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Background&Objective: 15-20% of TB cases are extra pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). Abdominal TB is the most common type of extra intestinal TB. Signs and symptoms of abdominal TB are unspecific. In this study, we identified all GITB cases in Golestan province (Iran) between 1999 and 2003 and determined their demographic characteristics. Materials&Methods: We reviewed all new cases of TB reported during 1999-2003 from TB centers of Golestan province .Then EPTB and especially GI and abdominal TB cases were selected. We completed a questionnaire containing demographic information for each of them. The information entered the computer in SPSS-13 was used to analyze the data. Results: 30 patients had been treated for GI and abdominal TB, most of them were females (22 cases, 73.3%). Mean age of the patients was 32.03±13.73 with higher incidence in age before 40 years old (70%). Most common complaints of the patients were fatigue, weight loss, anorexia, fever and abdominal pain, respectively. In 66.7% of patients the diagnosis was pathologically documented. Conclusion: Our data suggest that 38.46% of all TB cases in Golestan province were EPTB, and this scale is higher than other studies. In this study, 5.27% of EPTB cases were GI and abdominal TB, higher than the world reports (3%).

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Background&Objective: Silis (SiO2) is an oxide of silicon that its existence in food products is known as a contamination, classified as a human carcinogen. Some suggest it as an etiology of esophageal cancer. Golestan province has a high incidence and prevalence of esophageal cancer and is on the world belt of this disease. This study was designed to determine the concentration of silis in flour produced in Golestan province, north of Iran Materials&Methods: This descriptive study was done in spring 2005. Census method was used to gather flour samples from flour manufactures. Samples were transported to laboratory. Base-melting method in nickel cruise was used in 550°c and the extract was reduced with acid. The complex was evaluated with spectrophotometer. Data entered into SPSS-12, and the differences between silis concentration in various regions were compared with non-parametric Kruskul Walis test. Results: Median silis concentration was 0.0030 grams, mean concentration was 0.008760 with 0.004265 standard deviation, minimum was 0.003 and maximum was .018 grams in each 100 grams flour produced in province's factories. Mean silis concentrations were 0.012, 0.01 and 0.003 in Gorgan and the central part of the province, western and eastern part, respectively. The differences were not significant. Conclusion: Although in earlier reports it was shown that silis level in the flour is high, but the findings of this study indicated that the above element is in normal range.

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Background and Objective: Quality of medical articles is effective at improvement of medical science. This study was done for determining of published medical articles quality in approved Medical Journals. Materials and Methods: This cross- sectional study was done on 690 medial articles, which published between 1983-2005 in scientific journals, approved by special Medical Journal committee of Ministry of health and medical Education (MOHME) in Iran, during 2007. Source of data was indexed medical journal in the Iranmedex database. Results: Type of study in 52% of articles was descriptive, 21.2% was interventional and 5.8% of them were analytical. In recent years the number of analytic and interventional articles have been increased significantly in comparison to other types (P<0.05). There was no qualitative type article in published papers. The percentages of original, case report and review articles were 44.9%, 36.9% and 14.1%, respectively. In recent years the rate of original articles has increased in comparison to case report and review articles (P<0.05). In 80% of articles, at least one statistical test was applied. 60% of articles were clinical and 82% of them have been written in Persian language. Conclusion: Findings showed an increasing trend in quality indexes of published articles. It seems in recent years, the changes of MOHME policies in evaluation of the research deputy of medical science universities implementation of research and scientific writing workshops ratting protocol of approved medical journals and academic members promotion guidelines, resulted in improvement qualitative index of articles.

