Aflatoxin contamination in wheat flour samples from Golestan province, Northeast of Iran

Due to the high toxicity of aflatoxin and its effects on public health, determination of aflatoxin level in Wheat flour samples in the Golestan province, north of Iran was investigated. To examine the effect of seasonal changes, summer and winter sampling was performed with standard sampling methods. A total of 200 flour samples were collected from 25 factories. HPLC method with immunoaffinity chromatography was used to measure aflatoxin types [G2, G1, B2 and B1]. Statistical analysis was performed by the Pearson correlation test, One-way ANOVA and multivariate regression analysis. Mean total aflatoxin levels of samples were 0.82 and 1.99 ng/g in summer and winter, respectively. Aflatoxin B1 levels were detected in 3.1%, 7.4% over permissible limits by worldwide regulations in samples collected in summer and winter, respectively. Aflatoxins in winter were higher than summer. The highest frequency of aflatoxin contamination in winter was B2 [98%] and in summer G1 [51%]. The relationship between humidity and rate of aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxin was significant in winter. Results of multivariate regression were showed the strongest relationship with humidity and aflatoxin level. Despite the contamination of flour samples, there was no contamination higher than the standard limit of Iran Standard Institute. But it was significantly higher than similar studies from other regions. Therefore, with regard to negative impacts of aflatoxin on health, aflatoxin contamination should be considered in future programs. Decrease of aflatoxin contamination may be made practical through reducing wheat storage duration and controlling humidity

Esophagitis may not be a major precursor lesion for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a high incidence area in north-eastern Iran

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma [ESCC] is usually detected in advanced stages resulting in a very poor prognosis. Early diagnosis needs identification of clinically releveant precancerous lesions which could become the target of screening and early treatment. Our aim was to check whether esophagitis could serve as a relevant histological precursor of ESCC in Northern Iran. During 2001-2005, all adult patients who were referred to Atrak clinic for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy were enrolled. Atrak clinic is a major center for upper gastrointestinal cancer research in eastern Golestan. All subjects had been complaining of upper GI symptoms and were under further investigation to rule out cancer. Biopsies from the endoscopically normal mid-esophagus and also just above the esophago-gastric junction were obtained in all subjects whose esophagus appeared normal during endoscopy and from endoscopically normal appearing mucosa at the proximal vicinity of any detected mass. Microscopic examinations for the verification of the presence or absence of esophagitis was performed by independent histological examination of the samples by two pathologists. All the discrepant diagnoses were resolved in joint diagnostic sessions. During the study period 836 patients were enrolled including 419 non cancer patients [endoscopy clinic controls], 387 cancer patients, and 30 subjects with clinical diagnosis of malignancy referred for histological reconfirmation of diagnosis by repeated biopsy. Mild or marked mid-esophagitis was diagnosed in 39 [9.3%], 47 [12.5%] and 12 [40%] of endoscopy clinic controls, cancer patients and those who were suspicious for upper gastrointestinal malignancies. Our observation does not show evidence for esophagitis to be a predisposing factor for ESCC in Gonbad region In North Eastern Iran

[Pancreatobiliary cancers in Iran: a population- based study]

Our knowledge regarding the epidemiology of pancreatobiliary cancers in Iran is limited. This study presents the first population-based report on pancreatobiliary cancers performed in five provinces of Iran. Data used in this study were retrieved from population-based cancer registries in five provinces of Iran [Gilan, Mazandaran, Golestan, Ardabil and Kerman] from 1996 to 2000. Crude incidence rate, age standardized incidence rate [ASR] and age specific incidence rate were calculated for each cancer sites using the direct method. Overall ASR of pancreatic cancer in five provinces was 1.18 and 0.84 per 100, 000 person-years for men and women, respectively. These values for gallbladder and biliary tract cancers were 0.42 and 0.27 per 100, 000 person-years for men and 0.93 and 0.22 per 100, 000 person-years for women, respectively. ASR of pancreatobiliary cancer is low in Iran compared to western countries