Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Volume:15 Issue: 6, Nov & Dec 2010

The most common cancer among women is breast cancer and it has been blamed as the second leading cause of cancer death in women; so far many approaches have been used to analyze and detect benign and malignant forms of cancer and understanding the features involved in proteins expressed by various types of breast cancers is crucial. Herein features of proteins expressed in malignant, benign and both cancers were compared using different screening techniques, clustering methods, decision tree models and generalized rule induction (GRI) algorithms to look for patterns of similarity in two benign and malignant breast cancer groups. The findings showed that the N-terminal amino acid was Met and 57 out of 838 protein's features ranked as important (p > 0.05). The depth of the trees induced by tree induction models varied from 5 (in the Quest model) to 2 (in the C5.0 model) branches. The best performance evaluation found when C&RT model applied and the worst evaluation found when CHAID model applied. No significant difference in the percentage of correctness, performance evaluation, and mean correctness in tree induction algorithms was found when feature selection applied on datasets, but the number of peer groups reduced significantly (p < 0.05) when feature selection model applied. The frequency of Ile-Ile was the most important protein attributes in all tree and rule induction models. The importance of sequence-based classification and the frequency of Ile-Ile in prediction of malignant and benign breast cancer have been discussed here.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of monotherapy with interferon alpha-2b and combination therapy with interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin on chronic hepatitis C infection in thalassaemic patients. In parallel group randomized, double blind, controlled trial, 32 thalassaemic patients with chronic hepatitis C infection completed the study. In a random fashion, one group was treated with three million units of interferon alpha- 2b three times a week plus ribavirin (800-1200 mg daily). The second group received interferon alpha-2b alone. Treatment duration was 24-48 weeks. Primary efficacy variables were HCV RNA after treatment and sustained viral response (SVR) six months after treatment. The mean age of patients was 22 ± 7.4 years; 19 (59.4%) were male and 13 (40.6) were female. At the end of treatment, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups in HCV RNA and AST. The proportion of patients with SVR six months after treatment was significantly greater in the monotherapy group (90.9%) than in the combination therapy group (44.4%; p = 0.049). A significant difference in mean of ALT was also obtained at the end of treatment between monotherapy and combination therapy groups (30.4 ± 19.2 and 60.1 ± 48.9, respectively; p = 0.02). Response rates were not associated with genotype and severity of hepatitis C infection in both groups. These results suggest that monotherapy may be considered as the first-line therapy in patients with thalassemia.

Soy consumption may affect serum leptin levels and exert its beneficial effects in this way. This study was conducted to assess the effect of soy consumption on serum leptin levels in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome. Methods and This was a randomized cross-over clinical trial on 42 postmenopausal women with the metabolic syndrome. Three kinds of diets were consumed by the patients: control diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension= DASH), soy protein diet, or soy nut diet, each for eight weeks. Serum leptin level was measured by ELISA method. No significant changes in the weight of patients were seen during three phases of trial. There was not significant difference between the end values of serum leptin concentrations following these diets (Geometric mean ±SD: 16.9±2.5 ng/ml at the end of control diet, 16.1±1.6 ng/ml at the end of soy protein diet, and 15.9±1.7 ng/ml at the end of soy nut diet). Percent difference compared to control for serum leptin levels showed that neither soy protein nor soy nut diets could significantly alter this variable (P=0.32). The results of the present study showed neither soy protein, nor soy nut could affect weight and serum leptin levels in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome.

