Study of osteopontin as the "CA125" adjunct for detection of ovarian carcinoma in patients with pelvic mass

Introduction: Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic cancer, whose high mortality rate is partly due to late diagnosis. Tumor-specific markers that can be detected in early stages of the disease could probably improve treatment results. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic value of serum levels of osteopontin in patients with epithelial ovarian tumors

Patients and methods: Twenty five patients with ovarian cancer and 25 patients with pelvic masses and 25 healthy women were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were taken from the patients from the first two groups before surgery and the healthy controls donated blood at the same time. Osteopontin serum level was measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay method using human osteopontin enzyme immunoassay kits. Finally osteopontin levels before surgery were compared between groups

Results: The mean age in patients with ovarian cancer, benign tumor and normal group were 35.1, 32.4 and 31.6 years respectively. The most prevalent clinical symptom in almost half of patients with either benign or malignant pathology was abdominal pain. The average level of CA125 and osteopontin in ovarian cancer patients was 1818.4 and 9.6, respectively. The average level of CA125 and osteopontin in epithelial ovarian tumors was significantly higher than other groups. Significant linear relationship was detected between CA125 and osteopontin

Conclusion: Our study results support the fact that commitment measurement of osteopontin and CA125- due to their significant increase among the ovarian cancer patients- could be helpful in early detection of ovarian cancer

distinct autosomal recessive ocular anomaly in Chaharborj, Islamic Republic of Iran

In Chaharborj, a village in north-eastern of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a high prevalence of congenital blindness [1.1%] has been reported. The clinical findings have not been fully described. We therefore assessed the clinical aspects of this condition in a case series of 20 congenially blind patients and 24 of their parents. All patients had been blind since birth. There was anterior segment dysgenesis and retinal non-attachment in all patients. There were no systemic anomalies. Histopathologically, there was iridocorneal adhesion, normal angle structure and retinal dysplasia. No significant difference was found in the frequency of different HLA class I alleles compared with the general population. The anomaly causing congenital blindness in these patients has components of both anterior and posterior segment dysgenesis. It appears to be a distinct entity with an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance

[ comparison between advanced O3/UV and H2O2/UV oxidation processes for the treatment of municipal solid waste leachate]

The solid-waste leachate is a type of wastewater with high concentration of mineral and organic compounds. There is little information about the effect of the advanced oxidation processes for the treatment of municipal solid-waste leachate. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of processing advanced oxidation method as a biological pre-treatment for municipal solid waste. This bench-scale experimental study was conducted in a closed batch system on leachate samples of Kahrizak landfill [Tehran]. After obtaining the optimal conditions for the O3/UV and H2O2/UV processes, the effect of each process on 20 leachate samples was assessed and for each sample, 4 different reaction times were studied for the removal of BOD5, COD, TS and color. The results were compared using the mixed-design ANOVA model. The BOD5, COD and TS in raw leachate were 2500, 21910 and 29347 mg/l, respectively. The O3/UV and H2O2/UV processes removed 87% and 73% of COD, respectively. The BOD5/COD ratio in the O3/UV and H2O2/UV processes increased from 0.11 to 0.33 and 0.11 to 0.12, respectively. Moreover, the color in the O3/UV and H2O2/UV processes decreased from 82 to 67.25% and 81.65%, respectively. The O3/UV process can be used as a biological pre-treatment. The optimum pH for this process is 8.5, the optimum ozone concentration is 60.1 g/kg of decreased COD and the best reaction time which increases the BOD5/COD ratio more than 0.25 and less expensive than other reaction times, is 10 minutes

[ relationship between turbidity, residual chlorine concentration and microbial quality of drinking water in rural areas of Kashan during 2008-9]

Common belief is that water quality evaluation must be based on its appearance, while not only the apparent characteristics but also the microbial and chemical characteristics should be considered. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between turbidity, residual chlorine concentration and microbial quality of water used for drinking in rural areas of Kashan. This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on drinking water samples taken from 57 villages of Kashan during 2008-9. Among the total samples taken during three stages, only one sample was selected and analyzed for water quality parameters of turbidity, residual chlorine concentration and heterotrophic plate count [HPC]. HPC, residual chlorine concentration and turbidity of water samples desirable in three stages and undesirable in another three stages were 86%, 22.8% and 75.4%; 12.3%, 29.8% and 0%, respectively. Furthermore, HPC in 95% of samples under the supervision of rural water and wastewater company [RWWC] and in 64.7% of samples that were not under the supervision of RWWC, were in the range of standard drinking water. The results of the study show that correlation between residual chlorine concentration and HPC level of drinking water in Kashan rural areas was significant, while there is no significant correlation between residual chlorine concentration and turbidity; HPC and turbidity. Hence, RWWC supervision has a prominent role in supplying safe drinking water for such areas

[Study of sport trauma in men's sport leagues of Kashan during 2008-9]

