Changes in FTO and IRX3 gene expression in obese and overweight male adolescents undergoing an intensive lifestyle intervention and the role of FTO genotype in this interaction.

BACKGROUND: Lifestyle intervention may have a critical effect on the association between genetics and obesity. This study aimed to investigate changes in FTO and IRX3 gene expression in obese and overweight male adolescents undergoing a lifestyle intervention and the role of FTO genotype in this interaction. METHODS: This study was a field trial of 62 adolescents from boys' high schools in Tehran, Iran. Two schools were randomly allocated as the intervention (n = 30) and control (n = 32) schools. The rs9930506 SNP in FTO was genotyped at baseline and the level of FTO and IRX3 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Anthropometric measurements were assessed at baseline and after 18 weeks of intensive lifestyle intervention. RESULTS: Our results showed that IRX3 expression in the intervention group was significantly up-regulated compared to baseline (P = 0.007) and compared to the control group (P = 0.011).The intervention group had significantly up-regulated transcripts of IRX3 only in rs9930506 risk allele carriers of the intervention group compared to risk allele carriers of the control group (P = 0.017). Moreover, our data showed that the FTO expression was up-regulated in AA genotype carriers and down-regulated in AG/GG genotype carriers (P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Lifestyle modification may exert its effects on obesity through changes in the expression level of the FTO and IRX3 genes. However, FTO genotype plays a role in the extent of the effect of lifestyle changes on gene expression. Further studies are crucial to have a better understanding of the interaction between lifestyle, genetics and anthropometric measurements. Trial registration This paper reports a comprehensive intervention study (Interactions of Genetics, Lifestyle and Anthropometrics study or IGLA study), which is retrospectively registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials as IRCT2016020925699N2. Date registered: April 24, 2016. ( https://www.irct.ir/searchresult.php?id=25699&number=2 ).

Dietary Carbohydrate Promotes Cell Survival in Cancer Via the Up-Regulation of Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene Expression Level.

Cancer cells are mainly dependent on glycolysis for their growth and survival. Dietary carbohydrates play a critical role in the growth and proliferation of cancer and a low-carbohydrate diet may help slow down the growth of tumours. However, the exact mechanisms behind this effect are unclear. This review study aimed to investigate the effect of fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene in the association between dietary carbohydrates and cancer. This study was carried out using keywords such as polymorphism and/or cancer and/or dietary carbohydrate and/or FTO gene. PubMed and Science Direct databases were used to collect all related articles published from 1990 to 2018. Recent studies showed that the level of FTO gene expression in cancer cells is dramatically increased and may play a role in the growth of these cells through the regulation of the cellular metabolic pathways, including the phosphoinositide 3-kinases/protein kinaseB (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway. Dietary carbohydrate may influence the FTO gene expression by eliminating the inhibitory effect of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) on the FTO gene expression. This review summarised what has been recently discovered about the effects of dietary carbohydrate on cancer cells and tried to determine the mediating role of the FTO gene in these effects.

Determination of effective factors on geographic distribution of the incidence of colorectal cancer in Tehran using geographically weighted Poisson regression model.

Background: This study aimed to determine effective factors on geographic distribution of the Incidence of Colorectal Cancer (CRC) in Tehran, Iran using Geographically Weighted Poisson Regression Model. Methods: This ecological study was carried out at neighborhood level of Tehran in 2017-2018. Data for CRC incidence was extracted from the population-based cancer registry data of Iran. The socioeconomic variables, risk factors and health costs were extracted from the Urban HEART Study in Tehran. Geographically weighted Poisson regression model was used for determination of the association between these variables with CRC incidence. GWR 4, Stata 14 and ArcGIS 10.3 software systems were used for statistical analysis. Results: The total number of incident CRC cases were 2815 in Tehran from 2008 to 2011, of whom, 2491 cases were successfully geocoded to the neighborhood. The median IRR for local variables were : unemployed people over 15 year old (median IRR: 1.17), women aged 17 years or older with university education (median IRR: 1.17), women head of household (median IRR: 1.06), people without insurance coverage (median IRR: 1.10), households without daily consumption of milk (median IRR: 0.85), smoking households (median IRR: 1.07), household's health expenditure (median IRR: 1.39), disease diagnosis costs (median IRR: 1.03), medicines costs of households (median IRR: 1.05), cost of the hospital (median IRR: 1.09), cost of medical visits (median IRR: 1.27). Conclusion: The spatial variability was observed for most socioeconomic variables, risk factors and health costs that had effects on CRC incidence in Tehran. Spatial variability is necessary when interpreting the results and utterly helpful for implementation of prevention programs.

hOGG1 gene polymorphism and breast cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis study.

