Comparison of global decolonization efficacy with mupirocin nasal drop and chlorhexidine mouthwash in acute leukemia patients: randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: Neutropenic fever remains a major complication in acute leukemia. Decolonization is assumed as a promising intervention for eradicating causative agents of infection. METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, 96 patients with acute leukemia were assigned randomly to mupirocin nasal drop 2% (n = 32), chlorhexidine mouthwash 0.2% (n = 33), and control group (n = 31). In control group, patients did not receive any medication for decolonization. All patients received treatment for 5 days (2 days prior to chemotherapy until 3 days after chemotherapy). Pharynx and nasal swabs were taken prior to the intervention and at the end of decolonization period in all groups. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by the disc diffusion method in order to identify bacterial isolates. RESULTS: Bacterial recovery of both nasal and pharynx swabs was observed after global decolonization with mupirocin nasal drop. Decolonization with mupirocin significantly eradicated Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS) in both nasal and pharynx swabs (p-value = 0.000). Moreover, mupirocin decreased Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) species. Chlorhexidine mouthwash significantly eradicated CONS in pharynx swabs (p-value = 0.000). In addition, both decolonization strategies decreased both antibiotic use and frequency of fever in leukemic patients. CONCLUSION: Global decolonization with mupirocin nasal drop not only eradicates both nasal and pharynx microorganisms, but also reduces antibiotic requirement and frequency of fever in patients with acute leukemia. The protocol of the present study was approved on December 2016 (registry number: IRCT20160310026998N6).

Prevalence of Androgen Receptor in Invasive Breast Cancer and Its Association with Clinicopathologic Features in East Azarbaijan Province of Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in females. Accordingly, the evaluation of new prognostic markers and therapeutic targets is of vital importance. Here, we aimed to detect androgen receptor (AR) status and define its association with clinicopathologic parameters in patients with invasive breast cancer. Materials and Methods: In this study, AR status was studied in 104 patients with invasive breast carcinoma by immunohistochemistry. Besides, its association with clinicopathologic factors, i.e., age, menopausal status, tumor size, lymph node involvement, tumor stage, tumor grade and estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), Her2/neu, Ki-67and P53 were investigated. Results: AR was positive in 84 patients (80.8%), and its expression in ER-positive (85.7%) and PR-positive (85.6%) patients were remarkably higher than in ER-negative (46.2%) and PR-negative (50%) patients (p= 0.001 and p=0.002, respectively). AR expression was noticeably lower in Her2/neu-positive (25%) patients compared to Her2/neu-negative (87.9%) ones (p=0.000). AR expression was also higher in patients with smaller, earlier stage, and low mitotically active tumors, but the association was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The expression of AR in patients with breast cancer was found to be high and its association with ER-positive, PR-positive, and HER2/neu-negative tumors was found to be significant. In that light, this receptor may play an important role in the determination of prognosis and targeted therapy in breast cancer.

Two-dimensional strain echocardiography for detection of cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Introduction: Two-dimensional (2D) strain echocardiography has emerged as a novel method for early diagnosis of myocardial dysfunction in patients receiving anthracycline chemotherapy. Certain myocardial segments might be more vulnerable for development of dysfunction. Methods: Sixty-three patients with breast cancer who were deemed amenable for anthracycline chemotherapy were prospectively studied from March 2013 to March 2015 in University Hospital settings. Global left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening and the strain over 17 segments of the LV were examined using 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) before and after chemotherapy. More than 15% reduction in longitudinal peak systolic strain (LPSS) was considered significant. Results: The mean age of patients was 47 ± 10 years. LVEF was 59.7 ± 6.5% at baseline. Significant reduction of global LPSS was detected in 13% of patients. A significant LPSS reduction occurred in 32.4% of 1071 segments examined following chemotherapy. LPSS significantly decreased in 28% of apical segments, 31% of mid segments and 37% of basal segments. LPSS reduction occurred more frequently over the basal segments than all other segments (P = 0.031). Conclusion: Segmental pattern appears to exist in LPSS reduction following anthracycline therapy. As significant segmental decreases can be seen in the setting of unchanged global LPSS, segmental evaluation of LPSS might be a more accurate way for assessment of myocardial function.

