Clinical Phenotype and Disease Course of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Iran: Results of the Iranian Registry of Crohn's and Colitis (IRCC).

BACKGROUND: Data on the epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the Middle East are scarce. We aimed to describe the clinical phenotype, disease course, and medication usage of IBD cases from Iran in the Middle East. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of registered IBD patients in the Iranian Registry of Crohn's and Colitis (IRCC) from 2017 until 2022. We collected information on demographic characteristics, past medical history, family history, disease extent and location, extra-intestinal manifestations, IBD medications, and activity using the IBD-control-8 questionnaire and the Manitoba IBD index, admissions history, history of colon cancer, and IBD-related surgeries. RESULTS: In total, 9746 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) (n=7793), and Crohn's disease (CD) (n=1953) were reported. The UC to CD ratio was 3.99. The median age at diagnosis was 29.2 (IQR: 22.6,37.6) and 27.6 (IQR: 20.6,37.6) for patients with UC and CD, respectively. The male-to-female ratio was 1.28 in CD patients. A positive family history was observed in 17.9% of UC patients. The majority of UC patients had pancolitis (47%). Ileocolonic involvement was the most common type of involvement in CD patients (43.7%), and the prevalence of stricturing behavior was 4.6%. A prevalence of 0.3% was observed for colorectal cancer among patients with UC. Moreover,15.2% of UC patients and 38.4% of CD patients had been treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF). CONCLUSION: In this national registry-based study, there are significant differences in some clinical phenotypes such as the prevalence of extra-intestinal manifestations and treatment strategies such as biological use in different geographical locations.

Effect of nano-micelle curcumin on hepatic enzymes: A new treatment approach for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by excessive lipid accumulation in hepatocytes with no consumption of alcohol. Recently, curcumin is a natural polyphenol found in turmeric has been examined for the treatment of NAFLD. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of 160 mg/day nano-micelle curcumin on the amelioration of NAFLD by measuring liver enzymes. Materials and Methods: Patients with NAFLD were randomly divided into curcumin (intervention group n=33) and placebo (n=33) groups and at the end of the study, the data of 56 participants who completed the 2-month intervention were analyzed. Laboratory tests and questionnaires were used to gather information. Both groups received recommendations for lifestyle modification, and were advised to other necessary advices. Patients in the curcumin group received 160 mg/day of nano-micelle curcumin in two divided doses for 60 days. The 2 groups were followed up for two months and clinical and laboratory indices were compared. Results: Our data showed a significant decrease in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the curcumin group (p<0.01) as well as a significant difference between the groups before and after the intervention in curcumin group (p<0.05). Interestingly, a meaningful decrease in AST serum level was observed in the intervention group (p<0.01). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that short-term supplementation with nano-micelle curcumin results in the reduction of AST and ALT and is beneficial for the treatment of NAFLD.

Prevalence of IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody in a cohort of iranians patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Background and Aims: Some studies have reported the coexistence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and celiac disease (CD). However, the prevalence of anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (IgA and IgG) and their screening value in patients with IBD is not yet clear. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of IgA anti-tTG and its potential correlation with disease status in patients with IBD. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 110 patients with confirmed IBD diagnosis at Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran. For each patient, all demographic and clinical data including age, extra intestinal manifestations, underlying diseases, types of diseases, and surgical history were collected. IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase titers were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: None of the patients with IBD were positive for IgA anti-tTG antibodies, with a mean titer of 3.31 ± 1.3 AU/mL. Also, the mean titers were not associated with age, gender and various disease clinical features including the disease history, underlying disease, diagnosis type, extraintestinal manifestations, and surgery history. Conclusion: No significant prevalence pattern of IgA anti-tTG antibody was observed in patients with IBD. Accordingly, serological screening for CeD is not recommended in IBD patients, unless in a relevant clinical CeD suspicion. (AU)

Pathophysiology of diabetic hepatopathy and molecular mechanisms underlying the hepatoprotective effects of phytochemicals.