To address the effect of hGGO1 (rs1052133) gene polymorphism on the risk of breast cancer, a meta-analysis was performed. We pooled adjusted odds ratios (OR) as overall and three subgroups (menopausal status, ethnicity, and study setting). In overall analysis, we found a significant association when the model of inheritance was homozygote (pooled OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.01, 1.29). Subgroup analysis showed significant association for homozygote genetic models among postmenopause women (OR 1.23; 95% CI 1.01, 1.49) and Asian population (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.01, 1.35). This study suggested that the carrier of Ser326Cys polymorphism of hOGG1, Cys/Cys vs Ser/Ser, are at higher risk for breast cancer, independent of other hormonal and environmental risk factors.

Determinants of survival of common childhood cancers in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is the second most common cause of morbidity and mortality in children. This study aimed to epidemiologically and demographically assess common cancers in children in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cohort study was conducted on children registered in Mahak Hospital and Rehabilitation Complex (which is a non-governmental organizations (NGO)-related hospital for only malignant diseases). A total of 2232 questionnaires were filled out for cancer patients between 2007 and 2016. The factors including age, gender, race, family history, type of treatment, and type of cancer were entered into Cox regression model to examine their effect on mortality of children diagnosed with cancer. RESULTS: The Cox regression model showed that age, race, type of cancer, family history of cancer, and type of treatment had a significant effect on mortality of children diagnosed with cancer (P < 0.05). The hazard ratio (HR) of mortality in 10-15 years old was higher than that of 1-5 years old (P = 0.03, HR = 1.3). The HR of mortality in patients with brain tumor (P < 0.01, HR = 2.24), sarcoma (P < 0.01, HR = 2.32), and neuroblastoma (P < 0.01, HR = 2.56) was twice the value in patients with leukemia. The HR of mortality in patients who had a family history of cancer was higher than that of patients without it (P < 0.01, HR = 1.33). Patients who had undergone chemotherapy along with surgery and radiotherapy (P = 0.02, HR = 0.68) and patients who received chemotherapy along with surgery (P = 0.01, HR = 0.67) had a lower HR of mortality compared to the chemotherapy group. CONCLUSION: Young age, multidisciplinary approach, and absence of family history were associated with lower hazard of death in children diagnosed with cancer; brain tumor, leukemia, and sarcoma had higher hazard of mortality compared to leukemia. Children with a family history of cancer should be under regular follow-up. Treatment should be multidisciplinary and comprehensive.

Herbal Medicines in Idiopathic Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: A Systematic Review.

Idiopathic heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB; IHMB) is a common gynecological problem with no pelvic pathology or general bleeding disorder. Herbal remedies are commonly used to treat HMB. This systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of herbal preparations for the treatment of IHMB. MEDLINE, Ovid, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from inception to 23 August 2015. Only randomized controlled trials were considered. Three randomized controlled trials were included in this systematic review. Different herbal preparations were used in the included trials. In two studies, Ginger capsules and myrtle fruit syrup significantly reduced the menstrual duration and blood loss compared with placebo based on the pictorial blood loss assessment chart score (p < 0.001, p = 0.01). In another trial, Punica granatum flower capsules were as effective as tranexamic acid capsules in reducing the mean (SD) pictorial blood loss assessment chart score, with no significant difference between the two treatments (p = 0.3). The results show that the methods used in these trials may reduce menstrual bleeding in women with IHMB. Additional well-designed trials are needed to investigate the safety and efficacy of herbs for the treatment of women with IHMB or other forms of HMB.

ChecKAP: A Checklist for Reporting a Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) Study.

