Breastfeeding success and perceived social support in lactating women with a history of COVID 19 infection: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Given the limited availability of research on the association between COVID-19 infection and breastfeeding success, the primary objective of this study is to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of this relationship. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 260 women who were on the postnatal ward of an academic hospital affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences during the COVID-19 pandemic (between March and August 2021). Among these women, 130 had tested positive for COVID-19 in pregnancy, while the remaining 130 were considered healthy. The study aimed to assess various factors, including sociodemographic characteristics and the results of four validated questionnaires: The Bristol Breastfeeding Questionnaire, The Multidimensional of Perceived Social Support (MPSS), The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (BSES), and The Postpartum Partner Support Scale (PPSS). These questionnaires were administered to each participant to gather relevant data. After eight weeks, a telephone follow-up was carried out to assess the success of breastfeeding. The evaluation focused on determining if exclusive breastfeeding was maintained or not. Data was collected by questioning mothers about their infants' feeding habits in the past 24 h. Exclusive breastfeeding refers to the exclusive use of breast milk without the introduction of other liquids or solid foods. RESULTS: Women with a previous COVID-19 infection (case group) had a lower mean infant gestational age (P < 0.001) and a higher prevalence of cesarean section (P = 0.001) compared to the control group. The proportion of women who exclusively breastfed was higher in the control group (98.5%) than in women with a history of COVID-19 infection (89.2%) (P = 0.011). Furthermore, the case group reported lower scores in perceived social support and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale, in contrast to the control group. Notably, there was a significant correlation between breastfeeding success and women's breastfeeding self-efficacy score. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study offer valuable insights for healthcare professionals, enabling them to promote early initiation of breastfeeding in mothers with a history of COVID-19 infection, while ensuring necessary precautions are taken.

The sequestosome 1 protein: therapeutic vulnerabilities in ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most deadly tumor that may develop in a woman's reproductive system. It is also one of the most common causes of death among those who have been diagnosed with cancer in women. An adapter protein known as sequestosome 1(SQSTM1) or p62 is primarily responsible for the transportation, degradation, and destruction of a wide variety of proteins. This adapter protein works in conjunction with the autophagy process as well as the ubiquitin proteasome degradation pathway. In addition, the ability of SQSTM1 to interact with multiple binding partners link SQSTM1 to various pathways in the context of antioxidant defense system and inflammation. In this review, we outline the processes underlying the control that SQSTM1 has on these pathways and how their dysregulation contributes to the development of OC. At the final, the therapeutic approaches based on SQSTM1 targeting have been discussed (AU)

The sequestosome 1 protein: therapeutic vulnerabilities in ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most deadly tumor that may develop in a woman's reproductive system. It is also one of the most common causes of death among those who have been diagnosed with cancer in women. An adapter protein known as sequestosome 1(SQSTM1) or p62 is primarily responsible for the transportation, degradation, and destruction of a wide variety of proteins. This adapter protein works in conjunction with the autophagy process as well as the ubiquitin proteasome degradation pathway. In addition, the ability of SQSTM1 to interact with multiple binding partners link SQSTM1 to various pathways in the context of antioxidant defense system and inflammation. In this review, we outline the processes underlying the control that SQSTM1 has on these pathways and how their dysregulation contributes to the development of OC. At the final, the therapeutic approaches based on SQSTM1 targeting have been discussed.

COVID­19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women and their reported reasons for vaccine refusal - A prospective study in Tehran, Iran.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of covid­19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women and their reported reasons for vaccine refusal. METHODS: This prospective study was performed in Arash women's Hospital, Tehran, Iran, between December 1, 2021 and January 1, 2022. All pregnant women who were attended to prenatal care unit were considered eligible for inclusion. A validated questionnaire was used for data gathering. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. RESULTS: Finally, 477 pregnant women were recruited and were divided into two groups according the status of vaccine acceptance (237 accepted and 240 women refused vaccination). The mean age of accepted participants was higher (31.65 ± 5.69 vs 30.39 ± 5.5; P = 0.01). There was a significant statistical difference between the groups regarding education level. Access to internet and social media were also significantly different between the two groups (94.8% in accepted vs 86.6% in refused group; P = 0.002). There was more rate of severe COVID-19 infection in friends or relatives of accepted group (50% vs 38%). we did not find any statistically significant differences in obstetric characteristics and the rate of obstetric complications between the two groups. The most common reasons reported by participants for vaccine refusal, was fear of vaccination side effects on the fetus (86.5%), and the less common reported reasons were husband's disagreement (9.7%), use of traditional medicine (5.6%), religious beliefs (3.7%), and information obtained from social media (2.8%). After advices from medical staff, most of these mothers (86.5%) still refused vaccination. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of the present study,rate of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was about 50% and its most common reported reason was fear of probable side effects of vaccine on the fetus.

