Genomic alterations and possible druggable mutations in carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP).

Carcinoma of Unknown Primary (CUP) is a heterogeneous and metastatic disease where the primary site of origin is undetectable. Currently, chemotherapy is the only state-of-art treatment option for CUP patients. The molecular profiling of the tumour, particularly mutation detection, offers a new treatment approach for CUP in a personalized fashion using targeted agents. We analyzed the mutation and copy number alterations profile of 1709 CUP samples deposited in the AACR Project Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange (GENIE) cohort and explored potentially druggable mutations. We identified 52 significant mutated genes (SMGs) among CUP samples, in which 13 (25%) of SMGs were potentially targetable with either drugs are approved for the know primary tumour or undergoing clinical trials. The most variants detected were TP53 (43%), KRAS (19.90%), KMT2D (12.60%), and CDKN2A (10.30%). Additionally, using pan-cancer analysis, we found similar variants of TERT promoter in CUP and NSCLC samples, suggesting that these mutations may serve as a diagnostic marker for identifying the primary tumour in CUP. Taken together, the mutation profiling analysis of the CUP tumours may open a new way of identifying druggable targets and consequently administrating appropriate treatment in a personalized manner

A Model of Noncommunicable Diseases Determinants in Iran; a Qualitative Study

Aims: Non-communicable diseases have become an emerging pandemic globally with disproportionately higher rates in developing countries. This study aimed to design a representative model of non-communicable diseases determinants in Iran according to the viewpoint of experts. Participants & Methods: The statistical population of this qualitative study was experts and academic member informants, who were worked at Kashan, Esfahan and Tehran Universities of Medical Sciences in March to June 2016. 20 participants were selected through purposeful sampling method. Experts were asked to explain their opinion regarding to the most effective factors of noncommunicable disease in developing countries. Findings: Social, environmental, and physiological factors, besides the life style were affecting factors on non-communicable diseases in developing countries. Conclusion: Social, environmental, and physiological factors, besides the life style are affecting factors on non-communicable diseases in developing countries

One-year prognosis of patients with normal myocardial perfusion imaging using technitium-99m sestamibi in suspected coronary artery disease: A single-center experience of 1,047 patients

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of a normal stress technetium-99m (99mTc)-Sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with different probabilities of coronary artery disease (CAD). Material and Methods: A total of 1,047 subjects with a normal 99mTc-MIBI SPECT were followed up for one year and hard and soft cardiac events were assessed. Hard cardiac events were defined as cardiac death or non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI). Soft cardiac events included the patient's development of recurrent chest pain requiring coronary revascularization or significant stenosis in coronary arteries on angiography. Results: Overall, 1,047 patients (248 men and 799 women; mean age: 60.07 ± 12.31, range 29-92) were enrolled. Three hard cardiac events occurred in the groups; two had cardiac arrest and one non-fatal MI. As a result, the annualized hard cardiac event rate was 0.28%, the annualized cardiac mortality rate was 0.19%, and the rate of overall annualized cardiac events was 1.25%. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in cardiac events among patients with various pretest likelihoods of CAD (p value=0.04). Conclusion: Our data confirmed that patients with a normal 99mTc-Sestamibi myocardial SPECT are associated with a very low incidence of cardiovascular events. © The Author(s) 2011

Enhanced Removal of Cr(VI) from Aqueous Solutions Using Poly(Pyrrole)-g-Poly(Acrylic Acid-co- Acrylamide)/Fe3O4 Magnetic Hydrogel Nanocomposite Adsorbent

