No abstract

Objectives:Reliable evidence is the keystone for any noncommunicable disease (NCD) prevention plan to be initiated. In this study we carried out a risk factor investigation based on the WHO Stepwise approach to Surveillance (STEPS).Methods:The study was conducted on 1000 adults between 15 and 64 years of age living in Ardabil province, north-west Iran during 2006, based on the WHO STEPS approach to surveillance of risk factors for NCD. At this stage only the first and second steps were carried out. Data were collected through standard questionnaires and methods analyzed using STATA version 8 statistical software package.Results:29.0% of men and 2.6% of women were current daily tobacco smokers. The mean number of manufactured cigarettes smoked per day was 18.9 among current daily smokers. Smoking was most prevalent among men of low-income families and those of lower education. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.6 kg/m2, and was significantly correlated with systolic blood pressure. 58.9% were overweight or obese; 18.0% had raised blood pressure and 3.7% had isolated systolic hypertension. The mean number of servings of fruit consumed per day was 1.1; 33.1% had low levels of activity. Combined risk factor analysis showed that 4.1% of participants were in the low-risk group (up to 5.1% among men and 3.2% among women). Those in the high-risk group comprised 25.6% in the 25- to 44-year age group and 49.7% in the 45- to 64-year age group. Mean BMI increased by age in both sexes at least at the first three decades of adult life.Conclusion:Based on observed status of risk for cardiovascular health, burden of cardiovascular diseases is expected to increase if an effective prevention strategy is not undertaken.

Appendicitis is the most common emergency surgical admission regardless of the age group. In case of delay in diagnosis, serious complications may occur, needing immediate actions. Complications of acute appendicitis like perforation, peritonitis, and sepsis are to justify massive negative appendectomies. In this study, it has been tried to collect data about negative appendectomy during last 5 years in Modarres hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran, based on demographics and correlation with diagnostic studies before operation. This study is important in terms of economy and health care aspects. Data were collected about all patients appendectomized during 5 years between 2012 and 2017 at Modarres hospital. There were 1454 records, of which 108 records were excluded from the study due to the lack of enough data, interval appendectomy, and clean appendectomy. Finally, end 1346 appendectomies were assessed. There were 275 (20.4%) and 1071 (79.6%) negative appendectomy and suppurative appendicitis, respectively. Preoperative ultrasonography (US) was performed on 753 (56.0%) patients, of which 472 (62.7%) and 281 (37.3%) cases were coordinated with and different from pathologic records, respectively. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan was performed for 316 (23.5%) patients, which matched and differed pathologic records in 280 (88.6%) and 36 (11.4%) cases, respectively. Diagnosis of appendicitis should still mainly be based on history, and clinical and laboratory data.

No abstract

No abstract

Gastric cancer is one of most common and fatal malignancies worldwide. Majority of patients have advanced stage when visiting the physician. The aim of this study was to investigate the associated factors with mortality of operated gastric cancer at Modarres Hospital, Tehran, Iran. All patients with gastric cancer that referred to Modarres Hospital between 2011 and 2016 were included in this study and data were gathered through patients' medical records and telephone interviews. Analysis was done by SPSS software. In this study 73 patients with gastric cancer participated. Three-years mortality was 72.1%. There was a significant association between the stage of cancer and mortality rate. Although mortality reduced by using neoadjuvant therapy. High mortality of patients with gastric cancer in this study was directly related to higher stage of cancer and lack of a neoadjuvant therapy.

Background: Assessment of efficacy of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI) is important to improve the diagnosis and treatment results in patients with breast cancer (BC). Objectives:We designed this study to determine the role of pMRI in surgical planning for patients suffering from BC. Methods: We, cross sectionally, observed 98 women with BC referring to an educational hospital in Tehran from January 2014 to December 2015. Data pertaining age, pathological type of BC, preoperative imaging findings, and surgical planning were gathered. The frequency of plan alteration was determined according to pMRI findings and analyzed, using appropriate statistical analyses (descriptive statistics, independent t-test, Chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests).Results: Initial surgical plan of 23 patients (23.47%) was changed. Pathological diagnosis of BC (P = 0.460), size of lesion (P = 0.696), laterality (P = 0.139), and lymph node involvement (P = 0.094) did not seem to alter the surgical plan. On the contrary, younger age (P = 0.049), more lesions (P = 0.002), pMRI enhancement curve washout pattern (P = 0.020), and multifocality (P < 0.001) of lesions in pMRI seemed to change surgical treatment plan. Yet, neither ultrasonography nor mammography findings did alter the plan (P > 0.050).Conclusions: pMRI findings, including multiple lesions and multifocal involvement showing enhancement pattern suggestive for malignancy, may change surgical planning in about a quarter of women suffering from BC, particularly the younger ones, but MRI is not mere criterion for determining and usage of it should be limited to necessary subjects because when it is done without strict parameters, it will cause over diagnosis and over treatment.