The correlation between imaging findings and breast cancer cell receptors status.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women, and subtypes are mainly defined based on hormone receptors such as estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). The relationship between breast cancer subtypes and imaging features in mammography and sonography has been studied but the results are controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the hormonal receptor status of breast tumors and the radiologic feature of the tumors on mammography and sonography. METHODS: Eighty patients with breast cancer enrolled in this cross-sectional study. ER, PR, and HER2 determined by immunohistochemistry. Every patient underwent mammography and sonography before the biopsy. We evaluated the relationship between the hormonal receptor status and radiographic features of tumors on breast sonography and mammography. RESULTS: The majority of the patients (n=75 (93.8%)) were diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). The mean and standard deviation of the age was 49 ± 9 years. There was no significant relationship between the hormonal receptor status and the sonographic margin and shape (P>0.05). However, PR (P=0.002) and ER (P=0.001) status were significantly correlated with posterior features on sonography. ER-positive patients were more likely to have indistinct or speculated masses on mammography (P=0.017). Irregular or oval masses on mammography were higher in patients with ER (p=0.032). CONCLUSION: There was a significant correlation between PR and ER status and posterior features on sonography. Positive ER was associated with indistinct or speculated masses on mammography, as well as irregular or oval masses.

Brain MRI findings in patients with bullous pemphigoid: A case-control study.

Evidence suggests that bullous pemphigoid (BP) is associated with multiple neurological disorders. We aimed to compare brain magnetic resonance (MRI) findings between BP patients and a control group. This case-control study included patients with BP referred to two dermatology clinics during a two-year period. A group of individuals attending the same clinics for cosmetic procedures were selected as controls. First, participants' general information including age, gender, education, weight and underlying disease was recorded. For BP patients, the drugs and the BP Disease Area Index (BPDAI) were recorded as well. Then, all participants underwent brain MRI without contrast. The Fazekas scale, the general cerebral atrophy (GCA) score, and the Medial Temporal lobe Atrophy (MTA) score were used to assess MRI images. Overall, 24 BP patients and 24 controls were evaluated in this study. Both groups were comparable regarding age, gender and education. However, diabetes and hypertension were more frequent in the control group. The mean BPDAI total score was 51.39 ± 68.92 in BP patients and most of them used rituximab (41.7%). None of the participants had MS or Alzheimer MRI patterns. There was no difference between groups in terms of GCA and MTA scores. Furthermore, the frequency of partially empty sella did not differ significantly between BP patients and controls (p = 0.461); nevertheless, grade-3 Fazekas was significantly higher in BP patients compared to controls (25% vs. 0%, p = 0.019). Of note, one BP patient had an epidermoid cyst and another had moderate enlargement of three ventricles. Also, new infarcts were observed in two and old infarcts in four BP patients. Although the majority of abnormal brain MRI findings were more frequent in BP patients compared to controls, only grade-3 Fazekas was significantly higher and acute infarcts were exclusively observed in BP patients.

Attitudes of Practicing Radiologists Toward the Management of Palpable Circumscribed Breast Masses.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the attitudes of radiologists toward palpable breast masses with benign features on US and to determine the factors influencing their decision. METHODS: A 20-question online questionnaire was sent to radiologists with membership of the Iranian Society of Radiology and included questions regarding demographics, practice experience, and management approach to palpable circumscribed breast masses based on patient age and risk factors. Radiologists' management choice for masses in themselves or close relatives/friends was also queried. RESULTS: In total, 151 radiologists participated (response rate 16%). For palpable breast masses with benign imaging features in women at high risk, the majority of radiologists selected MRI (95/151, 62.9%) and core-needle biopsy (110/151, 72.8%). In average-risk patients, radiologists with >5 years of practice experience selected biopsy more frequently (33/79, 41.8%) than less experienced radiologists (17/79, 23.6%) for patients ≥40 years old (P < 0.001) and patients <40 years old (20/79, 25.3%; 11/72, 15.3%, respectively) (P = 0.014). Similarly, selecting biopsy was more common in radiologists who completed a breast imaging fellowship for patients ≥40 years old (23/45, 51.1% vs 27/106, 25.5%) (P = 0.04), as well as for patients <40 years old (18/45, 40% vs 13/106, 12.3%) (P = 0.02). Radiologists who were <40 years old selected biopsy more frequently if evaluating a mass in themselves (22/86, 25.6%) compared to patients (15/86, 17.4%) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Radiologist experience and educational background, as well as patient baseline breast cancer risk, can predispose radiologists to choose biopsy for palpable breast masses despite a benign appearance on imaging.

