A shape based rotation invariant method for ultrasound-MR image registration: A phantom study.

In this work, a new shape based method to improve the accuracy of Brain Ultrasound-MRI image registration is proposed. The method is based on modified Shape Context (SC) descriptor in combination with CPD algorithm. An extensive experiment was carried out to evaluate the robustness of this method against different initialization conditions. As the results prove, the overall performance of the proposed algorithm outperforms both SC and CPD methods. In order to have control over the registration procedure, we simulated the deformations, missing points and outliers according to our Phantom MRI images.

The causes for lack of interest to blood donation in eligible individuals, mashhad, northeastern iran.

BACKGROUND: Donor recruitment and retention are significant problems in blood collection agencies around the world. The Aim of this study was to determine the causes of lack of interest to blood donation in eligible individu-als in Mashhad, Northeast of Iran. METHODS: This was a descriptive study. Cases were 1130 non-donor individuals. Participants were selected from eligible individuals in different regions of Mashhad. In this study, surveys included information about age groups, gender, residence area, marriage, education; living situation and job as background variables. RESULT: Less than 30% of the cases had enough knowledge about blood donation. There was a significant rela-tionship between location, age, education, occupation and social status with knowledge of blood donation, but there was not a correlation between gender and marital status. CONCLUSION: There are some factors which affect the decision for blood donation. There is a need to change the negative attitude by increasing the knowledge considering the individual and the social status.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C677T, A1298C and G1793A polymorphisms: association with risk for clear cell renal cell carcinoma and tumour behaviour in men.

AIMS: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) plays a crucial role in regulating folate metabolism, which affects DNA synthesis and methylation. This study investigated whether MTHFR C677T, A1298C and G1793A polymorphisms modified clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) risk independently as well as in combination with serum total homocysteine (Hcy) and folate levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study of 152 cases (men) and 304 age-matched healthy controls was conducted in one geographical area of Iran. Genotyping of MTHFR gene polymorphisms was carried out using a polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. Serum levels of total Hcy, folate and vitamin B12 were also determined. RESULTS: The MTHFR 677T and 1298C allele frequencies were 42.8 and 47.4% in cases, compared with 33.7 and 33.1% in controls. After controlling for confounding factors, a significant increase in CCRCC risk was found among carriers of the 677CT genotype compared with those with the 677CC genotype (odds ratio 2.21, 95% confidence interval 1.31-3.76), with a significant trend (P=0.014). Statistically significant odds ratios were also found in patients homozygous for MTHFR C677T, who have a 1.58-fold higher risk of developing CCRCC (95% confidence interval=1.21-2.44; P=0.024). Compared with the MTHFR 677CC genotype, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for the MTHFR 677TT genotype was 6.18 (95% confidence interval=4.75-8.34) for stage IV cancer and 4.68 (95% confidence interval=2.72-6.54) for grade 3 CCRCC (both P=0.0001). After adjustment for selected variants, the MTHFR 1298AC genotype showed a significantly increased risk of CCRCC compared with the wild-type (odds ratio=3.71, 95% confidence interval=2.22-5.33; P=0.001), and the 1298C allele carrier showed a positive association with the risk of CCRCC compared with the wild-type (odds ratio=3.9, 95% confidence interval=2.55-6.02; P=0.001). Furthermore, subjects carrying at least one copy of the variant allele showed a 4.4 times increased risk of developing CCRCC than their control counterparts (odds ratio=4.40, 95% confidence interval=2.41-6.72; P=0.0001). There was not a significant interaction between MTHFR polymorphisms and serum levels of total Hcy and folate in increasing the risk of CCRCC. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence that the MTHFR polymorphisms might contribute to increased CCRCC risk in men.

Glutathione S-transferase gene polymorphisms (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1) and prostate cancer: a case-control study in Tehran, Iran.