INTRODUCTION: The Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) model is a foundational tool in public health research. KAP surveys play a vital role in this process by gauging a population's current level of knowledge about a specific health issue. Rigorous evaluation is essential for ensuring the validity and reliability of KAP studies. Therefore, in this study, a comprehensive checklist for reporting Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) Studies was developed. METHODOLOGY: This study was conducted using a systematic six-step roadmap. A comprehensive review of available relevant quality assessment tools led to the development of specific new items. An expert panel reviewed the initial draft, and after corrections were made, the second draft was finalized and subjected to psychometric analysis by experts. RESULTS: The development of ChecKAP (Checklist for Reporting Items for Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice) represents a significant contribution to KAP studies. The final tool consists of 46 items across 8 fields: title (1 item), abstract (6 items), keywords (1 item), introduction (6 items), method (11 items), findings (7 items), discussion (15 items), and conclusion (1 item). CONCLUSION: ChecKAP assesses the inherent complexity of KAP research methods and ensures consistent reporting. It fills an important gap in the KAP research literature and serves a dual purpose. First, it acts as a quality assessment tool for reviewers, enabling them to evaluate the methodological rigor and clarity of submitted manuscripts. Second, it serves as a guideline for authors, promoting a more systematic and transparent approach to reporting.

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium in Meta-Analysis Studies and Large-Scale Genomic Sequencing Era.

The Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) is a fundamental principle employed in the analysis of genetic data, encompassing studies of meta-analysis and genomic sequencing. It has been demonstrated that HWE possesses the property of transitivity, wherein a multi-allelic polymorphism in equilibrium will persist in its equilibrium state even when alleles are deleted or combined. Nonetheless, the practice of filtering loci that do not adhere to HWE has been observed to impact the inference of population genetics within RADseq datasets. In response to this concern, the Robust Unified Test for HWE (RUTH) has been devised to consider population structure and genotype uncertainty, thereby offering a more precise evaluation of the quality of genotype data. Furthermore, deviations from HWE, such as extreme heterozygote excess, can be effectively utilized to identify genotyping errors or to pinpoint the presence of rare recessive disease-causing variants. In summary, it is evident that HWE holds immense significance in the field of genetic analysis, and its application in meta-analysis studies and genomic sequencing can yield invaluable insights into the intricacies of population structure and the genetics of diseases.

Cervical cancer incidence trends in Canada: a 30-year population-based analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To use the most recent data to update the trend in cervical cancer incidence in Canada over the 30 year period from 1978 to 2009. METHODS: Registered cases of cervical cancer and the corresponding person years for the Canadian population were retrieved from an online data repository of the International Agency on Research on Cancer and from Statistics Canada for the period 1978 to 2009. Annual age-standardized rates were estimated for all data combined and for each province separately. The ages of cases were aggregated into three groups: 25 to 39, 40 to 59, and 60 to 75 years. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to describe the trend across age groups and provinces. RESULTS: Between 1978 and 2006, the age-adjusted cervical cancer rate in Canada decreased from 20.05 to 12.66 per 100 000 females; after 2006 the rate increased. Greater reductions were observed in the older age groups. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) was -1.1% (95% CI -1.1% to 0.09%), -1.8% (95% CI -2.5% to -1.2%), and -2.6% (95% CI -3.9% to -1.4%) for age groups 25 to 39, 40 to 60, and 60 to 75, respectively. The AAPC varied between provinces, ranging from -0.22% (95% CI -1.4% to 0.9%) in Saskatchewan to -3.02% (95% CI -4.5% to -1.5%) in Newfoundland and Labrador. In Ontario the incidence of cervical cancer increased annually between 2006 and 2009. The trend in British Columbia included a significant change of slope in 1984. CONCLUSION: The incidence of cervical cancer decreased in Canada and across all provinces between 1978 and 2009. The decrease was greater in older women.

