although there are fluctuations, this trend is upward (P.trend=0.021). Also, the age-standardized traffic death rate in the first year is 19, and in the final year is 12 per 100 000 people; this decreasing trend was not statistically significant (P.trend=0.061). The incidence of age-standardized intentional nontraffic deaths was 1.7 in the first year of the study interval and 9.8 in the last year in 100 000 people, which showed an upward trend (P.trend<0.001). Conclusion: In light of the generally increasing trend of accidents, especially nontraffic accidents, universal and well-rounded measures are necessary for safety matters and reducing mortality.

Determining the challenges and opportunities of virtual teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed method study in the north of Iran.

The aim of this study was to determine the challenges and opportunities of virtual education during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was conducted in 2022-2023 with a mixed method. During the quantitative phase, we chose 507 students from Mazandaran Province medical universities (both governmental and non-governmental) by stratified random sampling and during the qualitative phase 16 experts were collected by purposive sampling until we reached data saturation. Data collecting tools consisted of questionnaires during the quantitative phase and semi-structured interview during the qualitative phase. Data was analyzed using SPSS21 and MAXQDA10. Mean scores of the total score was 122.28±23.96. We found a significant association between interaction dimension and background variables (P < 0.001). The most important privilege of virtual education is uploading the teaching material in the system so that students can access the material constantly and the most important challenge regarding virtual education is lack of proper network connection and limited bandwidth. Virtual education proved to be a suitable alternate to traditional methods of medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic in theoretical topics, we recommend that educational policymakers would take the necessary actions to provide the requirements and facilities needed to improve the quality of virtual education.

Impact of Ramadan fasting on lipid profile, uric acid, and HbA1c in CKD: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Studies have shown that fasting during Ramadan has different effects on circulating levels of several biochemical markers. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of studies related to the effect of fasting in the holy month of Ramadan on lipid profile, uric acid, and HbA1c in CKD patients. Studies were systematically searched and collected from three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). After screening, the quality and risk of bias assessment of the selected articles were evaluated. Study heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochrane test and I² statistic. In case of any heterogeneity random effects model with the inverse-variance method was applied. All analyses were performed using STATA software version 16. Four observational studies were included in this study. The results of this meta-analysis were that cholesterol (Weighted mean differences (WMD):0.21 with 95% CI:-0.09-0.51 (P-value=:0.18)), LDL (WMD:0.06 with 95% CI -0.24-0.36 (P-value:0.69)), triglyceride (WMD:0.05 with 95% CI:-0.25-0.35 (P-value:0.73)) had not-significant increase. Uric acid (WMD: -0.11 with 95% CI: -0.42-0.21 (P-value:0.51)) and HbA1c (WMD: -0.22 with 95% CI: -0.79-0.36 (P-value: 0.46)) show a non-significant decrease. The results of the analyses did not report significant changes in the lipid profile, uric acid, and HbA1c in CKD patients after Ramadan fasting.

Development and psychometric evaluation of uncertainty about disease and treatment scale in hemodialysis patients: a sequential-exploratory mixed-method study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The need for long-term treatment and frequent visits to treatment centers for hemodialysis can lead to psychological problems such as Uncertainty about Disease and Treatment (UC about D&T) in patients with chronic kidney failure. In order to understand uncertainty about disease and treatment and to plan for preventive measures and care interventions in various dimensions, there is a need for reliable and valid tools. The present study was conducted to design and psychometrically evaluate the Uncertainty about Disease and Treatment Scale (UC about D&TS) in patients undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS: This study is of a methodological type and conducted in two stages. The first stage included a deductive (literature review) and an inductive approach (face-to-face interviews). In the second stage, psychometric indices of the UC about D&TS, including face validity (qualitative-quantitative), content validity (qualitative-quantitative), construct validity (exploratory factor analysis), and reliability (using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega) were examined. RESULTS: In the literature review stage, 66 items were extracted, and in the qualitative stage, 48 items were extracted. After merging similar items, 29 items were entered into the psychometric process. No items were removed in the face and content validity stages. In the construct validity stage, five factors were extracted, including self-uncertainty, uncertain situation, uncertain future, uncertainty of treatment outcomes, and information uncertainty, which constituted a total of 82.16% of the total variance. In this stage, five items were removed from the study due to a corrected item-total correlation below 0.32, and four items were removed due to cross-loading. The α and Ω were calculated as 0.828 and 0.818, respectively. The measurement stability and standard error of measurement were estimated at 0.977 and 2.019, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the UC about D&TS is a valid and reliable measure for patients undergoing hemodialysis. This scale is specifically designed to measure UC about D&T in hemodialysis patients, and it is recommended that healthcare providers (Hcps) use this scale in follow-up visits.