Patients with diabetes are at risk for liver disorders including glycogen hepatopathy, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatic fibrosis. The pathophysiological mechanisms behind diabetic hepatopathy are complex, some of them include fatty acid accumulation, increased reactive oxygen species, increased advanced glycation end-products, hyperactivity of polyol pathways, increased apoptosis and necrosis, and promotion of fibrosis. A growing number of studies have shown that herbal extracts and their active phytochemicals have antihyperglycemic properties and beneficial effects on diabetic complications. The current review, for the first time, focused on herbal agents that showed beneficial effects on diabetic hepatopathy. For example, animal studies have shown that Moringa oleifera and Morus alba improve liver function in both type-1 and type-2 diabetes. Also, evidence from clinical trials suggests that Boswellia serrata, Juglans regia, Melissa officinalis, Portulaca oleracea, Silybum marianum, Talapotaka Churna, and Urtica dioica reduce serum liver enzymes in diabetic patients. The main active ingredient of these plants to protect the liver seems to be phenolic compounds such as niazirin, chlorogenic acid, resveratrol, etc. Mechanisms responsible for the hepatoprotective activity of herbal agents include improving glucose metabolism, restoring adipokines levels, antioxidant defense, and anti-inflammatory activity. Several signaling pathways are involved in hepatoprotective effects of herbal agents in diabetes, such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase.

Addiction and the Risk of Common Bile Duct Stones: A 4-Year Retrospective Population-Based Study in Mashhad, Iran.

Background: As a common digestive disorder, choledocholithiasis can have serious consequences, including death. Given that opioids have been shown to contribute to the spasm of Oddi's sphincter, which results in biliary stasis in the common bile duct (CBD), it is likely that opioids can also raise the prevalence of choledocholithiasis. In this regard, this study aimed to investigate how common opium addiction was among choledocholithiasis patients in Mashhad, Iran. Methods: The current retrospective observational study was conducted on 599 patients with choledocholithiasis who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), utilizing information gathered at the Ghaem hospital in Mashhad, Iran, between 2011 and 2015. Patient data were collected from files and records using certain criteria such as gender, opium addiction, hepatic enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP), plasma levels of total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin. The size of the CBD stones as well as the correlation between the gallbladder and CBD stones were calculated. Findings: From among 599 patients included, 345 (57.6%) were female and 254 (42.4%) were male. Moreover, 195 patients (32.2%) had opiate addictions. The size of the CBD stone was correlated with the patient's age (r=0.17, P=0.001). The average stone measured 12.22±3.32 mm. There were notable differences in the mean size of the CBD stone (P<0.001) between addicted and non-addicted cases; specifically, the mean CBD stone size in addicted cases was 12.715.13 mm while it was 12.34.33 mm in non-addicted cases. Conclusion: This study showed patients with CBD stones have a higher rate of opium addiction compared to the general population, indicating a possible link between the two conditions.

Comparison of Disease Phenotype and Course among Elderly- and Early-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in the Middle East.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown if the clinical manifestations and phenotype of disease are comparable between early- and elderly-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to seek differences in disease phenotype, course, complications, and treatment between early- and elderly-onset IBD patients. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study on registered IBD patients in the Iranian Registry of Crohn's and Colitis (IRCC) compared demographics, disease phenotype, disease activity, IBD-related surgery and medications between early- and elderly-onset IBD. A generalized linear regression model was used to investigate the relative risk of age at diagnosis adjusted for gender and disease duration for the outcomes. RESULTS: From 10048 IBD patients, 749 with early-onset (7.5%), and 472 (4.7%) elderly-onset IBD were enrolled: 855 (63.1%) ulcerative colitis (UC) and 366 (26.9%) Crohn's disease (CD). Left-sided colitis was more frequent among elderly-onset UC patients (P<0.001). Ileum and ileocolonic locations were the most common types in elderly-onset and early-onset CD patients, respectively. In comparison with elderly-onset UC, early-onset cases more often used prednisolone (22.1% vs. 11.4%, P=0.001), immunomodulators (44.9% vs 25.2%, P<0.001) and anti-tumor necrosis factors (TNF) (20.1% vs 11.9%, P=0.002). Elderly-onset UC patients had 0.7 times lower risk of aggressive phenotype (95%CI:0.6‒0.9, P=0.005). Early-onset CD was associated with higher use of prednisolone (27.7% vs 8.1%, P<0.001), immunomodulators (58.7% vs 41.8%, P=0.005) and anti-TNF (49.6% vs 35.4%, P=0.006). CONCLUSION: Early-onset IBD was associated with a more aggressive phenotype and higher prednisolone, immunomodulators, and anti-TNF use.

