Survey of epidemilogic status and incidence rates of cancers in the patients above 15 years old in Kurdistan province

At the present time, cancer is among the first three causes of death in developed countries and also in Iran. Considering different distribution of different types of cancers in the world and their significance in regard to morbidity and mortality, diagnosis of different kinds of cancers will be the first step in controlling these disorders. By proper planning, we can reduce the incidence rate of all types of cancers. This survey deals with epidemiological study of cancers in Kurdistan province. This was a descriptive study. Data were obtained from cancer registration system, which is a national program. In this system the data of all types of cancers, diagnosed in pathological centers, were collected and entered into the national soft ware program. Different types of cancers were encoded on the basis of ICD"O2. In this study 1294 cases of different types of cancers were collected from pathologic diagnostic centers in Kurdistan province in a period of 2 years [2003-2004]. In this survey the overall incidence rate of all types of cancer in 2003 and 2004, was 60 and 66.9 in 100000 people. 62% of cases were male and 38% female. Generally, the most common cancers in both sexes, were those of skin [22.8%], stomach [20.5%], esophagus [12.8%], urinary bladder [7.5%] and lung and bronchus [4.9%]. The most common cancers in male patients, belonged to stomach, skin, esophagus, bladder, lung, prostate, colorectal; and in female patients, cancers of skin, esophagus, stomach, breast and colorectal carcinoma were the most frequent types, respectively. The highest incidence rate of cancers had occurred in the patients who were older than 75 years. Histopathologically the most common cancers of skin, stomach and esophagus were basal cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma respectively. skin cancers were the most common cancers in Kurdistan province. But the total number of cases of cancers of all parts of Gastrointestinal tract, exceeded those of all other systems. In Females, opposed to males, esophageal cancer was more common than stomach cancer. Histopathologically, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of different cancers in Kurdistan province, in comparison to other parts of the country. The epidemiologic profile of cancers in Kurdistan province is different from other parts of our country, which requires more investigation

[Melon allergy and allergenic cross reactivity of melon with other allergens]

Allergenic reaction to melon, Cucumis melo [belongs to Cucurbitaceae family], has been reported in some allergic patients. Oral allergy syndrome was the most common clinical features associated with melon allergy. This study was aimed to confirm allergenicity of Mashadi melon, identify allergenic protein[s] of melon and allergenic cross reactivity of melon with other allergens. Prick test was performed with the extract of different parts of melon [Peel, pulp and loose layer on pulp] on the 35 patients who suffered from allergic symptoms after the ingestion of melon. Total IgE and specific IgE to melon %ere nieasurcd in 21 sera from patients with positive sicin prick test and 15 healthy controls' sera by means of ELISA. The IgE reactive protein of melon extract was detected by westeni blotting, using the 13 patient's sera [with high levels of IgE]. ELISA inhibition carried out in order to detect cross-reactivity between melon and kiwi, banana, Cynodon dactylon and Poa pratensis. Clinical reactions to melon were oral allergy syndrome 61% [immediate oral itching with or without angioedema of the lips and oral mucosa], rhinitis 38%, itching 19% and gastrointestinal symptoms 4.8%. Twenty one of the 35 patients showed positive skin prick test [SPT] to loose layer on pulp. Three patients also showed reaction to pulp and loose layer. Increased specific IgE levels to melon were observed in 18 patients with positive SPT to melon extract. Inhibition experiments showed a strong cross-reactivity of melon specific IgE with two species of ragweed pollen, especially with Cynodon doctylon, but banana and kiwi extract did not inhibit melon specific IgE in inhibition ELISA method. Immunoblot analyses of aqueous protein extract from melon were showed an IgE-binding protein of - 14.4 kDa with 8 of 12 melon-allergic patients' sera. In conclusion, we confirmed IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to melon with common clinical feature of oral allergy syndrome [OAS] and presence of an IgE-binding protein of - 14.4 kDa in melon extract. These findings suggest that main allergen of melon could be profilin