2023 CiteScore: 1.3
pISSN: 2008-3009
eISSN: 2008-2207
Editor-in-Chief:
Ardeshir Ghavamzadeh, MD.
This journal is a member of, and subscribes to the principles of, the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Vol 9, No 1 (2015)
Articles
-
We have refined the technique for isolating and propagating cultures of primary ovarian carcinosarcoma cells (OSCs) derived from ascites, which allowed the cells to obtain the biphasic features of carcinosarcoma in cell culture conditions (presence of both carcinoma and mesenchymal morphologic types). This protocol involves a simple yet rapid method for the growth and propagation of ascites OSC in a basal culture medium. Autologous ascitic fluid was used as source of growth factors, and minimal manipulation was involved to establish the culture. The methodology allowed for the direct application of multiple molecular, cellular, and functional analyses within a few weeks of initial cell isolation, with the further potential of retrospective analyses of archived cells and tissues.
-
Sickle cell disease is a genetic haemoglobinopathy with consequent haemolysis and anaemia. It is of interest to study its effect on red cell indices beside haemoglobin concentration.The objective of the study is to determine the values of red cell indices in preschool-age children with sickle cell anaemia.we conducted a cross-sectional study including 97 children with sickle cell anaemia aged six months to five years and 97 age-and sex-matched healthy controls with haemoglobin genotype AA (Hb AA). The red cell indices such as packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, red blood cell count, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were investigated, using an auto analyzer.The mean PCV, haemoglobin concentration and red blood cell count were significantly higher in HbAA controls (p = 0.000 in each case). The mean MCV was higher among HbSS subjects but it was only among females and when the result was analyzed irrespective of gender that the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05).Children with sickle cell anaemia in steady state have lower values of all red cell parameters and higher values of MCV, compared to haemoglobin phenotype AA controls.
-
Background: Despite multiple published studies reporting result of salvage regimens for relapsed and refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma, there are no comparisons of different combinations.
Patients and methods: A Total of 44 patients identified with refractory or relapsed Hodgkin’s Lymphoma were considered eligible for this study. The Patients were randomly divided into two groups of 22, one of which were treated with GDP regimen (gemcitabine, dexamethasone and cisplatin) and the other with EHSAP regimen (etoposide, methyl prednisolone, cisplatin and cytarabine) in a prospective manner. The results of each group were compared.
Results: There were 27.3% complete response, 31.8% more than 50% response, and 40.9% no response with GDP. ESHAP results were 29.5%, 24% and 45.5%, respectively.
Conclusion: There is no significant difference in response rate between GDP and ESHAP regimens as salvage
chemotherapy in refractory or relapsed Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. -
Intoduction: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous group of hematologic malignancies with abundant changeability in the pathogenesis. DNA methylation of CpG islands within the promoters of specific genes may play roles in tumor initiation and progression. Secreted frizzled-related proteins (SFRPs) are negative regulator of the Wnt signaling pathway. In the present study, we examined the methylation status of SFRP1 and SFRP2 genes in patients with AML.
Methods: Isolated DNA from peripheral blood of 43 AML patients and 25 healthy subjects as a control group was treated with sodium bisulfite was treated with sodium bisulfite and analyzed by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) with primers specific for methylated and unmethylated promoter sequences of the SFRP1 & -2 genes. We used Mann-Whitney u-tests to investigate the correlation between SFRP1 and SFRP2 genes hypermethylation and clinical parameters.
Results: The frequency of aberrant hypermethylation of SFRP1 and SFRP2 genes in patients with AML was determined 30.2% (13/43) and 20.9% (9/43), respectively. In addition, for all subjects in control group, methylation of SFRP1 and SFRP2 genes were negative. Patients with M0 subtype of FAB-AML had the highest incidence of hypermethylation of SFRP1 (P = 0.028) and SFRP2 (P = 0.004).