Effective factors of severity of traffic accident traumas based on the Haddon matrix: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the factors affecting the severity of trauma caused by traffic accidents based on martrix Haddon; a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: In this study searched five international databases in this study, including Medline/PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, and Google Scholar, for published articles by the end of 2022. Data were entered into the statistical program and analyses were performed using STATA 17.0 software. Odds ratio (OR) values were computed for severity accidents. Results: Results of study showed that among the risk factors related to the host, not using helmet increased the risk of injury severity by 3.44 times compared to people who have used helmets (OR Not using helmet/Using helmet = 3.44, 95% CI: 2.27-5.00, P=0.001, I2=0.00%). Also, crossing over a centre divider has a protective role for the risk of injury severity compared to undertaking (OR crossing over a centre divider/undertaking=0.39, 95% CI: 0.20-0.75, P=0.01, I2=25.79%). in terms of the type of accident, accident of car-car reduces the risk of injury severity by 23% compared to accident of car-pedestrian (OR accident of car-car/accident of car-pedestrian=0.77, 95% CI: 0.61-0.96, P=0.02, I2=0.00%). Conclusions: It is necessary to pay attention to the intersection of human, vehicle and environmental risks and their contribution and how they interact. Based on the Haddon matrix approach, special strategies can be designed to prevent road damage. Safety standards for vehicles should also be addressed through stricter legal requirements and inspections.

Burden of upper gastrointestinal cancers in the east of Golestan province (Golestan cohort study).

BACKGROUND: Cancers, especially Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers (UGCs), pose a substantial burden on society, particularly in developing nations. Golestan province, Iran, is known for its high UGC rates globally. AIMS: This study delves into the disease burden of UGCs in the eastern part of Golestan province. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was conducted using the results of the Golestan cohort study. 2711 patients participating in this cohort, who visited Atrak Clinic during 2001-2020, participated in this study. After excluding patients with incomplete records, 2481 patients were included in the study. To compute the metrics of years of life lost (YLL), years of life lived with disability (YLD), and disability-adjusted life years (DALY), we utilized the World Health Organization's standard life table, stratified by age and gender. The majority of UGC patients in our study were married (81.8%), had limited formal education (82.6%), and were predominantly male (61.1%). A substantial proportion resided in suburban areas (85.8%), and over half of the patients (52%) reported a history of drug addiction. The mean age at diagnosis for men was 65.76 years with a standard deviation of 11.34, while for women, it was 64.38 years with a standard deviation of 11.66. Regarding disease impact, YLL, YLD, and DALY for men were 21 240, 1956, and 23 196 (307.8 per 100 000), respectively. For women, these figures were 15 609 for YLL, 1367 for YLD, and 16 976 (223.1 per 100 000) for DALY. CONCLUSION: After the increasing trend of the burden of UGCs in Golestan province in the early years of the study, this rate has been decreasing in recent years. Effective strategies necessitate collaborative efforts across various sectors to alleviate this burden, focusing on preventive measures, timely diagnosis, and well-coordinated therapeutic interventions.

Investigating the mortality trend of gastrointestinal cancers in Babol, North Iran (2013-2021).

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This study aims to examine the mortality rate and trend of gastrointestinal cancers, particularly gastric cancer, as the leading cause of death among cancers in northern Iran over a 9-year period. In light of the changing incidence and mortality rates of cancer in Iran and around the world, the importance of these diseases in people's lives, and the necessity of updating and monitoring the trend of cancer mortality, we have decided to report on the mortality trend of gastrointestinal cancers, based on crude and age-standardized rates. METHOD: This study is a cross-sectional examination of deaths caused by gastrointestinal cancers in Babol city, Iran, between 2013 and 2021. Data was collected from the cause of death registration and classification system of Babol University of Medical Sciences. Population estimation was obtained from the latest census reports. The crude and age-standardized mortality rates and trends of the cancers were calculated. RESULTS: Overall, there were 1345 deaths from gastrointestinal cancers with an average age of 69.11 ± 14.25 years. The crude and age-standardized rates of these cancers rose from 24.1 to 20.1 per hundred thousand people in 2012 to 29.5 and 25.5 per hundred thousand people, respectively. This trend became more prevalent significantly with the increase of each decade of age for both men (P-value Trend = 0.002) and women (P-value Trend = 0.012). An analysis of gastrointestinal cancers revealed a decreasing trend for cancers of the small intestine, an increasing trend for cancers of the colon, pancreas, and gallbladder, and a stable trend for the remaining cancers over the study period. CONCLUSION: The age-standardized rate and the number of gastrointestinal cancers is rising, highlighting the importance of preventative measures such as screening, increasing public awareness, and appropriate diagnostic methods.