In the present work, the structural characterization and chromium adsorption behavior of a novel poly(pyrrole)-based magnetic hydrogel nanocomposite (MHN) is reported. This product was prepared using free-radical copolymerization of pyrrole (Py), acrylic acid (AA) and acrylamide (AM) monomers, and subsequent in situ synthesis of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The structure of MHNs was then characterized by FTIR, SEM, TEM, XRD, UV-Vis and VSM techniques, and a mechanism for the preparation of MHNs is also proposed. The maximum Cr(VI) adsorption capacity (208 mg g–1) was achieved under the optimum conditions that were found to be: AA = 0.25 mol L–1, AM = 1.2 mol L–1, agitation time = 90 min, solution pH = 1.0, ion concentration = 100 mg L–1, adsorbent dose = 50 mg, and temperature = 65 °C. Further, the calculated values of the thermodynamic parameters (ΔH° = 31.33kJ mol–1, ΔS° = 105.67 J K–1 mol–1, ΔG° = –61.33 kJ mol–1) revealed that ion adsorption is a spontaneous and endothermic process. In general, the results indicated that the synthesized MHNs with specific properties can be used in wastewater treatment applications

Study of Intraventricular Hemorrhage in VLBW Neonates Admitted in Al-Zahra Hospital, Tabriz, Iran

Introduction and Aim: Intra-ventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is an important predictor of adverse neurodevelopmental outcome. IVH risk factor identification may conduct improvement of quality of care in Neonatal Intensive Care Units. The aim of the current study was to determine possible risk factors associated with IVH in VLBW neonates admitted in our hospital. Patients and Methods: All neonates with birth weight below 1500 gr admitted to NICU. Cranial ultrasonography was done for premature neonates weighed <1000 g in 3 to 5 days and in 1 month again. In premature infants weighed >1000 g, sonography was done in 7 days and 30 days of life respectively. If there is any conditions such as apnea, seizure, significant decrease in level of hemoglobin, increased head circumference, increased oxygen consumption, and other significant changes another sonography was done again. Exclusion criteria were cerebral malformations, metabolic disturbances, chromosomal anomalies, central nervous system infection, and genetic syndromes. Data was analyzed by SPSS ver 16.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA) Results: In this study 64 cases with IVH and 110 without IVH were included. Mean of gestational age was 28.78±2.08. From neonates, 54.6% were boys and 45.4% were girls. Vaginal delivery and cesarean section was done in 56 (32.2%) and 118(67.8%) cases respectively. Mean±SD of pH in cases with IVH and without IVH was 7.19±0.22 and 7.30±0.12 respectively(p=0.001). Mean ±SD of pco2 in cases with IVH and without IVH was 65.15±29.89 and 49.88±40.89 respectively(p=0.001). Mean of 5th min APGAR score in patients required CPR was 7.36±1.57 and in patients without CPR was 8.68±1.25(P=0.001). From cases with IVH, hydrocephaly was detected in 20 cases. From cases without IVH, hydrocephaly was detected in 6 cases. Result of chi-square showed significant correlation between IVH and prematurity( X2=21.94, df=1, P<0.001). From cases with IVH, 18 cases (28.1%) expired. From cases without IVH, 11 cases(10%) expired(X2=9.398, df=1, P=0.002). Results of chi-square test showed that there were a correlation between IVH and PDA, pressure support, surfactant therapy, inotrop drug administration, vaginal delivery, neonatal resuscitation, and antenatal corticosteroid therapy(p<0.05). Hyaline membrane disease, history of preclampsia in mother was significantly higher in cases without IVH(Chi-square, p<0.05). Conclusion: PDA, pressure support, surfactant therapy, inotrop drug administration, vaginal delivery, neonatal resuscitation, and antenatal corticosteroid therapy were significantly higher in cases with IVH. Hyaline membrane disease and preeclampsia in mother was significantly higher in cases without IVH.Keywords: Intraventricular hemorrhage, APGAR, low birth weight, hyaline membrane disease, corticosteroid, surfactant, inotrop, pre-eclampsi

Stress as a risk factor for noncompliance with treatment regimens in patients with diabetes and hypertension

