New intracellular and molecular aspects in pathophysiology of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignancy in the world and the second cancer-related death, many molecular and genetic aspects of this disease have been cleared as chromosomal instability and the role of some key proteins as WNT/beta catenin, trypsin and others. Also recently the role of folate turnover and some neurotransmitters as serotonin were also considered. The scope of this review is to describe some details about new molecular pathways suggested for occurrence or progress of this disease

[Diagnostic value of Procalcitonin in detection of acute pyelonephritis in children]

In the absence of specific symptomology in children, the early diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis is a challenge, particularly during infancy. This study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of serum procalcitonin levels in children with acute pyelonephritis. Serum procalcitonin was measured with a rapid, semi-quantitative immune-chromatographic test in 56 children who presented with symptoms of UTI; a level >0.5 ng/mL was considered abnormally elevated. A DMSA scan was done on all cases and the procalcitonin levels were compared with the DMSA study; positive and negative predictive values, [ppv and npv], were determined. The procalcitonin test was positive in 43 of the 49 patients with a positive DMSA scan; p.p.v. of the procalcitonin test was 95.3%; n.p.v was 38.5%. Procalcitonin test may be utilized as a sensitive marker for early diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis

[Evaluation of immunoreactivity of cellular markers of CD15 and CD30 among patients with classic Hodgkin's lymphoma]

Hodgkin's lymphoma [HL] is a curable lymphoid malignancy. Different Immunohistochemical markers specially CD15 and CD30 are used to diagnose HL and differentiate it from other lymphomas including anaplastic large cell lymphoma [ALCL]; this study was carried out in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma to determine the frequency of these markers in Iranian patients with HL. A cross sectional study was done out on all patients with definite diagnosis of classic Hodgkin's lymphoma in the selected hospitals. Patients were classified according to WHO classification of the HL type into: mixed cellularity, nodular sclerosis, lymphocyte rich and lymphocyte depletion subtypes. CD15 and CD30 immunophenotype were detected by monoclonal immunostaining method. The frequency was determined in each group and C.I. [confidence interval] was calculated for the Iranian population. The studies were done on 65 patients. Mean age was 31.9 +/- 18.1 years. 37 [56.9%] were male. CD15 and CD30 was positive in 50 [76.9%] and 58 [89.2%] respectively. Both markers were positive in 46 [70.8%] and were negative in 3 [4.6%]. There was no significant relationship between CD15 and CD30 positivity and age/ gender [p<0.6]. It seems that there is a high frequency of positivity for CD15 or CD30 in Iranian patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma. These markers are useful in diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, in cases who are CD15 negative and CD30 positive, it is better to use additional markers for avoiding misdiagnosis as anaplastic large cell lymphoma