[Multiple pseudotumors of the liver associated with adenocarcinoma of the colon: a case report]

Hepatic inflammatory pseudotumor [IPT] is a rare non-neoplastic process of unknown etiology, generally following a benign inflammatory condition. It is often mistaken as an either primary or metastatic malignancy in imaging studies. We report a 48 year-old female with numerous target lesions [2-4 cm] seen on high resolution ultrasound, spiral CT scan, and MRI in all liver lobes compatible with metastasis. Guided biopsies of the lesions were performed twice, but the pathologies showed no evidence of malignancy. Colonoscopy revealed adenocarcinoma of the colon. This case highlights liver pseudotumor in the differential diagnosis of hepatic tumoral lesions

Mutational analysis of the PTEN/MMAC[1] tumor suppressor gene in sporadic glioblastoma multiforme

In 1997 MMAC1 or the PTEN gene, was identified as a tumor suppressor gene on the long arm of chromosome 10.PTEN involves in the balance between proliferation, and differentiation, apoptosis and regulation of angiogenesis, and eventually mutation in this gene causes a strong potential for tumorigenesis cells. This study is the first report of the correlation between PTEN gene mutations with histological markers and the age of Glioblastoma patients with the purpose of using it to remove diagnostic ambiguities and identify the type of glioma. In this study, we screened for PTEN mutations in exon 4-8 in glioblastoma patients in Isfahanian population. Genomic DNA ware extract from 60 formalin fixed frozen glioblastoma tumors, 4 normal tissue sample and 60 blood samples. Mutational analysis was performed using polymerase chain reaction, single strand conformation polymorphism [SSCP] and heteroduplex mobility techniques. In order to augment the accuracy, the experiments [PCR, SSCP, HMA] was repeated at least 3 times. The correlation between PTEN mutations with Clinical Pathologic markers [pleomorphism, Necrosis, cellularity, mitosis and endothelial proliferation] in Glioblastoma tumors and the age of patients were investigated With the help of statistical tests [t-test, Manvitni and Fisher's exact test]. A total of 4 mutations [7%] were detected in 60 glioblastoma tumors. In this study, there was no significant relation between clinic pathologic markers and PTEN mutations [p-value > 0.05]. Our data shows a positive association between the age of onset of cancer and PTEN mutations [p-value < 0.001]. Our results suggested that PTEN mutations are Low in Iranian glioblastoma patients. People with PTEN mutations are more likely to develop glioblastoma before the age of 20

Development of novel budesonide pellets based on CODES[TM] technology: In vitro/in vivo evaluation in induced colitis in rats

Budesonide is the drug of choice for treatment of active inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. The aim of this study was to develop budesonide pellets based on a novel colon drug delivery system [CODES]. Pellet cores containing lactulose or mannitol were prepared by extrusion/spheronization and coated with an acid soluble polymer [Eudragit E100], hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose [HPMC] and an enteric coat [Eudragit FS 30D] sequentially. In vitro drug release of coated pellets was studied using USP dissolution apparatus type II in buffers of pH 1.2 [2 hrs], pH of 7.4 [4 hrs] and pH of 6.8 containing 8% rat cecal contents [RCC] [18 hrs]. The efficacy of the optimized formulation [containing 50% lactulose coated with Eudragit E [30% w/w] and Eudragit FS 30D [12% w/w]] was evaluated against 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid [TNBS]-induced colitis in rats. The results of the kind of bacteria in vitro dissolution tests indicated absence of drug release in pHs of 1.2 and 7.4 and controlled release in buffer of pH 6.8 containing RCC. It was found that release rate was controlled by the type and amount of polysaccharide and the thickness of the acid soluble layer. The prepared formulation showed promising results in alleviating the conditions of experimental model of colitis. The results of this study suggest that pellets based on CODES technology could be useful for colonic delivery of budesonide

Prevalence of celiac disease in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Celiac disease [CD] may be misdiagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome [IBS] resulting in long delays in diagnosing CD. There are contradictory reports on the association of CD with IBS. Appropriateness of screening all patients with IBS for CD and how to screen them are still under question. In a cross-sectional study, 328 IBS patients [Rome II] referred to the Poursina Hakim Gastroenterology Clinic were investigated for CD. Total serum anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA [anti-tTG IgA] concentration was measured in all patients. In IgA deficient cases, antigliadin antibody [AGA] IgG concentration was also measured. Moreover, in patients who underwent upper endoscopy [as their necessary workup] duodenal biopsies were taken. Fifty-eight patients were excluded. The remaining patients were 166 [61.5%] women and 104 [38.5%] men with the mean age of 35.3 years [SD = 11.8]. No one had positive serological test of IgA anti tTG antibody. Five patients were IgA deficient; none of them had positive IgG AGA. Duodenal biopsies were taken in 60 patients and pathologic evaluation showed 53Marsh 0, three Marsh I, three Marsh II, and one Marsh IIIa. Only the patient with Marsh IIIa adhered to gluten-free diet [GFD] which led to decrease in severity of symptoms. In patients who did not adhere to GFD, no one had positive serological test after 12 months of follow-up. Prevalence of CD in patients with IBS referred to outpatient gastroenterology clinic might be significant but serum anti-tTG IgA antibody is not helpful in detecting CD in these patients. Further studies are needed to clarify this issue

role of Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric carcinoma

Several studies have been performed about the association between Helicobacter pylori and gastric carcinoma some of which have confirmed while others have excluded this link. The aim of this study was to evaluate a possible connection of gastric carcinoma with Helicobacter pylori infection. We evaluated 70 gastric carcinoma and 70 age and sex matched control subjects [without any mass or ulcer] for H. pylori infection by Giemsa staining of the samples obtained from the subjects. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 37.14% in control subjects, 44.44% in intestinal type and 40% in diffuse type of gastric carcinoma. Statistical analysis did not reveal any meaningful difference between the prevalence of H. pylori in case and control group in this study. Therefore, the relationship between H. pylori and gastric carcinoma was excluded in our study. Atrophy and metaplasia of intestine which result in reduction of colonization of bacteria and also bias in sampling might account for the findings of the present study