Lung cancer registry and monitoring: Feasibility study and application (fars lung cancer registry project).

Background: Lung cancer (LC) is the second most common and deadliest cancer in the world. Despite the control of the progressive course of LC in developed countries, studies indicate an increase in the incidence of the disease in developing countries. We designed a stepwise approach-based surveillance system for registering LC in our region (fars lung cancer registry "FaLCaRe" Project). Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was designed and agreed upon by the steering committee using the Delphi method. Variables in nine fields were divided into three groups based on their importance: core, expanded core, and optional. The web-based data bank software was designed. The informative site about LC and team services was designed and launched for professional and community (www.falcare.org) educational purposes. Results: 545 variables in nine fields were designed (20 core variables). Primary data of 39 LC patients (24 men and 15 women) with a mean age of 62 years were analyzed. Twenty-six patients had a history of smoking. Moreover, 39% and 26% of patients had a history of hookah smoking and opium use, respectively. Adenocarcinoma was the most prevalent pathologic findings in cases. More than 80% of patients were diagnosed in stages 3 and 4 of cancer. Conclusion: FaLCaRe Project with the capabilities seen in it can be used as a model for national LC registration. With continuous valid data registry about LC, it is possible to make decisions at the national level for control and management its consequences while drawing the natural history of the LC.

Evaluation of oral and topical bovine colostrum compared to mesalamine in the treatment of animal model of acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis.

Background: Oxidative activity and inflammatory responses have been shown to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). Colostrum is a natural product with anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. Methods: UC was induced in 37 Sprague Dawley rats by administration of a 2 mL enema of 3% acetic acid (AA). The control groups received no treatment during the study, while the experimental groups received either oral or rectal administration of 100 mg/kg 5-aminosalicylic acid, or oral or rectal administration of 300 mg/kg of colostrum. Histopathological and serological analyses were performed 7 days following treatment. Results: A significant decrease in weight was seen in all rats except for the test groups receiving colostrum (P<0.001). After treatment, the level of superoxide dismutase increased more significantly in the test groups that received colostrum (P<0.05). All test groups had a reduction in C-reactive protein and white blood cell levels. The colostrum test groups also showed a decrease in inflammation rate, ulceration, destruction, disorganization, and crypt abscess of the colonic mucosa. Conclusions: The findings of this study show that the administration of colostrum can improve the pathological changes of the intestinal mucosa, as well as inflammatory responses, in animal models of UC. Further studies at both preclinical and clinical levels are suggested to confirm these findings.

Effect of vitamin E on cisplatin-induced memory impairment in male rats.

OBJECTIVE: Neurotoxicity is an adverse effect caused by cisplatin due to inflammation and oxidative stress in the central nervous system. The present study aimed to assess the effects of vitamin E injection on the learning and memory of rats with cisplatin-induced cognitive impairment. METHODS: Male rats were administered with cisplatin (2 mg/kg/7 day; intraperitoneally [i i.p.]) and/or vitamin E (200 mg/kg/7 day; i.p.) for 1 week, and the control group received saline solution. Spatial memory was evaluated using Morris water maze (MWM). In addition, the hippocampal concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), thiol, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured using biochemical methods. RESULTS: According to the findings, cisplatin significantly increased the escape latency, while decreasing the time spent and travelled pathway in the target quadrant on the final trial day compared to the control group. Furthermore, pre-treatment with vitamin E significantly reversed all the results in the spatial memory test. The biochemical data indicated that vitamin E could decrease MDA activity and increase thiol and SOD activity compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: According to the results, vitamin E could improve cisplatin-induced memory impairment possibly through affecting the hippocampal oxidative status.

Molecular detection of Tropheryma whipplei, Cryptosporidium spp., and Giardia lamblia among celiac disease samples.

BACKGROUND: Celiac disease (CD) is one of the most common disorders, resulting from both environmental (gluten) and genetic factors. The clinical features of the Iranian CD are still unknown and there is insufficient information about the atypical presentation of CD from Iran. As, many previous reports revealed an association between controlled protozoal infections and the CD according to cytokines production, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of CD and possible co-infection with the most prevalent protozoal infections including Tropheryma whipplei, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia duodenalis among CD samples. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, from April 2014 to November 2016, 524 samples were obtained from small intestine of patients with gastrointestinal diseases referring to the Pathology Department of Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay was then performed on the histological positive CD samples for the prevalence of the microorganisms. RESULTS: Sixty-four (12.21%) patients were diagnosed as having CD by histopathological examination. The prevalence of T. whipplei and Cryptosporidium spp. was 19 (29.69%) and 8 (12.5%) respectively, among CD positive samples there was no positive sample for Giardia lamblia. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of CD among the southwestern Iranian population was high and comparable with other areas of Iran as well as many other countries. Furthermore, no significant association between the presence of T. whipplei, Cryptosporidium spp., and level of the histopathological changes of villi in the CD was observed (P > 0.05).

Value of serum glucose-6-phosphate isomerase in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and correlation with disease activity: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common multisystemic autoimmune disease with peripheral joint involvement. Many autoantibodies have been introduced in the course of RA; some of them have diagnostic and prognostic value. In this study, our aim is to determine the value of serum glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (G6PI) antigen (Ag) as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in RA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-seven known cases of RA who referred to an outpatient clinic of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and 76 healthy controls were selected. Serum G6PI Ag was measured using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, and the enzyme level was compared in the patient and control group, we also compared the enzyme level of patient group with disease activity, disease duration, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody (Ab). The data were analyzed using SPSS V 16 software. RESULTS: Positivity for G6PI was detected in 34.5% (30/87) of RA patients and 9.2% (7/76) of control group (P < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between enzyme level and disease activity, disease duration, ESR, CRP, RF, and anti-CCP Ab. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, in our study, although there was a significant difference in serum G6PI Ag between patient and control group, no significant correlation was detected between serum G6PI level and disease activity score, ESR, CRP, and anti-CCP Ab, but relative correlation with ESR and disease duration could be challenging. G6PI Ag could be introduced as a diagnostic marker in RA, but its role as a prognostic marker is controversial.

Intraocular Lens Calcification: Clinico-pathological Report of Two Cases and Literature Review.

PURPOSE: We report the clinicopathological features and surgical outcomes of two cases of intraocular lens (IOL) calcification along with a review of the current literature. CASE REPORT: The first patient was a 53-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus (type 2) who underwent phacoemulsification with posterior chamber IOL insertion (PCIOL), and pars plana vitrectomy. Significant clouding of the IOL was first noted after 1.5 years, and the IOL was replaced with an Artisan lens. The second patient was a 22-year-old woman with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome; she underwent a lensectomy, PCIOL, and pars plana vitrectomy. IOL opacification was first noted 4.5 years after the initial surgery and the IOL was extracted. CONCLUSION: The calcification of each IOL was confirmed by a pathologist. Further studies are required to determine the primary causes and mechanisms of the calcification of biomaterials including IOLs.