---

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.

---

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: Clarithromycin-based quadruple treatment is a common treatment regimen for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication in Iran. However, its success rate has been unsatisfactory in recent years due to increasing antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to compare the two treatment regimens, i.e., furazolidone and clarithromycin, for H. pylori eradication.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical retrospective study was conducted on the medical records of 100 symptomatic patients (54 females and 46 males; mean age=45.86±11.97 years) confirmed with H. pylori infection via urea breath test (UBT) or rapid urease test (RUT), who presented to Shahid Sayyad Shirazi Educational-Therapeutic Center in Gorgan, Iran, for endoscopy during 2019. Patients had been treated for two weeks with one of two routine oral quadruple drug regimens based on furazolidone and clarithromycin. The first quadruple drug regimen included bismuth subnitrate 240 mg twice daily, clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily, omeprazole 20 mg once daily, and amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily. The second quadruple drug regimen involved bismuth subnitrate 240 mg twice daily, furazolidone 200 mg twice daily, omeprazole 20 mg once daily, and amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily. H. pylori eradication rates were determined using a stool antigen test in patients who completed the entire course of treatment (four weeks after the end of the treatment regimen).
Results: The eradication rates for the furazolidone-based and clarithromycin-based quadruple regimens were determined to be 98% and 94%, respectively, showing no statistically significant difference. The odds ratio for H. pylori eradication was not statistically significantly associated with age, gender, or treatment regimen type.
Conclusion: Both two-week furazolidone-based and clarithromycin-based quadruple regimens were effective in eradicating H. pylori, with neither regimen demonstrating superiority over the other.