Iliofemoral Vein Stenting in a Patient with Pelvic Metastasis

We report a case of an 81-year-old woman with extensive pelvic lymphadenopathy that caused severe stenosis and occlusion of the right common and external iliac veins and proximal common femoral vein. Pelvic lymphadenopathy resulted from the recurrence of a previous right ovarian epithelial tumor. The patient had severe right lower extremity edema, consistent with severe venous insufficiency.She was treated with high-pressure balloon angioplasty (12-14 mm in diameter) and four self-expanding stents (14-10 mm diameter, 80-40 mm length). The postoperative response was dramatic to a near-complete resolution of the edema. The venous clinical severity scores were 10 and 2 at presentation and 6 months after the follow-up, respectively. Balloon angioplasty and stenting are safe and effective methods for providing symptomatic relief for lower extremity venous insufficiency in patients with extensive and unresectable pelvic masses.

Iliofemoral Vein Stenting in a Patient with Pelvic Metastasis

We report a case of an 81-year-old woman with extensive pelvic lymphadenopathy that caused severe stenosis and occlusion of the right common and external iliac veins and proximal common femoral vein. Pelvic lymphadenopathy resulted from the recurrence of a previous right ovarian epithelial tumor. The patient had severe right lower extremity edema, consistent with severe venous insufficiency.She was treated with high-pressure balloon angioplasty (12-14 mm in diameter) and four self-expanding stents (14-10 mm diameter, 80-40 mm length). The postoperative response was dramatic to a near-complete resolution of the edema. The venous clinical severity scores were 10 and 2 at presentation and 6 months after the follow-up, respectively. Balloon angioplasty and stenting are safe and effective methods for providing symptomatic relief for lower extremity venous insufficiency in patients with extensive and unresectable pelvic masses.

Inactivation of model viruses suspended in fresh frozen plasma using novel methylene blue based device

There is a concern on safety of human Fresh Frozen Plasma [FFP] as it is a source of some medicinal products. The possibility of transmission of blood-borne are reported often due to emerging viruses. There are some Pathogen Reduction Technologies [PRT] to inactivate viruses. Methylene Blue [MB] based method is one of them. The aim of this study was to examine new designated device to inactivate model viruses. Four model viruses were used in this study: Vesicular stomatitis virus [VSV], Herpes Simplex Virus I [HSV-1], Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus [BVDV] and Polio Virus. 50% Tissue Culture Infective Dose [TCID 50] and Reed-Muench Methods were used to titer the viruses. MB in two final concentration of 0.1 microM and 1 microM and illumination in about 627 nm with red LED [Lamp Emitting Diode] for 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes were used. Three replicates employed for each experiments. 1 microM concentration of MB showed more effective than 0.1 microM in all designed illumination period for inactivation of HSV, VSV and BVDV. This method also demonstrated best results for enveloped model viruses. The most Log reduction for HSV, VSV and BVDV were 6.28, 5.54 and 6.22, respectively. For HSV and BVDV inactivation, the best illumination period was 45 minutes. Model viruses showed sensitivity combination of MB and illumination using red LEDs. As results show this device could inactivate model viruses and reduce their titer very close to approved commercial devices, in compare

Effect of hepatitis B virus X gene on the expression level of p53 gene using Hep G2 cell line

The HBV-X [HBX] protein is believed to contribute to the development of HCC. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in HBX-mediated hepatocarcinogenesis remain obscure. In this study, the effect of hepatitis B virus X gene and its protein product HBxAg on expression of p53 gene in Hep G2 cell line was investigated. Viral DNA extracted from HBV-positive serum and HBX gene region was amplified using polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. Then, PCR product was cloned into the pcDNA3 vector. After confirmation of cloning, the recombinant plasmid pcDNA3-X was transfected into HepG2 cell line using lipid-mediated DNA-transfection procedure. SDS-PAGE and western blotting methods were used to identify expression of HBX protein. Relative quantification was used to analyze the p53gene expression using the 2-[delta delta Ct] method. Recombinant plasmid pcDNA3-HBX was confirmed by restriction endonucleases digestion and colony-PCR. The results of SDS-PAGE and western blot assays showed that HBX gene could be expressed in Hep G2 cell line. There was no significant difference between the expression levels of p53 compared with GAPDH gene as housekeeping gene [p<0.05]. There was no significant difference in the protein levels between the transfected cells with X gene containing HBX130 and HBX131 double mutations and p53 gene. It is necessary to do more studies on Hepatitis B virus to understand the role of HBX on the development of liver cancer and its function on p53 tumor suppressor protein