Effects of Chrysin-PLGA-PEG Nanoparticles on Proliferation and Gene Expression of miRNAs in Gastric Cancer Cell Line.

BACKGROUND: Recently, Chrysin, as a flavone, has revealed cancer chemo-preventive activity. The present experiment utilized the PLGA-PEG-chrysin complex, and free chrysin, to evaluation of the expression of miR-22, miR-34a and miR-126 in human gastric cell line. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine whether nano encapsulating chrysin improves the anti-cancer effect of free chrysin on AGS human gastric cell line. METHODS: Properties of the chrysin encapsulated in PLGA-PEG nanoparticles were investigated by SEM, H NMR, and FTIR. The assessment of cytotoxicity on the growth of the human gastric cell line was carried out through MTT assay. After treating the cells with a prearranged amount of pure and encapsulated chrysin, RNA was extracted and the expressions of miR-22, miR-34a and miR-126 were measured by using real-time PCR. RESULTS: With regard to the amount of the chrysin loaded in PLGA-PEG nanoparticles, IC50 value was significantly decreased in nanocapsulatedchrysin, in comparison with free chrysin. This finding has been proved through the further increase of miR-22, miR-34a and miR-126 gene expression of nanocapsulatedchrysin, in comparison with free chrysin. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we revealed that the PLGA-PEG-chrysin is more effective than free chrysin in inhibiting the growth of human gastric cell line.

The effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on incidence and severity of oxaliplatin induced peripheral neuropathy: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Oxaliplatin induced peripheral neurotoxicity (OXIPN) is the major dose-limiting and long-lasting side effect of oxaliplatin. N-3 PUFAs have neuroprotective property via their effects on voltage-gated ion channels and by reducing the production of proinflammatory cytokines that causes neuropathy. This study was a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial to find the possible advantages of n-3 PUFAs for preventing and reducing the severity of OXIPN in patients with colon cancer. METHODS: Eligible patients with colon cancer randomly allocated to take n-3 PUFAs pearls, 640 mg t.i.d during chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and one month after the cessation of the treatment or placebo. All patients were evaluated for incidence and severity of OXIPN based on "reduced Total Neuropathy Score" in which clinical and electrophysiological assessments were included. RESULTS: Seventeen patients (47 %) of the n-3 PUFA supplemented group (n = 36) did not develop PN while it was 11 %(4 patients) in the placebo group (n = 35). There was a significant difference in PN incidence (OR = 0.14, .95 % CI = (0.04 to 0.49), p = 0.002). The difference of OXIPN severity was significant between the two study groups (B = -1.61, 0.95 % CI = (-2.59 to -0.62), p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: N-3 PUFAs may have neuroprotective effect for reducing the incidence and severity of OXIPN. Finding an effective prophylactic or symptomatic therapy for OXIPN would significantly improve the patients' quality of life. TRIAL REGISTRATION: IRCT201112158397N2.

Characterization of Common Chromosomal Translocations and Their Frequencies in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients of Northwest Iran.

OBJECTIVE: Detection of chromosomal translocations has an important role in diagnosis and treatment of hematological disorders. We aimed to evaluate the 46 new cases of de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients for common translocations and to assess the effect of geographic and ethnic differences on their frequencies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this descriptive study, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used on 46 fresh bone marrow or peripheral blood samples to detect translocations t (8; 21), t (15; 17), t (9; 11) and inv (16). Patients were classified using the French-American-British (FAB) criteria in to eight sub-groups (M0-M7). Immunophenotyping and biochemical test results of patients were compared with RT-PCR results. RESULTS: Our patients were relatively young with a mean age of 44 years. AML was relatively predominant in female patients (54.3%) and most of patients belonged to AML-M2. Translocation t (8; 21) had the highest frequency (13%) and t (15; 17) with 2.7% incidence was the second most frequent. CD19 as an immunophenotypic marker was at a relatively high frequency (50%) in cases with t (8; 21), and patients with this translocation had a specific immunophenotypic pattern of complete expression of CD45, CD38, CD34, CD33 and HLA-DR. CONCLUSION: Similarities and differences of results in Iran with different parts of the world can be explained with ethnic and geographic factors in characterizations of AML. Recognition of these factors especially in other comprehensive studies may aid better diagnosis and management of this disease.

