Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research
Year:2003 | Volume:11 | Issue:42|Papers Count:10

Background: Bladder cancer is the Sixth most common cancer in the world. More than 90% of the bladder cancers are transitional cell carcinoma type and 80% of superficial tumors recur after treatment. In order to determine the recurrence rate and prognostic factors of superficial bladder cancer (SBC), this study was conducted.Materials and Methods: The information of this historical cohort study was obtained from files of the patients admitted to Shiraz Shahid Faghihi Hospital in 1998-2001. The 76 cases of bladder cancer were diagnosed for the first time as new cases. Variables included in the analysis were age, sex, residential place, job, tumor pathologic grade and stage, BCG therapy, date of diagnosis and time of recurrence. All data were analysed by SPSS-10 software. For assessing prognostic factors of recurrence, the Cox regression multivariate analysis was used and the survival curves were analysed by Kaplan Mayer procedure. Results: Out of 76 cases of bladder cancer, 72 cases (94.74%) had transitional cell carcinoma and the ratio of male to female was 4.5:1. Twenty seven (45%) of all SBC cases experienced recurrence. The mean length of follow up was 14.8 months. In Kaplan-Mayer survival analysis, the mean length of recurrence free period with 95% confidence interval was 24.2 months(18.3- 30.1). For every 10 years of age, the probability of SBC recurrence will increase about 0.5 fold. Also, the probability of recurrence in grade II and III patients was 4.5 and 11 fold higher than grade I patients, respectively. Conclusion: Considering the differences between our results and others, we suggest further regional studies to be conducted in this context in order to predict precisely the patient's status.

Background: Due to the problems arising from the overpopulation, attention has been focused on contraceptives for men. Phenanthrolines are a group of organic compounds with ionophilic characteristics and a wide range of use in biology and chemistry. In this study the effect of 2,6-diaminopyridinum was studied on hypophysis-gonad axis, testicular tissue and sperm production in male Balb/c mice. Materials and Methods: Fifty adult male Balb/C mice were divided in 5 groups. First group was used as untreated control. Saline was injected to the 2nd group and the remaining 3 groups were received intraperitoneal injection of 15, 20 and 25 mg/kg of 2,6-diaminopyridinum every other day for 20 days. The LD50 was determined to be 35 mg/kg body weight. The serum concentrations of FSH, LH and testosterone were measured and the testicular tissues were studied morphologically. Results: The data showed that 25 mg/kg diaminopyridinum decreased the serum testosterone level significantly with no changes on FSH and LH levels. Histological studies on testicular tissue showed a significantly lower numbers of germ cells. Conclusion: The data obtained in this study indicate that 25 mg/kg of phenanthroline may directly affect testicular tissue causing a lower testosterone level and spermatogenesis in mice.

Background: Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has an increasing application in most of the hematological disorders that cannot be controlled by current chemotherapy strategies. Therefore, the ability of evaluation of the contribution of donor cells in recipients' blood circulation (chimerism) is important in the kinetics of bone marrow engraftment. The present study was carried out on candidates of BMT at Tehran Shariati hospital in order to evaluate post transplantation kinetics of chimerism by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was performed on 360 blood samples from ten patients who underwent blood or bone marrow stem cell transplantation. Six of the patients were suffering from different types of leukemia and four patients had non-malignant hematological disorders. The chimeric status of transplantation was investigated by close molecular monitoring up to six months post transplantation. Donor and recipient allelic patterns were determined by multiplex PCR using a panel of STR gene markers such as ARA, D4S2366, D16S539, D7S820, D13S317, F13A1, FES/FPS, VWA, CSF1PO, TPOX and TH01 on DNA of blood specimens. Result: Based on different gene loci a sensitivity of 1-2% was obtained using PCR method. Mixed chimerism was detected in all the patients between days 1 to 9 post transplantation. Eight patients changed to a complete allelic pattern during the days 9 to 14 and had an uncomplicated post transplant disease course. Two patients including one with low intensity conditioning regimen consistently retained mixed chimerism up to six months. Most of the patients achieved full chimerism between days nine to fourteen. Hematological and platelet engraftment occurred between days 8-9 and 9-25 post transplantation respectively.Conclusion: The data show that STR analysis using multiplex PCR can provide an accurate, rapid and quantitative assessment of chimerism situation in post transplantation patients. Such information may be useful for guiding early implementation of additional treatment designed to circumvent graft failure or suppression of relapse in the future.

Background: Since Brucellosis has a high incidence in Iran, a quick, sensitive and specific diagnosis for immediate therapy is necessary. This study was conducted on patients with Brucellosis in the city of Zanjan in years 2002-2003 to compare the diagnostic values of rapid Rose Bengal test and the selective ELISA assay. Materials and Methods: All patients that were suspicious of Brucellosis and were refered to the laboratory by specialists were entered to the study. In order to conduct Rose Bengal test and to measure the specific IgG and IgM antibodies by ELISA, 5 ml blood was taken from each patient and the serums kept at -20°C until use. Each sample was examined by these methods in duplicate and the sensitivity, specificity and the positive and negative predictability values were calculated. Results: Out of 176 patients, 92 (52.3%) were males and 84 (47.7%) were females. The age of the patients was between 15 to 65 years old with the average of 18-40 years. 72.4% patients were from rural and 27.6% from urban areas. In 24 cases (13.3%), the Rose Bengal test was positive, while with ELISA assay, 72 patients (40.9%) were positive. The sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of Rose Bengal test were compared to IgM ELISA values that were 100, 95.6, 70.8 and 100%, and with that of IgG ELISA values were 36.9, 100, 100 and 73%, respectively. Conclusion: In acute phase of Brucellosis, the sensitivity of Rose Bengal test is equal to ELISA assay and is recommended for this stage. However, in chronic phase of the disease, the sensitivity is low and Rose Bengal test is not suggested. For this stage of the disease the ELISA assay is recommended.

