[Efficacy of endosonographic method in determining the stage and depth of gastrointestinal cancers]

The staging of gastrointestinal cancer has an important role in the treatment of tumor. This study was done to determine the efficacy of endosonography method for determining the stage and deepth of esophagus and stomach cancers. In this descriptive study, endosonographic staging was performed in 23 patients [15 male and 8 female] with esophagus and stomach cancers, confirmed with pathologic findings in Taleghani hospital, Tehran, Iran during 2002-04. The results of surgical staging compared to preoperative endosonographic method. Mean age of 23 patients was 57.2 years [43-72 years]. 30% and 70% of the patients had esophageal and gastric cancers, respectively. The accuracy of endosonographic staging of esophagus and stomach cancers was 82%. The accuracy of diagnosis, positive and negative predictive value of cancers in assessment of the depth of the tumor by endosonography procedure were 79.4%, 69.6% and 84.9%, respectively. Endosonography is a precise method for evaluating depth and staging of tumor and lymph node involvement

[Molecular determination of Echinococcus granulosus isolated from hydatid cyst using mitoconderial atp6 gene]

Several strains of the Echinococcus granulosus have been described based on morphological characters, intermediate host specificity and/or genetic analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. The aim of this study was to characterize different E.granulosus isolates by using sequences of mitochondrial atp6 gene. In this study, Sixty infected liver and lungs of cattle, sheep and goats were collected from the abattoir of Varamin city-Iran during 2008. Protoscoleces were removed from each fertile cyst and DNA extracted. New and specific primers were designed for two existing genotypes [G1 and G6] of E. granulosus known to occur in Iran and applied in PCR reactions. The new primers selectively amplified the G1 and G6 genotypes of E. granulosus with specific bands of 708 and 705 bp respectively. The G1 genotype was identified in all fertile cyst samples. This study showed that the new primer pairs which specifically amplify portions of the mitochondrial atp6 gene of the G1 and G6 strains of Echinococcus granulosus are proper molecular marker for investigating genetic variation in a number of isolates of E. granulosus from a range of hosts [sheep, goats, cattle] in Iran. The result of sequenced samples showed that our sequences were the same as those reported previously for these strains

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

frequency of histopathologic findings in flat and depressed colorectal lesions in patients referring to Taleghani hospital in 2006

Non-polypoid colorectal neoplasms and related malignancies are difficult to be detected using traditional colonoscopy. In this study, we attempted to evaluate frequency of flat and depressed colorectal neoplasms using high-magnifying colonoscopy. Patients with medical indication of colonoscopy who referred to Talaghani hospital in 1385 were evaluated. After preparation, total colonoscopy [Olympus, CF-Q240TL, Japan] was performed up to cecum. Lesions were classified according to macroscopic presentation and Paris classification, and then they were evaluated regarding pit patterns after 100-fold magnification. Pathologic findings of lesions were studied by two expert pathologists. One hundred patients with mean age of 44.3 +/- 16.1 were studied. In total 27 lesions [17 polypoid, 10 non-polypoid] were found in 18 patients. Peduculated polyps [9 polyps] were the most common lesions. We found 8 flat and 2 slightly elevated polyps. There was no depressed lesion. In pathologic examination, there were 21[77.8%] adenomas, mostly tubular [12, 66.6%]. One adenocarcinoma was also detected. Pit pattern II was the most common pattern found. As non-polypoid neoplasms are frequent lesions in Iran, we recommend performing high-magnifying colonoscopy in patients with suspected presentations in traditional colonoscopy

[Association of the vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with inflammatory bowel disease in Iran]

Different genes such as vitamin D receptor [VDR] gene have some roles in IBD susceptibility. Some studies have recognized the relation of VDR gene polymorphisms with inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Determining the frequency of these polymorphisms and their possible relation with IBD can improve understandings about genetic background of these diseases. The objective of this study was to assess the association of VDR gene polymorphisms [Apa I, Taq I, Bsm I, Fok I] with IBD in Iran. In this case-control designed study 100 UC, 50 CD patients and 150 sex and age matched healthy controls, hospital base, were selected. These patients were referred to [Taleghani Hospital] during a one year period [2004-2005]. Assessment of VDR gene polymorphisms was performed by PCR-RFLP method. Only the frequency of the Fok I polymorphism was significantly higher in UC and CD groups. The frequency of the polymorphic allele f was higher in UC and CD groups comparing with controls [p=0.019, OR=1.581 and p<0.001, OR=2.642, respectively]. The f/f genotype was significantly more frequent in UC and CD patients comparing with controls [p=0.010, OR=2.774 and p<0.001, OR = 5.947, respectively]. There were no significant differences between frequencies in patients and controls in other polymorphisms. There is a relation between Fok I polymorphism in VDR receptor gene and IBD in Iran but no association was observed with other 3 polymorphisms