The risk factors of prostate cancer: a multicentric case-control study in Iran.

Prostate cancer (PC), in Iran, is the third most frequently diagnosed visceral cancer among men and the seventh most common underlying cause of cancer mortality. We evaluated the relation between speculated factors and PC risk using data from a multicentric case-control study conducted in Iran from 2005 to 2007 on 130 cases of incident, clinicopathologically confirmed PC, and 75 controls admitted to the same network of hospitals without any malignant disease. Odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression models. The risk of PC was increased with aging (OR: 5.35, 95% CI: 2.17-13.19; P<0.0001), and with the number of sexual intercourse >or=2 times/week (OR: 3.14, 95% CI: 1.2-8.2; P=0.02). One unit elevation in serum estradiol and testosterone concentration was related to increase (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.06; P=0.006) and decrease (OR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.64-0.96; P=0.02) of PC risk, respectively. Cases were less likely to have a history of diabetes (OR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.12-0.98; P=0.04). Increasing in dietary consumption of lycopene and fat was associated with declined (OR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.09-2.12) and increased (OR: 2.38, 95% CI: 0.29-19.4) PC development, respectively. Other factors including educational level, marriage status, dietary meat consumption, vasectomy and smoking have not been shown to affect PC risk in the Iranian population. Our study adds further information on the potential risk factors of PC and is the first epidemiologic report from Iran. However, justification of these results requires more well-designed studies with a larger number of participants.

Development of an ultra rapid and simple multiplex polymerase chain reaction technique for detection of salmonella typhi

To make a rapid and definite diagnosis of Salmonella enteritis, using an ultra rapid multiplex polymerase chain reaction [PCR] detection method for major Salmonella serotypes, such as Salmonella typhi, Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Havana. We performed this study at the Research Center of Molecular Biology, Institute of Military Medicine, Bagyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Iran from June 2004 to July 2005. The PCR primers for tyv [rfbE], prt [rfbS] and invA genes were designed and used for the rapid identification of Salmonella enterica serovars Typhi and Paratyphi A with multiplex PCR. By using simple DNA extraction method in 10 minutes, rapid PCR cycles with total cycle times of 35 minutes and rapid electrophoresis procedure with simple and very cheap buffer used in 200 to 300 volts for 15 minutes to separate the PCR products. The results showed that all reference and clinical isolates of Salmonella serovars Typhi and Paratyphi were accurately identified by this assay. Specificity analysis revealed no cross-reaction with other Enterobacterial strains. The sensitivity of the PCR and the multiplex PCR was 1-10 cells. The total time of Multiplex PCR from sample preparation to final result is 45-50 minutes. These data indicate that the specificity and sensitivity of the PCR and the multiplex PCR make them potentially valuable tools for diagnosis of Salmonella typhi bacteria and that they may be used for the identification of Salmonella enteritidis responsible for sporadic enteritis cases