¿Existen relaciones entre los factores ambientales rurales y la salud reproductiva en la Pampa Húmeda Argentina? / Is there any relationship between rural environmental factors and reproductive health in the Pampa Humeda in Argentina?

La relación entre factores ambientales y salud es un hecho reconocido. La influencia de ambientes rurales sobre la salud reproductiva ha sido fehacientemente probada en diferentes regiones del mundo, tanto en la fauna como en humanos. En América Latina pocas investigaciones han sido realizadas en este campo. El presente proyecto se establece sobre la base de la describir las relaciones entre salud reproductiva y factores ambientales en poblaciones rurales, caracterizada por aspectos ambientales particulares. Tres variables han sido evaluadas: relación de nacimientos masculinos/femeninos; incidencia de malformaciones uro-genitales masculinas (hipospadias y criptorquidias); e incidencia de cánceres hormono-dependientes. Se seleccionaron cinco comunidades rurales de la Pampa Húmeda de Argentina, comparándose los datos obtenidos con medias nacionales. Los datos bio-médicos y las fuentes ambientales de riesgo fueron relacionados entre sí a través de un sistema de geo-referenciación. La relación de nacimientos no mostró significación. Las malformaciones presentaron una muy significativa incidencia. Los cánceres hormono-dependientes presentaron incidencia mayores a las medias nacionales, particularmente en algunas de las comunidades estudiadas. Se concluye que existe una relación entre condiciones de salud reproductiva y factores ambientales en esta región.

The relationship between environmental factors and health is well known. Rural environmental influences on reproductive health have been properly proved, both in animals and humans. In Latin America, few studies have been conducted in this area. The current project is based on the description of relationships between reproductive health and environmental factors in rural populations, characterized by specific environmental characteristics. Three variables were evaluated: male-to-female birth ratio, male urogenital malformations (cryptorchidism and hypospadias), and endocrine-related cancer incidence. Five rural communities in the Pampa Humeda in Argentina were selected, and the data were compared to the national mean. Biomedical data and environmental risk factors were correlated through a geographic information system. The ratio of male to female births did not show any differences. Malformations showed very significant differences. Endocrine-related cancers showed higher incidence rates compared to the national mean, particularly in some communities. In conclusion, there is a relationship between environmental factors and reproductive health conditions in this region.

Endocrine cancer in Iran: based on cancer registry system.

BACKGROUND: A population-based registry of endocrine cancer cases in four Iranian provinces, was performed for the years 1996-2000. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients in each province were grouped according to age, gender and tumor specifics (site, morphology, behavior) and the data was coded according to the international classification of diseases for oncology. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Person-years of population at risk were calculated and the results were presented as incidence rates by sex, age, age specific rates and age standard rate (ASR) per 100,000 person-years, using direct method of standardization to the world population. RESULTS: A total of 319 cases of primary endocrine cancer were found and registered, including 313 cases of thyroid carcinoma and 6 cases of adrenal cancer. The thyroid carcinoma group cases consisted of papillary (82.7%), follicular (8.6%), medullary (7.0%) and anaplastic (1.6%) carcinomas. The ASR for thyroid carcinoma was 1.289 (0.627 for men, 1.59 for women), with the highest incidence rate in Kerman (ASR 1.643) and the lowest incidence rate in Golestan (ASR 0.735). For the 6 cases of adrenal cancer, 4 were neuroblastoma and 2 were pheochromocytoma. CONCLUSIONS: Iran was considered as an endemic, iodine-deficient area, until fairly recently. Iodinization of salt has been started about 12 years ago, in the nation. Considering the effect of improvement in the iodine intake in previously deficient communities, which is associated with an increase in the incidence of papillary carcinoma compared to other histologic types, the frequency and distribution of histologic types of thyroid carcinoma was closer to what can be seen in iodine-rich areas.

Cancer, recently known as the third mortality factor, is one of the health problems in Iran

This study was intended to record the number of endocrine cancer in four provinces of Iran. Patients in each province were classified according to their age, gender, sex, and tumor characteristics [site, morphology and behavior]. The obtained data were coded according to ICD-O. High-risk age was calculated for each province and the results presented as incidence rates by sex, age, age-specific rates and ASR per 100,000 person - years using standard statistical methods to the world population. Out of 319 cases of primary endocrine cancers found and recorded, 313 cases were thyroid carcinoma and 6 cases were adrensal cancers. In thyroid carcinoma group, the share of Papillary, follicular, medullary and anaplastic carcinomas accounted for 82.7%, 8.6%, 7.0% and 1.6% respectively. Also, the ASR of thyroid carcinoma for total, male and female cases were 1.289, 0.627 and 1.59 respectively. The highest incidence rate of the thyroid carcinoma was found in Kerman with the ASR of 1.643 for both genders and the lowest rate in Golestan with the ASR of 0.735. Mean age of patients was 43.9 years [SD=15.90] and their age ranged from 3 to 8 years. This figure for males was 45.21 [ +/- 17.13] and for females 43.49 [ +/- 15.51] [P=0.41]. Also, the female - male ratio was 3.1 to 1. In adrenal cases [n=6], 4 cases [66.7%] had neuroblastoma and 2 cases were pheochromocytoma [33.3%]. The mean diagnosis age was 16.17 [ +/- 7.05] years for the whole population of cases; 13.00 [ +/- 3.46] years for males and 19.33 [ +/- 9.07] for females [P=0.32]. Iran was considered as an endemic iodine-deficient region until fairly recently. However, iodinization of salt started 12 years ago and since then, this increase has caused an increase in the incidence of papillary cancer, compared to other thyroid carcinomas; its frequency and distribution closely correspond to the observed profile in areas with high iodine consumption