We evaluated the relationship between polymorphisms in the glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 genes and prostate cancer (PCa). PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay was used to genotype the GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphisms in 168 PCa cases and 336 frequency matched controls. The GSTM1 null, and GSTT1 null genotypes were associated with an increased odds ratio (OR) for PCa (OR=3.28, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.47-5.64; P=0.005, and OR=3.21, 95% CI: 2.52-5.64; P=0.005, respectively) (Pcorrected=0.0062). The frequency of GSTP1 Val/Val genotype was 14.3% in cases compared with 2.4% in controls, this polymorphism thus being associated with a significantly increased risk of PCa (OR=3.72, 95% CI: 1.67-5.65; P=0.002). The risk associated with the concurrent absence of both of the genes (OR=4.8, 95% CI: 2.34-6.78) was greater than the product of risk in men with either null (OR=1.52, 95% CI: 0.82-2.31) genotype combinations (P=0.001, Pcorrected=0.0045). The combination of GSTP1 Ile/Val or Val/Val polymorphism with the GSTT1 null and GSTM1 null type resulted in an OR of 6.21 (95% CI: 4.83-16.87) (P=0.0001, Pcorrected=0.0062). A higher frequency of the GSTM1 null genotype and GSTT1 null genotype was observed in patients with Gleason score >7, with an OR for GSTM1 null 4.67 (95% CI: 3.64-7.62; P=0.001) and with an OR for GSTT1 null 3.62 (95% CI: 2.31-5.74; P=0.004). The results obtained demonstrated that simultaneous presence of three potentially risk alleles (GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null and GSTP1 Val) lead to a significant OR increase for PCa.

Saliva secretion and efficacy of helicobacter pylori eradication in peptic ulcer patients.

OBJECTIVE: It has been noted that the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in the oral cavity may affect the outcome of eradication therapy. This condition is associated with the recurrence of gastric infection. The optimum secretion of saliva promotes oral health consequently influencing H. pylori eradication. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between salivary secretion and the efficacy of H. pylori eradication from the stomach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty five patients with gastric H. pylori infection were enrolled in this study. Diagnosis of H. pylori infection was confirmed by endoscopy, biopsy, urease test and histological examination. Salivary secretion of all participants was determined under standard condition before the beginning of antibacterial treatment. Then the patients were treated with a 14-day course anti-H. pylori regimen consisting of amoxicillin, omeprazole, metronidazole and bismuth. The efficacy of eradication therapy was evaluated 4 weeks after the end of the treatment course. Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the variables. RESULTS: The median of salivary secretion among successful and unsuccessful H. pylori eradication groups was 0.48 ml/min and 0.24 ml/min, respectively (p=0.005). CONCLUSION: Although the type of drug regimens is challenging, the efficacy of H. pylori eradication from the stomach might be reduced by lower salivary secretion.

An open label, randomized, fixed-dose, crossover study comparing efficacy and safety of sildenafil citrate and saffron (Crocus sativus Linn.) for treating erectile dysfunction in men naïve to treatment.

Saffron (Crocus sativus Linn.) have been perceived by the public as a strong aphrodisiac herbal product. However, studies addressing the potential beneficial effects of saffron on erectile function (EF) in men with ED are lacking. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of saffron administration on EF in men with ED. After a 4-week baseline assessment, 346 men with ED (mean age 46.6+/-8.4 years) were randomized to receive on-demand sildenafil for 12 weeks followed by 30 mg saffron twice daily for another 12 weeks or vice versa, separated by a 2-week washout period. To determine the type of ED, penile color duplex Doppler ultrasonography before and after intracavernosal injection with 20 microg prostaglandin E(1), pudendal nerve conduction tests and impaired sensory-evoked potential studies were performed. Subjects were assessed with an International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire, Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP) diary questions, patient and partner versions of the Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) questionnaire and the Global Efficacy Question (GEQ) 'Has the medication you have been taking improved your erections?' No significant improvements were observed with regard to the IIEF sexual function domains, SEP questions and EDITS scores with saffron administration. The mean changes from baseline values in IIEF-EF domain were +87.6% and +9.8% in sildenafil and placebo groups, respectively (P=0.08). We did not observe any improvement in 15 individual IIEF questions in patients while taking saffron. Treatment satisfaction as assessed by partner versions of EDITS was found to be very low in saffron patients (72.4 vs 25.4, P=0.001). Mean per patient 'yes' responses to GEQ was 91.2 and 4.2% for sildenafil and saffron, respectively (P=0.0001). These findings do not support a beneficial effect of saffron administration in men with ED.