Introduction: Bone grafting has been recommended in various clinical problems such as nonunion fractures after surgery, fixation of fractures, filling remaining cavities in bones after debridement and curtage in osteomyelitis and tumors. The use of Bioglass material are recommended by manufacturers when bone grafting is not possible. In this investigation, the use of Nova bone (Bioglass) was studied on the treatment of benign tumors and nonunion fractures after surgery. Materials and Methods: In this case series study 14 patients with bone tumors and 2 patients with nonunion fracture were studied over one year period. All bone tumors were benign and consisted of 3 cases of nonossifying fibroma (N.O.F), 3 cases of anurismal bone cyst (A.B.C.), 2 cases of unicameral bone cyst (U.B.C), one case of ossifying fibroma and 5 cases of giant call tumors (G.C.T). Results: Unpredictable clinical complications were not seen in any of the cases. The average recovery time for benign tumors after nova bone grafting was 3 months and for nonunion fractures was 6 months. Recurrence were occurred in all cases of giant cell tumors.Conclusion: Nova bone is appropriate for use in benign tumors of bone, but we do not recommend it in the treatment of patients with malignant or sometimes malignant tumors of bone such as giant cell tumors.

Background: Due to the high prevalence of urogenital infection and lack of knowledge about the relationship between bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infection in the country, this study was conducted in patients referred to Shohada Hospital during the years 2001-2002.Materials and Methods: This case-control study was carried out on 134 candidates. Individuals with signs of urinary tract infection and positive urine culture were considered as patients. Also, the individuals with negative urine culture that their age, coitus frequency, years of marriage and birth control methods were matched with the patients were considered as control group. Bacterial vaginosis in both groups was determined based on Amsel criteria. The results were analysed using t-test and X2 test. Then odds ratio and confidence intervals were calculated. Results: Sixty seven patients with urinary tract infection were compared with 67 normal individuals. Bacterial vaginosis was observed in 40.3% of the controls and in 62.7% of the case group (p<0.01, OR=2.49). Characteristic discharge of bacterial vaginosis and pH over 4.5 was observed in 91% of the patients and positive Whiff test and clue cells were reported in 74% and 72% of the patients with bacterial vaginosis respectively. Conclusion: Individuals with urinary tract infection encountered bacterial vaginosis more than control group. We recommend further experimental studies for evaluation of the effectiveness of vaginitis treatment in prophylaxis of urinary tract infection and also, further attention to pregnant woman.

Background: Hypertension is one of the most important risk factors in the etiology of cardiovascular and renal diseases both in children and adults. Due to the absence of a blood pressure (BP) normograph in children living in Tehran, this study was conducted in Autumn 2002 to determine the BP status in children 7-11 years old and its relationship with age, sex, height and weight. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on 1061 children (boys and girls). The age, sex, height, weight and systolic and diastolic BP were measured according to the standard procedures, then 50th, 75th, 90th and 95th percentiles of BP were tabulated. Results: The data showed that systolic and diastolic BP increased by height and weight. Also, the 90th and 95th percentiles of systolic BP was equal in boys and girls aged 7 and 8 years; however, it was higher in girls aged 9, 10 and 11 years. The diastolic BP at 90th and 95th percentile was equal in boys and girls aged 7, 8 and 9, but it was higher in girls aged 10 and 11 years. When BP percentile of American children was compared to the Iranians it was found that boys and girls living in Tehran had a lower systolic and diastolic BP than that of Americans. Conclusion: These data show that, in addition to age and sex, other factors such as height, weight, race, nutrition, genetics and environment have influence on normal range of BP in children. Therefore, each society should have their own standard BP normograph for their populations. Similar studies with more samples are highly recommended.

Background: Infection with human immune deficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the health problems in blood transfusion science. This study was conducted in shiraz for determination of the rate of HIV positivity in blood donors during the years 1998-2002.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 615790 blood donors. All samples were screened by ELISA for HIV and all positive samples were analysed by western-blot for final confirmation. All positive samples in western-blot were considered true positive for HIV. Epidemiological data such as age, sex, marriage and number of blood donation were studied and the rate of hepatitis B and C in HIV positive and HIV negative blood donors were compared. Results: The rate of HIV positivity in blood donors was 5.5 in 100,000. The mean age of HIV positive persons was 33.4±4.2 y. 94.2% of HIV positive cases were male and 79.4% of them were married. 32.4% of HIV positive cases were first blood donors. HIV positivity was more common in first blood donors and in male donors (P<0.005), but there was not any significant differences between married and single persons regarding the HIV infection rate. HCV Ab was positive in 10.4% of HIV positive blood donors and HBS Ag was positive in 5.2% of them. Conclusion: Frequency of HIV infection in blood donors in iran is lower than many other countries. Regarding the prevalence of the infection in young age, educational programs in these age groups were recommended.