The Role of Interferon (IFN)-γ in Extravillous Trophoblast Cell (EVT) Invasion and Preeclampsia Progression.

The involvement of the immune system in pregnancy is a controversial subject. The functions of T helper (Th) 1 and Th2 cells have been proposed, that Th1 cytokines promoting allograft rejection may impair pregnancy, whereas Th2-type cytokines suppressing Th1 responses improve allograft tolerance and hence embryonic survival. Maternal-fetal tolerance begins in the uterus; therefore, optimal adaptation to the fetus is the result of a complex interference. The invasion of extravillous trophoblast cells (EVTs) into the decidua and the inner third of the myometrium is essential for a healthy pregnancy. The mechanisms that influence trophoblast invasion are unknown; however, cytokines from uterine natural killer (uNK) cells, NKT cells, macrophages, and T cells appear to be involved. All these cells are major sources of interferon gamma (IFN-γ). Recent studies have shown that IFN-γ can inhibit EVT invasion via a mechanism dependent on an increase in EVT apoptosis and a decrease in matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Regarding controversies in this context, this study aimed to comprehensively review the role of IFN-γ and IFN-γ-producing cells in EVT invasion, successful pregnancy, and preeclampsia.

Factors related to clinical breast examination: A cross-sectional study.

Background and Aim: Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women as well as one of the most serious and important public health issues in developing countries. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the factors related to clinical breast examination in women in Tehran. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 859 women in Tehran, Iran in 2020. Logistic regression was applied to identify determinant factors that related to clinical breast examination. Result: The prevalence of clinical breast examination was 52.6%. Results indicated significant differences between those who underwent clinical breast examination and those who had a nonclinical breast examination in terms of age, housing conditions, marital status, problem in the breast, perceived susceptibility, perceived barriers, fatalism, and self-care. Conclusion: It is essential to inform and educate women about breast cancer and associated complications and problems after being diagnosed with breast cancer as well as about the screening and diagnostic methods, including the need for clinical breast examination by a specialist.

The effect of hydroxychloroquine on pregnancy outcomes in patients with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss: a placebo-controlled study "pilot study".

This double-blind placebo-controlled study investigated the effect of hydroxychloroquine on pregnancy outcomes in people with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (URPL). The inclusion criteria included gestational age ≤6 weeks and a history of at least two miscarriages. The exclusion criteria included any known cause for previous abortions or a history of any chronic diseases. Participants were given 200 mg hydroxychloroquine or placebo twice a day until gestational week 20. Twenty-nine women were enrolled. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, BMI, gravidity, previous abortion, relative married couple, and infertility. Miscarriage occurred in five women including one in the hydroxychloroquine group (7.69%) and four women in the placebo group (28.57%) (OR: 2.36, 95% PL CI:1.07, 8.93). However, after adjusting for potential confounders, there was no significant difference between the two groups (aOR: 2.96, 95%CI: 0.91, 10.02).IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Miscarriage, a prevalent concern in the field reproductive medicine, causes psychological and family problems for couples. Unfortunately, no effective treatment has been yet found for URPL. There are some hypotheses about the role of immunological factors in URPL. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has various immunological effects and may theoretically have a role in the treatment of URPL. Although few studies have been registered to investigate the effect of HCQ on URPL, none of them has been published.What do the results of this study add? In our double-blind placebo-controlled trial, the prevalence of abortion in the HCQ group was four times lower than that in the placebo group, however, this difference was not statistically significant, which can be attributed to the small sample size.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? We hope that HCQ will be of interest to researchers and future research help clarify the role of HCQ in preventing URPL.