Quality of life in terminally ill cancer patients: what is the role of using complementary and alternative medicines?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cancer is the world's second greatest cause of mortality and a leading cause of death in both developed and developing countries. Patients employ a number of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods to deal with the problems and difficulties of cancer, which can have an impact on their quality of life (QOL). The aim of the present study was to assess the correlation between QOL and the use of different CAM methods in terminally ill cancer patients. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. In southern Iran, 238 individuals with advanced cancer were studied in oncology centers and doctors' offices. During the months of January to August 2021, patients were selected using convenience sampling. A demographic information questionnaire, the EORTC core quality of life questionnaire, and the CAM questionnaire were used to collect data. RESULTS: The results showed that terminally ill cancer patients had a good quality of life. Last year, 85.7% of participants used at least one kind of CAM. Furthermore, 45.4% of participants used only one form of CAM, 30.3% used two types of CAM, 6.7% used three types of CAM, and 3.4% used four to five types of CAM. When all CAM users were compared to non-CAM users, CAM users had significantly higher social QOL and overall quality of life. Two subscales of QOL symptoms and function were correlated with cancer history, income, and use of CAMs, and the scores of QOL symptoms and function were greater in CAM users compared to non-CAM users. Among all the study variables, only the usage of CAM was correlated to overall QOL among terminally ill cancer patients. CONCLUSION: The current study found that using CAM could affect different aspects of QOL in terminally ill cancer patients. As a result, it is feasible that using CAM could help these people enhance their health and QOL.

Simultaneous development of COVID-19 pneumonia and pulmonary metastasis in a known case of chondrosarcoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) started in December 2020, and is a global problem now. There are several sets of established data regarding computed tomography (CT) findings in COVID-19 pneumonia with many differential diagnoses. During the early days of the pandemic, there was little data regarding lung CT features of COVID-19 in a cancer patient. In this paper, we described a rare case of simultaneous presentation of COVID-19 with pulmonary metastasis. CASE PRESENTATION: A Persian patient with a history of chondrosarcoma presented to our clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic with a new-onset cough. He had experienced no recurrence during previous follow-up visits. Chest CT scan revealed numerous bilateral small peripheral and perilymphatic pulmonary nodules, unilateral ground-glass patch, and nodular interlobular septal thickening. Biopsy of the pulmonary nodules established pulmonary metastasis of chondrosarcoma origin, and pharyngeal reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was positive for COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary metastasis should be considered as a differential diagnosis of COVID-19 features in cancer patients in the pandemic era.

Investigation of polysaccharide extracts from Iranian and French strains of Agaricus subrufescens against enzymes involved in Alzheimer's disease / Investigación de extractos de polisacáridos de cepas iraníes y francesas de Agaricus subrufescens contra enzimas relevantes para la enfermedad de Alzheimer

In this work, the inhibitory activity of a wide range of polysaccharide extracts from two Iranian and French strains of Agaricus subrufescens were evaluated toward acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Among them, two extracts S9 and S'7 obtained from Iranian and French strains under different extraction conditions showed selective AChE inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 154.63 and 145.43 µg/mL, respectively. It should be noted that all extracts from both strains demonstrated no BChE inhibitory activity. S9 and S'7 were also tested for their effect on amyloid beta (Aß) aggregation, antioxidant activity, and neuroprotectivity. Their activity against Aß aggregation was comparable to that of donepezil as the reference drug but they induced moderate antioxidant activity by DPPH radical scavenging activity and negligible neuroprotectivity against Aß-induced damage.

En este trabajo, se evaluó la actividad inhibitoria de acetilcolinesterasa (AChE) y butirilcolinesterasa (BChE) para varios extractos de polisacáridos de dos cepas iraníes y francesas de Agaricus subrufescens. Los extractos más potentes mostraron valores de IC50 de 154,63 y 145 µg/ml para las cepas iraní (S9) y francesa (S'7), respectivamente, las cuales se obtuvieron de diferentes condiciones de extracción; sin embargo, todos los extractos no mostraron actividad inhibitoria de BChE. Además, S9 y S'7 se probaron para determinar su efecto sobre la agregación de beta-amiloide (Aß), así como su actividad antioxidante y neuroprotectora. Su actividad inhibitoria de la agregación de Aß fue comparable con donepezil, fármaco de referencia, pero indujeron una actividad antioxidante moderada, medida mediante la captación de radicales DPPH, y una neuroprotectora insignificante contra el daño inducido por Aß.