Assessment of breast cancer risk factors in asymptomatic hospital staff women aged 32-59: a descriptive report

Iranian breast cancer patients are relatively younger than their Western counterparts. The objective of the present study was to investigate risk factors for breast cancer in Iranian women and compare it with other data driven from other studies. A study was conducted in April 2008 in Tehran, Iran. Demographical data and risk factor related information, including data from their mammograms were collected using a questionnaire. In all, 109 participants were interviewed. The mean age of participants was 40.48 +/- 0.56 years. 1.8% of women were unmarried, while 78% were married and 20.2% were divorced/widowed. The mean age for menarche was 13.34 +/- 1.47 years and 46.89 +/- 4.98 for the menopause, respectively. The mean parity time was 2.36 +/- 1.13 and breastfeeding in women was 23.27 +/- 14.16 months. About 5.5% of the participants used oral contraceptive as a method for contraception. 8.3% of women experienced menopause, at the mean age of 46.89 +/- 4.98. 33.3% of menopaused women, used Hormone Replace Therapy [HRT]. Moreover, 8.3% of women had a positive history of breast cancer in their family. Of those women on whom mammography was done, 10.1% had breast mass in radiological findings, mostly in favour of fibrocystic change. In 20.2% of participants, further investigation was advised. The findings of the present study were in accordance with other studies done in Iran and in some aspects in tune with other studies about breast cancer in other countries. However, more multicentric larger scale studies should be conducted in Iran to determine a pattern for breast cancer in Iranian women

[Inhibitory effect of green and black teas ethyl acetate extracts on helicobacter pylori the causative agent of peptic ulcers]

Helicobacter pylori is the etiological agent in peptic ulcers and gastric carcinoma. The growing problem of antibiotic resistance by this organism demands the search for novel compounds from plant based sources. Tea is amongst the most popular beverages in Iran. There is no investigation regarding the inhibitory effects of tea extracts on Helicobacter pylori growth or its urease production and function. This study was conducted to evaluate the inhibitory effects of tea ethyl acetate extracts on Helicobacter pylori growth and its urease. This was an experimental study [2008, Science and Research campus] in which the extraction of samples was performed by Soxhelet extractor in methanol/water [1:1] mixture as a solution followed by final re-extraction with ethyl acetate. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of black and green tea extracts were assessed by broth dilution method and examination of urease function performed by Mc Laren method. The urease production was detected on 12% SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Both extracts showed inhibitory effects on H. pylori growth, urease function and its production. Urease production was completely inhibited by both black and green tea extracts at concentrations of 3.5mg/ml and 2.5mg/ml, respectively. Also, the growth of H. pylori was inhibited by black tea extract at concentration of 4.5mg/ml and at 3.5mg/ml of green tea extract. Based on inhibitory effects of tea extracts on H. pylori shown in the present study, it seems that both tea extracts in particular the green tea have the potential to reduce the H. pylori population and possibly prevent from chronic gastritis and peptic ulceration

[In vitro reduction in colonization of Streptococcus mutans by honey beeswax ethyl acetate extract]

Dental plaque is composed of bacterial derived extracellular polysaccharide known as glucan which is synthesized by Streptococcus mutans. Natural substances that could inhibit the plaque formation of the bacteria have a significant importance. This investigation has evaluated the honey beeswax extract effect on the Gft production, the key enzyme of S. mutans colonization factor for the first time. In this experimental study extraction of the sample conducted with ethyl acetate and methanol solutions in the Clevenger extractor. The ethyl acetate soluble fraction was separated in the first step and after the evaporation of the first solute, the 70% methanol as inactive solvent was added and the water mixture was used as a second solution, then materials were separated with dH[2]O. Minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] of the honey beeswax extract was assessed by Broth diffusion method. Examination of cell adherence [Biofilm Inhibitory Concentration, BIC] was calculated by colony counts from surface scratching of glass slides in the bacterial media that supplied with 1% sucrose. Glucosyltransferase expression was detected by 15% SDS poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Concentration of 1mg/ml of ethyl acetate honey beeswax extract was inhibited completely biofilm and it was prevented the production of glucosyltransferase enzyme. The concentration of formation 6 mg/ml of the extract had bacteriostatic effect and 30 mg/ml concentration of this extract had bacteridicidal for S. mutans [P<0.01]. Thu sub-bacterial concentration honey beeswax extract was able to block the major enzyme that contributes to S. mutans biofilm formation

[Comparing Black and Green tea [Camellia sinensis L] extracts effects on the growth inhibition and biofilm formation of Enterobacteriacea]

Extracts of leaves from Camellia sinensis L contains polyphenolic components with antimicrobial activity. In this investigation biofilm inhibitory effects of black and green tea extracts were defined for five members of enterobacteriacea family including: Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Because tea is the most widely drunk beverage in Iran, therefore investigation of its effects on enterobacterial biofilm formation and colonization is very important. In this experimental study after extraction of samples in water/ methanol solution, further extraction took place in Ethyl acetate phase. The extracts preserved in 4°C refrigerator after sterilization by 0.44 micro filters. Well diffusion [Kirby Bauer] and broth dilution methods were used for evaluation of minimum inhibitory concentration of biofilm formation in black and green tea extracts treated cultures. Evaluation of biofilm formation was assayed by observation of colony forming unit of cultured bacteria per milliliter by sampling from Erlenmeyer flask wall scratching onto Tripticase soy agar medium and comparing the results with controls. Analysis of data was done using analysis of variance. Biofilm inhibitory effects of black tea were greater than green tea. The concentration of 4.5 mg/ml of black tea and 5mg/ml of green tea had bactericidal effects against examined bacteria. On Mueller Hinton agar, Proteus mirabilis was more sensitive to black tea; EPEC was more sensitive to green tea and Klebsiella pneumoniae showed more resistance to both extracts. Due to the fact that gastrointestinal tract is directly affected with consumed beverage, the high concentration of tea entered in lumen can reduce the number of enterobacteriaceae and can reduce their carcinogenic amine products. Thus it plays an important role in inhibition of gastrointestinal lymphoma and colon carcinoma. Also application of tea polyphenols as a food preservative can be useful

[Study on the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in patients with preterm labor]

Irritable bowel syndrome [IBS] is a common functional bowel disorder characterized by abdominal pain and change in bowel movement. On the other hand, preterm labor [PL] is currently one of the most important problems in maternal-child health. The major causes of IBS are yet to be recognized, however some shared factors with PL have been proposed. It is probable that IBS patients are susceptible to have preterm labor. The goal of this study is the evaluation of IBS frequency in preterm labor. In a case-control study, 150 patients with PL [case group] were compared with 150 people with term labor [control group] for the presence of IBS. The Rome II criteria were employed to diagnose IBS. The subgroups of the diarrhea-predominant and the constipation-predominant of IBS were determined as well. A total of 36 IBS patients were diagnosed in which 21[14.7%] were in the case group and 14 [9.3%] were in the control group [p=0.155]. The diarrhea-predominant type was recognized in 3 patients, all in the case group [p=0.247]. The constipation-predominant type was recognized in 11 patients, 9 cases in the case group [p=0.032]