BACKGROUND: We have assessed the role of stress on compliance of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN) with taking prescribed medications and following dietary and exercise regimens. METHODS: A total of 9544 individuals more than 19 years of age were selected from three counties in central Iran. The presence of DM and HTN were asked from participants. We defined treatment adherence (compliance) based on agreement of individual�s self-report behavior with recommendations from a physician. RESULTS: Awareness about DM and HTN was 82.6 and 49.9, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that odds ratio (OR) of high to low stress level was lower than one for both �usage of medication� and �following exercise regimen� in diabetics even after adjustment for either �age and sex� or �age, sex and education�. In hypertensive patients, OR of high to low stress level was lower than one for �usage of medication� even after adjustment for either �age and sex� or �age, sex and education� and also lower than one for �following exercise regimen� only as crude index. CONCLUSION: Cases with higher stress level had lower compliance for accepting either medication or exercise as a treatment option for their DM or HTN. © 2016, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved

Invasive Vibrio cholerae 01 E1 Tor Inaba in a 3-day-old neonate: Case report

A 3-day-old girl with invasive V. cholerae infection is described. Her mother had cholera in the perinatal period. Because of retracted nipples, she expressed milk and fed her infant by bottle. The infant died on the 2nd day of admission. © 2007 The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Edge-illumination x-ray phase contrast imaging with Pt-based metallic glass masks

Edge-illumination x-ray phase contrast imaging (EI XPCI) is a non-interferometric phase-sensitive method where two absorption masks are employed. These masks are fabricated through a photolithography process followed by electroplating which is challenging in terms of yield as well as time- and cost-effectiveness. We report on the first implementation of EI XPCI with Pt-based metallic glass masks fabricated by an imprinting method. The new tested alloy exhibits good characteristics including high workability beside high x-ray attenuation. The fabrication process is easy and cheap, and can produce large-size masks for high x-ray energies within minutes. Imaging experiments show a good quality phase image, which confirms the potential of these masks to make the EI XPCI technique widely available and affordable

Hydro Potential Assessment on the Territory of the Chechen Republic for Recreational Purposes

The article describes the role of hydro-recreational resources in the form of a set of mineral sources, river systems, lakes, reservoirs and other objects in the structure of recreational potential. The region has a high recreational potential, which allows expanding the existing sanatorium and resort base and developing various types of tourism (medical and recreational, scientific, educational, rural, extreme sports, etc.). Physical and geographical features of the territory of the Chechen Republic provide favorable conditions for almost year-round recreational activities. The main focus is on ecotourism as an environmentally oriented form of recreation, which is most relevant to the concept of balanced environmental management and, in particular, water use. An assessment of the current state of the region recreational complex is given. The main factors limiting the development of recreation and tourism include: lack of infrastructure, a shortage of qualified personnel managers, a negative political image of the republic, created by the media. It is shown that their elimination will allow bringing the industry of recreation and tourism in the Chechen Republic to a higher quality level

Attenuation correction in myocardial perfusion SPECT using sequential transmission - Emission scanning with 99mTc

Introduction: Nowadays, Imaging of the myocardial perfusion (MPI) using the single photon emission tomography (SPET) in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease, especially myocardial ischemia, is of great importance. In contrast to the coronary artery angiography, MPI is non-invasive, less expensive and more physiological. Unfortunately, this image is affected by the some artifacts. These artifacts lead to decrease image diagnostic accuracy and increase false positive cases. One of the most important effective artifacts is due to attenuation. These attenuation artifacts are caused by the left breast tissue in women, diaphragm in men and the chest wall in both sexes. Because of the inherent non- uniform attenuation map in the thorax region, this problem is very complex. Methods: The aim of this study is to correct attenuation artifact with a simple method that is available and very easy to use. In this study we used transmission scanning by 99mTc in the sequential views and an attenuation map was created. After attenuation correction of the original images with attenuation map, non corrected and corrected images were compared with angiography results to apply attenuation correction based on functional findings. Results: Results show that new artifacts are created and experiences of physicians in the impression of the images is critical. Finally, the sensitivity of images increased from 86.20 to 96.42, the specificity decreased from 85.71 to 54.54 and the diagnostic accuracy decreased from 86 to 78. Conclusion: Attenuation correction can produce new artifacts, which can influence the way scans are interpreted. It seems that attenuation correction of the images, need special experience. Lack of enough experience in attenuation correction techniques, can comprise the diagnostic accuracy of images