DxGenerator: An Improved Differential Diagnosis Generator for Primary Care Based on MetaMap and Semantic Reasoning.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, researchers have used many computerized interventions to reduce medical errors, the third cause of death in developed countries. One of such interventions is using differential diagnosis generators in primary care, where physicians may encounter initial symptoms without any diagnostic presuppositions. These systems generate multiple diagnoses, ranked by their likelihood. As such, these reports' accuracy can be determined by the location of the correct diagnosis in the list. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to design and evaluate a novel practical web-based differential diagnosis generator solution in primary care. METHODS: In this research, a new online clinical decision support system, called DxGenerator, was designed to improve diagnostic accuracy; to this end, an attempt was made to converge a semantic database with the unified medical language system (UMLS) knowledge base, using MetaMap tool and natural language processing. In this regard, 120 diseases of gastrointestinal organs causing abdominal pain were modeled into the database. After designing an inference engine and a pseudo-free-text interactive interface, 172 patient vignettes were inputted into DxGenerator and ISABEL, the most accurate similar system. The Wilcoxon signed ranked test was used to compare the position of correct diagnoses in DxGenerator and ISABEL. The α level was defined as 0.05. RESULTS: On a total of 172 vignettes, the mean and standard deviation of correct diagnosis positions improved from 4.2 ± 5.3 in ISABEL to 3.2 ± 3.9 in DxGenerator. This improvement was significant in the subgroup of uncommon diseases (p-value < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Using UMLS knowledge base and MetaMap Tools can improve the accuracy of diagnostic systems in which terms are entered in a free text manner. Applying these new methods will help the medical community accept medical diagnostic systems better.

Mebendazole, an anti-helminth drug, suppresses inflammation, oxidative stress and injury in a mouse model of ulcerative colitis.

Mebendazole (MBZ) is an efficacious anthelmintic with known anti-inflammatory and fibrinolytic properties. In this study, we aimed to explore the protective effects of this FDA-approved drug against DSS-induced colitis in a murine model either alone or in combination with Sulfasalazine (SSZ), a standard therapy for ulcerative colitis. We found that MBZ significantly improved colitis disease activity index as assessed by changes in body weight, degree of stool consistency, rectal bleeding, and prolapse. We also found that MBZ ameliorated the colon histopathological score by attenuating crypt loss, mucosal damage, and inflammation score in colitis tissues. Similarly, DSS-induced colon shortening, colon weight loss, and increase in spleen weight were all abrogated in the presence of MBZ. Moreover, MBZ decreased inflammation, possibly by reducing oxidative stress markers, suppressing inflammatory cell infiltration, and down-regulation of inflammatory genes in colon tissues. Furthermore, MBZ potently reduced fibrosis by decreasing collagen deposition and down-regulating pro-fibrotic genes including Col 1a1 and Col 1a2 in colitis tissue homogenates. In conclusion, our study showed that this broad-spectrum anthelminthic could be repurposed as a novel therapy for ulcerative colitis without any observed side effects, however, regarding the concerns about the potential toxicity of MBZ in UC patients, future experiments on MBZ therapy in other models of UC is needed to completely address the toxicity concerns.

A review of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in non-obese and lean individuals.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common causes of hepatic disorders. It represents a wide range of chronic liver diseases in patients with no history of significant alcohol consumption, starting with simple steatosis and progressing towards non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and ultimately hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD is usually associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and obesity. This disease has mostly been studied in obese individuals; however, it has been widely reported and studied among the lean/non-obese population in recent years. The pathogenesis of NAFLD in non-obese patients is associated with various genetic predispositions, particularly a patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 G allele polymorphism, which results in the accumulation of triglyceride in the liver and resistance to insulin. Additionally, dietary factors such as high fructose consumption seem to play a substantial role in the pathology of non-obese NAFLD. Although there is not enough evidence on the treatment of NAFLD in non-obese patients, the standard approach is to advise altering one's lifestyle in order to diminish visceral adiposity. Dietary modification, weight loss, and increased physical activity are highly recommended. We aimed to review and summarize the existing information on the prevalence, pathogenesis, genetic predispositions, diagnosis, and treatment of NAFLD in non-obese patients according to the latest literature.

The burden and predisposing factors of non-communicable diseases in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences personnel: a prospective 15-year organizational cohort study protocol and baseline assessment.

