Cardiac involvement in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, an incidental large atrial mass: a case report

Introduction: Cardiac involvement as an initial presentation of malignant lymphoma has been a rare occurrence

Case Presentation: We have reported a 78 year old man with complaint of abdominal pain and vomiting. In patients preoperative evaluation for surgical management of an intra-abdominal mass, a large intracardiac mass has found incidentally during the echocardiography. Pathologic biopsy of right atrial mass that has removed by open heart surgery shown: non Hodgkin-B cell lymphoma. Bone marrow biopsy was taken and was positive for lymphomatous involvement

Conclusions: The patient has treated by CHOP chemotherapy regiment successfully and after completion of treatment, there was complete response

Preventing and therapeutic effect of propolis in radiotherapy induced mucositis of head and neck cancers: a triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Mucositis is one of the acute complications of radiotherapy which can ulcerate oral mucosa and cause severe pain and discomfort which can affect oral normal function. Propolis is a natural source of flavenoid which has antiulcer, antibacterial, antifungal, healing and anti-inflammatory effects. Using such an affordable compound without any bad smell or taste that has reasonable price can help the radiotherapy undergoing patients

Objectives: Our goal is assessing the preventing and therapeutic effect of propolis in radiotherapy induced mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer

Patients and Methods: In a randomized triple blind clinical trial, 20 patient were selected randomly to swish and swallow 15 ml of water based extract of propolis mouth wash 3 times a day in the case group [n = 10] and 15 ml placebo mouth wash in control group [n = 10]. We use NIC-CTC scale for determining mucositis grading

Results: We use T-test, Man-Whitney, Chi-square, and Friedman as analyzing tests. Case group had significantly [P < 0.05] lower grade of mucositis in all of the follow-ups, but xerostomia is not significantly different in two groups [P > 0.05]

Conclusions: This is a pilot study which shows water based extract of propolis efficiently prevents and heals radiotherapy induced mucositis

Screening for celiac disease using anti tissue transglutaminase in patients with esophageal SCC between 2004 and 2009

Introduction: Esophageal Squamous-Cell Carcinoma [SCC] is one of the most common malignancies in Iran. To reduce the incidence of esophageal SCC, it is important to recognize the controllable risk factors and prevent them. Celiac disease is widely known as a possible risk factor for esophageal SCC. Thus, we decided to assess the frequency of celiac disease in esophageal SCC patients in North east of Iran in order to suggest correlation between two diseases

Materials and Methods: In a Cross-sectional study one hundred and fortythree cases of esophageal SCC were examined for anti tissue transglutaminase antibody [anti-tTG] between the years 2004 and 2009 in Ghaem and Omid Hospitals of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was the test of choice in this study since it provides the sensitivity and specificity needed for the diagnosis and screening of celiac disease. The results of this test were compared with those of the control group which were compatible in terms of sex and age. Data were analyzed through SPSS software and statistical analysis such as x2, exact x2 and T-test

Results: 19.6% patients [SCC] had positive anti-tTG [>20] which was significantly different to 7.9% in control group [p -value=0.005]. Comparing age groups of patients for positive anti_tTG using exact x square test showed significant difference in patients with <40 years old [P value=0.005]

Conclusion: There seems to be a correlation between positive anti_tTG and esophageal SCC; that is to say, celiac disease might play a role in the earlier manifestations of esophageal SCC

Hepatitis-C infection incidence among the non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma patients in the Northeast of Iran

Various infectious agents like Ebstein Barr Virus [EBV], HTLV-1 and Helicobacter pylori have known as etiologic factors in different sub-types of lymphoma. Although Hepatitis C virus [HCV] has not only been important for its hepatotropism and hepatitis development, but also in recent years its association with some forms of non- Hodgkin's lymphoma [NHL], especially B cell NHL, has reported. In some countries, the rate of B cell NHL development in HCV infected patients was four times more than general population, and then association between HCV infection and B-NHL has proposed in many studies. To assess this relationship in our geographic region, in a descriptive study; we have evaluated patients with B-NHL in an oncology center in northeast of Iran for HCV infection. Out of 128 B-NHL patients, HCV Antibody test [with third generation ELISA method] was positive in only one patient, which confirmed with Nested PCR technique. Then the frequency of HCV infection in our patients was 0.7%. Respecting to the incidence of HCV infection in general population in Iran, which is between 0.5-1%, we couldn't show higher prevalence of HCV infection in NHL patients than general population, and hence couldn't confirm relation between HCV infection and B-NHL in our region