Are Osteopontin and Ki67 Expressions Different in Various Histologic Grades of Meningioma? An Iranian Experience.

BACKGROUND: Meningioma is among the most common slow growing central nervous neoplasms, which recurs locally despite the benign histologic features. The aim of this study was to evaluate osteopontin and ki67 expressions in different histologic grades of meningioma in a group of Iranian people. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, first, the paraffin blocks with the definite pathological diagnosis of meningioma in 70 patients were cut by microtome, in 4-5 micron sizes and stained for immunohistochemical markers of osteopontin and ki67. Then, all samples were evaluated for positive immunoreactivity and contributing factors. RESULTS: Among 70 pateints studied, the mean for the Ki67 level was 8.6±12.3 and the mean for the osteopontinm IHC score was 45.2±77.9. There was a high correlation between markers, tumor recurrence and grade (P<0.001). In addition, there was a significant direct correlation between ki67 and osteopontin levels (P<0.001, r=0.760). In other words, as OPN and ki67 expressions increased, the chance of tumor recurrence increased. CONCLUSION: ki67 and osteopontin expressions in patients with meningioma can be used as good prognostic markers for tumor recurrence and for distinguishing the grade of meningiomas.

Expression of neuronal markers, NFP and GFAP, in malignant astrocytoma.

BACKGROUND: Immunohistochemical markers are considered as important factors in diagnosis of malignant astrocytomas. The aim of the current study was to investigate the frequency of the immunohistochemical markers neurofilament protein (NFP) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in malignant astrocytoma tumors in Firoozgar and Rasool-Akram hospitals from 2005 to 2010. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, immunohistochemical analysis of NFP and GFAP was performed on 79 tissue samples of patients with the diagnosis of anaplastic and glioblastoma multiform (GBM) astrocytomas. RESULTS: The obtained results demonstrated that all patients were positive for GFAP and only 3.8% were positive for NFP. There was no significant association between these markers and clinical, demographic, and prognostic features of patients (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NFP was expressed only in GBMs and not in anaplastic astrocytomas. It would be crucial to confirm the present findings in a larger number of tumors, especially in high grade gliomas.

The clinicopathologic association of c-MET overexpression in Iranian gastric carcinomas; an immunohistochemical study of tissue microarrays.

BACKGROUND: c-MET is an oncogene protein that plays important role in gastric carcinogenesis and has been introduced as a prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of c-MET overexpression and its relationship with clinicopathological variables in gastric cancer of Iranian population using tissue microarray. METHODS: In a cross sectional study, representative paraffin blocks of 130 patients with gastric carcinoma treated by curative gastrectomy during a 2 years period of 2008-2009 in two university hospitals in Tehran-Iran were collected in tissue microarray and c-MET expression was studied by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Finally 124 cases were evaluated, constituted of 99 male and 25 female with the average age of 61.5 years. In 71% (88/124) of tumors, c-MET high expression was found. c-MET high expression was more associated with intestinal than diffuse tumor type (P = 0.04), deeper tumor invasion, pT3 and pT4 versus pT1 and pT2 (P = 0.014), neural invasion (P = 0.002) and advanced TNM staging, stage 3 and 4 versus stage 1 and2 (P = 0.044). The c-MET high expression was not associated with age, sex, tumor location, differentiation grade and distant metastasis, but relative associations with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.065) and vascular invasion (P = 0.078) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: c-MET oncogene protein was frequently overexpressed in Iranian gastric carcinomas and it was related to clinicopathological characteristics such as tumor type, depth of invasion, neural invasion and TNM staging. It can also support the idea that c-MET is a potential marker for target therapy in Iranian gastric cancer. VIRTUAL SLIDES: The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/9744598757151429.

A rare ovarian tumor, leydig stromal cell tumor, presenting with virilization: a case report.

Leydig stromal cell tumor is a rare ovarian tumor that belongs to the group of sex-cord stromal tumors. They produce testosterone leading to hyperandrogenism. We present a 41yr old woman with symptoms of virilization and a mass of right adenex via ultra Sonography, and a rise of total and free serum testosterone. An ovarian source of androgen was suspected and a surgery performed. A diagnosis of leydig-stromal cell tumor was confirmed. Our report is a reminder that although idiopathic hirsutism and other benign androgen excess disorder like Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOs) are common, ovarian mass should be considered in differential diagnosis.

Relationship between Blood Pressure and Passive Smoking in Elementary School Children.