Objectifs : Utiliser les données les plus récentes pour offrir une mise à jour quant à la tendance pour ce qui est de l'incidence du cancer du col utérin au Canada au cours de la période de 30 ans s'étalant de 1978 à 2009. Méthodes : Les cas enregistrés de cancer du col utérin et les taux correspondants en personnes-années pour la population canadienne ont été récupérés auprès d'un dépôt de données en ligne du Centre International de Recherche sur le Cancer, ainsi qu'auprès de Statistique Canada, pour la période 1978 - 2009. Les taux annuels standardisés en fonction de l'âge ont été estimés pour l'ensemble des données et, de façon distincte, pour chacune des provinces. Les âges des cas ont été agrégés en trois groupes : 25 - 39 ans, 40 - 59 ans et 60 - 75 ans. Une analyse de régression Joinpoint a été utilisée pour décrire la tendance d'un groupe d'âge et d'une province à l'autre. Résultats : Entre 1978 et 2006, au Canada, le taux de cancer du col utérin corrigé en fonction de l'âge est passé de 20,05 à 12,66 par 100 000 femmes; après 2006, le taux a connu une hausse. Des baisses plus importantes ont été constatées au sein des groupes plus âgés. La modification annuelle moyenne en pourcentage (MAMP) était de −1,1 % (IC à 95 %, −1,1 % - 0,09 %), de −1,8 % (IC à 95 %, −2,5 % - −1,2 %) et de −2,6 % (IC à 95 %, −3,9 % - −1,4 %) pour les groupes d'âge de 25 à 39 ans, de 40 à 60 ans et de 60 à 75 ans, respectivement. La MAMP variait d'une province à l'autre, allant de −0,22 % (IC à 95 %, −1,4 % - 0,9 %) en Saskatchewan à −3,02 % (IC à 95 %, −4,5 % - −1,5 %) à Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador. En Ontario, l'incidence du cancer du col utérin a connu une hausse annuelle entre 2006 et 2009. En Colombie-Britannique, la tendance comptait une modification de pente significative en 1984. Conclusion : L'incidence du cancer du col utérin a connu une baisse, au Canada et dans toutes les provinces, entre 1978 et 2009. Cette baisse a été plus accentuée chez les femmes plus âgées.

Effect of cognitive-behavioural therapy on resilience and relapse in adult patients with substance use disorder: a systematic review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 0.5 million fatalities per year are attributed to substance use disorder (SUD). SUD is refractory to therapy and has a high relapse rate. Cognitive deficits are also common in patients with SUD. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is a promising treatment that may build resilience and reduce relapse among people with SUD. Our planned systematic review aims to clarify the effect of CBT on resilience and the relapse rate in adult patients with SUD compared with treatment as usual or no intervention. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will search the Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Medline, Cochrane, EBSCO CINAHL, EMBASE and PsycINFO databases from inception to July 2023 for all relevant randomised controlled or quasiexperimental trials published in English. The follow-up period of included studies must be at least 8 weeks. The PICO (Population, intervention, control, and outcome) format was used to develop the search strategy. Search terms will be combined using boolean operators and have been customised for different databases. The Cochrane tool for randomised controlled trials will be used to assess the risk of bias in included studies. Extracted data will include bibliographic data, sample size, intervention method, summary of the findings, follow-up duration and effect sizes with standard errors. A random effects model will be used to combine effect measures. Subgroup analyses will be performed by CBT type, sex and SUD subtype, as applicable. I2 statistics will be used to evaluate heterogeneity, and funnel plots will be used to address publication bias. If we detect significant heterogeneity, the findings will be reported as a systematic review without a meta-analysis. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval is not required for this study. The findings will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022344596.

REPCAN: Guideline for REporting Population-based CANcer Registry Data.

Background: The objective of this study was to develop a guideline on how to report result of a population-based cancer registry. Methods: The guideline's development involved a core working committee and a scientific committee comprising experts from diverse domains. The process comprised three steps: 1) a comprehensive review of existing tools and guidelines and the development of the initial draft of the guideline based on a review of literature, 2) refinement items through several rounds of focus group discussion among the core group, and development initial draft, and 3) Evaluation of the initial draft by scientific committee members. Items in the guideline were organized to accommodate reports of population-based cancer registries as a scientific manuscript. Results: The core committee developed 47 items distributed in the major heading of a scientific manuscript presented as a checklist. The evaluation of the scientific committee led to a consensus on the majority of the items included in the checklist. Among 10 committee members, 7 provided unreserved approval, validating each item's necessity, applicability, and comprehensibility in the checklist. Feedback from the remaining 3 members was carefully analyzed and integrated to enhance the guideline's robustness. Incorporating feedback, a first final draft was presented in a meeting of scientific and core working committee members. Collaborative discussion ensured clarity of expression for each items and a final checklist was developed. Conclusion: The guideline abbreviated as REPCAN offers a standardized framework for reporting population-based cancer registry, fostering transparency, comparability, and comprehensive data presentation. The guideline encourages flexibility while promoting comprehensive and robust reporting practices.