Maternal and fetal effects of COVID-19 virus on a complicated triplet pregnancy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the global pandemic that has spread throughout the world, is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Given the limited scientific evidence on the manifestations and potential impact of this virus on pregnancy, we decided to report this case. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 38 year-old Iranian woman with a triplet pregnancy and a history of primary infertility, as well as hypothyroidism and gestational diabetes. She was hospitalized at 29 weeks and 2 days gestational age due to elevated liver enzymes, and finally, based on a probable diagnosis of gestational cholestasis, she was treated with ursodeoxycholic acid. On the first day of hospitalization, sonography was performed, which showed that biophysical scores and amniotic fluid were normal in all three fetuses, with normal Doppler findings in two fetuses and increased umbilical artery resistance (pulsatility index [PI] > 95%) in one fetus. On day 4 of hospitalization, she developed fever, cough and myalgia, and her COVID-19 test was positive. Despite mild maternal symptoms, exacerbated placental insufficiency occurred in two of the fetuses leading to the rapid development of absent umbilical artery end-diastolic flow. Finally, 6 days later, the patient underwent cesarean section due to rapid exacerbation of placental insufficiency and declining biophysical score in two of the fetuses. Nasopharyngeal swab COVID-19 tests were negative for the first and third babies and positive for the second baby. The first and third babies died 3 and 13 days after birth, respectively, due to collapsed white lung and sepsis. The second baby was discharged in good general condition. The mother was discharged 3 days after cesarean section. She had no fever at the time of discharge and was also in good general condition. CONCLUSIONS: This was a complicated triplet pregnancy, in which, after maternal infection with COVID-19, despite mild maternal symptoms, exacerbated placental insufficiency occurred in two of the fetuses, and the third fetus had a positive COVID-19 test after birth. Therefore, in cases of pregnancy with COVID-19 infection, in addition to managing the mother, it seems that physicians would be wise to also give special attention to the possibility of acute placental insufficiency and subsequent fetal hypoxia, and also the probability of vertical transmission.

Dental Environment Stress and The Related Factors in the Iranian Dental Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Stress is an influential factor in mental health; and can lead to psychological disorders. Thus, it has always been a concern for the medical personnel, and particularly dental students. This systematic review aimed to assess the dental environment stress and the related factors in the Iranian dental students. Methods: In this systematic review, an electronic search of the literature was carried out in the Iranian and international databases, and all possible combinations of relevant keywords were searched using the Boolean operators. Data were analyzed using STATA SE 13.1 meta-analysis software. Heterogeneity of the data was evaluated using the I2 statistics, and the correlation between age and level of stress was analyzed by meta-regression. In the Chi-square (X2) heterogeneity test, P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 16 eligible articles (3,521 dental students) out of 821 retrieved studies were reviewed in this systematic review. The mean overall stress level of the Iranian dental students was 2.18 (95% CI:1.87-2.49). The maximum (2.21) and minimum (2.10) mean overall stress values of the Iranian dental students were associated with the dental environment stress (DES) questionnaire and the depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21), respectively (P>0.05). Also, the 4th and 5th year dental students had the maximum (2.24) and minimum (2.01) mean overall stress levels, respectively (P>0.05). Gender had no correlation with the stress level (P=0.520). Conclusion: The mean stress level of the Iranian dental students is moderate to high. Since stress reduction is directly correlated with the promotion of mental health and function, the authorities are required to revise the educational curricula following consultation with the counselors and implement effective programs to minimize the stress level of dental students. Also, achieving efficient communication between dental students and instructors can greatly improve the quality of clinical education.

An Overview on Guidelines on COVID-19 Virus and Natural and Assisted Reproductive Techniques Pregnancies.

