In silico analysis of immunologic regions of surface antigens [Sags] of Toxoplasma gondii

Background: Surface antigens [SAGs] of Toxoplasma gondii are known candidates for diagnostic tests and vaccines. The present study argues about the main necessary properties for determination and prediction of T-cell agretopes and B-cell epitopes of surface antigens of Toxoplasma gondii

Materials and Methods: Primary, secondary and tertiary structures of the proteins were analyzed by different methods. The three-dimensional structures were determined by use of ab initio method for prediction of discontinues epitopes. The agretopes and epitopes were predicted via several various web servers with different methods employed

Results: The results of in silico analyses showed that the regions 129-GAPAGRNNDGSSAPT-143 for protein p22, 234-SENPWQGNASSD-245 for protein p30 and 348-PGTEGESQAGT-358 for protein p43, have the highest immunogenic potential

Conclusion: We reached to three antigenic epitopes for cloning and protein expression. In following the purified polypeptide will be applied for diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii

Effects of curcuma longa extract on telomerase activity in lung and breast cancer cells

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of Curcuma longa extract on the telomerase gene expression in QU-DB lung cancer and T47D breast cancer cell lines. The present study is an experimental research. Using 3 different phases n-hexane, dichloromethane and methanol, total extract of Curcuma longa in a serial dilution was prepared and three phases was analyzed for determining which phase has more curcuminoids. Then the extract cytotoxicity effect was tested on breast cancer cell line [T47D], and lung cancer cell line [QU-DB] by 24, 48 and 72 h MTT [Dimethyl thiazolyl diphenyl tetrazolium] assay. Then, the cells were treated with serial concentrations of the extract. Finally, total protein was extracted from the control and test groups, its quantity was determined and telomeric repeat amplification protocol [TRAP] assay was performed for measurement of possible inhibition of the telomerase activity. Cell viability and MTT-based cytotoxicity assay show that the total extract of Curcuma longa has cytotoxic effect with different IC50s in breast and lung cancer cell lines. Analysis of TRAP assay also shows a significant reduction in telomerase activity on both cancer cells with different levels. Curcuma longa extract has anti-proliferation and telomerase inhibitory effects on QU-DB lung cancer and T47D breast cancer cells with differences in levels of telomerase inhibition

Papillary thyroid carcinoma associated with parathyroid adenoma

Concomitant papillary thyroid cancer and parathyroid adenoma is rare. We report a 55 years old female with papillary cancer admitted for surgery. Preoperative laboratory findings revealed hypercalcemia and then primary hyperparathyroidism. Thyroidectomy, neck dissection and excision of parathyroid adenoma were performed. Histological examination revealed parathyroid adenoma. Serum calcium returned to normal range after surgery. We recommend preoperative check of calcium in patients with thyroid cancer

[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy of epirobicin, oxaliplatin, capecitabine regimen in patients with advanced gastric cancer: a two year study]

Gastric cancer is an important health problem across the world. Chemotherapy in combination with local treatment is the standard treatment for locally advanced gastroesophageal junction [EGJ] cancers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate response and tolerability to neoadjuvant regimen combining epirobicin, oxaliplatin and capecitabin [EOX] in locoregionally advanced gastric cancer. We recruited 28 patients with histologically confirmed advanced gastric or EGJ adenocarcinoma in this study performed in the Cancer Institute of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran in 2010-2011. Staging workup included chest and abdominal computed tomography [CT] scans, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasonography [EUS], measurement of carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA], complete blood cell count [CBC], and liver and renal function tests. After three treatment cycles with EOX regimen, we evaluated response to the neoadjuvant chemotherapy by performing endoscopic ultrasonography [EUS] and chest and abdominal CT scans. The mean age of the patients was 56.64+/-11.08 years [ranging from 37 to 78 years]. Most patients were classified as having stage III [98.8%] cancer before chemotherapy while most were classified as stage II [57.14%] after the treatment. Only 28.5% of tumors were resectable before chemotherapy, but 82.1% of them were resectable upon the treatment. 75% of tumors were downstaged after chemotherapy. Regarding the acceptable response and downstaging of tumors and low toxicity of EOX regimen in locoregionally advanced gastric cancer, evaluation of this regimen as a neoadjuvant chemotherapy in larger phase III clinical trials in Iranian patients would be both necessary and logical