OBJECTIVE: Many diseases form their basis during childhood. One example is the changes in vascular structure and function, leading to atherosclerosis. In this study, we have assessed the impact of exposure to cigarette smoke on blood pressure of elementary school children in Kermanshah. METHODS: 80 elementary school children exposed to cigarette smoke and 80 not exposed to smoke were studied in fall 2010. Information regarding the smoking status of parents and the children's health were obtained through questionnaires completed by parents. After physical examination and exclusion of those children with acute and chronic diseases as well as those consuming medicine, we measured and compared blood pressure in the exposure and non-exposure groups. Data were analyzed using the ANOVA statistical test. Values are expresses as Mean±SD. FINDINGS: The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the exposure group were higher than those of the non-exposure group (109.3±9.97/64.92±7.36 vs105.47±8.98/62.5±7.01, respectively; CI: 0.95, P<0.05). Meanwhile, difference between two groups according to sex was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that systolic and diastolic blood pressures are higher in those elementary school children exposed to cigarette smoke compared to those who are not.

Immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in health-care workers.

This study was performed to study the immune response to hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine in health-care workers. Through a cross-sectional study, relevant information and blood samples from 151 healthcare workers at the Firuzgar hospital were studied. The age range of the study individuals was 20-59 years, with the mean and standard deviation being 35.11 and 10.06, respectively. There were 24 males (15.9%) and 127 females (84.1%). The mean and median of months after HBV vaccination was 63.42 and 49.00, respectively. The mean and median of anti-HBs titer in those who received HBV vaccination was 164.81 and 200 milli international units per milliliter (mIU/mL), respectively. Of the 129 HBV-vaccinated subjects, 103 (68.2%) had anti-HBs titer >10 and 26 (17.2%) had anti-HBs titer <10. There was no association between gender and anti-HBs titer, but vaccination and adequate completion of its courses were associated with higher anti-HBs titer (P < 0.05). Also, the logistic regression method showed that the association between duration after vaccination and age with anti-HBs titer was not statistically significant. Our study suggests that the HBV vaccine immunization program had obtained excellent efficacy. There is need for further investigation among subjects who are not vaccinated against HBV but are positive for anti-HBs as well as in HBV-vaccinated subjects with low anti-HBs titers, about possible low-level viremia and other causes of lower vaccine efficacy, particularly in health-care workers.

Disseminated intraspinal hydatid disease.

Spinal echinococcosis is a rare entity, accounting for 1% of all cases of hydatid disease. The authors report the case of a 60-year-old man whom they treated for recurrent nerve root compression due to disseminated intraspinal echinococcosis (hydatid disease). Six years previously he had undergone surgery on an emergency basis at another institution after presenting with acute paraplegia due to a primary extradural hydatid cyst of the thoracic spine. Unfortunately, during surgical removal of the cysts, the echinococcosis disseminated into the spinal canal. This complication was documented by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. In the 4 years before the authors treated him, he was hospitalized 4 times for 4 recurrences of nerve root compression. The authors treated the disseminated disease successfully with total T7-8 corpectomy, grafting with titanium cage and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital instrumentation, and long-term administration of albendazole (400 mg daily). Early diagnosis, proper utilization of MR imaging, and radical resection of diseased vertebrae and soft tissues followed by anthelmintic treatment are essential to control disseminated spinal hydatidosis and prevent recurrence.

The effect of supplemental zinc on the height and weight percentiles of children.

BACKGROUND: Considering the high incidence of low weight and short stature among Iranian children as well as the high prevalence of both mild and moderate types of zinc deficiency, this study was conducted among patients who were referred to the Pediatric Clinic at Massih Daneshvari Hospital during 1997 - 1999. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of zinc supplementation on the children's height and weight percentiles. METHODS: Age, sex, and height and weight percentiles before and after administration of zinc were determined and recorded. The zinc supplement used in this project was in the form of a zinc sulfate solution in 0.1% and 0.5% concentrations. The dose was the upper limit of a tolerable dose, which was given in three divided doses per day. The serum zinc level was measured with the atomic absorption spectrophotometry method. The effect of age, sex, and initial serum zinc level on the percentile changes were determined. RESULTS: This study was conducted on 42 children with equal distribution of gender (21 male and 21 female patients). The mean age was 4.9 +/- 4.1 years. Means of height and weight were 101.8 +/- 23 cm and 16.5 +/- 8.1 kg, respectively. The initial serum zinc level was 85.1 +/- 31.6 microg/dL. The duration of zinc administration was 3.2 +/- 2.6 months. The subjects were followed for a minimum of one month to a maximum of 10 months. The percentage of children with weight and height percentiles below the 50th percentile was reduced from 69% to 54% (P < 0.05) and from 50% to 33% (P < 0.01), respectively. Also, it was noted that children with low serum zinc levels demonstrated greater percentile changes. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that supplemental zinc increases height and weight percentiles.