---

Background and Objective: Esophageal and gastric cancers are among the most prevalent cancers in the world which cause a high mortality rate annually. Several risk factors are supposed for them. Water hardness is considered as a protective factor against above cancers. This ecologic study was designed to determine the correlation between water hardness and upper gastrointestinal cancers. Materials and Methods: In this ecological study data on water components in Golestan's urban areas were obtained during 2004-05 and the averages were reported. All cases of esophageal and gastric cancers resided in urban areas which were diagnosed during this period were recruited to estimate the incidence and age standardized rates (ASR). The province was divided into low, intermediate and high incidence, based on 33% and 66% quartiles of both cancers. Pearson correlation coefficient test and regression model were used to analyze the data. Results: The water hardness was in the normal standard range permitted for the drinking water, and did not have any relation with the risk of esophageal and gastric cancers. Conclusion: This study showed that water hardness has no effect on the incidence of esophageal and gastric cancer in this area.

---

Background and Objective: Colonoscopy is the best method for management of patients with Hematochezia or lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB). This study was conducted to assess the endoscopic and histopathologic findings in patients with hematochezia. Methods: This descriptive –analytical study was done on 117 (50 males, 67 females) patients whom referred to 5th Azar hospital in Gorgan, northern Iran during 2010. Demographic characteristics, medical history and colonoscopic and histopathologic findings were recorded for each patient. Results: Hemorrhoid was the most common finding in colonoscopic examination. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and cancer were the most common feature in the under and higher than 43 age old patients, respectively (P<0.05). Ulcerative colitis (22.2%) was the most common finding in histopathological examination. Rectosigmoid was the most common anatomical location of involvement in IBD cases. Cancer and IBD were occurred in the left colon. Conclusion: Flexible sigmoidoscopy can be a selected procedure for evaluation of hematochezia in the <43 age old patients but in >43 age old subjects sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy should be made based on patients' status.

---

Background and Objective: Dogs are associated with more than 60 types of common diseases with humans, among which parasitic diseases play an important role in public health. This study aimed to estimate the frequency of gastrointestinal helminths fauna among dogs in Gorgan, Iran.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was done on 70 dogs (37 male and 33 female) consisting of 40 shelter dogs, 18 pet dogs and 14 guard dogs in Gorgan (Iran) from November 2019 to January 2020. Age, gender and housing places of the dogs were recorded, and dogs' fecal samples were examined for gastrointestinal helminths by flotation method with Sheather's solution.
Results: The eggs of gastrointestinal helminths were detected in 41 dogs (58.6%), including Toxocara canis (29.3%), Echino-taenia (26.8%), hookworms (24.4%), Trichuris vulpis (7.3%) and Toxascaris leonina (12.2%). The highest and lowest rates of infection were related to Toxocara canis (31.8%) in female dogs Trichuris vulpis (5.3%) in male dogs, respectively. Also, in female dogs, 69.7% of the samples were infected with at least one gastrointestinal parasite, and there was a significant relationship between parasitic disease and female gender (P<0.05). Also, the highest infection rate was observed in shelter dogs (61%).
Conclusion: The frequency of gastrointestinal helminths among dogs in Gorgan is high, particularly among female dogs.