ABSTRACT
Background:Achalasia, as an incurable disease is defined by the lack of normal esophageal peristalsis and loss of lower esophageal sphincter relaxation due to impaired myenteric neural plexus. The exact cause of myenteric neural cells degeneration in achalasia is still unknown. One hypothesis is that certain neurotropic viruses and autoimmune factors cause the inflammatory response in myenteric network, which consequently destroy neural cells. This study was designed to find the evidence of viral causes of achalasia
Methods: In this case-control study, 52 patients with achalasia and 50 controls referred to Shariati Hospital, were evaluated for the genome of neurotropic viruses, HPV, and adenovirus by polymerase chain reaction [PCR] and reverse transcription [RT] PCR techniques
Results:Genome assessment of neurotropic DNA viruses turned out negative in the patients, however, the genome of HSV-1 [Herpes simplex virus] was found in tissues of six controls. No neurotropic RNA viruses were observed in the tissue samples and whole blood of both the patients and controls.Among non-neurotropic viruses, adenovirus genome was positive in tissues of two out of 52 patients and three out of 50 controls. In addition, one out of 52 patients and two out of 50 controls were positive for HPV infection in tissues
Conclusion: We could not detect any significant relationship between achalasia and HPV, adenovirus, and neurotropic viruses in the cases. Nevertheless, it does not exclude the hypothesis of either an alternate viral species or resolved viral infection as the etiology of achalasia
ABSTRACT
Background: In the Golestan Cohort Study that was launched to investigate the causes of esophageal cancer, a complete biospecimen bank was established for storage of collected blood, urine, hair, and nail samples. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of nail samples as a biomarker of selected trace elements status
Methods: Thirty toenail samples were selected randomly from the participants of Golestan Cohort Study [GCS]. The samples were cleaned and analyzed for selenium, mercury, chromium, iron, zinc, and scandium by instrumental neutron activation analysis at the University of Missouri Research Reactor Center. Pearson correlation coefficients were computed for selected trace elements concentration versus scandium concentration to assess terrestrial contamination
Results: The selenium, zinc, and mercury were not correlated with scandium, suggesting they were free from substantial contamination. The high correlations of scandium with iron and chromium suggest that the iron and chromium levels may be compromised by terrestrial contamination. The coefficients of variation for duplicate samples for selenium and zinc were 2.6% and 7.2%, respectively
Conclusion: The nail samples from Golestan Cohort Study appears to be useable as a biomarker of selenium, zinc, and mercury and could be considered for use in future studies
Subject(s)
Humans , Trace Elements , Cohort Studies , BiomarkersABSTRACT
Esophageal squamousi cell carcinoma [ESCC] is an aggressive tumor that is typically diagnosed only when the tumor has gained remarkable size, extended to peripheral tissues, and led to dysphagia. Five-year survival of advanced cancer is still very poor [19%], even with improved surgical techniques and adjuvant chemoradiation therapy
Therefore, early detection and prevention are the most important strategies to reduce the burden of ESCC
Our review will focus on the studies conducted in Golestan province, an area with a high prevalence of ESCC in northern Iran. We review three aspects of the research literature on ESCC: epidemiological features, environmental factors [including substance abuse, environmental contaminants, dietary factors, and human papilloma virus [HPV], and molecular factors [including oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, cell cycle regulatory proteins, and other relevant biomarkers]
Epidemiological and experimental data suggest that some chemicals and lifestyle factors, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs], cigarette smoking, opium use, and hot tea drinking are associated with the development of ESCC in Golestan
HPV infects the esophageal epithelium, but so far, no firm evidence of its involvement in esophageal carcinogenesis has been provided. Some of these factors, notably hot tea drinking, may render the esophageal mucosa more susceptible to injury by other carcinogens
There are few studies at molecular level on ESCC in Golestan
Increasing awareness about the known risk factors of ESCC could potentially reduce the burden of ESCC in the region. Further studies on risk factors, identifying high risk populations, and early detection are needed
ABSTRACT
Objective: there are limited studies on the relationship between inflammatory marker such as IL-6 and lipid peroxidation and metabolic syndrome. The aim of present study was to assess IL-6 and lipid peroxidation in subjects with and without the metabolic syndrome and their association with metabolic syndrome components
Methodology: age and gender matched 40 subjects with metabolic syndrome and 40 control groups took part in this study
Results: the mean malondialdehyde level was significantly higher in over-weight and obese subjects with metabolic syndrome than control groups [P<0.05]. The mean level of IL-6 in men and the mean level of malondialdehyde in women with metabolic syndrome was significantly higher than control groups [p < 0.05]. There were significant positive correlation between malondialdehyde and fasting blood glucose, triglyceride and systolic blood pressure [p<0.05]
Conclusion: our results suggest that higher levels of IL-6 and malondialdehyde may cause insulin resistance and metabolic disorders in all subjects with metabolic syndrome. Malondialdehyde level shows strong association with some metabolic syndrome components. This means the greater risk of metabolic syndrome
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND Only a few studies in Western countries have investigated the association between gastroesophageal reflux disease [GERD] and mortality at the general population level and they have shown mixed results
This study investigated the association between GERD symptoms and overall and cause-specific mortality in a large prospective population-based study in Golestan Province, Iran
METHODS: Baseline data on frequency, onset time, and patient-perceived severity of GERD symptoms were available for 50001 participants in the Golestan Cohort Study [GCS]
We identified 3107 deaths [including 1146 circulatory and 470 cancer-related] with an average follow-up of 6.4 years and calculated hazard ratios [HR] and 95% confidence intervals [CI] adjusted for multiple potential confounders
RESULTS: Severe daily symptoms [defined as symptoms interfering with daily work or causing nighttime awakenings on a daily bases, reported by 4.3% of participants] were associated with cancer mortality [HR 1.48, 95% CI: 1.04-2.05]
This increase was too small to noticeably affect overall mortality
Mortality was not associated with onset time or frequency of GERD and was not increased with mild to moderate symptoms
CONCLUSION: We have observed an association with GERD and increased cancer mortality in a small group of individuals that had severe symptoms. Most patients with mild to moderate GERD can be re-assured that their symptoms are not associated with increased mortality
ABSTRACT
Northeastern Iran has a high incidence for squamous cell esophageal carcinoma [ESCC]. The aim of the study is to the assess relationship between celiac disease [CD] and ESCC. This was a two-part, cross-sectional, case-control study performed during 2006-2011 in Gonbad, Golestan, Iran. Serum IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody levels were measured for all participants in the crosssectional study [adult general population] as well as in ESCC cases and their matched [age and gender] controls. Out of approximately 1.3% of the 2202 individuals selected from the general population, 0.8% of 258 ESCC cases and 0.2% of 457 controls had positive IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody levels. The prevalence of CD in general population of Gonbad district is a little higher than other parts of Iran. Relatively low prevalence of IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody in ESCC cases in northeastern Iran does not support the presumption that CD is a major factor for the high incidence of ESCC in the region. However, as there is little higher prevalence of positivity for the antibody in ESCC cases than in controls, a cohort study of Celiac disease patients is much more suitable study to assess the relation between CD and ESCC.