In this article, we reviewed and compared some of COVID-19 and pregnancy guidelines; this can be useful for pregnant women including those with a history of infertility specially those undergone assisted reproductive techniques (ART). The general advice given for prenatal care is to reduce face-to-face visits. All women who refer for prenatal visits should be evaluated for signs of the infection at the time of entry. The triage of suspected women should be done separately from other patients. Outpatient monitoring with a 14-day selfquarantine can be considered for asymptomatic infected women and for those with mild symptoms. Inpatient management criteria include moderate to severe symptoms and the target level of oxygen saturation is 92 to 95% in different guidelines. In the presence of fever, it is important to conduct a thorough examination of other causes of the fever. It is important to monitor fluid intake and output, maintain fluid and electrolyte balance and prevent fluid overload. Thromboembolic prophylaxis is recommended. Corticosteroid administration is based on obstetrics indications, while in critical ill cases, it should be based on multi-disciplinary teams (MDT) decision. A positive COVID-19 result in the absence of other obstetrics causes, cannot be considered an indication for delivery in mild and asymptomatic cases. In critically ill pregnant women, an individualized decision should be made about delivery time by the MDT. General anesthetic should be avoided unless inevitable for standard procedures such as intubation is an aerosol-generating procedure (AGP). There is agreement on the point that babies born to infected mothers, even if isolated from the mother at birth, should be considered a close contact of the mother and tested for COVID-19 and separated from other neonates. Breastfeeding is encouraged and hand hygiene and face mask during feeding are highly recommended by all guidelines.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes in COVID-19 infected pregnancies: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the large number of pregnant women with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there is not enough analytical study to compare maternal and fetal consequences of COVID-19 infected with non-infected pregnancies. This cohort study aimed to compare maternal and fetal consequences of COVID-19 infected with non-infected pregnancies. METHODS: We included pregnant women with and without COVID-19 who were admitted to Arash Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from 1 March to 1 September 2020. Clinical features, treatments, and maternal and fetal outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 199 women enrolled, including 66 COVID-19 infected and 133 non-infected pregnant women prospectively. Caesarean section was carried out in total 105 women (52.76%). A significant difference was found in term of delivery type between COVID-19 infected and non-infected pregnant women [adjusted risk ratio (aRR): 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04, 1.65, P = 0.024]. No significant association was found between COVID-19 infection and preterm birth (aRR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.54, 2.48, P = 0.689), low birth weight (aRR: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.55, 2.31, P = 0.723), gestational diabetes (aRR: 1.67, 95% CI: 0.81, 3.42, P = 0.160), pre-eclampsia (aRR: 2.02, 95% CI: 0.42, 6.78, P = 0.315), intrauterine growth restriction (aRR: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.02, 1.86, P = 0.145), preterm rupture of membrane (aRR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.02, 2.20, P = 0.186), stillbirth (aRR: 1.41, 95% CI: 0.08, 18.37, P = 0.614), postpartum haemorrhage (aRR: 1.84, 95% CI: 0.39, 8.63, P = 0.185), neonatal intensive care unit (ICU) admission (aRR: 1.84, 95% CI: 0.77, 4.39, P = 0.168) and neonatal sepsis (aRR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.48, 1.48, P = 0.568). The percentage of patients (4/66, 6.06%) being admitted to the ICU was significantly higher than the control group (0%) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Basically, although pregnancy and neonatal outcomes were not significantly different, the need for ICU care for pregnant women with COVID-19 was significantly higher compared with those without COVID-19.

Dental status of the Iranian elderly: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Tooth loss is an important health dilemma. The aim of the present study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of dental status and edentulism in the elderly residing in Iran. An electronic search of the literature was carried out on Farsi and English databases using the following keywords: edentulism, dental caries, elderly, oral and dental health, edentulous, geriatric, caries, dentate, Iran, and prevalence. Articles that met the eligibility criteria according to the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies In Epidemiology) checklist were selected and entered into the meta-analysis. Data were analyzed using Stata 13.1 software, and the metan and metareg packages for used for the meta-regression and meta-analysis. Of the 172 articles retrieved, 154 were used after eliminating the duplicates, and their full texts were read. Of the 4574 participants evaluated in 13 studies, 2227 (48.7%) were completely edentulous (95% confidence interval [CI]: .49-.49). Of the 4423 participants evaluated in 12 studies, 2286 (51.7%) were dentate (95% CI: .52-.52). The mean number of remaining teeth was 5.73 (95% CI: 5.73-5.73) in six studies conducted on 2782 participants. Approximately 50% of the elderly in Iran are completely edentulous. Efforts should be made to improve dental care instruction, provision of dental care services in the public sector, and dental insurance coverage to promote the dental status of elderly Iranians.