BACKGROUND: The rising burden of premature mortality for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in developing countries necessitates the institutionalization of a comprehensive surveillance framework to track trends and provide evidence to design, implement, and evaluate preventive strategies. This study aims to conduct an organization-based prospective cohort study on the NCDs and NCD-related secondary outcomes in adult personnel of the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS) as main target population. METHODS: This study was designed to recruit 12,000 adults aged between 30 and 70 years for 15 years. Baseline assessment includes a wide range of established NCD risk factors obtaining by face-to-face interview or examination. The questionnaires consist of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, lifestyle pattern, fuel consumption and pesticide exposures, occupational history and hazards, personal and familial medical history, medication profile, oral hygiene, reproduction history, dietary intake, and psychological conditions. Examinations include body size and composition test, abdominopelvic and thyroid ultrasonography, orthopedic evaluation, pulse wave velocity test, electrocardiography, blood pressure measurement, smell-taste evaluation, spirometry, mammography, and preferred tea temperature assessment. Routine biochemical, cell count, and fecal occult blood tests are also performed, and the biological samples (i.e., blood, urine, hair, and nail) are stored in preserving temperature. Annual telephone interviews and repeated examinations at 5-year intervals are planned to update information on health status and its determinants. RESULTS: A total of 5287 individuals (mean age of 43.9 ± 7.6 and 45.9% male) were included in the study thus far. About 18.5% were nurses and midwives and 44.2% had at least bachelor's degree. Fatty liver (15.4%), thyroid disorders (11.2%), hypertension (8.8%), and diabetes (4.9%) were the most prevalent NCDs. A large proportion of the population had some degree of anxiety (64.2%). Low physical activity (13 ± 22.4 min per day), high calorie intake (3079 ± 1252), and poor pulse-wave velocity (7.2 ± 1.6 m/s) highlight the need for strategies to improve lifestyle behaviors. CONCLUSION: The PERSIAN Organizational Cohort study in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences is the first organizational cohort study in a metropolitan city of Iran aiming to provide a large data repository on the prevalence and risk factors of the NCDs in a developing country for future national and international research cooperation.

A STROBE compliant observational study on trace elements in patients with ulcerative colitis and their relationship with disease activity.

Nutritional deficiencies and malnutrition are considered to be related to ulcerative colitis (UC); however, the association between serum levels of micronutrients and UC is not well known. This study aimed to evaluate the serum levels of micronutrients in UC patients and investigate their association with disease activity.This cross-sectional study was conducted on UC patients visiting the Department of Gastroenterology at 3 different teaching hospitals between January 2016 and January 2017. UC activity was measured based on Truelove and Witts' severity index and guidelines for colonoscopy. A healthy gender- and age-matched group was also selected. Serum levels of zinc, copper, selenium, ceruloplasmin, albumin, and total protein were compared between the 2 groups of UC patients and healthy subjects using independent-samples t test. Also, the association between serum levels of micronutrients and UC activity was assessed by using Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficient tests. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 21, considering P ≤.05 as the statistical significance level.Overall, 112 (54 male and 58 female) individuals with the mean age of 34.6 years were studied in the 2 groups of UC patients (n = 56) and healthy subjects (n = 56). The 2 groups were homogeneous in terms of age, gender, marital status, place of residence, and educational level (P >.05). The serum levels of total protein (6.41 ±â€Š1.1 vs 7.41 ±â€Š0.4 g/dL; P = .0001), albumin (4.72 ±â€Š1.1 vs 5.19 ±â€Š0.28 g/dL; P = .0001), zinc (679 ±â€Š62 vs 1055 ±â€Š156 µg/L; P = .0001), and selenium (81.85 ±â€Š6.4 vs 108.4 ±â€Š12.98 micg/L; P = .0001) were significantly lower in the UC patients. The serum level of copper did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (P = .1).Considering the simultaneous reduction in nutritional criteria in the UC patient group, malnutrition appears to be a factor affecting micronutrient deficiency in patients with UC.

Evaluation of serum HBV viral load, transaminases and histological features in chronic HBeAg-negative hepatitis B patients.

AIM: To evaluate the association between biochemical, virologic and histologic features in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB). BACKGROUND: Hepatitis-B e-antigen (HBeAg)-negative is common in Iran, is progressive with poor prognosis. Therefore, it seems necessary to perform a comprehensive evaluation of different spectrum of laboratory measurements accompanying histological findings. METHODS: HBeAg- negative CHB patients referring to two university hospitals during two years were enrolled. Alcohol consumption, liver mass, fatty liver and positive results of Anti HDV, Anti HCV or Anti HIV were excluded. The relationship between viral loads, liver enzymes (old and new cutoffs) and histopathological features was analyzed using descriptive and analytic statistical methods. RESULTS: A total of 150 HBeAg-negative CHB (males=110, mean age=38.44±11.34 years) were assessed. ALT had a significant relation with the logarithm of serum HBV-DNA (P<0.0001), grade and stage on liver biopsy (P<0.001, P=0.034, respectively). Serum viral load, AST and ALT were independent predictors of histological grade, age was the only independent predictor of the stage of liver fibrosis. There was a significant relationship between serum ALT and stage of liver fibrosis (P<0.0001) when new cutoff values for ALT were considered. We found that age had a significant relation with histological grade but it showed a reverse relation with ALT levels (P=0.009). CONCLUSION: In HBeAg-negative CHB, AST had a better prediction for liver necrosis and inflammation. Age could be an independent predictor for liver fibrosis. New cutoff values for ALT had superiority over conventional values to identify higher risk of liver fibrosis.