Cervical Multifidus and Longus Colli Ultrasound Differences among Patients with Cervical Disc Bulging, Protrusion and Extrusion and Asymptomatic Controls: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of this study was to analyze the differences in morphological and histological features of the cervical multifidus (CM) and longus colli (LC) muscles among patients with cervical disc bulging, protrusion, or extrusion. Fifteen patients with cervical disc bulging (20% male, mean age: 48.5, standard deviation (SD) 7.5 years), fifteen with cervical disc protrusion (6% male, mean age: 43, SD 7.8 years), and fifteen with cervical disc extrusion (40% male, mean age: 44, SD 8 years) diagnosed via clinical and imaging findings participated in this study. Additionally, fifteen asymptomatic controls (40% male, mean age: 40.4, SD 9.7 years) were also included. The following ultrasound measurements, cross-sectional area (CSA), anterior-posterior distance (APD), lateral dimension (LD), and mean echo-intensity (EI) of the CM and LC at C5-C6 level were examined by an assessor blinded to the subject's condition. The results revealed no group ×side significant differences among the groups (p > 0. 00625). However, group effects were found for APD and MEI of the CM (p = 0.006 and p < 0.001, respectively) and CSA, APD and MEI of the LC (all, p < 0.001). The LD of the LC muscle and the APD and LD of the CM were negatively associated with related disability (p < 0.01; p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively), and pain intensity was negatively associated with LC APD and LD (both p < 0.05). These results suggest that US can be used to detect bilateral morphological changes in deep cervical flexors and extensors to discriminate patients with cervical disc alterations.

Psychometric properties of the COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale: Post-Covid-19 syndrome in Iranian elderly population.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the construct validity and reliability of the Iranian version of the COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale (C19-YRS) among the elderly population. METHOD: A cohort of 230 elderly individuals who tested positive for Covid-19 via PCR were administered a health and demographic information questionnaire along with the C19-YRS. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted, and Cronbach's alpha was calculated. RESULTS: Findings from the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of the C19-YRS revealed alterations compared to the original version, resulting in an adapted version with three factors achieved by redistributing the questions. These factors accounted for 57.46% of the total variance. Despite a relatively lower factor loading in the 6th question, it was retained due to its significance among the elderly. The Cronbach's alpha for the C19-YRS subscales ranged from 0.730 to 0.890, indicating acceptable reliability. CONCLUSION: The validation results indicated a well-adjusted factor structure and internal consistency, affirming the utility of this tool among the elderly population. Consequently, the C19-YRS in Iran can serve as a valuable resource in healthcare settings, aiding in the assessment of chronic complications arising from Covid-19 in the elderly. It can be utilized as an initial screening or triage test and to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.

Survival rate of cervical cancer in Asian countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer is one of the main causes of death, and cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of death from malignancy among women. Knowing the survival rate is used to evaluate the success of current treatments and care. This study was conducted to assess the survival rate of cervical cancer in Asia. METHODS: This systematic survey was conducted on four international databases, including Medline/PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, and Web of Knowledge, and includes manuscripts that were published until the end of August 2021. Selected keywords were searched for international databases including cervical neoplasms [mesh], survival analysis or survival or survival rate, Asian countries (name of countries). The Newcastle-Ottawa Qualitative Evaluation Form was used for cohort studies to evaluate the quality of the articles. The analysis process was performed to evaluate the heterogeneity of the studies using the Cochran test and I2 statistics. Additionally, a meta-regression analysis was performed based on the year of the study. RESULTS: A total of 1956 articles were selected and reviewed based on their title. The results showed that 110 articles met the inclusion criteria. According to the randomized model, the 1, 3, 5, and 10-year survival rates of cervical cancer were 76.62% (95% Confidence Interval (CI), 72.91_80.34), 68.77% (95% CI, 64.32_73.21), 62.34% (95% CI, 58.10_66.59), and 61.60% (95% CI, 52.31_70.89), respectively. Additionally, based on the results of meta-regression analysis, there was an association between the year of the study and the survival rate, elucidating that the survival rate of cervical cancer has increased over the years. CONCLUSIONS: Results can provide the basic information needed for effective policy making, and development of public health programs for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cervical cancer.