Can delivery mode influence future ovarian reserve? Anti-Mullerian hormone levels and antral follicle count following cesarean section: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of Cesarean has increased in recent years. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of cesarean section on ovarian reserve. This is a prospective cohort study from January 2016 to November 2017. Inclusion criteria included singleton primigravid pregnant women whose gestational age was above 37 weeks. Exclusion criteria included history of infertility, pelvic surgery, underlying chronic diseases, any adverse pregnancy outcome and postpartum complication in current pregnancy and hormonal medication within six months of delivery. Anti-Mullerian hormone was measured at the admission time for delivery. The type of delivery was determined based on obstetrics indications. Six months after delivery, antral follicle count was performed and anti-Mullerian hormone was measured again. RESULT(S): First blood sample was taken from 730 women. After excluding 550 women, the second blood sample was taken from 180 participants. The mean of first anti-Mullerian hormone in women with cesarean and vaginal delivery were 1.01 ng/mL (95% CI 0.82 to 1.18) and 1.18 ng/mL (95% CI 0.96 to 1.40) respectively (P = 0.211). The mean of second anti-Mullerian hormone in women with cesarean and vaginal delivery were 4.77 ng/mL (95% CI:3.91 to 5.63) and 4.92 ng/mL (95% CI: 4.01 to 5.82) respectively (P = 0.818). No statistically significant difference existed in total AFC between cesarean and vaginal delivery groups (MD: 0.41, 95% CI: - 1.05 to 1.89, P = 0.576). CONCLUSION: Antral follicle count and anti-Mullerian hormone, six month after delivery, are not affected by delivery mode even after adjusting for women's age, baseline Anti-Mullerian hormone, body mass index, gestational age at delivery, breastfeeding, postpartum menstruation, neonatal sex and weight. Based on our best knowledge, this is the first report that investigates the effects of delivery mode on ovarian reserve. Decreased fertility following cesarean has been shown in some previous studies but most of them had assessed this association based on the incidence of subsequent pregnancy. Since subsequent pregnancy can be influenced by several confounding factors, we investigated the effect of cesarean on fertility using its impact on anti-Mullerian hormone levels and antral follicle count. We hope that this study will be a beginning of more detailed studies in this field. We believe that this link is yet to be studied.

Comparison of Salivary Calcium Level in Dentulous and Edentulous Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Calcium is an inorganic component of the saliva, which is especially important in oral and dental health. This study sought to compare unstimulated salivary calcium level of dentulous and edentulous patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case-control study was conducted on 72 participants, including 36 dentulous and 36 edentulous patients. The unstimulated salivary flow rate of patients and the mean salivary calcium concentration were measured and compared. The data were analyzed using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 56.3 years. The mean number of teeth was 18.9 in the dentulous group. No significant difference was noted in salivary calcium level of dentulous and edentulous patients. The mean salivary calcium concentration was 0.61 ± 0.3875 mmol/L in dentulous and 0.8025 ± 0.5975 mmol/L in edentulous patients. Salivary calcium level had a significant inverse correlation with salivary flow rate (r = -0.370, p = 0.027), and by every 1-unit increase in salivary flow rate, salivary level of calcium significantly decreased by 3.85 units. CONCLUSION: Edentate had averagely higher salivary calcium level compared to dentulous. The salivary concentration of calcium ion is not correlated to the presence or absence of teeth. Salivary flow rate reduces the calcium concentration.

Does Chorionic Villus Sampling Increase the Risk of Preeclampsia or Gestational Hypertension?

BACKGROUND: Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis are two methods for prenatal diagnosis. The goal of this study was to compare amniocentesis and CVS-related complications in a large sample of Iranian women. METHODS: Medical records of 1624 women who underwent amniocentesis or CVS due to medical indications between 2008 and 2016 were reviewed. Data regarding age, gravidity, parity, gestational age, type of procedure, neonatal weight (and percentile), trisomia, abortion, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), severe IUGR, preeclampsia, and gestational hypertension were recorded. RESULTS: Finally, 1215 cases were evaluated. Mean maternal age, gravidity, and gestational age were significantly different between two groups. Preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, IUGR, severe IUGR, and intrauterine fetal death were not significantly different between two groups. Trisomy 18 and 21 were common in cases underwent amniocentesis. CONCLUSIONS: Women who underwent CVS are not at higher risk for developing hypertensive disorders than women underwent amniocentesis.