Resolution of Bile Duct Adenoma over Follow-up Period; A Case Report.

Bile duct adenoma (BDA) is a rare neoplasm of bile ducts with various clinical manifestations and imaging appearances. A few cases of BDA and their predisposing factors have been described. We report a 35-year-old woman with right upper quadrant pain who consumed oral contraceptive pills. Ultrasound study revealed three hypoechoic subcapsular liver masses; two of them were hypodense in computed tomography. Fine needle biopsy of the largest mass showed bile duct adenoma. Liver masses disappeared after discontinuing the pills over a 2-year follow-up. BDAs can manifest in imaging. Although previous studies have not reported tumor resolution over a follow-up period, we suggest paying more attention to predisposing factors in order to give an opportunity for tumor resolution by risk factor elimination.

Haplotype Analysis of Hemochromatosis Gene Polymorphisms in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Case Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is frequently associated with elevated serum iron markers. Polymorphisms in the hemochromatosis (HFE) genes are responsible for iron accumulation in most cases of hemochromatosis, and may play a role in HCV infection. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the prevalence of HFE gene polymorphisms in a group of Iranian HCV-infected patients, and to explore the association of these polymorphisms with HCV infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: HFE gene polymorphisms were examined in a total of 69 HCV patients and 69 healthy controls using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. Haplotype and diplotype analyses were performed using PHASE software. RESULTS: In a recessive analysis model of the His63Asp (H63D) locus (HH vs. HD + DD), the HH genotype was more common in patients compared to controls (adjusted P = 0.012; OR = 6.42 [95% CI: 1.51 - 27.33]). Also, in a recessive analysis model of the Cys282Tyr (C282Y) locus (CC vs. CY + YY), the CC genotype was more frequent in patients compared to controls (adjusted P = 0.03; OR = 5.06 [95% CI: 1.13 - 22.06]). In addition, there was a significant association between the HC haplotype and the HCDC diplotype and HCV infection. CONCLUSIONS: Polymorphism in the hemochromatosis gene may confer some degree of risk for HCV infection, and individuals carrying the H and C alleles may be susceptible to this disease; however, a larger sample of HCV patients and healthy individuals may be necessary to further illustrate the role of these polymorphisms in HCV.

Frequency and risk factors of primary sclerosing cholangitis among patients with inflammatory bowel disease in North-East of Iran.

AIM: To identify primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) predisposing factors in order to prevent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) progression to PSC. BACKGROUND: IBD is commonly associated with PSC and there is no effective therapy for PSC except for liver transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted on 447 IBD patients from IBD Clinics of Ghaem and Emam Reza Hospitals. Data were collected by interview and through a review of the patients' medical records. Patients were divided into two groups: those with IBD and PSC (IBD-PSC) and those without PSC. Variables were compared between two groups and those with statistically significant differences in IBD-PSC group were considered as predictive factors for the development of PSC. RESULTS: The frequency of PSC in IBDs was 4.3% and all were ulcerative colitis. The mean age of patients with PSC was 39.1±11.33 years. The male to female proportion in PSCs was 3.8:1 and in IBDs was 0.9:1. There were statistically significant associations between PSC and gender, IBD duration and UC extension, mucocutaneous involvement, oral contraceptive pills (OCP) consumption, history of surgery and history of PSC in the first- degree relatives. CONCLUSION: PSC frequency among IBD patients in North-East of Iran was 4.3%. It is recommended to limit OCP consumption in IBD patients. Identification and modification of probable predisposing risk factors, as well as early diagnosis of PSC are necessary.

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors in Northeastern Iran: 46 Cases During 2003-2012.

