Letters To The Editor
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 21, 2008; 14(19): 3106-3107
Published online May 21, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.3106
Role of silis in esophageal cancer
Ali Jabbari, Sima Besharat, Shahryar Semnani
Ali Jabbari, Sima Besharat, Shahryar Semnani, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Gorgan City 49177-44563, Golestan Province, Iran
Author contributions: Jabbari A and Besharat S contributed equally to this work, designed and performed the research and wrote the paper; Semnani S designed the first idea of the work.
Correspondence to: Sima Besharat, MD, Researcher, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 21st Edalat, Vali_e_asr Ave, Gorgan City 49177-44563, Golestan Province, Iran. s_besharat_gp@yahoo.com
Telephone: +98-171-2240835
Fax: +98-171-2269210
Received: January 16, 2008
Revised: March 6, 2008
Published online: May 21, 2008
Abstract

Association of silica with diseases like cancers has been determined previously. This study was designed to determine the quantity of silis in flour produced in Golestan Province, and its relation to esophageal cancer (EC). We took flour samples from all flour millings in Golestan Province. Base-melting method in nickel cruise was used at 550°C. The extract was reduced with acids. Different silis concentrations in various regions were compared. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The median silis concentration was 0.0030 g, the mean silis concentration was 0.008760 ± 0.004265 g in each 100 g flour. The difference of mean silis concentrations in various regions was not significant. No high level of silica was found in the flour of Golestan Province. We could not find any significant difference in various areas between silica contaminations. Studies on the consumed bread and rice in various regions of Golestan Province can be helpful.

Keywords: Silis; Esophageal cancer; Flour; Miling; Iran