Demographic characteristics and prognostic factors in pediatric-type sarcomas; A 7 year single institutional experience and comprehensive review of the current literature

Background: due to limited clinical data in pediatric-type sarcomas [rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, PNET, and desmoplastic small round-cell tumor], the aim of this study was to evaluate the demographic characteristics and identifying prognostic factors for survival

Materials and Methods: we retrospectively reviewed 110 patients with pediatric-type sarcomas. Overall and disease free survival was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test. To identify prognostic factors for overall and disease free survival, multivariate survival analyses using a Cox's proportional-hazard regression model was performed

Results: in this study mean age of patients were 20.30 years [SD=13.61; range, 1-83 years]. The survival data of 54 patients [49.1%] were obtained with median survival of 27 months. 3 and 5-year survival rate of these patients were 41.5% and 28.3% respectively. Recurrence of disease [P=0.006] and Ewing sarcoma subtype [P=0.018] were significantly associated with poor overall survival and location of the lesion in the upper extremities [P=0.007] and trunk [P=0.005] were significantly associated with a lower disease free survival

Conclusion: with multivariate analysis, the authors determined that recurrence of disease and Ewing's sarcoma subtype are poor prognostic factors for overall survival and site of origin for disease free survival among patients with pediatric-type sarcoma. In addition, gender, patient's age, and size of tumor had no significant impact on overall and disease free survival

[Evaluation of accidents and incidents at injury registered in medical centers affiliated to Shahid Beheshti university of medical sciences [2012-2013]]

The purpose of this study is to investigate injuries resulting from accidents and incidents referred to medical centers and hospitals of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. This study is a cross-sectional study. All cases admitted to hospitals' of Deputy of Health of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, due to accidents and injuries from March 2012 to March 2013 were reviewed. Categorization of accidents and injuries data was performed according to tenth version of international classification of diseases. SPSS V.18 was used for analysis of data. The main variables in this study, the type of incident, type of accident, accident location and background variables that were studied included: gender, age. Data collected by means of forms and software injury register by Hospital emergency department staff to interview and hospital records, were completed. In total, 248438 cases were reviewed. 67.7% were male and 32.3% were female. Traumas, traffic accidents and falls were major causes of accidents and injuries. Accidents and injuries were more prevalent in 15-25 years age group. Individuals living in urban areas sustained more injuries compared to individuals from rural areas. A total of 722 deaths were reported due to accidents and injuries. Research results indicate that traffic accidents constitute a large proportion of accident and injuries. Also, men, young people were the most victims of accidents and injuries. Training of different groups, including before and during recruitment, training mothers and elderly it seems to be useful. Further studies on the improvement of accidents and injuries software is suggested for access to complete and reliable data. Promoting Knowledge and training, especially in the younger age group, intervention to resolve the accident prone spots and technical defects is recommended to reduce traffic accidents.

Association of IGF-1 gene [rs5742612] polymorphism with colorectal cancer

Background: Insulin-like growth factor 1 has an important role in cell proliferation and growth. Polymorphism in IGF-1 gene changes the level of this hormone and increases the risk of colorectal cancer. The aim of this study is to assess the incidence of IGF-1 polymorphism rs5742612 in Iranian population and to investigate the influence of this polymorphism in increasing the risk of colorectal cancer

Methods and Materials: Genotyping of IGF-1 gene was performed in a series of 110 colorectal cancer patients and 110 controls by using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism genotyping [PCR-RFLP] assays. We calculated odds ratio and confidence interval [CI] of IGF-1 genotypes to determine if these polymorphisms are associated with colorectal cancer

Results: No significant association was found between polymorphism of IGF-1 gene [rs5742612] and increased risk of colorectal cancer [p=0.92]. The odds ratio for the heterozygous genotype CT versus the normal genotype CC was 1.3 [95% CI:0.3-6.27] and the odds ratio for the mutant genotype TT versus the normal genotype CC was 0.0. The frequency of the mutant allele was 2.5%

Conclusion: These findings suggest that IGF-1 rs5742612 polymorphism is not associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer

Association of vitamin D receptor polymorphism [VDR rs 2238136] with colorectal cancer

Many studies have demonstrated that Vitamin D has an important role in cell growth and proliferation and vitamin D receptor polymorphism has significant relationship with colorectal cancer [CRC]. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of VDR rs 2238136 polymorphism in Iranian population and to investigate the relationship between this single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] and increased risk of CRC. In this case-control study, genotyping of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism [VDR rs2238136] was determined in a series of 112 colorectal cancer patients and 112 controls by using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism genotyping assays [PCR-RFLP]. Statistical analysis was done through SPSS 16. VDR polymorphism [rs 2238136] had no significant relationship with CRC risk. The result of statistical analysis for the genotype AG compared with GG was OR=0. 59, CI=0.33-1.03 and for AA versus GG was OR=0.8, Ct=0.29-2.17. Incidence of mutant allele in patients and controls did not show significant difference [OR=0.74, CI=0.49 -1.13]. These findings suggest that VDR [rs 2238136] is not associated with increased risk of CRC. Moreover age, sex and smoking are not predisposing factors for increased risk of CRC

