Epidemiological aspects of endemic upper gastrointestinal cancers in eastern Turkey.

Background/aims: The aim of our study was to present the epidemiological aspects of endemic upper gastrointestinal (esophageal and gastric) cancers in the Van region of Eastern Turkey.

Methodology: The patients were diagnosed by esophagogastroscopy, biopsy and histopathological analysis. The control group consisted of 73 healthy subjects.

Dietary nitrate and nitrite levels in an endemic upper gastrointestinal (esophageal and gastric) cancer region of Turkey.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was investigate nitrate and nitrite levels in some traditional foods and drinking water in Van, an endemic upper gastrointestinal (esophageal and gastric) cancer region of Eastern Turkey.

Methods: Cheese with added herbs, drinking water, bread baked by wood fire and bread baked by burning animal manure specimens collected in the Van region were analyzed by Stahr's modification method. Nitrite was reduced to nitrate by the following three reagents: hydrazine sulphate ((NH2) 2SO4), CuSO4 and NaOH.

Heavy metals in soil, vegetables and fruits in the endemic upper gastrointestinal cancer region of Turkey.

The environmental exposure to heavy metals is a well-known risk factor for cancer. We investigated levels of seven different heavy metals, (Co, Cd, Pb, Zn, Mn, Ni and Cu) in soil, fruit and vegetable samples of Van region in Eastern Turkey where upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are endemic. Heavy metal contents of the samples were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometer.