Chromosomal aberrations in patients suspected with the risk of Fanconi anemia

Fanconi anemia is the most prevalent inherited aplastic anemia. Diagnosis based solely on the recognition of clinical symptoms is not reliable. This study was done to determine chromosomal aberrations in patients suspected with the risk of Fanconi anemia in the Eastern Azarbaijan province- Iran. This descriptive study was conducted on 20 patients in the Eastern Azarbaijan province-Iran. The cytogenetic method was used to determine type and number of chromosomal disorders. Nine eight and nine patients had co-morbid anemia, platelet deficiency and 9 patients had hand and finger deformities, respectively. Using cytogenetic method, Fanconi anemia was confirmed in 5 [25%] of the cases. The percentage of mitotic abnormalities in the chromosomes without administration of mitomycin C varied between 5-30% in the cultures of the 5 affected and between 0-4% in the 15 unaffected patients with the administration of mitomycin C, the percentages were increased up to 35-78% and 0-20% in affected and unaffected patients, respectively. Fanconi anemia is confirmed precisely in 25% of suspected patients using cytogenetic method

Human papilloma virus in head and neck squamous cell cancer

Epidemiologic and molecular evidences have established a strong link between high risk types of Human Papilloma Virus and a subgroup of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas [HNSCC]. We evaluated the frequency of HPV positivity in HNSCC and its relationship to demographic and some risk factor variables in an open casecontrol study. Fourteen recently diagnosed patients with squamous cell cancer of oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx aged 18-50 years were examined from 2008-2010 in Tabriz, Iran. HPV DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded blocks of each patient's sample for PCR evaluation. Saliva samples of 94 control cancer-free subjects were collected for DNA analysis. Multivariable logistic regression method was used to calculate odds ratio for case-control comparisons. High risk HPV was detected in 6[42.8%] patients, and 6[5.3%] control subjects which was statistically significant [p<0.0001]. HPV-18 was the most frequent type both in the cases and controls. HPV-16 DNA was detected in two patients of the case group, but it was not detected in any of the controls. The relation between demographic and risk factor variables was not statistically significant. HPV infection has a significant impact on HNSCC. Despite HPV-16 stronger impact, HPV-18 is more likely to cause malignant degeneration in such cancers amongst some communities. It is vital to introduce and conduct immunization schedules in health care systems to protect communities to some extent