Natural cytotoxicity of NC-2+ cells against the growth and metastasis of WEHI-164 fibrosarcoma.

We have previously reported a new receptor (NC-2) for natural cytotoxicity (NC) on murine leucocytes, identified by monoclonal antibody D9 (mAb D9). Pretreatment of mouse spleen cells with different concentrations of mAb D9 in vitro blocked NC against WEHI-164, whereas natural killing (NK) activity against YAC-1 was unaffected. This paper reports the immune surveillance against the growth of WEHI-164 tumour cells in mice by NC-2(+) Cells. The kinetics of in vivo reduction in NC activity were investigated by treating BALB/c and (CBA × C57BL/6) F1 mice with a single injection of 40 µg of mAb D9 and monitoring splenic NC activity by (51) Cr-release assay at intervals from 24 h to 3 weeks. Control mice were injected with OKT8 irrelevant antibody. Results showed a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in splenic NC activity within 24 h which persisted for up to 1 week. Similar results were also obtained when (CBA × C57BL/6) F1 mice were employed (P<0.001). In vivo tumour studies were undertaken to investigate the role of NC-2(+) cells in surveillance against tumour growth and metastasis of the WEHI-164 fibrosarcoma. When syngeneic BALB/c mice were injected with 40 µg of mAb D9 and then challenged with 5 × 10(5) WEHI-164 cells, results showed significantly increased growth rate of the transplanted WEHI-164 fibrosarcoma and tumour nodules in the lungs of animals, when compared to control mice with normal NC activity. Our data support an innate surveillance in metastasis and growth of WEHI-164 fibrosarcoma in mice.

Laparatomy due to gastrointestinal complications after open heart surgery.

AIM: Abdominal complications following open heart surgery remain rare but fatal events with mortality rates of 14.5% up to 100%. Manifestations and managements of these complications are varying. Approximately, 25% of patients with gastrointestinal complications require surgical management with obviously higher mortality risks. The aim of this study was to determine the perioperative prognostic factors of gastrointestinal complications with surgical consequences after cardiac surgery. METHODS: The study enrolled 15.737 patients who underwent open heart surgery between January 2002 and September 2007. Sixteen (0.1%) persons required laparatomy due to postoperative gastrointestinal complications. Additionally, the preoperative, operative, and postoperative risk factors for this condition were studied. RESULTS: Among the patients enrolled, 15.737 patients underwent open heart surgery while 16 (0.1%) required laparatomy procedures due to gastrointestinal complications. They were comprised of 11 (68.8%) men and 5 (31.3%) women at a mean age of 62.88±12.56 years. There was a history of hypertension in 9 (56.3%) patients, hypercholesterolemia in 11 (68.8%), renal failure in 4 (25%), previous CABG in 2 (12.5%) and PTCA in 2 (12.5%). Morbidity and mortality were significantly higher in this group of patients with a mortality rate of 68.8% (68.8% versus 1.6%). CONCLUSION: Our multivariate logistic regression model identified the following parameters to be the prognostic factors for gastrointestinal complications with surgical consequences: a history of previous CABG, previous PTCA, preoperative renal failure, preoperative anticoagulant agent use, valve surgery, combined valve and CABG surgery, and intra-aortic balloon pump requirement with OR of 51.95, 4.623, 26.436, 0.140, 5.43, 11.469 and 3.76, respectively.

Design, evaluation, and optimization of 3D printed truss scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

One of tissue engineering's main goals is to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds with interconnected pores to reconstruct and regenerate damaged or deformed tissues and organs. In this regard, 3D printing is a promising technique for the fabrication of tissue scaffolds, which can precisely make predetermined and complicated architectures. This study aims to investigate and optimize the physical, mechanical, and biological properties of 3D truss architecture tissue scaffolds with different pore geometries. The mechanical properties of poly (methyl methacrylate) scaffolds are analysed experimentally and numerically. Furthermore, the mechanical and physical properties of scaffolds are optimized with response surface methodology (RSM), and cell adhesion of the 3D truss scaffold studies. Results demonstrate that mechanical properties of the simple and gradient scaffolds have different mechanical behaviors that are strongly correlated with pore size and their architectures, rather than merely the values of the porosity. It is also observed that the RSM technique can enable designers to enhance mechanical and physical properties of scaffolds at low cost. Moreover, the results of biological behaviour can endorse the reliability of 3D truss architecture in bone tissue engineering.