Athletes participating in sport competitions are faced with the risk of trauma. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of trauma injuries in men's sport leagues of Kashan during 2008-9. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, all injuries during sport league competitions were recorded by attending the sport arenas during 2008-9. A total of 160 trauma cases were recorded during 146 events. The highest number of trauma was observed in handball and taekwondo competitions with 45 [25.6%] and 35 [21.9%] cases, respectively. Athletes involved in sport leagues require appropriate training and adequate protection through the use of protective devices to avoid injuries

[ clinicopathologic study of odontogenic cysts and tumors in an Iranian sample population]

Odontogenic cysts and tumors are lesions that are found exclusively in the mandible and maxilla. These lesions are one of the main causes of jaw destruction. But unfortunately only a few studies have been conducted in Iran on relative frequency of these lesions. The aim of this study was to determine the relative prevalence of odontogenic cysts and tumors in Kerman province along with age, sex and site of presentation over a 12-year period and to compare it with previous reports from different parts of the world. This research reviewed 1320 biopsies in a 10-years period. Data on factors such as age, sex and location of the lesions were extracted from pathology reports and analyzed by SPSS statistical software. Of 1320 specimens, 221 were diagnosed as odontogenic cysts and 25 biopsies were diagnosed as odontogenic tumors. Odontogenic cysts and tumors occurred most frequently in the first to second decades of life and most commonly in the mandible. Cysts were more common in men than women. Radicular cysts were the most common one [33.9%], followed by dentigerous cysts [21.7%] and odontogenic keratocyst [15.4%]. The most prevalent odontogenic tumor was ameloblastoma [41.4%], Our study provides demographic data on odontogenic cysts and tumors in Kerman province. Odontogenic cysts have a predilection for certain ages, sexes and sites. To determine the real relative frequency of odontogenic tumors, further studies should be conducted, especially in Iran, by experienced pathologists in the field of odontogenic tumors

[Comparative study on the essential oil content and composition of achillea eriophora DC. in field and wild conditions]

Achillea eriophora is an important species of Achillea that is native [Endemic] in Iran. It grows exclusively in the South provinces of Iran especially "Fars" province. It contains higher level of essential oil in comparison to other species. Study on the essential oil composition of Achillea eriophora DC. in wild conditions and comparison to field condition. Top flowering part of the Achillea eriophora wild population was collected from "Jahrom" ["Mohammad Abad" village in 10 [th] Km of the South-East of "Jahrom"] in the South of "Fars" province on June 2006. The essential oils of the samples were extracted by "Clevenger" apparatus and its constituents determined by GC and GC-MS. Also, the seeds of this plant also cultivated in September 2006 in Mashhad region. On July 2007, top flowering parts of the cultivated plants harvested at full flowering stage. After drying, essential oils content of the samples determined and its components detected as mentioned for wild samples. The essential oils content of the wild and cultivated samples were 2% and 2.25% v/w respectively. In wild samples thirty components were identified and the major components were: Camphor [30.4%], 1,8-Cineole [25.24%], Camphene [6.21%]? alpha-Pinene [4.49%] and Myrcene [3.91%]. Thirty-six components determined in the cultivated samples and the main components were: Camphor [28.98%], 1,8-Cineole [26.98%], Camphene [5.98%] and alpha -Pinene [4.23%]. In cultivated samples, essential oil content and constituents increased but the relative content of the main constituents decreased

[ survey on comparison of tympanic and nasopharyngeal temperatures in patient undergoing open heart surgery]

Body temperature controlling in patient undergoing open heart surgery is very important and critical. In fact it is the base of work and by measuring temperature correctly, complications of hypothermia can be prevented. The overall purpose of this study was to determine and compare tympanic and nasopharyngeal temperatures in patient undergoing open heart surgery with hypothermia. This was a correlation study. The sample consisted of 60 patients undergoing open heart surgery with hypothermia. Body temperatures are measured in three sites - right ear, left ear and nasopharynx. Both of them were measured simultaneously before, during and after hypothermia. Tympanic temperatures were measured with an infrared thermometer and the nasopharyngeal temperatures were monitored by heart and lung machine, in fact it is a process in open heart surgery. This study showed that the mean of body temperatures are different in three sites. The difference between right and left ear wasn't significant, but the mean of nasopharyngeal temperature was significantly different with right and left ear. In order to determine the sensitivity of tympanic to changes of temperature, correlations between three sites - right ear, left ear and nasopharyngeal - are calculated. Temperatures at three sites had a high correlation [p= 0.01]. All sites are sensitive to changes of body temperatures and they can show core temperatures of body well. Therefore, when there are limitations for monitoring of body temperatures by nasopharyngeal route, the tympanic route can be a good replacement

[Sleep quality in Iranian drivers recognized as responsible for severe road accidents]