It has recently been revealed that H. pylori infection is one the most important causes of anemia inhibiting iron uptake. The current study was designed to evaluate the correlation between the iron deficiency anemia and IgG to H. pylori in anemic children. In this analytical study, 100 anemic children were analyzed using total Iron, Ferritin, TIBC and H. pylori IgG assay. Data were collected using a questionnaire including parameters of age, blood group, infancy nutrition, iron consumption, fatigue, weakness, height, weight, gastrointestinal infectious, parasitic and blood diseases, parent literacy, income, inhabitation, etc. Data were analyzed using Multivariate Regression Analysis Models, Pearson Correlation-test and Kolmogrov Smirnov. The most prevalent blood group detected in the study sample was group O (62%); 79% were breastfed, 9% were bottle-fed, 12% were both breastfed and bottle-fed. The history of gastrointestinal disorders was mentioned amongst 91% of the patient's family members. A significant relationship was observed between the iron level with serum, ferritin, level of TIBC and elevated level of IgG titer to H. pylori (p < 0.001). There was a significant association between the shared dishes, GI disorders, fatigue and weakness and level of TIBC, ferritin, Iron and IgG (p < 0.001). The significant relationship between the iron level, IgG titer and H. pylori infection rate can be referred to as important factors influencing the anemia rate. Therefore, H. pylori IgG test can be checked for anemia together with the other routine tests.

Identifying new ways to decrease adiposity will be very valuable for health. The aim of this study was to find out whether L-Arginine (Arg) and selenium alone or together can increase the effect of hypocaloric diet enriched in legumes (HDEL) on anthropometric measures in healthy obese women. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was undertaken in 84 healthy premenopausal women with central obesity. After 2 weeks of run-in on an isocaloric diet, participants were randomly considered to eat HDEL, Arg (5 g/d) and HDEL, selenium (200 µg/d) and HDEL or Arg, selenium and HDEL for 6 weeks. The following variables were assessed before intervention and 3 and 6 weeks after it: weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist to hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), and fasting nitrite/nitrate (NOx) concentrations. Other variables (arm, thigh, calf and breast circumferences, subscapular, triceps, biceps and suprailiac skinfold thicknesses, sum ofskinfold thicknesses (SSF), body density (D) and estimated percent of body fat (EPF)) were assessed before and after intervention. HDEL showed a significant effect in reduction of waist, hip, arm, thigh, calf and breast circumferences, triceps, biceps, subscapular and suprailiac skinfold thicknesses, WHR, SSF, D and EPF. HDEL + Arg + selenium significantly reduced suprailiac skinfold thicknesses; and there was no significant effect of HDEL, Arg, selenium and Arg plus selenium on weight, BMI and fasting NOx. The study indicates that HDEL + Arg + selenium reduce suprailiac skinfold thicknesses which represents the abdominal obesity reduction.

Increasing intracranial pressure (ICP) is one of the leading causes of mortality in patients with malignant infarction of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). We prospectively evaluated patients with MCA infarction for one month survival after decompressive hemicraniectomy. This study was conducted at Alzahra University Hospital, Isfahan (Iran). Twenty patients with infarction in total MCA distribution area, resulting in midline shift of brain tissue for greater than 5mm, underwent decompressive hemicraniectomy. Mortality rate was estimated one month after surgery. Patients were 8 (40%) males and 12 (60%) females with a mean age of 49.9 ± 3.8 (25 to 70) years. Left and right MCA were involved in 7 (35%) and 13 (65%) patients, respectively. Four (20%) patients died within one month after surgery (3 females and one male, mean age of 59.0 ± 4.5 vs. 47.6 ± 3.4 in survived patients, p < 0.001). The mean of baseline Glasscow Coma Scale (GCS) score estimated 8.60 ± 1.55 in survived patients and 6.75 ± 0.95 in patients who died (p < 0.05). The survival rate of malignant MCA infarction treated with decompressive hemicraniectomy was the same as previous reports. MCA infarction mortality increased with age and lower admission GCS score.