Burning Mouth Syndrome: A Comparative Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) may be defined as a burning sensation in the oral mucosa usually unaccompanied by clinical signs. Multiple conditions have been attributed to a burning sensation. The aim of this study was to determine the role of age and sex in BMS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 195 consecutive patients with BMS and 95 healthy patients without burning sensation were recruited in this study. Patients with BMS had experienced oral, burning sensations for at least 6 months without oral clinical signs, and with a normal blood count. Multiple logistic regression analyses were utilized to define the main predictors. RESULTS: Menopause, candidiasis, psychological disorders, job status, denture, and dry mouth were significantly frequent in BMS patients. Multivariate logistic regression indicated age (odds ratio (OR) =1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-1.15, P < 0.0001) and sex (OR = 3.14, 95% CI: 1.4-6.7, P < 0.002) significantly increase the odds of BMS. Psychological disorders (OR = 3.39, 95% CI: 1.2-9.5, P < 0.02) and candidiasis remain as predictive factors. Ultimately, age was defined as a critical predictor. Moreover, we can therefore predict that a 60-year-old woman with psychological disorders is 25 times more likely to suffer from BMS than a man 10 years younger who has no psychological disorder. CONCLUSION: Age and sex were the main predictors in BMS. Psychological disorders and candidiasis were significantly associated with the occurrence of BMS.

Incidence of Head and Neck Lymphoma in Guilan Province, Iran.

The aim of this research was to describe the incidence and histopathological subtypes of head and neck lymphoma in Guilan province, Iran. In this retrospective study, all cases of head and neck cancers registered in Iranian Cancer Registry Program in Guilan province of Iran from 2004 to 2009 were obtained and included in the analysis. Out of 1,510 cases, 169 (11.2%) were reported as lymphomas (87 cases of non-Hodgkin, 67 cases of Hodgkin, and 13 cases of unknown type). The mean ages of males and females diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma were 30.4 and 28.7 years, re-spectively. For non-Hodgkin's lymphoma the respective figures were 50.5 and 49.3 years old. Among various histological subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the diffuse large B-cell type (74.2%) was the most frequent while immunoblastic lymphoma (1.1%) was the least frequent. Nodular sclerosis (58.2%) and mixed cellularity (18.0%) types were most frequent among Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Trends in the incidence of Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer (ICD00-14) in Guilan, North of Iran.

AIM: This study sought to assess the incidence of oral and pharyngeal cancer based on ICD-10 in Guilan, Iran, from 2004 to 2009. METHOD: This retrospective study assessed data collected from the Iranian cancer registries and publications. The rate, age-standardized incidence, type, and location of lesions according to ICD-10 were evaluated. Annual percent changes (APC) were estimated. RESULTS: A total of 1533 head and neck cancers were recorded. Of them, 290 cases (185 males and 105 females) were identified with oral and pharyngeal carcinoma (ICD00-14) with a mean age of 58.92 ± 17.94 years. The most common type of cancer was oral squamous cell carcinoma (n = 156). Cancer of the oropharynx (ICD 06) and lips (ICD00) had high incidence. APC was 1.36%. ASR was 3.5 and 2.04 per 100 000 among males and females, respectively. The mean crude rate was 3.69 per 1 000 000. CONCLUSION: In contrast to the global cancer statistics (ICD 00-14), Guilan showed lower incidence of oral and pharyngeal cancer during the understudy years. Oral squamous cell carcinoma was the most common type of cancer in this region.

Halal authenticity of gelatin using species-specific PCR.

Consumption of food products derived from porcine sources is strictly prohibited in Islam. Gelatin, mostly derived from bovine and porcine sources, has many applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. To ensure that food products comply with halal regulations, development of valid and reliable analytical methods is very much required. In this study, a species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay using conserved regions of mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome b gene) was performed to evaluate the halal authenticity of gelatin. After isolation of DNA from gelatin powders with known origin, conventional PCR using species-specific primers was carried out on the extracted DNA. The amplified expected PCR products of 212 and 271 bp were observed for porcine and bovine gelatin, respectively. The sensitivity of the method was tested on binary gelatin mixtures containing 0.1%, 1%, 10%, and 100% (w/w) of porcine gelatin within bovine gelatin and vice versa. Although most of the DNA is degraded due to the severe processing steps of gelatin production, the minimum level of 0.1% w/w of both porcine and bovine gelatin was detected. Moreover, eight food products labeled as containing bovine gelatin and eight capsule shells were subjected to PCR examination. The results showed that all samples contained bovine gelatin, and the absence of porcine gelatin was verified. This method of species authenticity is very useful to verify whether gelatin and gelatin-containing food products are derived from halal ingredients.