[Anatomical and histopathological distribution of gastrointestinal polyps in Gorgan, Iran [1999-2008]]

Gastrointestinal polyps have pre-carcinomatous potential. In regard to increasing rate of gastrointestinal cancers and the relation between polyps with cancers, this study was done to determine the anatomical and histopathological distribution of gastrointestinal polyps in Gorgan, Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 290 patients with gastrointestinal polyps were undergoing colonoscopy or endoscopy in 5th Azar teaching hospital in Gorgan, northern Iran during 1999-2008. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic method. Gender and age was recorded for each patient. 56.6% of patients were males 19.3% of polyps was diagnosed in the sixth decade of patient's age. The most frequent pathological type of gastrointestinal polyps was adenoma [54.1%] followed by hyperplastic [19.7%], acute inflammatory [13.8%] and young polyps type [11.4%]. Tubular type with 63% was the most common type of adenoma polyp followed by various villouses [19.1%] and tubulovillous [17.9%]. 87.2% and 12.8% of polyps were in colon and stomach, respectively. The most frequent anatomical position of polyps was rectum [30%] followed by sigmoid with 26/1%. Adenoma polyp in colon was the most common type in gastrointestinal tract

[Colonoscopic and histopathological findings in patients with hematochezia]

Colonoscopy is the best method for management of patients with Hematochezia or lower gastrointestinal bleeding [LGIB]. This study was conducted to assess the endoscopic and histopathologic findings in patients with hematochezia. This descriptive -analytical study was done on 117 [50 males, 67 females] patients whom referred to 5th Azar hospital in Gorgan, northern Iran during 2010. Demographic characteristics, medical history and colonoscopic and histopathologic findings were recorded for each patient. Hemorrhoid was the most common finding in colonoscopic examination. Inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] and cancer were the most common feature in the under and higher than 43 age old patients, respectively [P<0.05]. Ulcerative colitis [22.2%] was the most common finding in histopathological examination. Rectosigmoid was the most common anatomical location of involvement in IBD cases. Cancer and IBD were occurred in the left colon. Flexible sigmoidoscopy can be a selected procedure for evaluation of hematochezia in the <43 age old patients but in >43 age old subjects sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy should be made based on patients' status

[Tissue trans-glutaminase antibody in inflammatory bowel disease in golestan province, Northern Iran [2005-08]]

Celiac is a hereditary disease presented with chronic inflammation of small intestine. Several studies supposed a relationship between Celiac disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease [IBD]. Tissue trans-glutaminase antibody is one of the best serological markers in Celiac disease. This study was designed to evaluate the association of Celiac and IBD using tissue trans-glutaminase antibody. In this descriptive study 127 confirmed IBD patients who were referred by gastroentrologists 2005-08 enrolled into the study. A questionnaire was completed and tissue trans-glutaminase antibody was evaluated with ELISA method with a Cut-off=12 U/ml. Among 127 referred patients, serum samples of 102 patients were collected. Mean +/- SD of age was 36.17 +/- 15.2 years and 48% were males. Ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and other colitis were observed in 76 [74.5%], 7 [6.9%] and 19 [18.6%] of patients, respectively. Tissue trans-glutaminase antibody was positive [19.8 U/L] in one 46-years-old male patient with ulcerative colitis. Tissue trans-glutaminase antibody titer was not significantly different between IBD patients and controls, thus it seems not appropriate to suggest as one of the routine tests in IBD patients

[Hepatitis C in Golestan province-Iran]

Hepatitis C is one of the most important etiological factor in chronic liver disease which could lead to the progressive liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C in east of Golestan province [north-east of Iran]. 2123 inhabitants from north-east of Iran of general population have been studied using randomized selection. The taken samples were fresh serum searching for Hepatitis C Virus Antibody [HCV Ab] via ELISA method. A recombinant immunoblot assay [RIBA] was done for the positive HCV Ab samples tested with ELISA as the next step. A total of 2123 samples [female: 1387] with mean age of 41.3+/- 14.8 years and 960 rural and 1141 urban were studied. Fifty six samples [female:44] were HCVAb positive [ELISA], twenty of fifty six samples were also RIBA positive [female: 18 equal 81.8% and male: 4 equal 18.2%]. According to ELISA result the prevalence of HCVAb positive samples in female was 3.1% [44 of 1387 samples] and in male was 1.6 [12 of 714 samples]. As a total result we reached out that the prevalence of Hepatitis C through ELISA method was around 2.6%. This number reduced to 1% considering RIBA positive samples which is the definite test in Hepatitis C diagnosis. This study is the first Hepatitis C determination in general population in Iran. A comparison between the Hepatitis C prevalence in north east Iran and other part of the world showed that Iran relatively has a lower prevalence [Asia: 3.55% Africa: 5.17% America: 1.9%]. No other Hepatitis C evaluation study has been done in any other part of Iran

[High exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons may contribute to high risk of esophageal cancer in northeastern Iran]

The northeastern region of Iran has some of the highest rates of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma [ESCC] in the world. To investigate the role of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs] in the etiology of ESCC in northeastern Iran, we measured urine 1-hydroxypyrene glucuronide [1-OHPG], a stable PAH metabolite, in 99 inhabitants of this area. Results: The median urine 1-OHPG in participants of this study was 4.2 pmol/ml. Forty-two subjects [42%] had levels ranging from 1 to 5 pmol/ml, indicative of moderate PAH exposure, and 41 [41%] had levels above 5 pmol/ml, indicative of very high exposure. Further analysis showed that 1-OHPG levels were high in all subgroups of our study subjects, including both sexes; rural and urban dwellers; and smokers and non-smokers. Only 15% of the variance in 1-OHPG was explained by age, sex, residence, smoking, nass, or opium consumption. This pattern of PAH exposure parallels with the ESCC incidence pattern seen in this area. We conclude that people in northeastern Iran are exposed to widespread and very high levels of PAH, largely from unknown sources, and this may contribute to the high rates of ESCC observed in this area