ABSTRACT
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
ABSTRACT
Background: Recently the Government of Islamic Republic of Iran has considered radical changes and innovation in the structure of medical education at all levels. Therefore the "Accreditation and Evaluation Plan of Medical Universities in Iran" is approved and emphasized in the Third 5-Year Development Program
Method: The Educational Deputy [ED] of Ministry of Health and Medical Education [MOHME] considered three main plans: [1] Goal-based internal evaluation, and external evaluation of educational departments of medical universities based on internal evaluation. In 1995-6 ED began the internal evaluation, defining quality as fitness for purpose; and in 2000 started the external evaluation in some medical schools as a pilot study, based on previous internal evaluation. [2] Collaboration with World Federation for Medical Education [WFME], according to International Standards for Basic Medical Education Pilot Studies. Shiraz Medical University was co-opted by WFME to collaborate in the first stage; three medical universities [Tehran, Shahid Beheshti and Ahvaz] are accepted for the second stage. [3] The project of "Standardization of Medical Education in Iran for Achieving International Accreditation". This process is being performed in several steps: [a] Study of three different sets of national [Australia, US and Mexico] and international [WFME] standards; [b] Collection of the experts' viewpoints specialized in medical education in this regard; [c] Development of the first action plan; and [d] Conduction of this project as pilot study in a number of medical universities
Results: Having primary results disseminated, motivated many other medical universities so that some announced their readiness to begin internal and external evaluation or standardization process
Conclusion: Regarding the importance of quality improvement in medical education, it is expected that even if this process would not lead to international accreditation acquisition, it will result in improvement and essential changes in basic medical education
ABSTRACT
Background: Infestation of the gastrointestinal tract with parasites is one of the commonest causes of the digestive tract syndromes especially in developing countries. The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence of parasitic infestation in the stool specimens in pediatric age group
Methods: Stool specimens of all the children referred to Children's Medical Center in Tehran, regardless of their clinical complaint, in the last 13 years, are examined microscopically
Findings: 14.27% of 64196 specimens were positive regarding parasites, isolated Giardia being 7.54%. Positive stool specimens of boys related to girls were more frequent
Conclusion: The incidence of infestation with Giardia is remarkable and regarding the possible complications of infestation, more intensive hygienic teaching of the public is recommended to prevent the expansion of the infestation