Evaluation of the accuracy of panoramic radiography in linear measurements of the jaws

Panoramic radiography has a great place among imaging techniques because of its enormous advantages. One of the characteristics of an ideal imaging technique is to supply precise measurement. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the accuracy of linear measurements of the jaws on panoramic radiographs. In this study, the vertical distances between the metal markers were measured by panoramic radiography in seven sites of two skulls in various head positions. Then the radiographic measurements were compared with the actual values. Eighty three percent of the measurements were underestimated, 8.5% were overestimated on panoramic radiography and 8.5% of the measurements had no difference with the real measurements. Overestimation was not greater than 1 mm. The difference between actual and radiographic measurements was less in the posterior areas and in the mandible. In all head positions, the greatest difference between actual and radiographic measurements occurred in the anterior area. Based on the results of this study, linear measurements on panoramic radiography are more reliable in the posterior areas and may be used in early clinical measurements

Association of C609T and C465T polymorphisms of NQO1 gene with AML

Many studies have demonstrated that polymorphisms of NQO1 including C465T and C609T are associated with increased risk of acute myeloid leukemia [AML]. Our aims are to assess incidence of these polymorphisms in Tehran patients and study the influence of low activity of NQOl in AML. In this case-control study, we used PCR and RFLP analyses to study the prevalence of C609T NQO1 in 140 patients, and C465T NQO1 in 124 patients; there was also a control group of 80 being age-sex matched. We calculated odd ratio with SPSS 16 to examine if these polymorphisms are associated with AML. No significant association between the two common polymorphisms of NQO1 and risk of AML was observed. C609T odd ratio for TT genotype versus CC was obtained to be 0.91 [CI 95% = 0.51-1.63] and for CT versus CC it was 1.06 [CI 95% = 0.57-1.95]. C465T odd ratio for TT genotype versus CC was calculated to be 0.22 [CI 95% = 0.009-5.56] and for CT versus CC it came out to be 3.01 [CI 95% = 0.63-14.32]. Our findings suggest that the NQO1 C609T and C465T gene variants do not have a major influence on the susceptibility to adult AML

Evaluation of clinical pathology knowledge in the clinical residents of medical sciences

Clinical pathology tests have very important role in the diagnosis, treatment and follow up of patients. Attention to all of the steps in test processing including, 1] patient preparation, 2] sampling, 3] specimen transferring, 4] enough knowledge of lab interference, 5] finding test pitfalls, and 6] ability of test interpretation regarding patients' clinic is very important in using a precise and accurate test. This study tried to investigate the above parameters among the residents. In this study, knowledge of the residents of internal medicine, pediatrics, general surgery and gynecology were evaluated in 29 routine clinical pathology tests including biochemistry, hematology, microbiology, coagulation and immunology. In this study, the median score of all of the residents was 44.88 of 100. The median score of residents in the same degree, but different course, showed significant difference and the scores of residents of internal medicine and pediatrics were higher than residents of general surgery and gynecology [P < 0.02]. The median scores of third and forth year internal medicine residents were higher than their peers in the first and second year [P < 0.04], but this difference was not seen in other residents. The final results of all of the residents were below than 50 percent. This study reveals the inadequate knowledge of residents about the clinical tests. It also shows that the trend to residency of general surgery and gynecology has caused less attention to clinical tests in medical students. In addition, it shows that residents do not receive sufficient education about clinical pathology during their residency. We suggest that the curriculum of education of general medicine during clerkship and residency should be changed with regard to clinical pathology

[Epidemiology of colorectal cancer: study the recorded cases in 1379-86]

Colorectal cancer [CRC] is one of the most common cancers worldwide. But information regarding CRC in Iran is limited; the aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiologic features of CRC in Iran, using 6-year data from cancer registry. This survey was a descriptive-analytic study conducted on 1138 colorectal cancer patients who registered in Cancer Registry Center of Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Tehran, Iran. These data were gathered through interview and pathology reports recorded in cancer registry forms. Data analysis was performed by descriptive and univariate methods. Of 1138 patients, 696 cases were male. There was no significant difference between males and females regarding age at diagnosis. 400 patients [35.1%] had a family history of cancer. The most common histology type of tumor was adenocarcinoma, NOS. in most cases [39.1%] tumor grading was well differentiated and there was no significant difference between males and females. Colorectal cancer is a disease with nonspecific symptoms. Family history of cancer was evident in 35.1% of our cases and also 42.9% of patients were below the age of 50 years old, suggesting that genetic factors may play an important role in the development of this disease in our country