Anti-influenza activity of a novel polyoxometalate derivative [POM-4960]

There are many effective chemotherapeutic agents used in influenza disease which some of them inhibit virus replication by interfering with FluV [influenza virus] viral binding or its penetration into cell membrane. A series of polyoxometalates compounds such as POM-523 and PM-504 have been synthesized and have showed inhibitory effects on viruses. In this study we examined anti influenza activity of a novel polyoxometalate derivative [POM-4960] synthesized in the Faculty of Chemistry of Damghan University of Basic Sciences. To evaluate the anti-influenza activity of POM, following the treatment of FluV with POM at different temperatures and incubation periods, viral titer reduction was assessed by haemaglutination assay [HA]. The 3-[4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide [MTT] assay was used to determine TCID50 [tissue culture infective dose] of virus, CC50 [median cytotoxic concentration] of POM, protection percentage and antiviral activity of POM in cell culture. RT-PCR and direct Immunofluorescent assays were performed to evaluate the effect of POM on viral infection and viral RNA load, respectively. POM reduced HA titer near to zero in all cell culture specimens and showed high protection against viral infection of the cells. Reduction in viral infection was confirmed by RT-PCR and Immunofluorescent staining methods. Moreover, this POM derivative has a dual [cumulative] effect on attachment and penetration inhibition compared to other POM's with just one inhibitory effect. POM-4960 could be considered as a powerful antiinfluenza agent with low toxicity and high antiviral potency.

Phylogenetic comparison of influenza virus isolates from three medical centers in Tehran with the vaccine strains during 2008-2009

Influenza virus is a major infectious pathogen of the respiratory system causing a high degree of morbidity and mortality annually. The worldwide vaccines are decided and produced annually by The Worldwide vaccines are decided and produced annually by World Health Organization and licensed companies based on the samples collected from all over the world. The aim of this study was to determine phylogenecity and heterogenecity of the circulating influenza isolates during 2008-2009 outbreaks in Tehran, compare them with the vaccine strains that were recommended by WHO for the same period. Nasopharyngeal swabs [n=142] were collected from patients with influenza and influenza-like illness. Typing and subtyping of the isolates were performed using multiplex RT-PCR and phylogenetic analysis was carried out for hemagglutinin genes of the isolates. Fifty out of 142 samples were positive for influenza A virus, and no influenza B virus was detected. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the A/H1N1 isolates were related closely to A/Brisbane/59/2007, and the A/H3N2 isolates were close to A/Brisbane/10/2007 vaccine strains. The findings of the present study demonstrate that the A/H1N1 was the predominant subtype of human influenza virus among the patients studied in Tehran during 2008-2009 winter seasons. In addition, some amino acid variation was found in Tehran/2008/H1N1 isolates from the 2008-2009 vaccine strain, but the H3N2 isolates showed higher genetic resemblance to the vaccine strain

[Prevalence of norovirus infection and determination of the dominant genogroup in children with acute gastroenteritis in Tehran, 2008-2009]

One of the most important pathogens responsible for acute gastroenteritis is Human Norovirus [NoV], causing >85% of all nonbacterial outbreaks of gastroenteritis reported in Europe. NoVs are members of the Family Caliciviridae. There are three infectious genogroups; genogroups I and II are recognized as the major cause of NoVs infections in humans. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of pediatric diarrhea caused by NoVs infection in children under 10 years with acute gastroenteritis admitted in Mofid Children's Hospital. During May 2008 to May 2009 we collected 204 stool samples from children under 10 years with acute gastroenteritis. RNA was extracted and RT-PCR was performed using specific primers. Using these primers we could distinguish between genogroup I and II of NoVs. Stool samples of 23 children [11.3%] were positive for NoVs RNA and 6 positive samples belonged to genogroup I [26%], 74% belonged to the genogroup II. The mean age of NoVs infected patients was 4 +/- 2.8 years. The results revealed the role of NoVs as one of the viral agents responsible for gastroenteritis in children. It also demonstrates the predominance of genogroup II of Norovirus