Cellular and molecular pathways link thrombosis and innate immune system during sepsis. Extrinsic pathway activation of protease thrombin through FVIIa and tissue factor (TF) in sepsis help activate its endothelial cell (EC) membrane Protease Activated Receptor 1 (PAR-1). Thrombin adjusts the EC cycle through activation of G proteins (G12/13), and later through Rho GEFs (guanine nucleotide exchange factors), and provides a path for Rho GTPases mediated cytoskeletal responses involved in shape change and permeability of the EC membrane leading to an increase of leakage of plasma proteins. At the same time, thrombin stimulates spontaneous mitogenesis by inducing activation of the cell cycle from G0-G1 to S by down-regulation of p27Kip1, a negative regulator of the cell cycle, in association with the up-regulation of S-phase kinase associated protein 2 (Skp2). After transport in cytoplasm, p27 Kip1 binds to RhoA thus prevent activation of RhoA by GEFs, thus inhibit GDP-GTP exchange mediated by GEFs. In cytoplasm, releasing factor (RF) p27-RF-Rho is able to free RhoA. P27 RF-Rho binds p27kip1 and prevents p27kip1 from binding to RhoA. Exposed RhoA is later able to increase the expression of the F-box protein Skp2, after its Akt triggered 14-3-3-β-dependent cytoplasm relocation. Skp2 increases cytoplasm ubiquitination-dependent degradation of p27Kip1. Additionally, after septic induction of canonical NF-kB pathway in EC through TLR4/IRAK4/TRAF/IkB, an IKKα dimer phosphorylates the p52 precursor NFkB2/ p100, leading to p100 processing and translocation of RelB/p52 to the nucleus. By controlling the NF-kB-RelB complex, IKKα signaling regulates the transcription of the Skp2 and correspondingly p27Kip1.

The association of solid tumors with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is rare. However, there have been some case reports indicating an association between breast cancer and ITP. In this article four patients with breast cancer and ITP are mentioned. The diagnosis of breast cancer was based on the results of biopsy or surgical sample. The ITP diagnosis criteria were 1) exclusion of drug induced thrombocytopenia, 2) platelet count less than 140 × 109 /l with normal or increased number of megakaryocytes on bone marrow samples, and 3) absence of splenomegaly. In this case report an association of breast cancer and ITP is shown.

Bronchial leiomyoma is extremely rare. To date less than 60 cases have been reported in the world literature. The presented case here is a 30 year old woman who had been treated for bronchial asthma for several years. Her chest radiograph showed bulluos emphysematous changes in the right lung and computer tomography scan found the tumor in the right main bronchus near carina. Diagnosis was made by histological and immunohistochemical examination of the specimens obtained during bronchoscopy. The patient was treated by bonchoscopic resection of the 3 centimetre firm tumor and its removal through a tracheostomy incision.

An important part of one's information from surrounding environment comes through olfactory system. So its disorders regardless of the reason can lead to many problems. An appropriate diagnostic smell test is needed to determine the normal range of olfactory sense, to evaluate patient's complaints and to determine the severity of the problem. It is also helpful in follow- up and choosing the most effective surgical or medical treatment. Unfortunately there is no any locally designed test currently used in Iran. Also, the current tests are difficult to interpret and are usually expensive to run. The objective of this study was developing a standard smell test for Iranians and determination of the normal range of olfactory sense in this region. In order to find popular odorous items in the region, fifty six well known materials were presented to two hundred, 15-60 years old, normal residents of Rasht. Then 16 materials with the highest scores were selected (based on this consensus) as the test materials. These were: gasoline, alcohol, tea, rice, soap, cinnamon, origan, garlic, onion, washing powder, mint, rose water, lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, vix. Then, these 16 selected materials were presented to 150 people of study group (77 women, 73 men). All materials were presented in identical containers. Participants were requested to smell material at 2 centimeter distance for 3 seconds, without being able to see the material. Then they would choose an answer in a multiple choice questionnaire. Each nostril was tested separately, therefore the total score for two nostril and 16 materials was 32 for each person. Considering 97 percentile, the normal range of olfactory score for 15-60 years old residents of Rasht was 28 – 32. Test re test reliability was more than 97%. This olfactory identification test is simple and reliable, with familiar items for Iranian population. It is helpful to evaluate the patients who complain of hyposmia or anosmia and could be use for future studies.