[Comparison of the CRP and ESR levels between women with polycystic ovarian syndrome and control group]

Abstract Introduction: Low grade chronic inflammation can predict persons with risk of coronary heart disease [CHD] and type 2 diabetes. Women with Poly cystic ovarian syndrome [PCOS] are insulin resistant and have high risk for CHD and type 2 diabetes

Objective: Evaluate the correlation between low grade chronic inflammation and PCOS

Materials and Methods: This case-control study was done on 27 women with PCOS who were defined base on irregular menstruation and elevated androgen [clinical hyperandrogenism or hyperandrogenemia] and 27 healthy women who were matched as a control group base on similar body mass index [BMI] and age. CRP, ESR, SHBG and Testosterone were measured in all women in both groups. Determine of insulin resistance was assessed by estimation the ratio of FBS/ to Fasting insulin. The mean of testosterone, SHBG, CRP, ESR and the ratio of FBS/ to Fasting Insulin in the two groups were compared by t- test and the correlation between BMI, testosterone, SHBG and ratio of FBS/ to fasting insulin with CRP and ESR were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient

Results: The finding showed: the mean of CRP was significantly difference in two groups and it was more in case group. [549/67 +/- 378/38 and 2566 +/- 10/22, P<0/001]. The mean of ESR was 14/85 +/- 12/22 and 7/74 +/- 3/6 in case and control groups respectively and there was significant difference between them [P<0/007]. Also, there were significantly relation between log CRP and log ESR with BMI, there were a reversed significant relation between them and SHBG. There wasn't any relationship between log CRP and log ESR with testosteron. The collorate with FBS/Fasting Insulin and log CRP was significant and with log ESR was no significant

Conclusion: This study indicated that level of CRP and ESR in patients is higher than control group. It seems that low grade of chronic inflammation is a contributer factor to increase risk of CHD and type2 diabetes

Comparison of brain SPECT with 99mTc-MIBI and CT-Scan in discriminating of radiation necrosis and brain tumor recurrence

99mTc-MIBI has been proposed for use as an imaging agent for various tumors, including breast cancer, lung cancer, lymphomas, melanomas and brain neoplastic lesions. Brain tumors are very common and radiotherapy being major part of treatment following surgery. After radiotherapy, deteriorating clinical status can be due to either radiation necrosis or recurrent tumor. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging offer imperfect discrimination of radiation necrosis and tumor recurrence. In this study, 26 patients with primary brain tumors and deterioration of clinical status after radiotherapy were evaluated. 99mTc-MIBI brain SPECT was performed 10 minutes and 3 hours after IV injection of 20 mCi 99mTc-MIBI. The images were obtained with ADAC dual head camera. Transverse, coronal and sagital views were reconstructed. Focal 99mTc-MIBI uptake was observed in 14 patients. Eight of these patients expired within 6 months. The CT scan was positive in 7 patients and the rest had equivocal or negative results. Of 12 patients with negative 99mTc-MIBI scan, only 2 patients died during the 6 months follow up. Six of these patients had positive, five had equivocal and one had negative CT scan. Patients with negative MIBI scan, radiation revealed higher survival rate. Focal uptake on 99mTc-MIBI scan is probably due to recurrent tumor, with lower 6 months survival rate. It can be concluded that brain SPECT scan with 99mTc-MIBI is a useful method for discriminating radiation necrosis from tumor recurrence in patients following brain radiotherapy

Langerhans cells in skin lesions of leprosy

Background: langerhans cells are important in the pathogenesis of leprosy. A recent study reported that these cells were almost absent in the epidermis overlying lepromatous lesions

Objective: to investigate a possible relationship between the number of Langerhans cells and the histopathologic spectrum of lesions in patients with leprosy

Methods: an immunohistochemical staining for S100 protein was used to study skin punch biopsies of patients with leprosy and to quantify S100-positive Langerhans cells in the epidermis

Results: a progressively significant reduction in the number of Langerhans cells was found from tuberculoid to lepromatous skin lesions. Langerhans cells were significantly less frequent in lepromatous and borderline lepromatous as compared to either tuberculoid or borderline tuberculoid leprosy

Conclusion: in view of the fact that adequate numbers of dendritic cells are recruited to the dermis, their maturation/ migration to Langerhans cells in the epidermis is impaired in lepromatous leprosy

Zostriform metastases in a man with malignant melanoma

Zosteriform metastasis is a rare clinical distribution from spreading neoplasms of every organ to the skin. Tumors most often arise from an internal or hematologic malignancy. We report a 69-year-old man, a known case of malignant melanoma of the left heel. In this case, multiple red brown metastatic nodules appeared four months after diagnosis. Distribution of metastatic lesions resembled a zosteriform configuration on his left thigh dermatome. Histological findings of a cut section of an excised nodule were compatible with a diagnosis of metastatic malignant melanoma. As we know this case report is the first case of zosteriform distribution of metastatic malignant melanoma that has been reported

Regression of metastatic neuroblastoma to ganglioneuroma

The spontaneous regression of neuroblastoma to ganglioneuroma is a rare occurrence. Reviewing the literature, we found no more than 12 cases reported-"2'9'10'14'15 We report a case of metastatic neuroblastoma of multifocal skeletal and soft tissue areas with gross deformities which regressed to ganglioneuroma, with good prognosis