Survival of gastric cancer patients in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: This study aimed to estimate the survival rates among Iranian gastric cancer patients and to evaluate if the survival has improved during the last three decades. Background: Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in Iran with high mortality. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of all published studies addressing gastric cancer survival in Iran was performed. International databases of Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Iranian databases were included in the study. The study included databases from their inception till February 2022. Due to the inherent heterogeneity, we used a random effect model to pool the survivals in three categories of one, three, and five-year survivals. Results: Thirty-three studies with total cases of 17,207 were included in the study. The overall (pooled) one, three, and five-year survivals were estimated as 58.9% (95% CI: 0.52, 0.66), 29.9% (95% CI: 0.25, 0.35), and 18.2% (95% CI: 0.15, 0.23), respectively. Results of subgroup analysis for the calendar years of study showed that the one, three, and five-year survival rates increased during the last three decades but the results were not statistically significant. There was the disparity in survival based on geographic distribution. Conclusion: The results of our study which has pooled many studies for a long period of time clearly indicate that the survival rates of gastric cancer patients have improved. As the improvement of survival may be due to many factors, more studies is needed to understand the dynamic behind this improvement.

Geographic Distribution and Estimating the Childhood Cancer Incidence in Iran: Three-Source Capture-Recapture Analysis on National Registries Data.

Background: Cancers seldom happen in childhood age and awareness of accurate cancer incidence is essential in order to preventive programs. This study aimed to estimate the childhood cancer incidence in Iran using the three-source capture -recapture method. Methods: Total new cases of childhood cancer reported by three national data sources of MAHAK charity database, pathology reports and clinical records in Iran were enrolled in this study. The common cases among three sources were determined using data linkage method. The childhood incidence rate per 1 million populations was estimated based on three-source capture-recapture method. We used BIC, G2 and AIC statistics to select the best-fit model. Arch GIS was used to determine geographic distribution. Results: Overall, 2567 childhood cancer was included by three sources of registries. The total estimated number of childhood cancer was 5388 (95% CI: 4742.15-6228,14). The higher estimated incidence rate was Leukemia, Lymphoma by 94.91 and 24.80 per 1 million populations and the lower incidence was liver and retinoblastoma with 2.35 and 7.01 per 1 million populations. Provinces of Ardabil and Kohgiluyeh with an incidence rate of 420.01 and 404.61 per 1 million populations had a higher incidence rate and Mazandaran and Ilam with an incidence rate of 60.87 and 66.88 per 1 million populations had the lowest incidence. The overall completeness of the childhood cancer registry based on three-source was 48%. Conclusion: The low-quality childhood cancer registration system highlights the needs for urgent screening programs for early detection in the high prevalent area in Iran.

Risk of second primary cancer among breast cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the extra risk of second primary cancer among breast cancer patients. Methods and materials: This is a systematic review. A comprehensive search of literature was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane library, and Scopus. The search included all published studies up to October 2022. This systematic review included studies published in the English language that reported the risk of second primary non-breast cancer [i.e., standardized incidence ratio (SIR)] among breast cancer patients older than 15 years. After evaluating the methodological quality of the selected studies, SIRs were pooled with consideration of heterogeneity among studies. The estimates were pooled by age and time since the diagnosis of primary breast cancer for both sexes (male and female). Age was categorized based on before 50 years and after 50 years, and time was categorized as duration of less than and more than 10 years, respectively. Results: From 2,484 articles, 30 articles were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The studies varied in terms of population, number of cases, study design, setting, and year of implementation of the research. The estimated SIR for men and women was 1.28 (95% CI: 1.18, 1.38) and 1.27 (95% CI: 1.15, 1.39), respectively. Women diagnosed with breast cancer before menopause [SIR: 1.52 (95% CI: 1.34, 1.71) vs. 1.21 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.34)] as well as women after 10 years since their breast cancer diagnosis [1.33 (95% CI: 1.22, 1.431) vs. 1.24 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.37)] were at a higher risk of developing second primary cancer. Among men, while there were no differences in risk based on age, with the increase of time, the risk of second primary cancer was reduced [SIR: 1.22 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.33) vs. 1.00 (95% CI: 0.79, 1.22)]. Conclusion: There is an extra risk of second primary cancer among breast cancer patients. The extra risk should be considered for further screening and preventive measures among this population. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=336062, identifier (CRD42022336062).

