[Epidemiological characteristics of gastric cancer].

INTRODUCTION: Gastric cancer was the third most common cancer worldwide in 2000, accounting for approximately 876 000 new cases or 9% of the global cancer burden. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS: As a result of changes in diet, the incidence of gastric cancer has decreased in most countries. Nowdays, consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits is increasing in regard to canned food. In addition to unhealthy diet, the main risk factors for gastric cancer are H. pylori infection, alcohol consumption, smoking, gastritis, stomach ulcer, gastrectomy, stomach polyposis, positive family history for gastric cancer, pernicious anemia and blood type A. Diet rich in vegetables and fruits, and reduced salt intake can prevent 65-75% of gastric cancer cases among nonsmokers. Prevention of Helicobacter pylori infection can also reduce the incidence of this malignant disease.

[Mortality from endometrial cancer in female population of Belgrade]. / Mortalitet od raka endometrijuma u zenskoj populaciji Beograda.

Data about mortality from malignant tumors of endometrium were analyzed in the Belgrade area during the period 1975-2000. The obtained results showed that the average percentage of endometrial cancer in mortality structure from all the cancers of female population was 2.65%. During the observed 26-years period, malignant tumors of endometrium constituted 17.38% of all the tumors of gynecological localization. The standardized mortality rate in 1975 (population worldwide used as a standard) 7.06/100,000 population, while in 2000 it was 1.78/100,000 population, respectively, which showed almost fourfold mortality decline during the observed period (y=4.72-0.16x). A trend of declining risk of dying from endometrial cancer was present in all the age groups. The obtained results indicated that in the observed period the average mortality rates ranged from 0.14/100,000 population in females aged up to 34 years (y=0.30-0.01x), and reached the highest value in females aged 65-74 years (14.57/100,000; y=23.43-0.66x), and 75 years of age and over (19.62/100,000; y=31.17-0.85x).

[Mortality in primary malignant brain tumors in the population of Belgrade]. / Mortalitet kod primarnih malignih tumora mozga u populaciji Beograda.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this investigation was the analysis of primary malignant brain tumors (PMBT)-related mortality in the Belgrade population during the period 1983-2000. METHODS: Mortality data (based on death records) for the period observed, as well as population data, were obtained from the unpublished material of the Municipal Institute of Statistics, Belgrade. The data analysis was adjusted to specific and standardized mortality rates and linear trend, using the world population as a standard. Regression coefficient was determined by Fisher's test. RESULTS: During the period 1983-2000, in the Belgrade population standardized mortality rates from PMBT were 6.29/100,000 (95% CI-confidence interval 5.33-7.24) for males, 4.50/100,000 (95% CI 3.84-5.17) for females, and 5.91/100,000 (95% CI 5.20-6.63) for total population. The age-specific mortality rates increased with age up to the age group 65-74, with the highest value of 21.21/100,000 (95% CI 16.03-26.39), and decreased in persons of 75 and more years of age. CONCLUSION: Mortality rates from PMBT in Belgrade had slightly increasing tendency in male (5.725 + 0.0592x, p = 0.545), and decreasing tendency in female population (y = 4.703-0.0213x, p = 0.756), while statistically significant increasing mortality rate was registered only in the age group 65-74 (y = 435 + 1.7707x, p = 0.0001).