Methylation Analysis of BRCA1 and APC in Breast Cancer and It's Relationship to Clinicopathological Features.

BACKGROUND: Promoter methylation of tumor suppressor genes is an important epigenetic alteration that occurs in the primary stages of human tumors, including breast cancer. Identification of methylated genes and their relationship to clinical features can contribute to the prognosis and early detection of tumors. In this study, we explored the methylation status of APC and BRCA1 genes and their relationship to clinical factors in breast cancer patients. METHODS: BRCA1 and APC promoter methylation was examined by methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) assay in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) breast tissue from 75 patients. RESULTS: APC promoter methylation was detected in 30.67% breast cancer tissues and BRCA1 was methylated in 9.33% of breast tumors. Methylation of APC was associated with low histological grade (p = 0.006) and methylation of BRCA1 was related with lymph node metastasis (p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the methylation status of APC and BRCA1 can be a predictive marker for early detection and better management of breast cancer patients.

Design and Implementation Content Validity Study: Development of an instrument for measuring Patient-Centered Communication.

INTRODUCTION: The importance of content validity in the instrument psychometric and its relevance with reliability, have made it an essential step in the instrument development. This article attempts to give an overview of the content validity process and to explain the complexity of this process by introducing an example. METHODS: We carried out a methodological study conducted to examine the content validity of the patient-centered communication instrument through a two-step process (development and judgment). At the first step, domain determination, sampling (item generation) and instrument formation and at the second step, content validity ratio, content validity index and modified kappa statistic was performed. Suggestions of expert panel and item impact scores are used to examine the instrument face validity. RESULTS: From a set of 188 items, content validity process identified seven dimensions includes trust building (eight items), informational support (seven items), emotional support (five items), problem solving (seven items), patient activation (10 items), intimacy/friendship (six items) and spirituality strengthening (14 items). Content validity study revealed that this instrument enjoys an appropriate level of content validity. The overall content validity index of the instrument using universal agreement approach was low; however, it can be advocated with respect to the high number of content experts that makes consensus difficult and high value of the S-CVI with the average approach, which was equal to 0.93. CONCLUSION: This article illustrates acceptable quantities indices for content validity a new instrument and outlines them during design and psychometrics of patient-centered communication measuring instrument.

Experiences of patients with cancer and their nurses on the conditions of spiritual care and spiritual interventions in oncology units.

BACKGROUND: Although nurses acknowledge that spiritual care is part of their role, in reality, it is performed to a lesser extent. The purpose of the present study was to explore nurses' and patients' experiences about the conditions of spiritual care and spiritual interventions in the oncology units of Tabriz. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted with a qualitative conventional content analysis approach in the oncology units of hospitals in Tabriz. Data were collected through purposive sampling by conducting unstructured interviews with 10 patients and 7 nurses and analyzed simultaneously. Robustness of data analysis was evaluated by the participants and external control. RESULTS: Three categories emerged from the study: (1) "perceived barriers for providing spiritual care" including "lack of preparation for spiritual care," "time and space constraints," "unprofessional view," and "lack of support"; (2) "communication: A way for Strengthening spirituality despite the limitations" including "manifestation of spirituality in the appearances and communicative behaviors of nurses" and "communication: Transmission of spiritual energy"; and (3) "religion-related spiritual experiences" including "life events as divine will and divine exam," "death as reincarnation," "trust in God," "prayer/recourse to Holy Imams," and "acceptance of divine providence." Although nurses had little skills in assessing and responding to the patients' spiritual needs and did not have the organizational and clergymen's support in dealing with the spiritual distress of patients, they were the source of energy, joy, hope, and power for patients by showing empathy and compassion. The patients and nurses were using religious beliefs mentioned in Islam to strengthen the patients' spiritual dimension. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, integration of spiritual care in the curriculum of nursing is recommended. Patients and nurses can benefit from organizational and clergymen's support to cope with spiritual distress. Researchers should provide a framework for the development of effective spiritual interventions that are sensitive to cultural differences.

Upregulation of Mir-34a in AGS Gastric Cancer Cells by a PLGA-PEG-PLGA Chrysin Nano Formulation.