Survival rate of vaginal cancer in Asian countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Vaginal cancer is one of the major causes of mortality in women, which mostly takes place in low- and middle-income countries. Assessing the survival rate of vaginal cancer is essential to investigate the success rate of current treatments and screening tools. This study aims to determine the survival rate of vaginal cancer in Asia. Methods: This systematic review was carried out using four international databases, including Medline/Pubmed, ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, and also Google Scholar. Articles were investigated up to the end of August 2021. The authors utilized the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to evaluate the quality of the articles. Evaluating the papers for heterogeneity was performed using the Cochrane test and I² statistic. Meta-regression analysis was also applied based on the year of the study. Results: Three articles (13 records) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Based on the random model, the overall 5-year survival rate was 74.63%. Also, the rates of survival in relation to the type of treatment including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or other modalities, were 78.53, 78.44, and 68.54%, respectively. According to meta-regression analysis, no correlation was found between the survival rate and the year of the study. Conclusion: The vaginal cancer survival rate is lower in Asian countries compared to that of developed countries. Increasing patient survival rates in such countries is crucial by implementing newer diagnostic tools, advanced surgical techniques, and goal-oriented treatments. Early diagnosis in lower stages and educating the populations about risk factors and preventative measures are also necessary for raising the rate of survival.

Prevalence of hypertension in Iran: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of community-based studies.

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is one of the primary risk factors for heart disease and stroke worldwide. The present meta-analysis was aimed to systematically review and statistically estimate the prevalence rate of pre-hypertension (PHTN) and HTN in the Iranian child/adolescent and adult age groups. Methods: In this study, four International databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane, as well as three Iranian databases, including SID, Magiran, and IranMedex, were separately investigated for articles published before January 2021. Also, we estimated the pooled effect size for the prevalence of PHTN and HTN in children/adolescent and adult age groups. Stata software (version 14.0) was used for all statistical analyses. Results: From a total of 1185 articles found in database searches, fifty-one were included in the meta-analysis. The prevalence of HTN in the Iranian adult population was 26.26% (25.11 % and 26.22 % for women and men, respectively). Meanwhile, the prevalence of PHTN and HTN in the child/adolescent age group was 8.97% (95% CI 7.33 - 10.61) and 8.98% (95% CI 7.59 - 10.36), respectively. Conclusions: This study provides information which can be used for various purposes, including study designing. Further nationwide surveys should be carried out to obtain accurate information on the HTN prevalence rate, particularly based on the American College of Cardiology /American Heart Association guidelines in the Iranian population.

The 30-year incremental pattern of breast cancer: A study in the northern of Iran.

Background: Rapid economic progress and cultural-social changes have led to lifestyle changes and increased risk of breast cancer all around the world, including Iran. This study aims to investigate the 30-year incremental pattern of breast cancer in patients of Shahid Rajaei Radiation Therapy Center in Babolsar, North of Iran.||. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the data were retrospectively extracted from the physical and electronic files of patients diagnosed with breast cancer from 1992 to 2021 every 5 year by census method, during the study, overall, 1326 patients' information out of 6199 patients was analyzed using SPSSV.22 software at the level of p-value ≤ 0.05. Results: The average age of patients was 49.84 ± 11.26 years, which has been increasing over the years of study. 6143(99.13%) patients were women, the mean and standard deviation of their BMI was 29.63 ± 6.00, the number of patients with stage 1 is increasing, and patients with stage 3 is decreasing. 871(65.70%) people went through Radical Mastectomy (MRM), 261(19.68%) people experienced metastasis. There was a statistically significant relation between the type of surgery, stage of cancer, metastasis, and local recurrence within the years of study (p<0.001). Conclusion: Breast cancer and the age of getting it have increased in recent years. However, advanced stages as well as metastasis and local recurrence have decreased during the investigated years. Therefore, it is recommended to continuously warn women about the risk factors and develop suitable disease screening programs and implement them effectively.