The driver's Sleepiness is an important risk factor for road accidents leading to death or disability. Little is known about sleep quality in Iranian drivers. This study was aimed to assess the sleep quality in those Iranian drivers recognized as responsible for a recent road accident in which at least one of the car occupants had been severely injured or killed. In a cross-sectional study, 453 Iranian drivers were assessed within the first 24 hours after severe road accidents. After getting completed the informed consent forms and demographic questionnaires, we used Symptom Check List-90-Revised [SCL-90-R] and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index [PSQI] for screening psychiatric problems and sleep quality impairments, respectively. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and multivariate linear regression analysis through SPSS-10 software. Mean [ +/- SD] nocturnal sleep duration of drivers was found to be 6.3 +/- 2.8 [median: 6]. Based on PSQI, a total number of 263 drivers [73.5%] were poor sleepers. PSQI was correlated with a GSI more than 0.81 according to SCL-90-R, having used drugs which can affect the sleep, and a history of similar previous accident[s]. Retired individuals had a better sleep quality. Our study showed that sleep problems, especially early morning awakening, frequent need to lavatory during night, early insomnia and feeling too warm or cold, are common among Iranian drivers with severe road accidents

Study of youths' knowledge, behavior, and attitude towards consanguineous marriages

Consanguineous marriages are traditionally favoured in most of Asian and African countries especially in the Muslim countries. However, it is apparent that these kinds of marriage are a major factor of some genetic disorders inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. Although there is a long history of consanguineous marriage in Iran, the information on its prevalence is too poor. The aim of this study was to define the frequency of consanguineous marriage in Mashhad City, Khorasan Province, Iran as well as its correlations to the youths' attitude and their knowledge about the genetic consequences of inbreeding. The concerning information was obtained by administration of a direct questionnaire including 50 open and closed questions. The subjects were 500 young people [with a mean age of 21.4 yr] who were selected during a quota sampling. The results of this study revealed that most of the youth did not have favorable information about the consequences of genetic disorders of inbreeding. There was a higher rate of consanguinity in the rural rather than the urban population. The traditional beliefs and the authority of the parents who had also experienced consanguineous marriage were other predominating factors of inbreeding

[Pregnancy and gynecological malignancies]

Gynecological malignancies are very rarely associated with pregnancy. It is estimated that gynecological malignancies complicate approximately one in 1000 pregnancies. Cervical cancer and ovarian cancer are the most common malignancies diagnosed in pregnancy. Vulvar and endometrial carcinoma in pregnancy is very rarely. Cancer diagnosis in pregnancy may be delayed. The optimal therapy for diagnosis of cancer in pregnancy is a complicated problem and requires a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach between gynecologists, oncologists,obstetricians, preneatologists, neonatologists. Gynecological cancer associated with pregnancy are treated in the same manner as in nonpregnant patients.Surgery is the best treatment for different cancers. Prospective randomized studies regarding principles of treating these cancers do not exist are leaking. In the present review, recent carcinoma during pregnancy will be evaluated and discussed

[ role of glycoconjugates in development of floor plate during early morphogenesis in mouse embryo]

The floor plate is a small group of cells located at the ventral midline of neural tube. During early neurogenesis, the floor plate plays critical role [s] in differentiation of ventral portion of neural tube. The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of glycoconjugates in floor plate as well as underlying mesoderm [notochord] and their inductive activities in mouse embryos. Formalin fixed sections embedded in paraffin from 10 to 14 days old Balb/C mouse embryos were processed for histochemical studies by using five deferent horseradish peroxidase [HRP] labelled lectins including; Glycin max [SBA] specific for Gal and GalNac terminal sugar, Vicia Villosa [VVA] and Arachis hypogaea peanut] for GalNac, Ulex europeus [UEA-I] and Lotus tetragonolobus [LTA] for a- L-fucose. Our results showed that SBA sensitive glycoconjugates react and change in floor plate, notochordal cells and surrounding extracellular matrix and these changes were significant [P<0.05]. Extensive differences between GalNac sensitive lectins were observed during motoneuron differentiation. There was no reaction with other tested GalNac lectins. Furthermore we observed significant changes [P<0.05] in fucose glycoconjugates during notochordal development. The results suggest that the timing and distribution of SBA sensitive glycoconjugates may play a key role [s] in interactions and subsequent formation of adjacent tissues such as floor plate and notochord during critical period of morphogenesis. Our finding also showed that glycoconjugates with fucose terminal sugar might play a role [s] in notochordal development but probably have no function on floor plate development

[ study of visual evoked potential in patients with multiple sclerosis]

Background: Visual evoked potential [VEP] is a valuable diagnostic test in symptomatic and subclinical cases of multiple sclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate and abnormal patterns of VEP in patients with definite diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

Materials and Methods: Two-hundred definite cases of multiple sclerosis including 144 women and 56 men [15-52 years old] were enrolled in the study and underwent VEP examination. Latencies and amplitudes of potentials were registered. The control group consisted of 25 healthy men and 25 healthy women with an age range of 16 to 48 years

Results: Among the 200 definite clinically proven cases of multiple sclerosis, 147 cases [73.5%] had an abnormal VEP and 121 cases [60.5%] had visual problems. Seventy-nine cases [39.5%] had no visual problems. In the first group, 119 cases [98.3%] and in the second group, 28 cases [35.4%] had an abnormal VEP, respectively

Conclusion: In this study, the most valuable diagnostic findings were prolonged P1 latency and its interocular difference. Amplitude changes alone had less diagnostic yield