BACKGROUND: Nano-therapy has the potential to revolutionize cancer therapy. Chrysin, a natural flavonoid, was recently recognized as having important biological roles in chemical defenses and nitrogen fixation, with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects but the poor water solubility of flavonoids limitstheir bioavailability and biomedical applications. OBJECTIVE: Chrysin loaded PLGA-PEG-PLGA was assessed for improvement of solubility, drug tolerance and adverse effects and accumulation in a gastric cancer cell line (AGS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chrysin loaded PLGA-PEG copolymers were prepared using the double emulsion method (W/O/W). The morphology and size distributions of the prepared PLGA-PEG nanospheres were investigated by 1H NMR, FT-IR and SEM. The in vitro cytotoxicity of pure and nano-chrysin was tested by MTT assay and miR-34a was measured by real-time PCR. RESULTS: 1H NMR, FT-IR and SEM confirmed the PLGA-PEG structure and chrysin loaded on nanoparticles. The MTT results for different concentrations of chrysin at different times for the treatment of AGS cell line showed IC50 values of 68.2, 56.2 and 42.3 µM and 58.2, 44.2, 36.8 µM after 24, 48, and 72 hours of treatment, respectively for chrysin itslef and chrysin-loaded nanoparticles. The results of real time PCR showed that expression of miR-34a was upregulated to a greater extent via nano chrysin rather than free chrysin. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates chrysin loaded PLGA-PEG promises a natural and efficient system for anticancer drug delivery to fight gastric cancer.

Association between Perception of Prognosis and Spiritual Well-being among Cancer Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Disclosure of cancer prognosis is one of the most difficult challenges in caring of cancer patients. An exact effect of prognosis disclosure on spiritual well-being of cancer patient was not completely investigated. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between perception of prognosis and spiritual well-being among cancer patients. METHODS: In this descriptive-correlational study, which conducted in 2013, two hundred cancer patients referred to Shahid Ghazi Hospital and private offices of two oncologists in Tabriz participated with convenience sampling method. Perception of prognosis was investigated by Perception of Prognosis Inventory and spiritual well-being of cancer patients was investigated by Paloutzian and Ellison Inventory. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation test. RESULTS: Participants reported positive perception about the prognosis of their disease (score 11 from 15) and rated their spiritual well-being as high (score 99 from 120). There was a positive correlation between the perception of prognosis and spiritual health among cancer patients. CONCLUSION: Disclosure of cancer prognosis has negative effects on cancer patients. This result highlights the importance of considering cultural factors in disclosure of cancer prognosis. According to limitations of the present study approving these results need more studies.

Factors Influencing Communication Between the Patients with Cancer and their Nurses in Oncology Wards.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the factors influencing nurse-patient communication in cancer care in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted with a qualitative conventional content analysis approach in oncology wards of hospitals in Tabriz. Data was collected through purposive sampling by semi-structured deep interviews with nine patients, three family members and five nurses and analyzed simultaneously. Robustness of data analysis was evaluated by the participants and external control. RESULTS: The main theme of the research emerged as "three-factor effects" that demonstrates all the factors related to the patient, nurse, and the organization and includes three categories of "Patient as the center of communication", "Nurse as a human factor", and "Organizational structures". The first category consists of two sub-categories of "Imposed changes by the disease" and the "patient's particular characteristics". The second category includes sub-categories of "sense of vulnerability" and "perception of professional self: Pre-requisite of patient-centered communication". The third category consists of the sub-categories of "workload and time imbalance", "lack of supervision", and "impose duties in context of neglecting nurse and patient needs". Characteristics of the patients, nurses, and care environment seemed to be the influential factors on the communication. CONCLUSIONS: In order to communicate with cancer patients effectively, changes in philosophy and culture of the care environment are essential. Nurses must receive proper trainings which meet their needs and which focus on holistic and patient-centered approach.

Delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction with multiple alloantibody (Anti S, N, K) and a monospecific autoanti-JK(b) in intermediate ß-thalassemia patient in Tabriz.

