prognostic role of tumor marker CA-125 in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [NHL] is a common malignancy of lymphoid tissues. Different types of NHL show various behaviors, prognoses, and responses to treatment. Evaluation of disease activity in NHL can be helpful in managing and even increasing the patient's survey. In total, 121 patients [76 males and 45 females], and their age range were 18-53 years, were evaluated in this study. The mean level of serum carbohydrate antigen 125 [CA-125] was 89.3 +/- 18.5 u/ml, ranging from 27 to 135 u/ml. There were significant differences in International Prognostic Index [IPI] score [p=0.002], stage of the disease [p=0.006], mortality rate [p=0.02], and relapse rate [p=0.04] between patients with serum CA-125 level <35 u/ml and patients with CA-125 level >35 u/ml. CA-125 seems to be a useful and reliable tumor marker for monitoring a patient with NHL. It might be the time to consider CA-125 in staging, prognostic scoring, or decision making about NHL treatment

Is [99m]Tc-MIBI scintigraphy a predictor of response to pre-operative neoadjuvant chemotherapy in osteosarcoma?

Multidrug resistance [MDR], which may be due to the over expression of P-glycoprotein [Pgp] and/or MRP, is a major problem in neoadjuvant chemotherapy of osteosarcoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Tc-99m MIBI scan for predicting the response to pre-operative chemotherapy. Twenty-five patients [12 males and 13 females, aged between 8 and 52y] with osteosarcoma were studied. Before the chemotherapy, planar [99m]Tc-MIBI anterior and posterior images were obtained 10-min [tumor-to-background ratio: [T[1]/B[1]][10min]] and 3-hr after tracer injection. After completion of chemotherapy, again [99m]Tc-MIBI scan was performed at 10-min after tracer injection. In addition to calculation of decay corrected tumor to background [T/B] ratios, using the 10-min and 3-hr images of the pre-chemotherapy scintigraphy, percent wash-out rate [WR%] of [99m]Tc-MIBI was calculated. Using the 10-min images of the pre- and post-chemotherapy scans, the percent reduction in uptake at the tumor site after treatment [Red%] was also calculated. Then after surgical resection, tumor response was assessed by percentage of necrosis. All patients showed significant [99m]Tc-MIBI uptake in early images. Only 9 patients showed good response to chemotherapy [necrosis >/= 90%] while 16 patients were considered as non-responder [necrosis <90%]. There was no statistical significant difference between non-responders and responders in [T[1]/B[1]] [10min].There was a significant negative correlation between WR% and percentage of necrosis [P=0.001]. On the other hand, there was a significant correlation between Red% and percentage of necrosis [P<0.001].There was also statistical significant difference in WR% and Red% between non-responders and responders [both P< 0.001]. Washout rate of [99m]Tc-MIBI in pre-chemotherapy scintigraphy as well as Red% using pre- and post-chemotherapy MIBI scintigraphy are useful methods for predicting response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Effects of erythropoietin on electrocardiogram changes in carbon monoxide poisoning: an experimental study in rats

The aim of this study was to define the electrocardiogram [ECG] changes following the moderate to severe CO intoxication in rats, and also evaluating the effect of erythropoietin [EPO] on observed cardiac disturbances. The growing literature on erythropoietin effect on cardiac ischemia led us to question its effect on cardiotoxicity due to the carbon monoxide poisoning. Wistar rats were exposed to three different concentrations of CO [250 PPM, 1000 PPM or 3000 PPM]. EPO was administrated [5000 IU/Kg, intraperitoneal injection] at the end of CO exposure and then the animals were re-oxygenated with ambient air. Subsequently ECG recording, heart rate and carboxyhemoglobin values were evaluated. ECG changes following the CO intoxication included ST segment elevation and depression, T wave inversion and first-degree AV block. Ischemic ECG changes reduced significantly in EPO-treated animals. In the present study, for the first time, EPO was investigated for the management of cardiac complications due to the CO poisoning. Our results showed that EPO could inhibit ischemic changes of ECG after the CO poisoning

[ investigation of diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative frozen sections in Hirschsprung's disease]

Widespread use of one-stage pull-through technique for Hirschsprung's disease and its excellent results are dependent on the accuracy of intraoperative frozen sections [IOFS]. The purpose of the present study is to determine the incidence and sources of probable errors during this process. This cross-sectional study included all patients who were admitted from 2000 to 2010 in Dr Sheikh Children Hospital and had undergone IOFS for diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease. This cross-sectional study included all patients who were admitted from 2000 to 2010 in Dr Sheikh Children Hospital and had undergone IOFS for diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease. Frozen section can be a reliable method for evaluation of suspected Hirschsprung's patients with consideration that the favorable outcome is totally dependent on quality and number of prepared frozen sections for careful evaluation by pathologist

Elevated plasma total homocysteine in preeclampsia

To investigate the possible association between hyperhomocysteinemia and preeclampsia. A case-control study was carried out in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Ghaem Hospitals in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran from May 2004 to August 2006 and included 75 preeclamptic patients, 37 women with mild preeclampsia, and 38 women with severe preeclampsia, in addition we included 40 controls without pregnancy complications. Plasma total homocysteine was determined in all subjects by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The 3 groups were similar in age and body. Patients with severe preeclampsia had significantly higher mean plasma levels 13.8 +/- 7mg/l than normal pregnant women 8.8 +/- 2.8mg/l and mild pre-eclamptic women 10.4 +/- 2.3mg/l p < 0.05. Women who developed severe preeclampsia have higher plasma homocysteine levels than women who remain normotensive throughout pregnancy