[Effect of age on stereopsis]

To evaluate the effect of age on stereopsis. We evaluated stereoacuity using TNO and titmus test after full correction of refractive errors in 87 randomly selected subjects aged 5-80 years. There was a significant relashionship between stereopsis and age such that stereoacuity increased with aging [ANOVA, P<0.001]. Stereopsis decreases with aging and therefore age of the patient should be considered in this regard

[Tumors of the liver; a ten year study in Children Medical Center]

The aim of this study was to review the frequency, histopathology and outcome in children with tumors of the liver. Included in this retrospective/descriptive study were 30 children treated for liver tumors from 1375-1384 [ca. 1996-2005], at Children's Hospital Medical Center, Tehran, Iran. We included the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic data of our patients, focusing on the frequency, etiology and outcome. Patient ages ranged from three months to 12 years [median 3.8 years], with 18 males [60%] and 12 females [40%]. Of these, 17 patients had hepatoblastoma [55.66%], including 13 males and four females, with an age range of six months to five years. Four cases [13.33%] had neuroblastoma. Hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] was found in three cases [10%], all of whom were carriers of hepatitis B. Two cases [6.66%] were diagnosed with mesenchymal hamartoma, two cases [6.66%] with hemangioendothelioma and two cases [6.66%] with rhabdomyosarcoma and leiomyosarcoma of the biliary tract. Abdominal swelling and hepatomegaly were seen in all of patients. Jaundice was observed in two cases. Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels greater than 500 ng/ml were seen in 17 cases [56.66%]. All patients were receiving specific treatment. The three-year survival rate was 65% for hepatoblastoma and 2% for HCC With the introduction of specific treatment, the survival rate for children with tumors of the liver has significantly increased. Further improvement can be achieved using diagnostic biopsy for hepatoblastoma, although it may result in complications, and preoperative chemotherapy followed by complete surgical excision [per International Society of Pediatric Oncology guidelines], yielding an outstanding survival rate of 80%

[ study of relationship between PCNA and Ki67 [cell proliferation markers] and histologic parts of Wilms's tumor]

Background: Wilm's tumor is the most frequent primary renal neoplasma in pediatric age group. Classically it is composed of three histologic parts: Blastemal, Epithelial and stromal. Different factors are implicated as prognostic determinants. Nowadays special attention is paid to proliferation markers for determining the biologic behavior of tumors. In this study we tried to ascertain the proliferative index of 22 cases of Wilm's tumor in our center who have had rather good follow up [at least two years]

Materials and Methods: After reviewing the H and E slides, we stained sections with PCNA and ki67 and scanned them by image cytomertry. Then the proliferative indices for each histological part was determined

Results: We resuted that proliferative indices of blastemal and epithelial parts have significant [P< 0.0002] difference [increment] from that of stromal part. Also the patients were divided into those with recurrence [within two ys of primary surgery] and recurrence. The profileration indices of PCNA for those recurring tumors was significantly higher [PCNA= 22.3%] [P= 0.0015]

Conclusion: Finally we concluded that using proliferative markers in Wilm's tumor is useful as an effective prognostic factor