It appears that delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions may occur several days after the administration of donor red cells is true even though they have been shown to be compatible in cross match tests by the antiglobulin technique. A specific case was observed in our center, which confirms the fact. The patient was a 37-year-old male suffering from intermediate ß-thalassemia. He had a history of two previous transfusions, with unknown transfusion reaction. In the last transfusion, laboratory data showed: Hb 7.8 g/dL and Hematocrit (Hct) 24.2%. The patient received two units of cross matched, compatible concentrated red blood cells (RBCs). After eight days a severe reaction was observed with clinical evidence of tachycardia, fatigue, fever, back pain, chest discomfort, jaundice, nausea and anorexia. Accordingly delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction was suspected, and anti-RBC antibodies were tested. Laboratory tests revealed the presence of three alloantibodies: Anti-N, anti-S, anti-K, and a monospecific autoanti-JK(b).

Successful management of total knee replacement in a high responder hemophilia patient with a history of inhibitor.

The development of inhibitors against administered clotting factors may render replacement therapy ineffective for some hemophilia patients. Such patients are therefore at the highest risk of developing arthropathy. Elective orthopedic surgery (EOS) in hemophilic patients having such inhibitors remains a rare, expensive, and difficult surgery, whose management represents a significant challenge. We report the case of a 35-year-old man with a severe form of hemophilia A (factor VIII < 1%), who was suffering from repetitive spontaneous hemarthrosis, especially in his knee joints that had consequently become more susceptible to bleeding. The patient had a history of high levels of factor VIII inhibitor (> 5.0 Bethesda Unit [BU]/ml) as shown by the factor VIII inhibitor assay; therefore, we began treatment with factor VIIa for his mild-to-moderate bleeding (90 µg/kg intravenous bolus injections). The interval between injections varied with the severity of the hemorrhage in each bleeding episode. The inhibitor level reduced to 3.1 BU/ml after three months, to 1.6 BU/ml after six months, and disappeared completely after one year of treatment. We administered factor VIII at a dose of 50 IU/kg every eight hours during the first three post-operative days, then continued administration with a dose of 40 IU/kg every 12 hours for another four days, and observed a very good response to treatment with no bleeding. Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) is not an inhibitor-removal strategy, but an inhibitor-bypassing product. However, in our patient, the treatment of mild-to-moderate bleeding with short-term use of rFVIIa and no exposure to factor VIII caused a gradual reduction in the inhibitor level over a period of 1 year.

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in lymphoma in north-west of iran.

BACKGROUND: Lymphomas are a group of malignancies affecting B, T and NK cells. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme is one of the known inflammatory factors which increase during the inflammation process. Increase in COX-2 expression inhibits apoptosis and increases tumor cells invasion and angiogenesis. Increase in the COX-2 gene expression is seen in a group of cancers. Specific COX-2 inhibition also can be beneficial in some cancers through apoptosis stimulation. MATERIALS & METHODS: In this descriptive-analytic study, the degree of COX-2 expression was evaluated in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The following variables were used in this study: gender, age, lymphoma type, the stage of disease, the degree of disease, the existence of B symptom, extranodal involvement, response to treatment, death and LDH levels. Paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 153 cases of non-Hodgkin' and Hodgkin' lymphoma were selected for immunohistochemical staining of COX-2 expression. RESULTS: COX-2 level was reported positive in 4 (4.7%) patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 4 (5.7%) with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Fifteen patients experienced relapses and 9 died during the median follow-up of 7 years. There was no significant relationship between quantitative and qualitative variables and COX-2 expression. Also, there was no relationship between COX-2 and type of lymphoma (P=0.476). CONCLUSION: According to our results, no relationship between COX-2 expression and type of lymphoma was found. We recommend more patient involvement to assess COX-2 expression. Apparently, it seems that the patient's race (Azari) may have an impact on the results of this study.

The taboo of cancer: the experiences of cancer disclosure by Iranian patients, their family members and physicians.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to describe the experiences of cancer disclosure by Iranian cancer patients, their family members and physicians. METHODS: Twenty cancer patients, ten family members and eight physicians participated in this study. Data were collected via semi-structured, in-depth interviews and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Three categories were identified: cancer avoidance, a climate of non-disclosure and mutual concern. The findings demonstrated that cancer is a taboo subject and the word cancer, as well as other indicative terms, was rarely used in daily communication. A climate of non-disclosure predominated because patients were the last to know their diagnosis, they were unaware of their prognosis, and family members and physicians employed strategies to conceal this information. The mutual concern of patients, family members and physicians was the main reason that cancer was not discussed. CONCLUSION: Cancer is a taboo subject in Iran that is maintained and reinforced primarily because of the mutual concern of patients, family members and physicians. The first step to address this taboo and inform cancer patients of their diagnosis would be to understand and help mitigate the individual, family and social consequences of disclosure.

