Prevalence of the HFE gene mutation in the liver transplanted and primary hemochromatosis patients in the southern Iran

Primary hemochromatosis is an inherited disorder. Mutation in this gene is accompanied with iron overload in the body leading to organ failure that primarily affects liver. Individuals with homozygote HFE gene mutation are prone to developing the end stage liver disease. Concomitance heterozygote HFE mutation with the other hepatic risk factors may accelerate hepatic damage, leading to cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to find out the spectrum and frequency of the HFE gene mutations in the liver transplantation [end-stage liver disease [ESLD]] candidate groups. Totally, 170 individuals were studied for HFE gene mutations including 87 ESLD patients with various etiologies from Division of Liver Transplant in Nemazee Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Seventy four randomly selected healthy blood donors were evaluated as the control group, and 9 hemochromatosis patients who referred to our lab for genetic analysis due to their high serum ferritin levels and clinical diagnosis were surveyed in a period of one year. HFE gene mutation was found in 57 [approx 33%], 14 [approx 9%], and 15 [approx 83%] chromatids of the ESLD group, control sample, and hemochromatosis patients, respectively. The allele frequency of H63D is about 0.085 among these people. The HFE mutation H63D in the ESLD is significantly higher than that of the control group [W/H63D: odds ratio 5.70, 95%Cl= 2.6-12.55; H63D/H63D: odds ratio 6.39, 95% Cl= 0.77-53.1]. In compliance with our previous report, the C282Y mutation is very uncommon in the southern population. This prevalence could be due to a significant aggravating effect of H63D for liver disease in these patients and may contribute to the poor liver transplantation outcome

effect of educational intervention on the knowledge and participation of administrative health personnel in colorectal cancer screening program at Shiraz university of medical sciences Shiraz 2003

Health care providers play an important role in planning and implementing policies to improve health behavior in the general population and increase participation in screening programs for early detection of cancer. This study was conducted to examine the effect of education on knowledge and the rate of participation of official administrative personnel with average risk for colorectal cancer, [age> 40 years], in colorectal cancer screening program at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. In the first stage of the research, 156 subjects were selected based on predefined criteria using a questionnaire. They were then randomly divided in two groups, experimental and control groups with 78 subjects in each group. Demographic data, level of knowledge, willingness and perceived barriers to participate in screening programs were examined via two separate questionnaires. They were also asked to give stool samples to test for occult blood. In the second stage of the research, the intervention program, [based on health belief model] was conducted for the experimental group. An educational booklet and necessary information regarding colorectal cancer and screening programs were provided to them in two to three sessions. All subjects were asked to submit the stool samples to the laboratory for occult blood test; if a subject did not comply, a reminder was sent to him/her. In the third stage, knowkdge, [post-test] and the rate of subjects' participation in the screening program was analyzed. The results of the study revealed that most people are not interested in colorectal tests. Reasons given for disinclination for occult blood test and colonoscopy were lack of time and feeling healthy, respectively. Knowledge in both experimental and control groups regarding colorectal cancer was improved, this improvement was significantly higher in the experimental group, [p<0.001]. Furthermore, participation of the experimental group in the screening program was significantly higher than that of the control group [p<0.001]. Educating the subjects regarding colorectal cancer and sending reminders regarding stool tests may result in an increase in the knowledge and participation of subjects in screening programs for colorectal cancer