The association among calorie, macronutrient, and micronutrient intake with colorectal cancer: A case-control study.

The risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) can be influenced by dietary components. This study aims to investigate the association between dietary intake and CRC in Iranian adults. This hospital-based case-control study was performed on 160 patients with CRC and 320 healthy people. General and pathological data were collected through face-to-face interviews. A validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess the intake of calories, macronutrients, and micronutrients. The case group had a significantly higher intake of calories, carbohydrates, vitamin A, vitamin K, fluoride, and molybdenum and a lower intake of vitamin E, vitamin B1, beta carotene, biotin, folate, magnesium, selenium, manganese, and fiber (all p < .001). CRC was positively associated with the intake of carbohydrate (OR: 1.01, CI% 1.03-1.01, p = .001), and vitamin A (OR: 1.009, CI 95% 1.006-1.01, p = .001) and negatively associated with intake of fiber (OR: 0.67, CI 95% 0.59-0.76, p = .001), beta carotene (OR: 0.99, CI 95% 0.99-0.99, p = .001), vitamin E (OR: 0.27, CI 95% 0.15-0.47, p = .001), folate (OR: 0.98 CI 95% 0.97-0.98, p = .001), and biotin (OR: 0.83, CI 95% 0.77-0.90, p = .001). The associations remained significant after adjusting for age and sex. Further adjustments for physical activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking did not change the results. The results identified that the risk of colorectal cancer can be influenced by dietary intake. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings and to identify the underlying mechanisms of the effects of dietary components on the risk of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal Cancer Mortality in Kazakhstan: Spatio-Temporal Epidemiological Assessment.

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to study the trends in colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality in Kazakhstan. METHODS: The retrospective study was done using descriptive and analytical methods of oncoepidemiology. The extensive, crude and age-specific mortality rates are determined according to the generally accepted methodology used in sanitary statistics. RESULTS: CRC mortality in Kazakhstan is considered to be increasing. Therefore, this study (for the period 2009-2018) was undertaken to retrospectively evaluate data across the country available from the central registration bureau. Age standardized data for mortality was generated and compared across age groups. It was determined that during the studied period 15,200 died of this pathology. During the studied years an average age of the dead made 69.8 years (95%CI=69.5-70.0). The average annual standardized mortality rate was 10.2 per 100,000, and in dynamics tended to decrease. Peak of mortality was noted in aged 60-84 years. Trends in age-related mortality rates had a pronounced tendency to increase in 30-34 years (T=+11.7%, R2=0.7980) and to decrease in 75-79 years (T=-16.4%, R2=0.8881). In many regions, there is a decrease in the number of deaths. During the compilation of cartograms, mortality rates were determined on the basis of standardized indicators: low - up to 8.9, average - from 8.9 to 11.5, high - above 11.5 per 100,000 for the entire population. In addition, all calculations were made taking into account age-sex differences. CONCLUSION: Trends in mortality from CRC in recent years have decreased from 11.2 to 7.7 per 100,000 of the total population, while the trend is stable (T=-3.6%, R2=0.8745). The study of regional mortality has theoretical and practical significance: monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of early detection and treatment of detected pathology. Health authorities should take into account the results obtained when organizing anti-cancer measures.

Development of a Critical Appraisal Tool (AIMRDA) for the Peer-Review of Studies Assessing the Anticancer Activity of Natural Products: A Step towards Reproducibility.

