Cancer occurrence in Fars Province, Southern Iran

Cancer is a significant health problem in the developing countries, and one that is likely to increase in future. Due to unavailability of data concerning cancer during the last 15 years in our area and young age structure of our country, this active hospital-based study was undertaken to determine the occurrence of cancer in Fars Province, southern Iran. Data including face-to-face interview with patients and a survey of their medical and demographic records in relation to all invasive cancers were actively collected from 1990 to 2005 from four university hospitals. Among 2993 cases of registered malignant neoplasms presented by site and sex, the crude incidence [CRs], and age-specific incidence and age-standardized incidence rates [ASRs] per 100,000 were determined, using the world standard population. Over a 5-year period, 1495 and 1620 cancer cases were registered in males and females, respectively, while breast cancer was at the top of 10 cancers in both sexes. With regard to the top 10 types of cancer, there was a remarkable difference between the results of our study and the estimated cancer incidence for Iran by Globocan 2000. Ethnic, racial and environmental factors may explain these differences but more studies in a longer time span are needed to clarify the causes

Reduced bioavailability of oral metronidazole in postoperative ileus

Metronidazole has been reported to reduce postoperative anaerobic infections following surgical procedures. Because of high cost and poor availability of intravenous metronidazole compared with that of oral preparation, we decided to measure the serum level of metronidazole after oral administration in patients during postoperative ileus, and to evaluate the substitution of intravenous metronidazole for the oral product. The present study comprised 45 adult patients undergoing major abdominal surgery via long laparatomy incision from Aug to Nov 2003. [500 mg of Metronidazole was administered as a single dose orally to each patient twice, one in ileus condition and the other in nonileus condition. Blood sampling was done 1 hour after each episode of the drug administration]. A significant reduction [P<0.001] was found between the mean serum metronidazole concentration [2.90 +/- 2.29 SD g/ml] during postoperative ileus, and that of controls [11.07 +/- 6.72 SD g/ml]. In majority of patients [62.5%], the serum level of metronidazole in ileus did not reach its minimum inhibitory concentration [3 micro g/ml] for the most clinically important anaerobic bacteria. Postoperative ileus significantly affected the oral absorption of metronidazole. As a result, if we want to control an active anaerobic infection with a prompt antibiotic therapy, it seems that initiating of the therapeutic regimen with oral Metronidazole postoperatively is not justified