Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma and its association with clinicopathological characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is the most predominant type of urinary bladder tumor. As cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is recently introduced as an attractive target molecule in bladder TCC, we evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of this marker and its association with several clinicopathological characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in the Pathology department of Sina Hospital in Tehran, Iran during 2006-2011. Ninety-two paraffin embedded blocks were selected from patients with urinary bladder TCC who underwent cystectomy or transurethral resection (TUR). Then, we assessed COX-2 expression by immunohistochemical staining using antibody against COX-2. Staining in more than 5% of tumor cells was considered as positive expression. RESULTS: COX-2 was expressed in 50 % of our patients. This marker was markedly expressed in high grade bladder TCC (62.1%) versus other grades and there was statistically a significant difference in COX-2 expression between various grades (p=0.008). In addition, patients' age, lymphatic and perineurial invasion were associated with the expression of COX-2 (p=0.001, 0.015 and 0.039, respectively). However, other parameters such as stage, tumor size, venous invasion and lymph node metastasis did not show any significant relationship with this marker (all, p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: COX-2 was expressed in urinary bladder TCC especially in high grade forms, advocating its probable role in the differentiation of this tumor. Accordingly, COX-2 could be a valuable biological target molecule in the evaluation and treatment of patients with bladder TCC.

Three common CARD15 mutations are not responsible for the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease in Iranians.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Crohn's disease frequency has increased in recent years in Iran. Genetic and environmental factors predispose people to this disease. Mutation in Caspase Recruitment Domain 15 (CARD15) gene is the most well known genetic predisposing factor to this disease. Frequency of three common CARD15 mutations has been studied in different ethnic groups. We aimed to study the frequency of these mutations in Iranian patients affected with Crohn's Disease. METHODOLOGY: One hundred fifteen proved cases of Crohn Disease and 115 age and sex matched normal controls were recruited in this study. Lf1007fs, R702W and G908R mutations were studied by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphims (PCR-RFLP) followed by sequencing the positive cases. RESULTS: Lf1007fs and G908R mutations were not found in either patients or age-sex matched controls. Just in two patients, R702W mutation was proved by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and sequencing. None of these patients had illeal or fibrostenotic type of disease while 14.7% of total patients had stricturing type of disease. No complication was seen in these two patients while 50.4% of patients had acquired complications during the course of disease. CONCLUSION: The three mutations described are not responsible for the pathogenesis of Crohn's Disease in Iranians. The results are in accordance with other Asian nations' studies on IBD Patients.

A case-control study on risk factors of osteoporosisin patients with Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis has been frequently reported in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, especially Crohn's disease. METHODS: All consecutive Crohn's disease patients who attended the GI Clinics at Shariati Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from 2004 to 2007 were evaluated. A BMD-DEXA assessment was performed for all patients. Among those patients diagnosed with osteoporosis (T score

Crohn's disease and early exposure to domestic refrigeration.

BACKGROUND: Environmental risk factors playing a causative role in Crohn's Disease (CD) remain largely unknown. Recently, it has been suggested that refrigerated food could be involved in disease development. We thus conducted a pilot case control study to explore the association of CD with the exposure to domestic refrigeration in childhood. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using a standard questionnaire we interviewed 199 CD cases and 207 age-matched patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as controls. Cases and controls were followed by the same gastroenterologists of tertiary referral clinics in Tehran, Iran. The questionnaire focused on the date of the first acquisition of home refrigerator and freezer. Data were analysed by a multivariate logistic model. The current age was in average 34 years in CD cases and the percentage of females in the case and control groups were respectively 48.3% and 63.7%. Patients were exposed earlier than controls to the refrigerator (X2 = 9.9, df = 3, P = 0.04) and refrigerator exposure at birth was found to be a risk factor for CD (OR = 2.08 (95% CI: 1.01-4.29), P = 0.05). Comparable results were obtained looking for the exposure to freezer at home. Finally, among the other recorded items reflecting the hygiene and comfort at home, we also found personal television, car and washing machine associated with CD. CONCLUSION: This study supports the opinion that CD is associated with exposure to domestic refrigeration, among other household factors, during childhood.