relationship between exposure to pesticides and the occurrence of lymphoid neoplasm

The etiology of malignant lymphoma is still largely unknown. This study determines the relation-ship between exposure to pesticides and the occurrence of lymphoid neoplasms in Shiraz, Southern Iran. Between 2007 and 2008, in a case control study conducted in Nemazee Hospital in Shiraz, Southern Iran, 200 subjects diagnosed with lymphoma according to the World Health Organization [WHO] classification were enrolled. Controls [n=200] were frequency matched to the cases by sex, age, and center. Subjects who were a farmer were compared with all other occupations. Out of the 200 cases that were diagnosed as lymphoid neoplasms, 100 were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 54 Hodgkin's lymphoma and 46 multiple myeloma. Seventy two percent of the NHL's were of the B-cell type, 15% of the T-cell type and the rest were not classified. Furthermore, subjects exposed to pesticides were at an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and MM, but not Hodgkin lymphoma. Risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and MM was highest for exposure to pesticides, among them, insecticide's risk was confirmed

Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell: a source for cell-based therapy

The ability of mesenchymal stem cells [MSCs] to differentiate into many cell types, and modulate immune responses, makes them an attractive therapeutic tool for cell transplantation and tissue engineering. This project was designed for isolation, culture, and characterization of human marrow-derived MSCs based on the immunophenotypic markers and the differentiation potential. Bone marrow of healthy donors was aspirated from the iliac crest. Mononuclear cells were layered over the Ficoll-Paque density-gradient and plated in tissue cultures dish. The adherent cells expanded rapidly and maintained with periodic passages until a relatively homogeneous population was established. The identification of adherent cells and the immune-surface markers was performed by flow cytometric analysis at the third passage. The in vitro differentiation of MSCs into osteoblast and adipo-cytes was also achieved. The MSCs were CDllb [CR3], CD45, CD34, CD31 [PCAM-1], CD40, CD80 [B7-1], and HLA-class II negative because antigen expression was less than 5%, while they showed a high expression of CD90, and CD73. The differentiation of osteoblasts, is determined by deposition of a mineralized extracellular matrix in the culture plates that can be detected with Alizarin Red. Adipocytes were easily identified by their morphology and staining with Oil Red. MSCs can be isolated and expanded from most healthy donors, providing for a source of cell-based therapy

Hemoglobin D [Hb D Punjab/ Los Angeles and Hb D Iran] and Co-Inheritance with Alpha- and Beta- Thalassemia in southern Iran

Hemoglobin-D [Hb D] is an uncommon structural hemoglobin variant, which is reported to be prevalent in north western India. There are only a few small series, of this entity in the literature. We report the largest single center experience on this entity from Iran. Between November 2002 and December 2010 as a result of screening premaritally for betathalassemia in Shiraz, Fars Province, Southern Iran, column chromatography, Hb electrophoresis, solubility test, and/or high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC], direct sequencing and restriction analysis were used for hemoglobinopathies and structural Hb variants. The data of 220 subjects with Hb D variants are analyzed in this report. These comprised of 180 carries of Hb D; 92 cases of Hb D Punjab/Los Angeles [beta 121[Glutamic acid -> Glutamine]] and 88 subjects with Hb D Iran [beta 22 [Glu- > Gln]], 3 homozygous cases for Hb D, 17 subjects with betathalassemia- Hb D, 12 with Hb D- alpha- thalassemia- 1, 3 homozygous Hb D- alpha thalassemia- 1 trait, one with Hb D Punjab - sickle cell anemia, and two with Hb D Iran/sickle cell anemia. The carriers of Hb D and homozygous cases for Hb D were not anemic and had normal red blood cell morphology, as they are not usually detected. If Hb D was inherited in combination with thalassemia, the subjects had mild anemia and in some of them, the spleen was palpable [1-2 cm]. Co-inheritance of alpha thalassemia and Hb D resulted in the slightly higher Hb level and lower Hb D level as compared to Hb D/ betathalassemia cases [Hb D 24-37% vs 57-88%]. Co inheritance of Hb D and sickle cell results was moderate to severe hemolytic anemia

Bone marrow transplantation in thalassaemia patients in Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran

We report the results of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in 26 female and 37 male patients with beta-thalassaemia major [age range: 2-17 years], performed at Namazi Hospital over the period 1992-99. In all cases, standard conditioning and immunosuppressive regimens were employed. Currently, 50 patients remain thalassaemia-free, 9 of whom have developed chronic graft-versus-host disease. There were 8 deaths among the 13 unsuccessful transplant cases: 4 due to acute uncontrollable graft-versus-host disease, and 4 to non-transplant-related causes such as hypoglycaemia, hypersensitivity reactions and advanced disease. We conclude that allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is an effective therapy for the treatment of beta-thalassaemia major, particularly for patients classified as classes I and II

Acute graft-versus-host disease in thalassaemic marrow transplantation with low-dose antithymocyte globulin

Our unit performed transplantations on 21 classes II and III thalassaemic patients [class II patients had either hepatomegaly or portal fibrosis and class III patients had both]. We used busulfan [15 mg/kg] and cyclophosphamide [200 mg/kg]. Graft-versus-host disease [GVHD] prophylaxis was cyclosporin, prednisolone and low-dose antithymocyte globulin. Our patient data showed a low incidence of acute GVHD following transplantation. We offer this regimen as an acceptable therapy for thalassaemic patients undergoing allogeneic marrow transplantation as a safe clinical procedure, irrespective of the class of patient

Treatment of cyclic thrombocytopenia with medroxy-progesterone acetate

A female with severe cyclic thrombocytopenia is reported. The periods of oscillation were between 21 to 31 days. The lowest platelet counts were at the time of ovulation when the estradiol secretion reaches a peak. The highest platelet counts were before menstrual flow when plasma progesterone is high. With the possibility that estrogen is the cause of thrombocytopenia and progesterone can counteract this effect, the patient was administered medroxy-progesterone acetate 10 mg per day, which resulted in correction of the periodic thrombocytopenia

Treatment of one case of malignant melanoma with N-retinoylarabinocytidine

The synthesis of N-retinoylara-C is described. It is a new anticancer agent which was found to cause disease-free survival of more than three years duration in a patient with malignant melanoma of the nose, incompletely excised with metastasis to submandibular lymph nodes. He received a total of 1200 mg within 6 months, 50 mg weekly, IM. He developed minimal hypervitaminosis A syndrome [somnolence, conjunctivitis and splenomegaly] which recovered a few months after termination of therapy

Penicillin carrying a retinoylamido side chain as a potent anti-cancer agent

The synthesis of the title compound is described. Penicillin, possessing the retinoic acid side chain was found to possess significant cytostatic activity in tracheal organ cultures obtained from vitamin A-deficient hamsters. The compound also exhibited antimicrobial activities in vitro