Evaluation of the role of TAX, HBZ, and HTLV-1 proviral load on the survival of ATLL patients

BACKGROUND: Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is an aggressive malignancy with very poor prognosis and short survival, caused by the human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1). The HTLV-1 biomarkers trans-activator x (TAX) and HTLV-1 basic leucine zipper factor (HBZ) are main oncogenes and life-threatening elements. This study aimed to assess the role of the TAX and HBZ genes and HTLV-1 proviral load (PVL) in the survival of patients with ATLL. METHODS: Forty-three HTLV-1-infected individuals, including 18 asymptomatic carriers (AC) and 25 ATLL patients (ATLL), were evaluated between 2011 and 2015. The mRNA expression of TAX and HBZ and the HTLV-1 PVL were measured by quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Significant differences in the mean expression levels of TAX and HBZ were observed between the two study groups (ATLL and AC, P=0.014 and P=0.000, respectively). In addition, the ATLL group showed a significantly higher PVL than AC (P=0.000). There was a significant negative relationship between PVL and survival among all study groups (P=0.047). CONCLUSION: The HTLV-1 PVL and expression of TAX and HBZ were higher in the ATLL group than in the AC group. Moreover, a higher PVL was associated with shorter survival time among all ATLL subjects. Therefore, measurement of PVL, TAX, and HBZ may be beneficial for monitoring and predicting HTLV-1-infection outcomes, and PVL may be useful for prognosis assessment of ATLL patients. This research demonstrates the possible correlation between these virological markers and survival in ATLL patients.

[Evaluation of therapeutic effect of capsaicin pomade [Caspian 0.03%] in hemodialysis related pruritus]

Pruritus is one of the common problems in hemodialysis patients with end stage renal disease. Approximately, 60% of these patients suffer from this condition. There are several causes for pruritus, thus, various treatments are applied in order to control it. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of capsaicin on pruritus, compared with placebo, in hemodialysis patients. This randomized double blind cross over clinical trial study, was performed on 34 hemodialysis patients with uremic pruritus in 1386. All patients were divided in two groups. One group received Caspian 0.03%, while the other, placebo for four weeks. Treatment was stopped for two weeks and continued as cross over technique. Pruritus scores were analyzed with Paired t-test and Repeated measurement ANOVA. In this study, the difference between Mean of pruritus score before capsian treatment and in weeks following 1 to 4 was statistically significant [P=0.0001]. In placebo group, the difference between pruritus score before treatment and in weeks 1 to 4 was statistically significant [P=0.0001]. There was no significant difference before treatment in two groups, however, after each week, the difference was significant [P=0.0001]. Repeated measurement test showed that reduction in pruritus severity in capsian group was more than placebo group, during treatment period [P=0.0001]. Although our study indicated the appropriate effects of Capsian in pruritus, the placebo also has a good effect in controlling hemodialysis related pruritus. Our placebo had emollient property; therefore, we can apply it to control the pruritus in these patients