Clinicopathological features of gastric cancer: a study based on cancer registry data

To analysis the epidemiological and clinopathological aspects of gastric cancer. We retrospectively studied the characteristics of 752 gastric carcinoma patients registered in cancer registry center of Taleghani hospital from 2001 to 2006. All the patients confirmed gastric cancer histopathologically. Univariate methods [Mann-Whitney U-test, and chi-square] were used for analysis. Among 752 cases, 535 [71.1%] were male. Sex ratio [male: female] was 2.49:1. The mean age of the patients was 59.7 years [SD = 12.9] at the time of the diagnosis. Weight loss, as a frequent symptom at the time of diagnosis, was observed in 57.7% of the cases. Most of the patients were diagnosed with advanced pathologic stage. In addition, tumor grading was poorly differentiated in most cases [28.7%]; and in 49.9% of the patients, the tumors were located in the stomach, NOS; and distant metastasis was observed in 24.6% of the cases. Based on the results, earlier detection in younger ages and in primary stages of tumor, and subsequent higher quality care to cure GC and increase patients' life expectancy are recommended

Pathology and prognosis of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer [CRC] is one of the most common cancers in the world. During the past decades, survival of colorectal cancer patients has improved worldwide, however, it is not clear what factors have contributed to this development. This study was designed to evaluate the prognostic impact of a wide spectrum of pathologic parameters on survival rate in patients with colorectal cancer. 1127 patients with colorectal cancer who registered in one cancer registry in Iran were followed from their diagnostic date to Jan 1, 2007 [as failure time]. Overall survival time was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify the pathologic factors that could independently influence survival. The overall survival rate at 5 years after diagnosis was 61%. Histology grade, status of regional lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and pathologic tumor stage were related to survival rate according to univariate analysis. Nevertheless, in multivariate analysis, only histology grade, distant metastasis and tumor size had influence on survival of colorectal cancer patients. Generally the prognosis of disease is not poor; however, distant metastasis, poor differentiation and higher tumor size should be considered to have additional risks of death in colorectal cancer

[Tympanoplasty without use of gelfoam in the middle ear]

In the conventional technique of tympanoplasty almost all of the ENT surgeons use gelfoam in the middle ear for supporting graft against margin of tympanic membrane perforation. In this study we didn't use gelfoam in the middle ear and compared the results of graft success rate with two techniques. In this clinical trial, during 2 years 181 patients with chronic otitis media [COM] underwent tympanoplasty with underlay grafting. In 83 patients gelfoam was used in the middle ear for tympanoplasty or tympanomastoidectomy [CCTM, OCTM]. In 98 patientswe did not use gelfoam in the middle ear. In the first group 59 and 24 patients underwent CCTM and OCTM respectively and in the second group 61 and 37 patients underwent CCTM and OCTM respectively. In the patients with using gelfoam, graft success rate was 91% for tympanoplasty and CCTM group and 83% for OCTM group. In patients without gelfoam, graft success rate was 89% in tympanoplasty and CCTM group and 84% in OCTM group. In this study, the graft success rate was similar in 2 groups. The advantage of this technique is rapid improvement of patients' hearing after removal of the external ear canal rosebud. In addition, the reaction of immune system is less than usual technique. We conclude that this technique could be routinely used in tympanoplasty and tympanomastoidectoy

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of DNAM methyltransferase 1 Gene and Gastric Cancer in Iranian patients: a case control study

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in Iran. Hypomethylation and/or hypermethylation of DNA have been described in Gastric cancer and is presumed to be an early event in this process. We hypothesized that Single nucleotide polymorphisms of DNMT1 gene may be associated with the genetic susceptibility to Gastric cancer. 200 patients and 200 controls, both with Iranian origin were studied. Three polymorphisms were genotyped by PCR-RFLP. Allele frequencies and genotypes were compared between the cases and controls. Odds ratios were calculated and the interaction between polymorphisms, age and sex were examined. There was no significant association between DNMT1 polymorphisms and Gastric cancer. We could not show any association between DNMT1 polymorphisms and gastric cancer. Larger sets of polymorphisms and sample sizes are required to test the possibility of association between polymorphisms of this gene and gastric cancer

Association between polymorphism of MTHFR gene and non-familial colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignancies in worldwide. Because the gene 5, 10-methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase [MTHFR] plays a key role in methylation, synthesis and repair of DNA, numerous studies have focused on evaluating the correlation between polymorphisms of this gene and sporadic colorectal cancer. This study was carried out to examine the association of MTHFR gene polymorphism, C677T, with non-familial colorectal cancer in an Iranian population. We analyzed peripheral blood samples of 118 cases of colorectal cancer and 189 controls by pyrosequencing method. Controls were subjects who had been referred to our center during the study period and had revealed normal findings on colonoscopy. We found that frequency of CC, CT and TT genotypes among the colorectal cancer patients were 51.7%, 28% and 20.3% respectively. The figures for controls were 47.1%, 27% and 25.9% respectively. Furthermore, allele frequency T in the cases was 34% and allele frequency C was 66% while allele frequency T in controls was 39% and allele frequency C was 61%. Interestingly we observed a reverse association between risk of colon cancer with 677TT genotype

Thyroplasty with simultaneously use of silastic and Gore-Tex implants

Type I thyroplasty for unilateral vocal fold paralysis restores voice. In medialization thyroplasty carved silastic, prefabricated, dense hydroxyapatite and Gore-Tex implants are routinely used. In this prospectively study thyroplasty performed with simultaneously use of carved silastic and Gore-Tex implants. Nine patients with true vocal fold paralysis due to complication of cardiac surgery, thyroidectomy and idiopatic, underwent medialization thyroplasty by this method. In six patients, just silastic implant was used and results compared together. Mean duration of follow was 9 months. 5 patients had excellent voice improvement. The voice improvement in four patients was good. In patients with only silastic implant, just one patient had excellent voice improvement and 5 patients had dysphonia. In this method carved silastic is placed in thyroid cartilage window just one time and additional medialization is performed by insertion of Gore-Tex strips between cartilage and silastic implant. Resulting decreased manipulation of surgical field and surgical time, paralyzed true vocal fold edema is reduced and judgment of voice improvement was exact