Pomegranate juice prevents development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats by attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation.

BACKGROUND: The effects of pomegranate juice (PJ) on the risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) have been reported previously; however, the effects on NAFLD and its prevention have not yet been clarified. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of PJ consumption with respect to the prevention of NAFLD/NASH development. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a high-fat, high sugar diet (model group); a high-fat, high sugar diet plus PJ (model+PJ); or a chow diet ad libitum for 7 weeks. Serum levels of fasting glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, liver enzymes, insulin and hepatic tumor necrosis factor-α and tissue growth factor-ß gene expression were determined. Hepatic histology was examined by hemotoxylin and eosin staining. RESULTS: The model+PJ group had significantly lower hepatic steatosis, ballooning, lobular inflammation and portal inflammation (P < 0.001); lower hepatic pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic gene expression (P < 0.001); and lower plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase (P = 0.026), aspartate aminotransferase (P = 0.041), insulin (P < 0.001), triglycerides (P = 0.041) and glucose (P = 0.009) compared to the model group; however, weight gain, food intake and plasma high-density lipoprotein levels were not significantly different between these two groups. CONCLUSION: The data obtained in the present study indicate that the regular consumption of PJ can prevent NAFLD even in the presence of the other risk factors such as obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and high energy, fat and sugar intakes. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Expression of vimentin and CD44 in mucoepidermoid carcinoma: A role in tumor growth.

BACKGROUND: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) may participate in angiogenesis by lining the wall of tumor vessels. AIM: The current study aimed to present the role of vimentin and CD44 in inducing vasculogenic mimicry (VM) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in different grades of mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 63 MEC samples were collected from the archive of Department of Pathology of Taleghani Educational Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Vimentin and CD44/periodic acid-Schiff double staining was performed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi-square test was used to examine the differences with categorical variables. Significance level was set at 0.05. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess the colocalization of the markers. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between tumor grade and the expression levels of vimentin and CD44 (P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Our results may disclose a definite relationship between microvessl density (MVD), VM, EMT, and CSCs in MEC samples. Thus, it is reasonable to suggest that CSCs are related to angiogenesis and VM.

Prognostic values of proliferative markers ki-67 and repp86 in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the leading cause of carcinoma death in women. Proper treatment depends on the consideration of molecular biology status of tumor cells, which may determine the patient's treatment and prognosis. To determine the prognostic models for this disease, we evaluated the role of cell proliferation-related antigens including ki-67 (a nuclear antigen, expressed in G1, G2, and M phases of cell cycle) and repp86 (an 86-kDa nuclear protein expressed in S, G2, and M phases of cell cycle) for detection of biologic behavior of breast cancer. METHODS: We studied 60 women with grade I and II lymph node-negative and 27 with grade III lymph node-positive breast cancers. The mean follow-up periods for these two groups were 60 and 72 months, respectively. Tumor cell proliferation was measured by immunohistochemical methods with monoclonal antibodies directed against the nuclear antigens ki-67 and repp86. RESULTS: The ki-67, repp86 labeling indices (percentage of antibody-stained tumor cell nuclei) were not statistically different between the cases and controls of lymph node-negative patients (ki-67 with P = 0.33; repp86 with P = 0.40). The odds ratio (the mean chance of ki-67 labeling index > 10%, repp86 labeling index >10%) in patients with recurrence was 4 (CI = 0.2 - 76.5) for ki-67 and 3.6 (CI = 0.4 - 32.5) for repp86. Both indices were statistically different in lymph node-positive cases and controls (P < 0.0001). The odds ratio in patients with recurrence was 87 (CI = 4 - 18.71) for ki-67 and 71.5 (CI = 5.7 - 899.2) for repp86. CONCLUSION: The present study confirms the importance of cell proliferation as a determinant of biologic behavior of breast cancer. Measurement of ki-67 and repp86 labeling indices may be very helpful for physicians to detect high-risk patients and to adopt appropriate procedure such as adjuvant therapy.

Postmenopausal bleeding resulting from placental site trophoblastic tumor of the uterus: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) is the least common form of gestational trophoblastic disease. Occurrence of PSTT after menopause is extremely rare. CASE: A 53-year-old woman complained of postmenopausal bleeding 6 years after cessation of her menstrual periods. On dilatation and curettage and on hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy later, PSTT was found in the uterus with myometrial invasion and no metastasis. Serum human chorionic gonadotropin levels before and after the operation were 15 and < 1 IU/mL, respectively. Hysterectomy was performed. CONCLUSION: Because of PSTT's rarity, limited information is known about its natural history, and there is no reliable means to predict clinical outcome. Thus, patients must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

The pathogenic microorganisms in papanicolaou vaginal smears and correlation with inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: Non-specific cervicitis or inflammatory changes in a smear report are common which are usually unclear for clinical approaches. To investigate the frequency of inflammation and pathogenic vaginal microorganisms in cervical smears among an Iranian population sample. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out on Pap smear samples of women referred to gynecological clinic of Taleghani Hospital in Tehran, Iran, between October 2008 and March 2009. This study was conducted on 528 conventional Papanicolaou cervical smears. The frequency and severity of inflammation and prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV), Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), and vaginal candidiasis (VC) was determined in the samples. Also co-infection of the microorganisms in Pap samples was evaluated. percentage, mean±standard deviation of the outcome parameters were calculated. The comparison between data was performed with the Pearson's chi square or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The prevalence of BV, VC, and TV in Pap samples was 17%, 11%, and 0.4% respectively. Overall, the prevalence of these microorganisms in women of reproductive age was higher than menopausal women. There was a significant association between VC and the presence of inflammation in our samples. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, inflammation in the Pap smears can suggest an infection of VC and the patients should be considered for proper VC treatment.

Functioning adrenocortical tumors in children-secretory behavior.

OBJECTIVE: Adrenocortical tumors are rare childhood neoplasms. More than 95% are functional and present with virilization, Cushing's syndrome, hypertension, or hyperestrogenism. The objective of this paper is to present the clinical, laboratory and pathological findings of this rare disease and to highlight the secretory behavior of these tumors. METHODS: Clinical and laboratory data of seven Iranian children and adolescents aged between 2 and 16 years with functioning adrenocortical tumors are presented. Five patients had virilization and two had Cushing's syndrome at the time of diagnosis. In all subjects, the tumors were removed successfully by open surgery, during which a blood sample was drawn from the corresponding adrenal vein for hormonal evaluation. RESULTS: Peripheral blood evaluation revealed that in addition to the dominant hormone (testosterone in the cases presenting with virilization and cortisol in those with Cushing's syndrome), significant amounts of other hormones were secreted from these tumors. Adrenal vein evaluation revealed that testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, estradiol, 17(OH) progesterone, and cortisol were directly released from the tumor. The tumors weighed between 36-103 grams. The patients have since been followed for 5 to 20 years, and there have been no signs or symptoms of relapse in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that functioning adrenocortical tumors should be considered in children and adolescents presenting with hyperandrogenism, Cushing's syndrome, or hyperestrogenism. A diagnosis of a functioning adrenocortical tumor requires surgical removal as early as possible to prevent the untoward effects of virilization or corticosteroid excess. Evaluation of adrenal vein hormones showed that the steroids are secreted directly from the tumor and peripheral conversion has little contribution to the serum levels.