Association of interleukin-4 polymorphisms with multiple sclerosis in southeastern Iranian patients

Immune system-related factors are important in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis [MS]. Interleukin 4 [IL-4] as a helper T cell [2TH] cytokine is involved in the regulation of immune responses. Hence, this study was designed to explore the association between MS and polymorphisms in the -590 region of IL-4. A descriptive study at Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsnajan from September 2009 to August 2010. Blood samples were collected from 100 MS patients and 150 healthy controls on EDTA precoated tubes. DNA was extracted and analyzed for IL-4 polymorphisms using restricted fragment length polymorphism in patients and controls. Demographic data were also collected by a questionnaire that was designed specifically for this study. We observed a significant difference in the C/C, T/C, and T/T genotypes of the -590 region of IL-4 between patients with MS and healthy controls [P<.001]. We conclude that functional polymorphisms of IL-4 possibly play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of MS

Primary thyroid malignancies in Tehran, Iran

The aim of this study was to present a descriptive epidemiology of primary thyroid cancer in Tehran, Iran, using cancer registry data. All cases of thyroid cancer registered from 1998 to 2001 in Tehran Metropolitan Area Population-Based Cancer Registry were used for this study. The incidence of thyroid cancer was estimated for the area covered by the cancer registry. Survival of patients was ascertained by telephone call to the patients or the patient's family and/ or linkage of registry data to mortality data from the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Patient's survival was based on sex, age and morphological type of tumour. Four hundred and twenty-nine cases of primary thyroid cancer were registered in the Tehran Metropolitan Area Cancer Registry. The incidence of thyroid cancer was 3.5 and 1.0 per 100,000 population per year for females and males, respectively. Seventy percent of tumours were papillary, 11% follicular, 6.2% medullary, and the restwere other subtypes. The papillary and follicular variants occurred in younger age: 43 +/- 16 and 46 +/- 13 years, respectively; the medullary and anaplastic variants occurred in older age: over 50 years. A 5-year survival rate was 82.2%, with median survival of 66 months and 95% confidence interval of 63 and 69 months. Men and women had a similar survival experience. While the incidence of thyroid cancer was slightly high, the descriptive epidemiology of thyroid cancer in Tehran did not manifest a unique feature. Tehran patients experienced a high rate of survival, and the survival time for males and females was similar