ABSTRACT
Statement of Problem: Lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory immunologic-based disease involving skin and mucosa. This disease is generally divided into two categories: erosive and non-erosive. Many etiologic factors are deliberated regarding the disease; however, the disorders of immune system and the role of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes and monocytes are more highlighted. Zinc is an imperative element for the growth of epithelium and its deficiency induces the cytotoxic activity of T-helper2 cells, which seems to be associated with lichen planus
Purpose: This study was aimed to evaluate the levels of serum zinc in erosive and non-erosive oral lichen planus [OLP] and to compare it with the healthy control group to find out any feasible inference
Materials and Method: A total of 22 patients with erosive oral lichen planus, 22 patients with non erosive OLP and 44 healthy individuals as the control group were recruited in this descriptive-comparative study. All the participants were selected from the referees to the department of oral medicine, school of dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Serum zinc level was examined for all the individuals with liquid-stat kit [Beckman Instruments Inc.; Carlsbad, CA]. Data were analyzed by adopting the ANOVA and Tukey tests, using SPSS 16 statistical software
Results: The mean age of patients with erosive and non-erosive LP was 41.7 and 41.3 years, respectively. The mean age of the healthy control group was 34.4 years .The mean serum zinc levels in the erosive and non erosive lichen planus groups and control groups were 8.3 [1.15], 11.15 [0.92] and 15.74 [1.75] micro g/dl respectively. The difference was statistically significant [p< 0.05]
Conclusion: The serum zinc levels were decreased in patients with erosive oral lichen planus. This finding may probably indicate the promising role of zinc in development of oral lichen planus
ABSTRACT
Wilms tumor is one of the most common renal tumors in children. This type of tumor - accounting for 6 percent of tumors in children - shows a good prognosis if treated in time. This study is to investigate the clinical and pathologic findings as well as response to treatment in Iranian children with Wilms tumor treated at Besat hospital of Hamadan [2005-2009]. In this descriptive cross-sectional study all the 24 children - with confirmed diagnosis of Wilms tumor [by biopsy] treated at hematology ward [Hamadan Besat Hospital] from 2005 to 2009 - were followed up by monthly examination and 3-monthly Para-clinical evaluations after treatment. Patients were at 3 stages of the disease phase at the time of diagnosis. Two patients had unfavorable histology. The most common clinical finding was abdominal mass. 2-year survival of the patients in stages 1 and 2, and stages 3 and 4 was 100% and 83%, respectively. Out of the total number of the patients, 4 cases referred with the recurrence of the tumor [16.7%]. Two of them were expired. The findings of the present study showed that the survival rate observed in this study was better than other studies in this field