Effects of body mass index on early outcome of coronary artery bypass surgery.

AIM: Obesity is commonly thought to be a risk factor for morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of variations in body mass index on in-hospital outcome of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective review of 10191 consecutive patients who had undergone isolated CABG at the center from February 2002 to November 2006. Patients were divided into four groups according to Body Mass Index (BMI). Underweight patients (BMI<18.5 kg/m(2)) were assigned to group 1 and obese patients (BMI 30 kg/m(2)) were put into group 4. Patients with normal BMI and those who were overweight were placed in group 2 and 3 respectively. RESULTS: Analysis of the BMI groups showed: of 10191 patients 0.7% was underweight; 31.2% of cases had normal BMI, 47.1%; overweight and 21.0% were obese. Compared with other groups, the members of the obese group were younger, included more women and were more likely to have all the risk factors for coronary artery disease except for cigarette smoking (P<0.0001). The underweight patients had an excess of left main coronary artery disease, previous history of myocardial infarction. In-hospital mortality did not show any difference between groups (P=0.46). There was a significant increase in postoperative gastrointestinal complications among the underweight group in comparison with other groups (P=0.027). CONCLUSIONS: According to this study, obese patients undergoing CABG are not at a greater risk of perioperative death and other adverse outcomes compared to normal weight. After CABG, underweight patients are at higher risk of developing gastrointestinal complications compared to normal patients.

Epidemiologic analysis of the Tehran Cancer Institute Data System Registry (TCIDSR).

OBJECTIVE: To review epidemiological data on thyroid cancer in Iran. METHODS: The Tehran Cancer Institute Data System Registry (TCIDSR) was used to identify patients with different histological types of thyroid cancer (TC) in Iran. Data were analysed from 438 thyroid cancer cases identified by the TCIDSR in 1998-99. Disease prevalence was calculated with reference to age, time and place. RESULTS: The TCIDSR recorded 438 primary malignancies of the thyroid gland: papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic carcinomas accounted for 67.1%, 10.7%, 5.3% and 4.3% of cases, respectively. The remaining 12.6% were classified as OD (other diagnoses). The prevalence of TC was highest in ethnic Farsis. The age range of patients was 8-85 years. Mean patient age was 44.52+17.03 years (mean + SD) overall, 47.74+18.10 years in female patients and 43.04+16.34 years in male patients. Anaplastic (6.5% vs. 3.3%) and medullary (10.0% vs. 3.0%) cancers were more common in men than women. CONCLUSION: This study was undertaken to define the epidemiological aspects of thyroid carcinoma in Iran, an area of endemic iodine deficiency until fairly recently. Against expectation for an iodine-deficient area, the frequency distribution of tumours in our study was closer to that seen in iodine-rich areas. Additional research on the risk factors for thyroid cancer--genetic, ethnic, geographic and environmental--is needed to explain the high incidence of PTC overall, and among ethnic Farsis in particular, in Iran.

Introducing a quantitative method to calculate the rate of primary infertility.

BACKGROUND: In the previous studies, the rate of primary infertility was reported differently. It seems the main reasons are related to the different methods of data collection and information analysis. Therefore, introducing a precise method to determine the infertile couples and the population exposed to the risk of infertility is an important issue to study primary infertility. METHODS: The proposed methodology for assessing primary infertility rate has been designed and applied by Avicenna Research Institute in a national survey. Sampling was conducted based on probability proportional to size cluster method. In this survey, after reviewing the former studies, the reproductive history was used as a basis for data collection. Every reproductive event was recorded with a code and a date in the questionnaire. To introduce a precise method, all possible events were considered thoroughly and for each situation, it was determined whether these cases should be considered in numerator, denominator or it should be eliminated from the study. Also in some situations where the correct diagnosis of infertility was not possible, a sensitivity analysis was recommended to see the variability of results under different scenarios. CONCLUSION: The proposed methodology can precisely define the infertile women and the population exposed to the risk of infertility. So, this method is more accurate than other available data collection strategies. To avoid bias and make a consistent methodology, using this method is recommended in future prevalence studies.