The journal of APJCP (Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention) focuses to gather relevant and up-to-date novel information's related to cancer sciences. The research methodologies and approaches adopted by the researcher are prone to variation which may be desirable in the context of novel scientific findings however, the reproducibility for these studies needs to be unified and assured. The reproducibility issues are highly concerned when preclinical studies are reported in cancer, for natural products in particular. The natural products and medicinal plants are prone to a wide variation in terms of phytochemistry and phyto-pharmacology, ultimately affecting the end results for cancer studies. Hence the need for specific guidelines to adopt a best-practice in cancer research are utmost essential. The current AIMRDA guidelines aims to develop a consensus-based tool in order to enhance the quality and assure the reproducibility of studies reporting natural products in cancer prevention. A core working committee of the experts developed an initial draft for the guidelines where more focus was kept for the inclusion of specific items not covered in previous published tools. The initial draft was peer-reviewed, experts-views provided, and improved by a scientific committee comprising of field research experts, editorial experts of different journals, and academics working in different organization worldwide. The feedback from continuous online meetings, mail communications, and webinars resulted a final draft in the shape of a checklist tool, covering the best practices related to the field of natural products research in cancer prevention and treatment. It is mandatory for the authors to read and follow the AIMRDA tool, and be aware of the good-practices to be followed in cancer research prior to any submission to APJCP. Though the tool is developed based on experts in the field, it needs to be further updated and validated in practice via implementation in the field.

The state of cancer epidemiology curricula in postgraduate schools worldwide.

The study aimed to describe the cancer epidemiology curricula in postgraduate schools worldwide. Using a stepwise approach, information on the cancer epidemiology curricula were abstracted through an internet search of medical or public heath schools worldwide. The common scientific outline (a scholarly developed classification of cancer-related topics) was used to describe the extents that cancer epidemiology and its scientific domains are incorporated into postgraduate degrees in the epidemiology. Among the 120 studied schools, no school offered an explicitly doctoral degree in cancer epidemiology. Just eight schools offered cancer epidemiology as an area of concentration in their epidemiology curricula. The contents of the cancer epidemiology courses offered in different schools were related in 44% of times to topics of cancer control, 19% times to risk factors, and just 11% of times to biology of cancer. The need for comprehensive re-evaluation of the cancer epidemiology curricula in postgraduate teaching was concluded.

The association between FTO rs9939609 polymorphism and serum lipid profile in adult women.

BACKGROUND: FTO gene is considered to play an important role in many metabolic diseases. Evidence from studies indicated the possible association between the FTO rs9939609 polymorphisms with serum lipid profile. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association of FTO rs9939609 polymorphism with lipid profile in Iranian women. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 380 adult women. Information about age, height, weight, BMI, physical activity, and dietary intake were collected. The serum levels of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), Triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol were measured. The FTO gene was genotyped for rs9939609 polymorphism. The participants were divided into two groups of TT and AT/AA considering dominant model of FTO rs9939609 polymorphism. RESULTS: General characteristics of the participants with different FTO genotypes were not significantly different. The lower levels of HDL were observed in AT/AA genotypes compared to the TT wild type genotype of FTO rs9939609 polymorphism (P = 0.004). Adjustments of age, BMI, and physical activity did not change the results. CONCLUSIONS: However, the significant association between FTO genotype and the HDL level was disappeared after further adjustments for dietary intake. Further studies are warranted to identify the underlying mechanisms of the possible association between FTO gene and serum lipid profile.

The Association of Fat-Mass-and Obesity-Associated Gene Polymorphism (rs9939609) With Colorectal Cancer: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The association between the rs9939609 polymorphism of fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) and risk of colorectal cancer is controversial. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between FTO rs9939609 polymorphism and colorectal cancer (CRC) in Iranian people. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted on 125 patients with CRC and 250 healthy subjects in Tehran, Iran. Demographic data and blood samples were collected from all participants. Genotyping of rs9939609 polymorphism was performed by the tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR) method. RESULTS: The occurrence of AA genotype of FTO rs9939609 polymorphism in the colorectal cancer patients was significantly higher compared to that of healthy subjects (16.4 vs. 2.9%, respectively, P=0.02). The association between the frequency of risk allele of the FTO polymorphism and CRC (B=1.67, P=0.042) remained significant after adjustment for age. Further adjustment for gender (model 2) and marital status (model 3) did not change this result (B=1.67, P= 0.042 and B=1.67, P=0.043, respectively). The results remained significant after additional adjustment for ethnicity (B=1.57, P= 0.047). CONCLUSION: We found a positive association between the A allele of the rs9939609 polymorphism and CRC. Future studies are required to identify the underlying mechanisms.