Isolation and identification of chemotherapy-enriched sphere-forming cells from a patient with gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the third and fifth cause of cancer-associated mortality for men and women throughout the world, respectively. Despite the use of surgery and chemotherapy for GC therapy, there are no efficient therapeutic protocols for it to date. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) due to their pivotal role in tumor initiation, growth, progression, invasion, distant metastasis, recurrence and resistance to anticancer drugs are very appealing targets for cancer therapies. Here, we isolated and identified CSCs from a chemotherapy-treated patient. Small subpopulation of dissociated cells after tissue digestion formed spheroid colonies in serum-free media under the non-adherent condition. These spheroid colonies differentiated into epithelial like cells in serum-containing medium. Few sphere-forming cells carried CD44 and CD54 markers overexpressed DLL4 that is responsible for tumor growth and angiogenesis. Subcutaneous injections of sphere-forming cells in different passages conferred tumorigenicity in nude mice. Sphere-forming cells upregulated CD44 polymorphisms CD44v3, -v6, and -v8 -10, stemness factors OCT4, SOX2, SALL4 and Cripto-1, self-renewal molecules IHh, Wnt, ß-catenin and BMI1, and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers Twist1 and Snail1 in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, these cells similar to sphere-forming cells isolated from a chemotherapy-free patient expressed Oct-4 and ß-catenin proteins. However, the Twist1 protein was only expressed by sphere-forming cells derived from the chemotherapy-treated patient. Thus, these cells have all the characteristics of stationary and migratory CSCs, including tumorigenicity, self-renewal, pluripotency, invasion and metastasis. Taken together, targeting chemotherapy-enriched CSCs as chemo-resistance cells observed in GC patients can provide more effective therapeutic strategies compared to untreated patients.

Genotyping of human cystic echinococcosis in northeastern Iran

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a human public health problem in northeast of Iran and there is limited information regarding the genotypes of Echinococcus granulosus senso lato (s.l.) in human in this region. In the present study, we determined the genotypes of E. granulosus s.l. infecting human in northeastern Iran from Khorasan Razavi province using PCR-RFLP of rDNA ITS1 region. From April 2013 to December 2016, 50 hepatic hydatid cysts were recovered from 50 patients who underwent surgical procedure. Protoscoleces were collected from individual cysts, DNA was extracted, and the rDNA ITS1 gene was amplified by PCR and genotypes confirmed by RFLP. All the cyst materials were identified as Echinococcus granulosus senso stricto (s.s.), indicating this species as the main cause of CE in humans in northeast of Iran.

Treatment of life-threatening wounds with a combination of allogenic platelet-rich plasma, fibrin glue and collagen matrix, and a literature review.

Currently there is no ideal procedure for the treatment of recalcitrant ulcers that are unresponsive to the majority of common treatments. However, several novel approaches have been proposed, including bone marrow stem cells, platelets, fibrin glue and collagen matrix. For the first approach treatment of a chronic wound, a non-invasive method is highly desirable. The present study was undertaken with the aim of evaluating the effect of a combination of platelets, fibrin glue and collagen matrix (PFC) in one treatment. A total of ten patients with aggressive, refractory, life-threatening wounds were recruited for the study and their treatment effects were evaluated. Initially, the ulcers were extensively debrided, measured and photographed at weekly intervals. The PFC combination was applied topically to the wound every two days. Following treatment, the wound was completely closed in nine patients and was markedly reduced in the other patient. The mean 100% healing time for the nine patients was 11.3±5.22 weeks. There was no evidence of local or systemic complications or any abnormal tissue formation, keloid or hypertrophic scarring. Therefore, the results of the present study indicate that in the first approach, the combination of PFC components may be used safely in order to synergize the effect of chronic wound healing.

The role of BRAF V600E mutation as a potential marker for prognostic stratification of papillary thyroid carcinoma: a long-term follow-up study.

Abstract Papillary carcinoma is the most prevalent malignancy of thyroid gland, and its incidence has been recently increased. The BRAF(V600E) mutation is the most frequent genetic alteration in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The role of BRAF(V600E) mutation as a potential prognostic factor has been controversially reported in different studies, with short-term follow-up. In this study, we evaluated the role of BRAF(V600E) mutation as a potential marker for prognostic stratification of patients with PTC in long-term follow-up. We studied 69 PTC patients with a mean follow-up period of 63.9 months (median: 60 m). The BRAF(V600E) mutation was analyzed by PCR-single-strand conformational polymorphism and sequencing. The correlation between the presence or absence of the BRAF(V600E) mutation, clinicopathological features and prognosis of PTC patients were studied. The BRAF(V600E) mutation was found in 28 of 69 (40.6%) PTC patients, and it was significantly more frequent in older patients (p < 0.001), in advanced tumor stages (p = 0.006) and in patients with history of radiation exposure (p = 0.037). Incomplete response to treatment in PTC patients was significantly correlated with certain clinicopathological characteristics (follow-up time, distant metastases, advanced stage, first thyroglobulin (fTg) level, history of reoperation and external radiotherapy and delay in iodine therapy) but it was not related to the presence of BRAF(V600E) mutation. Prevalence of BRAF(V600E) mutation was 40.6% in patients with papillary thyroid cancer in northeast of Iran. The BRAF(V600E) mutation was associated with older age and advanced tumor stage but was not correlated with incomplete response during follow-up.

