[Studying VSX1 gene mutations in patients with keratoconus of chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Iran]

Background and Aims: Keratoconus [KC] is an eye disorder in which the cornea is swollen, thinned and deformed. Despite extensive studies, the pathophysiological processes and genetic etiology of KC is unknown. The disease incidence is approximately 1 in 2000 and is the most common cause of corneal transplantation in the US. Many genes are involved in the disease, but evidence suggests a major role for VSX1 in the etiology of KC. This study aimed to determine the frequency of mutations in exons 2, 4 of the VSX1 gene in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, Iran

Methods: In this experimental study, mutations in two exons including exons 2 and 4 of VSX1 were investigated in 50 patients with KC. DNA was extracted using a standard phenol-chloroform method. PCRSSCP/HA was performed, followed by DNA sequencing to confirm the identified motility shift

Results: H244R mutation was identified in exon 4 of only one patient

Conclusion: Our investigation showed that the KC-related VSX1 mutations are found in very small samples in the study subjects from Iran. Further investigations on other genes are needed to clarify their roles in KC pathogenesis

appropriate multiple criteria decision making method for solving electricity planning problems, addressing sustainability issue

In the past, decision making within the energy sector, especially in Iran, was limited to economic analysis. Lately, multiple criteria decision making has gained great popularity. However, this is not enough to make a right decision by considering sustainability. This paper deals with designing an appropriate multiple criteria decision making method to address the multifaceted nature of such problems. This task is the second precondition to make a decision which meets the sustainability criterion. This is done by revealing new facts about quantitative and qualitative data and the degree of compensation between the criteria. Moreover, this paper illustrates the capability of different methods with regard to sustainable energy planning and management in two steps: 1] comparison of two main approaches in the strategic energy planning context; 2] evaluation of multi attribute decision making methods and combining them. Combining four methods including Analytical hierarchy process. Preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluation II, geometric mean and weighted sum seems to result in designing an appropriate method which meets the sustainability criterion. These contributions are proposed for comparing the renewable energy technologies with non-renewable ones. Nevertheless, these seem to be applicable in any comparison between discrete alternatives in the energy sector

value of immunohistochemical markers in pleomorphic adenoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland

In recent years, immunohistochemical markers have provided considerable contribution to salivary gland tumor diagnosis and classification. The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic value of various cytokeratin markers and smooth muscle actin [SMA] in differential diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma [PA] and adenoid cystic carcinoma [ACC]. In this retrospective study, 35 cases of salivary gland tumors composed of 19 PA and 16 ACC were selected and immunohistochemical staining with six cytokeratin markers [CK7, CK8, CK13, CK14, CK17 and CK18] and SMA were performed. The positivity of these markers in both typical and atypical areas of each tumor was compared. Positivity was defined if 10% or more of the cells were immunostained. In the PA group, there was no difference between luminal and stromal expression of CK7, CK8, CK13, CK14, CK17, and CK18 in both typical and atypical areas except SMA that was not expressed in the atypical area. No statistically significant differences were found between the expression of CK7, CK8, CK14 and CK18 in both typical and atypical areas of ACC group, with no expression of SMA in atypical area. It seems that the immunoprofile of the atypical area of both PA and ACC are similar to each other and IHC does not help to differentiate them

[Prevelance of adynamic bone disease among dialysis patients reffer to Tehran Dialysis Center]

Background: during the last few years the spectrum of renal osteodystrophy [ROD] in dialysis patients has been studied thoroughly and the prevalence of the various types of ROD has changed considerably. Whereas until a decade ago most patients presented with secondary hyperparathyroidism [HPTH], adynamic bone [ABD] has become the most common lesion within the dialysis population over the last few years

Materials and Methods: in this study [n=127], the prevalence of ABD in the memorialized patients [more than 3 months dialysis] was evaluated by means of these biochemical markers [especially PTH<100]. Clinical data on the patients included were recorded at the moment of blood sampling

Results: HPTH was found in only15% of the patients, whereas ABD appeared to be the most frequent renal bone disease as it was observed in 44% of the cases. There was no significant difference between groups in age, sex and serum Albumin, Hb levels. Patients with ABD had significantly higher serum calcium and phosphor levels, whilst HPTH patients were associated with higher serum Alp level

Conclusion: ABD is the most prevalent type of ROD in this population