Evaluation of FLT3-ITD Mutations and MDR1 Gene Expression in AML Patients.

Background & Objective: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematopoietic malignancy caused by genetic abnormalities. Currently, molecular and genetic factors are routinely used as diagnostic and prognostic markers. FLT-3 is one of the most known diagnostic factors in AML. MDR1 gene belongs to the ATP binding cassette family; it is known as one of the chemotherapy-resistant causes of AML. We aimed to study FLT-3ITD mutations and their association with MDR1 gene expression in AML individuals. Methods: For investigation, 80 AML individuals and 20 healthy controls were selected. This study was done in the Cancer molecular Pathology Research Center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS), Iran during 2017-2019. FLT3-ITD mutation was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR); Real-time quantitative PCR was performed to measure the amount of MDR1 gene expression. Bone marrow and blood smears of patients were evaluated in terms of morphology. SPSS 16.0 was used for data analysis. Results: FLT3-ITD mutation and MDR1 overexpression were found in 18.8% and 23.8% of AML patients, respectively. Statistical analysis did not show any relationship or association between these two markers. Cuplike morphology was observed in blast cells in 21.25% of AML cases, which was associated with the presence of FLT3-ITD mutation. Conclusion: FLT-3 and MDR1 function independently. Survival studies to determine the exact role of MDR1 overexpression in drug resistance issues would be suggested.

Effectiveness of supplementary blended flour based on chickpea and cereals for the treatment of infants with moderate acute malnutrition in Iran: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Despite the decreasing rate of under nutrition children in recent years overall, the negative affect in growth and development make it as a main concern in the world. Applying an available and appropriate supplementary food is a major approach in treating children with Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM). OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of a new supplementary blended flour (containing chickpea, rice, wheat and barley, named Shadameen) in combination with multivitamin/mineral supplement and nutritional counseling versus multivitamin/mineral supplement and nutritional counseling alone, in the treatment of children with MAM. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial study was conducted at Heshmatiyeh Hospital in Sabzevar city in Iran, from January 2016 to December 2016. Seventy infants, aged 9 to 24 months with MAM who were referred from urban health centers to the hospital clinic were included. They were randomly assigned to receive, for about 3 months, either multivitamin / mineral supplement and nutritional counseling alone or in combination with an extra supplementary blended food. We analyzed weight, length, weight for length Z score (WLZ), weight for age Z score (WAZ) and length for weight Z score (LAZ), along with recovery rate and adverse events among the two groups. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. We used statistics, Chi-square, independent t-test, and Fisher's exact test for the analyses of primary and secondary outcomes. RESULTS: The food supplementation infant's mean weight and WLZ and WAZ were greater compared with the other group (0.81±0.29 gr and 0.55±0.33 gr, p=0.002), (0.36±0.36 and 0.02±0.52, p=0.003), (0.40±0.33 and 0.09±0.37, p=0.001). The recovery rate in the food supplemented group was significantly higher than the other group (68.4%, 31.6%, p=0.001). No adverse reactions were observed. There were no significant differences in LAZ at the end of the study between the two groups (p=0.53). CONCLUSION: This study showed that Shadameen in combination with multivitamin/mineral and counselling therapy can be more effective in decreasing the wasting rate of children with MAM than vitamin/mineral and counseling therapy alone. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (http://www.irct.ir) with the Irct ID: IRCT2015040921670N1. FUNDING: This study was financially supported by the vice chancellor for research office, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.

Hysterosalpingographic findings in women with genital tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Genital tuberculosis (TB) is an important cause of infertility in the developing countries, where hysterosalpingography (HSG) remains an initial diagnostic procedure in the evaluation of tubal and peritoneal factors leading to infertility. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the HSG findings of genital TB in infertile women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed HSG findings in 20 women with genital tuberculosis. HSG was performed in these women as part of infertility work up over 5 years. The other diagnostic procedures used included endometrial curettage and biopsy, histological examination, culture, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy and polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 30.5±8 years. All women had clinical history of infertility for at least 4 years. Women presented with pelvic abdominal pain (30-35%) and menstrual disturbances (20-25%). Reviewing 20 cases of female genital TB were encountered various presentations on HSG. CONCLUSION: HSG is an invaluable procedure in suggesting the diagnosis of genital TB in patients being investigated for infertility.

Sexual function after Stoppa hernia repair in patients with bilateral inguinal hernia.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of Stoppa hernia repair on sexual function of the patients with bilateral inguinal hernia. METHODS: In a prospective follow-up study, 50 patients with bilateral inguinal hernia were investigated to assess sexual function before and 1 and 6 months after standardized Stoppa hernioplasty using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. The mean scores obtained on pre- and postoperative visits for all domains of sexual function were analyzed and compared with the Friedman and paired Wilcoxon tests. RESULTS: The mean score of IIEF at the first month after surgery was significantly declined compared to that before surgery and 6 months after surgery (P< 0.001), while the difference between preoperative score and the score at 6 months after surgery was not significant CONCLUSION: Bilateral inguinal mesh repair with Stoppa technique can decreased sexual activity of the patients at one month after surgery, nevertheless it returns to its initial condition at 6 months after surgery. This suggests that the Stoppa technique does not affect the sexual function of patients with bilateral inguinal hernia.

Herpes simplex virus infection in neonates and young infants with sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal herpes infection is the most serious complication of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) infection during pregnancy and perinatal period. Few studies have reported neonatal HSV infection in developing countries. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to detect the HSV infection among neonates and infants with sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross sectional study all infants aged less than 3 months, admitted to neonatal intensive care unit and pediatric emergency ward of Ghaem Hospital (a university hospital with 900 beds) in Mashhad (Northeast of Iran) with clinical diagnosis of sepsis and at least one inclusion criteria during one year from November 2009 to October 2010, were enrolled in the study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was done on clinical samples obtained from patients. RESULTS: Among 150 neonates and infants younger than 3 months old with sepsis, the PCR results for detecting the HSV DNA, were positive in 6 samples of 5 patients (3.3 %). None of the mothers had symptomatic HSV infection during delivery. The mean age of the patients was 18 days. Two of them died due to shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). CONCLUSIONS: In neonates and infants with primary diagnosis of sepsis, HSV infection should be considered especially if the clinical condition does not improve after 48 hours of antibiotic therapy, and sepsis still exists with elevated liver enzymes.

Evaluation of methylation of MGMT (O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase) gene promoter in sporadic colorectal cancer.

The DNA repair gene O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is frequently methylated in colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to demonstrate that MGMT methylation may be one of the candidate mediators of field cancerization in the colon mucosa. Therefore, quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was performed on tumor itself and additional samples of 5 and 10 cm away from the tumor in 40 CRC patients. Moreover, colon mucosa was examined from 30 cases with no evidence of cancer as a control. MGMT promoter methylation was present in 27.5% of colorectal tumor specimens. Tumors that showed MGMT promoter methylation had substantial MGMT promoter methylation in their normal adjacent mucosa. The methylation was also observed in 36.36% (4/11) of normal samples with MGMT promoter methylation in the adjacent tumors, in 20.79% (6/29) of samples without MGMT methylation in the adjacent tumors, and in 6.66% (2/30) of control samples (p<0.006 and p<0.001 respectively). Finally, the mean of MGMT methylation levels was significantly higher in the cancerous group than in the control group (6.25±1.702 vs. 0.086±0.036, p<0.001). Some CRCs arise from a field defect defined by epigenetic inactivation of MGMT. Detection of such abnormality may ultimately be useful in risk assessment for CRCs.