Conclusion: The present study showed that, like many solid tumors, methylation of SFRP genes also occurs in AML. Therefore, the methylation of these genes may play a role in the initiation of leukmogenesis. -
Background: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of rheumatologic manifestations associated with MDS.
Methods: Eighty patients with MDS were evaluated by history and physical examination for inflammatory rheumatologic disorders from Jan 2013 to May 2014. Patients who had any signs or symptoms of rheumatologic disorders underwent evaluation by laboratory tests. Patients with and without inflammatory rheumatic disorders were compared for their characteristics.
Results: Of 80 participants with MDS, 9 (11.3%) patients were diagnosed as having rheumatic disorders. MDS patients with or without rheumatologic disorder were similar in demographic and hematologic parameters, except age which was lower in patients with rheumatologic disorders. (p=0.016). In younger patients, refractory cytopenia and refractory cytopenia with multilinage dysplasia were more prevalent.
Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that rheumatologic manifestations may be present in MDS patients. Younger patients are more prone to the occurrence of MDS and rheumatic disorders. -
Background: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are a complication of chronic immunosuppressive therapy in solid organ transplantation with a high mortality rate. Alternative treatments such as rapamycin have been explored.
Methods: A detailed retrospective analysis was performed according to data collected from 13 patients with PTLD. At the time of PTLD diagnosis, immunosuppressive therapy was decreased and rapamycin administered. Overall survival, disease-free survival of patients and graft survival were determined.
Results: Among 590 kidney transplant recipients, 13 adult patients with PTLD were included in this study. The mean age of the patients was 42.15 (range: 25-58) years at the time of PTLD diagnosis, and 9 patients were male. Histology was distributed in 9 diffuse large B cell, 1 Malt lymphoma, 1 Burkitt lymphoma, 2 Hodgkin-like PTLD. The response rate to rapamycin alone was 30.8%. The mean overall survival period was 23.38 months and 11 patients are still alive. In total, 10 patients (76.9%) achieved a complete remission with functioning graft in 11 (84.6%) patients.
Conclusion: Despite the retrospective focus and limited number of patients, this study provides promising results regarding the effectiveness of stopping calcineurin inhibitors and switching to rapamycin for patients with PTLD. -
MicroRNAs are 19-22 nucleotide RNAs involved in such important processes as development, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Different miRNAs are uniquely expressed in lymphoid T cells, and play a role indevelopment and differentiation of various subtypes by targeting their target genes. Recent studies have shown that aberrant miRNA expression may be involved in T cell leukemogenesis and lymphogenesis, and may function as tumor suppressor (such as miR-451, miR-31, miR-150, and miR-29a) or oncogene (e.g. miR-222, miR-223, miR-17-92, miR-155). MiRNAs can be used as new biomarkers for prognosis and diagnosis or as an index of disease severity in T-cell leukemia and lymphoma. This article presents a review of studies in recent years on the role of miRNAs in T-cell development and their aberrant expression in pathogenesis of T-cell leukemia and lymphoma. Characterizing miRNAs can help recognize their role as new important molecules with prognostic and therapeutic applications.
-
Myeloid sarcoma or granulocytic sarcoma (GS) is a rare disease with poor prognosis. It is characterized by the occurrence of tumor masses at an extra-medullary tissue. It is composed of myeloblastic cells and usually occurs in association with acute myeloid leukemia. Because of its nonspecific clinical and radiologic findings, its diagnosis might be challenging. It might be more commonly found in patients with specific cytogenetic abnormalities, particularly with the t (8; 21) translocation and less frequently the inv (16) type. We report a case of GS in a 62 years old man without particular previous pathologies, which brutally presented as an ascites and generalized edema. The laparoscopy showed involvement of greater omentum and peritoneum. The histologic examination of greater omentum showed granulocytic sarcoma. The bone marrow aspiration was normal. We started treatment of patient by standard acute myeloid leukemia's chemotherapy.
