Journal of School of Public Health and

Background and Aim: To examine the association of diet and the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in Kurdistan province.

Materials and Methods: This was a case-control study including 47 patients with esophageal SCC and 96 healthy controls. Dietary intake was assessed using a valid semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was run to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Results: The controls had a significantly higher mean body mass index (25.3 vs. 20.4) and a higher level of education than the case group, while the latter had significantly higher records of tobacco consumption and symptomatic gastresophageal reflux. An independent protective effect was observed for the highest tertile of total fruit consumption (OR: 0.13, CI: 0.04-0.45, p-value=0.001). Within the fruits group, a significant inverse association was observed for bananas, kiwis and oranges (P for trends: 0.03, 0.02 and 0.01, respectively). The effect of total vegetable intake on esophageal SCC was not significant (OR: 0.66, CI: 0.23-1.87), although a reduction in risk was observed in the highest tertile of intake. With regard to other food groups we did not find a statistically significant association.

Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest an inverse association only between fruit consumption and esophageal SCC.

  Background and Aim: Water and food born diseases are one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in through the world. The objective of this study was to investigate factors affecting the persistence of diarrheal cases after the explosive epidemic phase of diarrheal disease in Yazd province.

  Materials and Methods: We designed a match case control study that was performed on base of incidence cases of diarrhea since 24 Aug, 2013 to 03 Sept, 2013.Characteristics of cases and control were obtained by interviewers using a pre-determined questionnaire. Logistic regression was used at 0.05 significant level.

  Results: Totally 69 incidences cases of diarrhea were compared with 138 controls. Incidence rate of diarrhea in Yazd province was 13.79 per thousand. The adjusted odds ratio estimate for presence a patient stricken with gastroenteritis in the household was 3.63 [95% CI: 1.43, 9.20]. The adjusted odds ratio for low education, history of the trip, history of contact with patient and eating outside the home were 1.75, 1.55, 1.93 and 1.37 respectively, that increase odds of disease but their effects was not statistically significant.

  Conclusion: In this study the most important risk factor for diarrhea was history of contact with the person with the disease in the household. This result may indicate the lack of personal hygiene by patients and their relatives and thus transmission of disease to others peoples. Therefore the role of health education and informing about transmission and preventive ways is very important in prevention and control of outbreaks of diarrhea diseases.