Significance of platelet count in esophageal carcinomas

Thrombocytosis is found to be associated with unfavorable prognosis in esophageal carcinoma. Platelets produce thymidine phosphorylase which is a platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor with angiogenic activity. Increased platelet count may be translated into enhanced tumor growth. We examined the relation between platelet count and several prognostic variables in patients with esophageal cancer. Patients and Three hundred and eighty-one cases with esophageal cancer that underwent esophagectomy in a referral cancer institute during a 5-year period were studied retrospectively. The relation between preoperative platelet count and patient age, gender, site of tumor, presence of multiple cancers and clinicopathological characteristics including histological type, tumor size, depth of penetration [T], lymph node involvement [N], distant metastasis [M], degree of differentiation, presence of vascular, lymphatic and perineural invasion was examined. Squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] constituted 93% and adenocarcinoma 7% of cases. Most of patients were in stage III, followed by stage II. The mean platelet count was 245 +/- 76 [10[9]/L]. There was no statistically significant correlation between platelet counts with prognostic factors except a weak linear correlation between platelet count and and tumor size [P= 0.03, Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.16]. Patients with adenocarcinoma had a higher platelet count than those with SCC [P= 0.003]. Platelet count does not correlate with prognostic factors in esophageal cancer. However, it is significantly different between SCC and adenocarcinoma of esophagus

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with pancreatic metastasis: a case report

Malignant tumors of pancreas are usually primary neoplasms and pancreatic metastases are rare findings. We are reporting a case of squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] of the esophagus with pancreatic metastasis. A 59-year old woman was admitted with chief complaint of abdominal pain and mass. She was a known case of esophageal SCC since 4 years before when she had undergone transthoracic esophagectomy and cervical esophago-gastrostomy. In order to evaluate recent abdominal mass, CT scan was done which revealed septated cystic lesion in the body and the tail of the pancreas. Palliative resection of the tumor was performed and its histological study showed SCC compatible with her previously diagnosed esophageal cancer

[Study role of age in contact dependent transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in northwest of Iran by IS6110-RFLP method]

The present study investigated the role in transmission of M. tuberculosis strains isolated from tuberculosis patients residing in Northwest [East and West Azarbaijan] of Iran. We performed restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis on IS6110 of M. tuberculosis isolated from Northwest Iran. Total of 165 isolates of M. tuberculosis were analyzed by RFLP method. The 5 copies and more IS6110 isolates comprised 30.52% of the total isolates. They formed 16 clustered groups consisting of 2 to 10 cases each. 69.48% of patients had a unique RFLP patterns. Cases from male patients were more clustered than female patients but statistically was not significant [P>0.05]. In this study patients with 56 and older age were strongly associated with clustering [59.6%], which were significantly more than younger patients [P<0.05]. In the present study we found old age as a major risk factor in contact dependent transmission of TB compared to disease recurrence. Unemployment and poor living condition were also among the risk factors in transmission of tuberculosis

effect of age on the outcome of esophageal cancer surgery

Surgery is still the best way for treatment of esophageal cancer. The increase in life expectancy and the rising incidence of esophageal tumors have led to a great number of elderly candidates for complex surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of advanced age [70 years or more] on the surgical outcome of esophagectomy for esophageal cancer at a single high-volume center. Between January 2000 and April 2006, 480 cases with esophageal cancer underwent esophagectomy in the referral cancer institute. One hundred sixty-five patients in the elderly group [70 years old or more] were compared with 315 patients in the younger group [<70 years]. All in-hospital morbidity and mortality were studied. The range of age was 38-84 years, with a mean of 58.7. The mean age of the elderly and younger groups was 74 and 53.2, respectively. In the younger group, 70 patients [22.2%] and in the elderly group, 39 patients [23.6%] were complicated [P 0.72].The most common complications in the two groups were pulmonary complications [9.8% in younger and 10.3% in elderly] [P 0.87]. Rates of anastomotic leakage and cardiac complications were also similar between the two groups. Hospital mortality rates in younger and elderly patients were 2.8% and 3%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups in morbidities and mortality [P -value > 0.05]. With increased experience and care, the outcomes of esophagectomy in elderly patients are comparable to young patients. Advanced age alone is not a contraindication for esophagectomy