Management of sigmoid volvulus: options and prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the management of sigmoid volvulus with reference to the type of surgical procedures performed and to determine the prognosis of sigmoid volvulus. STUDY DESIGN: A case series. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Ghaem Hospital of Mashhad, University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran, from 1996 to 2008. METHODOLOGY: A total of 944 cases of colon obstruction were reviewed. Demographic, laboratory and treatment results, mortality and complications were recorded. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics as frequency and percentage for the qualitative variables and mean and standard deviation values for the quantitative variables. Also chisquare and Fisher's exact test were used for the association between the qualitative variables. SPSS statistical software (version 18) was used for the data analysis. RESULTS: In all patients except those with symptoms or signs of gangrenous bowel, a long rectal tube was inserted via the rectosigmoidoscope which was successful in 80 (36.87%) cases. Rectosigmoidoscopic detorsion was unsuccessful in 137 (63.13%) patients, who underwent an emergent laparotomy. The surgical procedures performed in these cases were resection and primary anastomosis in 40 (29.1%), Mikulicz procedure in 9 (6.6%), laparotomy detorsion in 37 (27.01%), Hartmann procedure in 47 (34.3%), mesosigmoidoplasty in 3 (2.19%) patients and total colectomy in one (0.73%) case. The overall mortality was 9.8% (22) patients. CONCLUSION: In sigmoid volvulus, the most important determinant of patient outcome is bowel viability. The initial treatment of sigmoid colon volvulus is sigmoidoscopy with rectal tube placement.

Evaluation of HER2/neu oncoprotein in serum and tissue samples of women with breast cancer: correlation with clinicopathological parameters.

BACKGROUND: HER2/neu (HER2) is a proto-oncogen of the EGF Receptor family. The assessment of serum HER2 level is useful for predicting the patients' response to chemotherapy or hormonal therapy and selection of proper patients for treatment with Herceptin. We aimed to compare serum HER2 levels with immunohistochemistry in tumoral tissues and investigate correlation between these levels and various prognostic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 75 patients with breast carcinoma referred to surgical ward of Mashhad Imam Reza's hospital from November 2008 to February 2009. Pre-operative serum samples were collected and stored in -20°C. Surgical samples were investigated for the type of carcinoma, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, stage as well as grade of the tumor. Tissue HER2 over-expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining and HER2 levels were studied by ELISA method. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS software. RESULTS: Serum HER2 cut-off level was 18.4 ng/ml; 46.7% of patients were serum HER2-positive and 43% were IHC positive. There was a high statistical correlation between these two parameters (P=0.018). Statistically, there was no significant correlation between serum HER2 and age, tumor size, stage, grade and metastatic lymph nodes (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum HER2 level assay can be considered as a complementary method besides tissue methods.

Effect of preoperative rectal indomethacin on postoperative pain reduction after open appendectomy.

BACKGROUND: One of the major challenges faced by the treatment planning teams is how to manage postoperative pain. Previous studies agreed upon the effects of preoperative administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on postoperative pain, but all have focused on patients with surgical noninflammatory diseases (ie, inguinal hernia or breast biopsy). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of rectal indomethacin on reducing postoperative pain in patients with acute appendicitis. METHODS: It is a simple randomized, clinical trial including 200 patients with acute appendicitis who were divided into two groups (A1 and A2). The case group (A1) received 100 mg rectal indomethacin during 2 hours before the operation. Pain intensity was assessed in all patients using a visual analog scale (VAS). Similarly, total dosage of meperidine analgesic medication and postoperative time to use of rescue analgesia were evaluated. RESULTS: Patients who received preoperative rectal indomethacin (A1) showed a significant reduction in the VAS score. Also, a reduction in total dose of meperidine and longer time to use of rescue analgesic medication were observed in A1 group. CONCLUSION: Preoperative administration of rectal indomethacin in acute appendicitis reduces postoperative pain.

Effect of preoperative rectal indomethacin on postoperative pain reduction after open cholecystectomy.

The preoperative administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been shown to have a positive impact on postoperative pain, but there is little research regarding the use of rectal NSAIDs given before surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of rectally administered indomethacin on postoperative pain in patients undergoing open cholecystectomy. A randomized controlled design was used to compare rectally administered indomethacin with placebo. Pain intensity, total opioid dose, and postoperative time to first request for analgesic were evaluated. The indomethacin group experienced significantly less postoperative pain and required less total opioid dose compared with the placebo group. Preoperative rectal administration of indomethacin reduces postoperative pain in open cholecystectomy when compared with placebo.

A geographic area with better outcome of esophageal carcinoma: is there an effect of ethnicity and etiologic factors?

OBJECTIVES: Although Iran, and especially the northeast of the country, is known as one of the areas in the world where esophageal cancer is most prevalent, there is no information on the survival rate of patients affected with this disease in this region. To address this issue, we conducted a study comprehensive enough to provide as accurate an estimate as possible. Any finding related to survival of patients in this area may be considered representative of Iran. METHODS: Esophageal cancer patients who were consecutively referred to the oncology centers of Omid and Imam Reza Hospitals from July 1997 to March 2004 were recruited for the study. Data collection included the demographical and clinical characteristics of patients in addition to treatment details. The median survival and overall survival rates, as well as the median event-free survival and event-free survival rates, were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to detect any significant prognostic factors. RESULTS: 1,568 patients were eligible. The Kaplan-Meier analysis indicates that median survival is 38 months (95% CI, 26.6-49.3), 5-year survival is 42% (38.76-46.16%), median event-free survival is 21 months (95% CI, 18.2-23.8) and 5-year event-free survival is 29.9% (27.07-32.67%). The univariate analysis indicates that age, gender, tumor histology, tumor location, body mass index and disease stage are significant predictors of overall survival. However, in the multivariate analysis, disease stage is the best prognostic factor. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of esophagus cancer in Iran is not as dismal as in other world regions. Our treatment outcome and survival rates are much higher than those reported especially in western countries.