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. They are usually C-kit positive and seen slightly more common in men. These tumors are seen in the GI tract from the esophagus to the anus with occasional invasion or metastasis. METHODS In this retrospective study, we evaluated the prevalence of c-kit positive stromal tumors of the GI tract based on age, site of involvement, size of tumor, local invasion, and Immunohistochemical markers. The study was conducted in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Iran during 2003-2012. RESULTS Of the total 46 patients, 18 (39.1%) were men and 28(60.9%) were women with a mean age of 58.07 years (range: 18-93). Common sites of tumor were stomach, small intestine, esophagus and rectum, respectively. The number of mitoses per 50 HPF varied between zero and 160 mitoses. Overall, 23 cases had 5 mitoses 50/HPF (50%) and 23 tumors expressed <5 mitoses/50 HPF (50%). Local invasion and metastasis were observed in seven cases with extension to liver, pancreas, pregastric tissue, omentum, mesentery and appendix. Positive reaction for CD34, S100, actin and desmin was seen in 47.8%, 13%, 21.7%, and 4.3% of the patients, respectively. CONCLUSION Most patients were women. The prevalence of tumors in the esophagus was higher than the rectum. Invasion and metastasis did not correlate with mitotic rate, site and size of tumor. We suggest evaluation of genetic, racial and geographical or other unknown risk factors.

The Prognostic Role of Tumor Marker CA-125 in B-Cell non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a common malignancy of lymphoid tissues. Different types of NHL show various behaviors, prognoses, and responses to treatment. Evaluation of disease activity in NHL can be helpful in managing and even increasing the patient's survey. METHODS AND RESULTS: In total, 121 patients (76 males and 45 females), and their age range were 18-53 years, were evaluated in this study. The mean level of serum carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA-125) was 89.3±18.5 u/ml, ranging from 27 to 135 u/ml. There were significant differences in International Prognostic Index (IPI) score (p=0.002), stage of the disease (p=0.006), mortality rate (p=0.02), and relapse rate (p=0.04) between patients with serum CA-125 level <35 u/ml and patients with CA-125 level >35 u/ml. CONCLUSION: CA-125 seems to be a useful and reliable tumor marker for monitoring a patient with NHL. It might be the time to consider CA-125 in staging, prognostic scoring, or decision making about NHL treatment.

Distribution of hepatitis delta virus genotypes in mashhad, northeast iran.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is dependent on the hepatitis B virus for transmission and propagation. Based on isolated HDV sequences from different parts of the world, at least three major different genotypes with different geographic distributions are suggested. Studies have shown that genotype 1 is the predominant genotype of HDV in different parts of Iran; however, the genotype distribution of this virus has not been identified in Mashhad, northeast Iran. OBJECTIVES: This current study determines the frequency of HDV major genotypes in Mashhad, Iran. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-five participants were enrolled in this study. All samples were positive for HBsAg (determined by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)) and anti-HDV. RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis was performed. Then, PCR was performed and HDV genotypes were determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). RESULTS: Of 25 patients, 12 (48%) were positive for HDV RNA. Genotype analysis of HDV RNA revealed that the prevalence of HDV genotypes I and II was 83.3% (n = 10) and 16.7% (n = 2), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the most prevalent genotype of HDV in Mashhad was genotype I. It was of interest that in contrast to other provinces of Iran, HDV genotype 2 was observed in Mashhad. Similar studies with larger sample sizes could provide valuable information regarding the molecular epidemiology and geographical distribution. It may also help control and prevent the spread of hepatitis D virus infections. In addition, the genotyping of HDV may predict the severity of the disease.

Hepatitis-C Infection Incidence Among the non-Hodgkin's B-cell Lymphoma Patients in the Northeast of Iran.

BACKGROUND: Various infectious agents like Ebstein Barr Virus (EBV), HTLV-1 and Helicobacter pylori have known as etiologic factors in different sub-types of lymphoma. Although Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has not only been important for its hepatotropism and hepatitis development, but also in recent years its association with some forms of non- Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), especially B cell NHL, has reported.In some countries, the rate of B cell NHL development in HCV infected patients was four times more than general population, and then association between HCV infection and B-NHL has proposed in many studies. METHODS: To assess this relationship in our geographic region, in a descriptive study; we have evaluated patients with B-NHL in an oncology center in northeast of Iran for HCV infection. RESULTS: Out of 128 B-NHL patients, HCV Antibody test (with third generation ELISA method) was positive in only one patient, which confirmed with Nested PCR technique. Then the frequency of HCV infection in our patients was 0.7%. CONCLUSION: Respecting to the incidence of HCV infection in general population in Iran, which is between 0.5-1%, we couldn't show higher prevalence of HCV infection in NHL patients than general population, and hence couldn't confirm relation between HCV infection and B-NHL in our region.