[Common KRAS and BRAF mutations in colorectal cancer patients]

KRAS and BRAF gene mutations are considered as key events in carcinogenesis progression of colorectal cancer. Given the importance of these gene mutations evaluations, especially in metastatic patients, in terms of determination of therapeutic strategies, we studied the prevalence of KRAS and BRAF mutations in Tabriz city. Deoxyribonucleic Acid [DNA] extracted from Fresh tumor and normal tissues of 30 primary CRC patients. Direct sequencing method, was the method for determining the mutation points of KRAS exon 2 and BRAF exon 15 genes. After mutation analysis, the clinical and pathological associations of mutant genes were assessed. The prevalence of KRAS gene mutation was 20 %[6 out of 30 cases] in this study, and none of patients had the mutant BRAF gene. The odds ratio of the KRAS gene mutation in high grade CRCs was 2.1[95% CI: 1.34 to 3.29]. The same ratio for metastasis was 1.1[95% CI: 0.93 to 1.25]. There was no significant relationship between the mutation and clinical and pathological aspects of the disease. The high occurrence of early onset of colorectal cancer in Iran demands more attention to screening and prevention programs in the younger age group in the country. However further genetic studies are needed at the molecular level and large population in different geographical areas

Prevalence of oral human papilloma virus in healthy individuals in east Azerbaijan province of Iran

Human papilloma virus causes benign and malignant abnormalities in different part of the body. The link between high risk types of HPV and some anogenital and aerodigestive tract cancer is well established. Oral HPV infection plays a role in developing oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. We studied the prevalence of oral HPV in healthy individuals and its relative risk factors. Saliva samples of 114 healthy subjects were collected for HPV DNA analysis. Volunteers completed questionnaires and signed a written consent. For data analysis descriptive statistic, chi square test and odds ratio was used. The frequency of oral HPV in healthy individuals was 6.1% [seven participant]. The most frequent type was HPV-18 in five of them.HPV-6 and HPV-66 each was detected in one case. Relation of oral HPV positivity to demographic features and risk factors was not statistically significant. The prevalence of oral HPV infection in our community is the same as many other communities of developing countries, stressing that HPV-18 were the dominant type

Cytarabin and daunorubicin or idarubicin in induction therapy of acute myeloid leukemia patients

Acute myeloid leukemia [AML], the most common form of acute leukemia, is treated by remission induction and post-remission therapy. Remission induction is usually achieved by administration of cytarabine along with an anthracycline such as Daunorubicin [DAU] or Idarubicin [IDA]. Our objective was see the benefits if any of IDA over DAU in AML therapy. Eighty adult AML patients were enrolled in this study, where 40 received DAU and 40 were treated with IDA. Remission status in each subject was studied and response to therapy was subsequently analyzed using SPSS. Complete remission, partial remission and no responsive status were 15, 19, and 14 respectively for patients on DAU and 14, 18, and 11 for patients on IDA protocol. No significant benefit was detected for IDA compared to DAU in response to therapy. We found no benefit in using IDA over DAU in induction therapy for AML patients treated in northwest of Iran