The Effect of Oral Administration of PUFAs on the Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression in Gastric Adenocarcinoma Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: Gastric cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related mortality and the fifth most common cancer globally. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are considered as functional ingredients that improve the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of PUFAs administration on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). METHODS: This study was designed as a randomized, double-blind trial. Thirty-four newly diagnosed patients with gastric cancer were randomly divided into two groups: control group (n = 17) and case group (n =17). Both groups received the same dose (75 mg/m2) of cisplatin. Control group received cisplatin plus placebo and the case group received cisplatin plus PUFAs [3600 mg/day, for three courses (each course included 3 weeks)]. The mRNA and protein expression of MMPs determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. RESULTS: The relative gene expression of MMP-1 and MMP-9 was significantly lower in case group than control. The protein expression of MMP-1 and MMP-9 was significantly lower in case group than control. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, PUFAs reduced the expression of MMPs in gastric cancer cells. It seems that PUFAs may have an inhibitory effect on invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer cells.

Activation Toll-Like Receptor7 (TLR7) Responsiveness Associated with Mitogen- Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Activation in HIOEC Cell Line of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common oral malignancy. Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation led to alterations in the levels of mRNA encoding the TLR accountable for recognizing the inducing agonist and cross-regulation of other TLR. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is determination of mitogen-associated protein kinase (MAPK) activation in human immortalized oral epithelial cell (HIOEC) line via up regulating of TLR7. MATERIALS AND METHOD: expression of TLR7 was measured in HIOEC and normal cells by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and samples were calibrated by ß-actin. RESULTS: Western blot analysis discovered high expression of TLR7 and MAPK in HIOEC cell lines. TLR7 was over-expressed in HIOEC cell line. Imiquimod-induced expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was inhibited by TLR7 siRNA in HIOEC cells as determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Mean fluorescence intensity of nuclear p38 expression was determined in HIOEC cell lines (p< 0.05). RT-PCR analysis of IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF mRNA expression in HIOEC cells stimulated with imiquimod (1 µg/ml) for indicated time points. CONCLUSION: TLR7 is functionally over-expressed in HIOEC cell line of oral squamous cell carcinoma and development of resistance to cisplatin in human oral squamous cell carcinoma might occur through the mechanism involving activation of TLR7 and its dependent signaling pathway.

Serum Level of Interleukin-6 in Patients with Oral Tongue Squamous cell Carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: The clinical outcome of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) located in the head and neck has remained poor despite ongoing advances in diagnosis and management. Interleukin-6(IL-6) is a multi-functional cytokine that plays an important role in the process of cell differentiation and is increased in several malignancies. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum levels of interleukin-6 in patients with oral tongue SCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 17 patients with oral tongue SCC were compared with the same number of age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. Serum IL-6 level fluctuation was determined using an immunological technique, before detecting its possible association with the subjects' age, gender, drinking and smoking history, cancer site, and disease severity. RESULTS: The intensity of serum IL-6 in patients with oral tongue SCC was statistically significantly higher than that in healthy subjects (P<0.001). Serum IL-6 level was independent of the patients' age, gender, smoking and drinking history as well as cancer stage. CONCLUSION: IL-6 is a valuable biomarker in the diagnosis of oral tongue SCC. Its high sensitivity makes prediction of this condition possible, while this biomarker can also be used to screen high-risk patients.

Non-invasive serum fibrosis markers: A study in chronic hepatitis.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic hepatitis is specified as inflammatory disease of the liver lasting for more than six months. Role of noninvasive fibrosis markers as prognostication factors of the presence or absence of significant fibrosis on liver biopsy of patients with chronic hepatitis is the aim of this study. METHODS: Two hundred twenty-one patients with chronic hepatitis involved in the study between 2011 and 2013. Routine biochemical indices and serum fibrosis markers such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio (AAR), AST to platelet ratio index (APRI) and Fibrosis 4 score (FIB-4) were evaluated, and the histological grade and stage of the liver biopsy specimens were scored according to the Ishak scoring system. Diagnostic accuracies of these markers for prediction of significant fibrosis were assessed by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: Contemporaneous laboratory indices for imputing AAR, APRI, and FIB-4 were identified with liver biopsies. From all, 135 males (61.1%) and 86 females (38.9%), with mean age of 39.6±14.4 were studied. Significant correlation between stages of fibrosis and FIB-4, APRI and AAR were detected, with a correlation coefficient higher than that of other markers in the patients with Hepatitis B (r = 0.46), C (r = 0.58) and autoimmune hepatitis (r = 0.28). FIB-4 (AUROC = 0.84) and APRI (AUROC = 0.78) were superior to AAR at distinguishing severe fibrosis from mild-to-moderate fibrosis and gave the highest diagnostic accuracy. CONCLUSION: Application of these markers was good at distinguishing significant fibrosis and decreased the need for staging liver biopsy specimens among patients with chronic hepatitis.

Serum levels of CA15-3, AFP, CA19-9 and CEA tumor markers in cancer care and treatment of patients with impaired renal function on hemodialysis.