Influence of chemotherapy on the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Chemotherapeutic agents used in patients with cancer cause to generate the enormous amounts of free radicals associated with cell injury. In this study we assess the effects of chemotherapy regimen on oxidant/antioxidant status in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). 38 newly diagnosed patients with acute myeloid leukemia were recruited in this study. All patients received cytarabine and daunorubicin as chemotherapy regimen. Plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant status (TAS), and the levels of erythrocyte activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were determined before chemotherapy and 14 days after chemotherapy with cytarabine and daunorubicin. Plasma MDA concentrations increased significantly (from 2.68 ± 0.89 nmol/L to 3.14 ± 1.29 nmol/L) during the 14 days post-chemotherapy period (P=0.04). Plasma TAS concentrations changed with chemotherapy from 1.09 ± 0.15 mmol/L to 1.02 ± 0.14 mmol/L with P=0.005. Erythrocyte SOD and GPX activity decreased overtime from 1157.24 ± 543.61 U/g Hb to 984.01 ± 419.09 U/g Hb (P=0.04) and 46.96 ± 13.70 U/g Hb to 41.40 ± 6.44 U/g Hb (P=0.02) respectively. We report here that there is an increase in malondialdehyde levels and a decrease in the levels of antioxidant enzymes and total antioxidant status. This suggests that chemotherapy causes these changes as a result of enormous production of reactive oxygen species in the patients with AML. Antioxidant supplementation must be approached with caution because of the probability of reduction the therapeutic efficacy of these cytotoxic drugs.

Cancer disclosure: experiences of Iranian cancer patients.

This study explored Iranian patients' experiences of cancer disclosure, paying particular attention to the ways of disclosure. Twenty cancer patients were invited to participate in this qualitative inquiry by research staff in the clinical setting. In-depth, semistructured interview data were analyzed through content analysis. The rigor of the study was established by principles of credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Four themes emerged: the atmosphere of non-disclosure, eventual disclosure, distress in knowing, and the desire for information. Non-disclosure was the norm for participants, and all individuals involved made efforts to maintain an atmosphere of non-disclosure. While a select few were informed of their diagnosis by a physician or another patient, the majority eventually became aware of their diagnosis indirectly by different ways. All participants experienced distress after disclosure. The participants wanted basic information about their prognosis and treatments from their treating physicians, but did not receive this information, and encountered difficulty accessing information elsewhere. These challenges highlight the need for changes in current medical practice in Iran, as well as patient and healthcare provider education.

Usefulness of CD45 density in the diagnosis of B-cell chronic lymphoproliferative disorders.

BACKGROUND: Although many B-cell chronic lymphoproliferative disorders (BCLPDs) including B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) have characteristic clinical and biological features, the overlapping morphologic and immunophenotypic profiles of various BCLPDs, is still the main problem. AIM: Our aim was to evaluate the usefulness of CD45 expression in the immunological classification of BCLPDs. SETTING AND DESIGN: A prospective study was set in a university hospital to investigate the CD45 intensity, particularly in B-CLL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of CD45 in 37 patients with BCLPD including typical B-CLL (Group I), atypical B-CLL and CLL/PLL (II), and hairy cell leukemia (HCL), B-prolymphocytic leukemia (B-PLL), and B-non Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) as non-CLL BCLPDs (III) and in eight healthy age matched controls (IV) was quantitatively compared by flow cytometric CD45/RALS gating strategy. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The mean, median, and peak channel scores of CD45 obtained for the four groups were compared using one-way analysis of variance test. A P value RESULTS: Lower CD45 density is associated highly with typical CLL and differences between typical CLL and other groups were significant (P< 0.001, 0.001, and 0.001). Non-CLL cases had significantly brighter CD45 expression than atypical CLL (P=0.014). No differences were found between normal lymphocytes and non-CLL BCLPD cases. CONCLUSIONS: CD45 is a useful marker, to discriminate the typical CLL from the non-CLL BCLPD and from atypical CLL.