Prevalence of hepatitis C virus genotypes in Mashhad, Northeast Iran

Hepatitis C is a disease with significant global impact. The distribution of hepatitis C virus [HCV] genotypes in Mashhad [the Northeast and the biggest city after the capital of Iran] is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of HCV genotypes among HCV seropositive patients, and to study the relationship between types, virologic and demographic features of patients in Mashhad. Three hundred and eighty-two clinical specimens obtained from HCV-infected patients referred to Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad during a period of 2009 to 2010 were selected. HCV genotype was determined by Nested PCR amplification of HCV core gene using genotype specific primers. Totally, 299 patients were male [79.9%]. The most common HCV genotype was genotype 3a, with 150 [40%] of subjects. Genotype 1a was the other frequent genotype, with 147[39.2%] subjects. Frequency of genotypes for 1b, 5 and 2 was 41[10.9%], 13[3.4%] and 9[2.4%], respectively. Mix genotype including 1a+1b in 4 [1.04%], 1a+3a in 3 [0.8%] was found in 7 patients. Four percent out of these samples had an undetermined genotype. Among the hemophilia patient, there were 13[48.1%] genotypes as 1a, 3[11.1%] 1b and 10[37%] 3a, respectively. The dominant HCV genotype among patients living in Mashhad was 3a. This study gives added evidence of the predominant HCV genotypes in Iran

[Correlation between histological findings, activity and choronicity indices and laboratory data in patients with lupus nephritis]

Renal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] is one of the most serious complications. Numerous reports have documented the unpredictable course of lupus nephritis and the role of renal biopsy in evaluation of individual patients. It is impossible to predict the types, severity and activity of renal lesions based only on combination of clinical and laboratory findings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histological findings, activity and chronicity scores, and also assessing the correlation between histology and other laboratory findings in patients with lupus nephritis. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 40 patients with diagnosis of lupus nephritis at Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad during 2003 to 2006. Renal biopsy was performed for all patients and correlation between laboratory and serologic parameters and the histological findings were investigated. Data were analyzed using t-test, Chi square test, and Fischer exact test. Activity score was 9.02 in 34 patients with proteinuria and 6.33 in 6 patients without proteinuria [p=0.018]. There was a significant correlation between the activity score and serum C4 levels [p=0.031]. Also, a significant correlation was shown between fibrous crescent [one of the chronicity criteria on biopsy] and nephrotic syndrome [p=0.047]. No significant correlation between activity and chronicity scores and other laboratory and serologic findings was found. Based on our data, no exact correlation between histological findings and laboratory data in lupus nephritis was demonstrated; therefore, emphasis on important role of renal biopsy in evaluation of these patients is suggested

Determination of incidence of macroprolactinemia in hyperprolactinemia by Poly ethylen glycol and evaluation of its clinical and radiological findings

Prolactin exists in 3 different molecular forms, i.e., monomeric, big and at times big big [macroprolactine] in human serum. Macroprolactine is a complex of prolactine and IgG and may account for a significant proportion of idiopathic hyperprolactinemia. Its biological activity is considered low or absent, but it is measured by the common immunoassay method, thus can lead to expensive explorations and ineffective treatments. Conventionally the diagnosis of macroprolactinemia has been done by Gel Filtration Chromatography, which cannot be used routinely. Recently Poly Ethylene Glycol has been employed to precipitate macroprolactine, allowing its rapid detection, dependably and inexpensively. The objective of the present work is to assess the incidence of macroprolactinemia in patients with hyperprolactinemia, by its identification with PEG, and to establish the clinical [galactorrhea and oligomenorrhea] and radiological findings [sella MRI] of such a cohort. 50 patients with hyperprolactinemia were investigated for macroprolactine. Prolactine was measured before and after precipitation of macroprolactine by PEG, with recovery of

[HER2/neu experssion in colon adenocarcinoma and its correlation with clinicopathological variables]

Colon cancer is a prevalent human malignancy. HER2/neu is an important oncogene in breast cancer, but its prevalence and significance in colon cancer have been poorly documented. The aim of this study is to determine the rate and pattern of HER2/neu expression in colon carcinoma by immunohistochemistry [IHC]. Sixty-nine archival, paraffin wax embedded colon carcinoma specimens were chosen. IHC for HER2/neu was performed. Clinicopathologic data and IHC results were analysed. Most of the carcinoma cases were well differentiated and located in the left side. There was positive HER2/neu staining in a high percent of cases [41 Cases, 59.4 %] with both cytoplasmic [27 cases, 65.9%] and membranous-cytoplasmic [14 cases, 34.1%] staining. There was positive HER2 staining in 66.7% of stage B, in 58.6% of stage C and 28.6% of stage D cases. In higher stages, the rate of positive staining was decreased but there was higher rate of strong membranous staining. There was positive HER2 staining in 28 [66.7%] of well differentiated and in five [35.7%] of moderately differentiated cases. In addition, in higher grades, the rate of HER2/neu staining was decreased [p=0.04] and there was more membranous staining. There was no correlation between HER2/neu expression and age, sex, site and type of tumor. The rate of HER2/neu expression in colon carcinoma is high. Because of more prominent membranous staining in higher stages and grades, Herceptin therapy could be helpful in patients with lymph node or distant metastases