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Background and Objective: Golestan province, located in north of Iran has been known as a high risk area for esophageal cancer. The relationship between esophageal cancer and Selenium (Se) has been assessed in previous studies. This study was conducted to assess the relationship between Soil selenium levels and development of esophageal cancer in Golestan province of Iran. Materials and Methods: In this ecologic study, Golestan province in northern Iran was divided into 135 blocks based on geographical altitude and longitude on the map. One Soil sample was collected from the center of each block. Selenium level in Soil samples was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Statistical analysis was performed by Pearson correlation and T-Student tests. Results: The mean±SD of Soil Selenium level in Golestan province was 3.7±1.61 mg/kg. There was a positive correlation between Soil level of Selenium and esophageal cancer rates in this area (P=0.03), (Pearson correlation coefficient=0.19). The Soil Selenium level for high risk and low risk area for esophageal cancer were (4.13 mg/kg) and (3.39 mg/kg) respectively (P=0.01). Conclusion: This study showed that there is high Soil Selenium level in Golestan province in north of Iran. Also it is found to be a significant positive relationship between Soil Selenium level and esophageal cancer rate in this area.

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Background and Objective: Celiac is a hereditary disease presented with chronic inflammation of small intestine. Several studies supposed a relationship between Celiac disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Tissue trans-glutaminase antibody is one of the best serological markers in Celiac disease. This study was designed to evaluate the association of Celiac and IBD using tissue trans-glutaminase antibody.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study 127 confirmed IBD patients who were referred by gastroentrologists 2005-08 enrolled into the study. A questionnaire was completed and tissue trans-glutaminase antibody was evaluated with ELISA method with a Cut-off=12 U/ml.

Results: Among 127 referred patients, serum samples of 102 patients were collected. Mean±SD of age was 36.17±15.2 years and 48% were males. Ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and other colitis were observed in 76 (74.5%), 7 (6.9%) and 19 (18.6%) of patients, respectively. Tissue trans-glutaminase antibody was positive (19.8 U/L) in one 46-years-old male patient with ulcerative colitis.

Conclusion: Tissue trans-glutaminase antibody titer was not significantly different between IBD patients and controls, thus it seems not appropriate to suggest as one of the routine tests in IBD patients.

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Background and Objective: In pathogenesis of beta major thalassemia, tissue damage is occurring due to oxidative stress. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of vitamin E supplementation on serum Paraoxonase, SOD, GPX enzyme activity and lipid profiles in beta major thalassemia patients. Materials and Methods: In this clinical tiral study, Sixty (25 males, 35 females) beta major thalassemia patients with age≥18 years who had criterias to enter the study, were selected randomely in two groups. The patients in interventional group, vitamin E at a dose of 400 mg/day were given for three months, with no supplementations in control group. The enzyme activities of paraoxonase, SOD, GPX and lipid profiles (LDL-c, HDL-c, triglyceride, total Antixidant Capacity) were measured prior and after 3 months in both case and control groups. Data analyzed by using paired t-test. Results: Significant increases in serum levels of vitamin E, Paraoxonase activity, HDL cholesterol (P<0.001), BMI (P≤0.001) and a significant reduction in GPX activity (P<0.05) were observed in cases compared to controls. Conclusion: The vitamin E supplementation may be useful in reducing oxidative stress and lipid profiles in beta major thalassemic patients.

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Background and Objective: Trauma is the most common cause of death in all individuals between 1 and 44 years and the third most common cause of death regardless of age. The abdomen is the third most commonly injured region of the body. Some intra abdominal organ injured more than others, related to mechanism of injury, size and location of organ in abdominal cavity. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of intra abdominal injuries due to penetrating trauma. Materials and Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was done on 114 patients admitted to 5 Azar hospital in Gorgan, Iran due to penetrating abdominal trauma during 2002-07. Gender, age, type of injury causes of trauma and hospitlalization period were obtained form patients files. Results: 92.1% of patients were male. The mean age of subjects was 24.8 years (9-70 years) with highest frequency between 20-24 years. Two (1.8%) deaths directly related to abdominal stab wounds related to hemorrhagic shock. The most common cause of penetrating abdominal injury was knife wound (78.9%). The mean time spent in hospital was 4.6±2.8 days. In 53 patients, cause of trauma were either related to pentration into peritoneum or passing through in. Small intestine injuries (14 %), rupture of diaphragm and concurrent lung injuries (7%) were the common damage organs. Conclusion: This study showed that the knife was the main cause of abdominal penetrate trauma and peritoneum was the most common damage tissue.