Since renal failure causes decrease in tumor marker excretion, use of these markers in cancer care and treatment in patients with renal insufficiency or hemodialysis is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate differences of serum levels of tumor markers CA15-3, AFP, CA19-9 and CEA in patients with impaired renal function. A total of 100 patients referred to the Tabriz Immam Reza and Amiralmomenin hospital from June 2010 to November 2011 were selected for study. Subjects were divided to 3 groups of healthy, dialysis and renal failure but non hemodialysis cases, the last category being re-grouped based on creatinine clearance. No significant relationship between different groups in serum levels of CEA (P=0.99) and CA19-9 (P=0.29) tumor markers was found. A significant correlation was observed between serum levels of AFP (P<0.001) and CA15-3 (P<0.001) and also a tendency between creatinine clearance and CEA (r=0.05, P=0.625). Creatinine clearance significantly correlated with AFP (P<0.001, r=0.53) and CA15-3 (p=0.00, r=-0.412), but not CA19-9 (P=0.089, r=-0.171). According to results of this study it appears that use of tumor markers in patients with impaired renal function should be performed with special precautions.

Erythropoietin ameliorates oxidative stress and tissue injury following renal ischemia/reperfusion in rat kidney and lung.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of erythropoietin (EPO) treatment on renal and lung injury following renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty male Wistar rats were assigned to three groups of 10 rats each. The first group was sham-operated, the second was subjected to renal I/R (30 min of ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion). The third group was subjected to renal I/R and treated with EPO in two doses: the first dose 1 h prior to ischemia (1,000 U/kg) and the second dose 6 h after ischemia (1,000 U/kg). RESULTS: The renal and lung tissue injury index, tissue serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine (Cr) were higher in the renal I/R group compared to the renal I/R + EPO group; the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Kidney and lung tissue glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase levels were higher in the renal I/R + EPO group than the renal I/R group; the difference was also statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The data showed that EPO pretreatment could be effective in reducing renal and lung injury following renal I/R and could improve the cellular antioxidant defense system. Hence EPO pretreatment may be effective for attenuating renal and lung injury after renal I/R-induced injury during surgical procedures, hypotension, renal transplantation and other conditions inducing renal I/R.

Diagnostic value of serum P35 in comparison with tissue P35 in gastric adenocarcinoma and their relationship with microscopic prognostic factors.

Early diagnosis of Gastric adenocarcinoma could increase survival of the patients and also remarkably reduce treatment costs. This study aimed at evaluating the diagnostic value of serum P35 in comparison with tissue P35 in gastric adenocarcinoma and their relationship with microscopic prognostic factors. In this descriptive analytical study, 35 patients (74.3% male and 25.7% female with mean age of 63.00 +/- 12.75 years with gastric adenocarcinoma were evaluated. Blood samples were taken from all patients before gastrectomy to evaluate serum P35 with ELISA method and after surgery tissue samples were gathered to evaluate tissue P35 with immunohistochemical method. The relation between tissue and serum P35 with severity of the disease and microscopic findings was assessed. Tissue P35 was negative in 57.1%, positive in 22.9% and very positive in 20%. Mean serum P35 was 1.34 +/- 0.43 mg dL(-1). There was no relation between serum P35 and adenocarcinoma type, tumor grade, vascular and neurological invasion and number of lymph node involved. Serum P35 levels significantly increased by increase in tissue P35 positivity (p = 0.004). There was significant correlation between tissue P35 and adenocarcinoma type (p = 0.006), neurological involvement (p = 0.04) and number of involved lymph nodes (p = 0.001). Although serum P35 level was higher in cases with more lymph node involvement and vascular and neural invasion, the marker was not capable to predict the involvement degree of stomach cancer. In comparison with serum P35, tissue P35 plays more significant role in these cases.

Epidemiology of esophageal lesions in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is disturbing because of its aggressive clinical path and high mortality rate. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of premalignant lesions and cancer of the esophagus in patients with a history of head and neck SCC. METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients were investigated for diagnosis of superficial esophageal SCC. Lesions and their invasive depth for determination of the optimal method of treatment, and endoscopic examinations were carried out using Lugol chromoendoscopy. During endoscopy all abnormalities were investigated using approximately 10 ml of a 2% Lugol iodine solution sprayed over the entire esophageal mucosa using a spray catheter. RESULTS: The mean±SD of age was 59.1±11.0 years. The tumor location in most patients (in both men and women)was the glottis. The statistical analysis showed significant differences between male and female in glottis and tongue. Twenty percent of patients reported the history of alcohol consumption and 22 percent were smokers, with 20.3% of men and 28.6% of women having digestive symptoms. The most common symptom in men was dysphagy and in women was odynophagy. CONCLUSION: In common, men are at high risk for ESCC and a high percent of current tobacco smokers, passive smokers and the history of alcohol intake were observed. In conclusion people in these high-risk groups would greatly benefit by acquisition of knowledge about and participating in a screening program.

Treatment of desquamative gingivitis with free gingival graft: a case report.

Recalcitrant gingival erythematous lichen planus lesions comprise a considerable therapeutic problem. This case of chronic desquamative gingivitis in a 25-year-old woman with erosive oral lichen planus was treated with topical and systemic corti-costeroid administration, followed by placement of a free gingival graft on right upper quadrant. Although recurrence of the lesions was observed following both treatment modalities, free gingival graft despite being an aggressive therapy, proved more effective and with fewer side effects compared with topical or systemic steroid therapy, and seems to be a promising treatment modality with the benefit of more stable results, among others.