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The aim of this study was to investigate whether the occupational exposure to gasoline of men employed at filling stations affects the sex of their children. Altogether 115 offspring (47 males, 68 females) were identified within families of 49 men working in filling stations in Shiraz (Fars province, south of Iran) and 345 offspring (178 males, 167 females) from 147 families of unexposed persons from the general population of Shiraz, which were matched by age of fathers (¡2 years) and number of children as a control group. The offspring sex ratio at birth (male proportion) in the filling station workers was significantly lower than the ratio in control group (OR = 0.65; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.42 to 0.99). Genotypes of glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and T1 (GSTT1) were investigated on extracted genomic DNA of 37 exposed workers using the polymerase chain reaction based method. In exposed group with active GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes, offspring sex ratio was the same as the ratio in the control group (OR = 0.66; 95% CI 0.34 to 1.28). However, in the exposed group with active GSTM1 and null genotype of GSTT1, the offspring sex ratio statistically decreased (OR = 0.45; 95% CI = 0.21 to 0.96). It seems that the GSTT1 null genotype has an effect on offspring sex ratio in the filling station workers.M any demographic and environmental factors have been shown to be associated with variation in human sex ratio at birth. It has been shown that exposure to environmental toxins changes the sex ratio of live births in humans. 1 There are several studies that have shown the association between fathers' occupation and sex ratio of offspring. [2][3][4] Male reproductive hazards may usefully be monitored by low offspring male to female ratio. 2 The glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are involved in cellular detoxification. 5 6 The GSTs have been divided into a number of subclasses, a, m, p, and h. There are well defined genetic polymorphisms in the expression of GSTM1 (a member of class m) and GSTT1 (a member of class h) enzymes with non-functional null-alleles named GSTM1-0 and GSTT1-0, respectively. The homozygosity for these nullalleles is associated with the absence of the corresponding enzyme activity. 5 6 The GSTs involved in detoxification of several toxins including some of compounds present in gasoline. 7 On the other hand, the reported data provide some evidence of an association between GSTs polymorphisms and risk of recurrent early pregnancy loss. 8 9 Therefore, we speculate that paternal GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes might be associated with offspring sex ratio in gasoline filling station workers, who have long term exposure to gasoline. METHODSUsing a simple questionnaire, number of sons and daughters of 49 men working in filling stations in Shiraz (Fars province, south of Iran) were determined. We identified 115 offspring (47 males, 68 females) within these families. The mean duration of employment in the filling station was 7.7 years (range 1.8-29 years). Because it is reported that paternal age and birth ord...

Background: Complex decongestive therapy (CDT) is one of the most common treatments used in lymphedema. Effects of lymphedema treatment and its predictive factors were studied previously but its impact on quality of life (HRQOL) is still unknown. Objectives: This study, in addition to investigating CDT effects on HRQOL, examined factors that can influence it, to estimate the effect of treatment according to patient's condition in our setting. Patients and Methods:The present study was a quasi-experimental study on health-related HRQOL. A general data gathering form was used in 120 patients who developed lymphedema following breast cancer surgery and referred for treatment to Shiraz Motahari clinic in 2014. All patients' arm size was measured by "direct voltmeter" before the intervention to determine the grade of lymphedema. SF-36 questionnaire was used pre-and one month post-intervention to collect HRQOL data. Complete decongestive therapy (CDT) with or without Pump was used as the intervention. Results: Patients had higher scores after treatment in all subscales of quality of life (except for "role limitation due to physical problems"), but a statistically significant difference (P = 0.023) was observed only in the "mental health" subscale. The results showed significant changes in bodily pain after the intervention in patients less than 40 years old (P = 0.03), "general health" and "vitality" in single patients (P values equal to 0.013 and 0.02, respectively) and "mental health" in those with education "less than high school" (P = 0.018). In the case of household patients, only PF changed significantly after treatment (P = 0.027). Moreover, "role limitation due to physical problems" and "mental health" subscales changed significantly after treatment with CDT + Pump (P values equal to 0.004 and 0.003). Other groups represented no significant changes in other subscales. Besides, duration of lymph edema had no effect on improvement of HRQOL after treatment. Conclusions: Although this study showed that some factors can improve patients' feeling and HRQOL after treatment in our population, in many aspects no changes were observed. It is recommended to improve patients' HRQOL through more social and physiological support in our setting. Also, more follow-up duration after the intervention is recommended in future studies.

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All scales concerning HRQOL were favorably improved 4 weeks after both surgical and medical treatment, and no significant differences were observed between these two treatment modalities for patients with symptomatic BPH. This information may aid patients when deciding which treatment option to take.