Effect of Epoetin Alfa and Sodium Valproate in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Background: Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is an important precancerous disease leading to blood malignancies. Prompt diagnosis and treatment would result in better outcome in patients. Purpose of the study was to determine the effect of Epoetin Alfa and Sodium Valproate in patients with MDS. Materials and Methods: In this interventional quasi-experimental study, 50 consecutive patients with MDS from Taleghani Hospital (Tehran, Iran) in 2016-2017 were enrolled. They underwent treatment for eight months with 10000 units per month from Epoetin Alfa plus 200 mg TDS from Sodium Valproate. The hematological response was determined according to the hemoglobin, platelet, and neutrophil. Results: Hematological response was present in 68%. The packed cell treatment were decreased significantly (P=0.040) and 56% of patients had no receipt of packed cells after treatment. Conclusion: It is concluded that Epoetin Alfa plus Sodium Valproate was effective in treatment of patients with Myelodysplastic syndrome and use of this combination therapy is recommended

Effects of low level laser therapy on mucositis in patients under chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation

Background: Oral mucositis is among the most important adverse effects of chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation and prevention from this side effect is important to improve the situations in patients. Hence, in this study the main aim was to determine the effects of low-level laser therapy on mucositis in patients under chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. Materials and Methods: In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 60 consecutive patients under chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation in a training hospital in 2018 were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either low-level laser therapy (630 and 780 nm) or off-laser. Finally, the frequency rate and severity of mucositis (grades 0 to 4 according to WHO severity index) were determined and compared across the groups. Results: Mucositis was present in 30% and 56.7% in laser and control groups, respectively with statistically significant difference (p=0.037). The severity of mucositis was same across the laser and control groups (p=0.785). Conclusion: Low-level laser therapy is an effective modality for preventing from mucositis in patients treated by chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. Accordingly, utilization of this safe and effective therapeutic method is recommended

Variant complex chromosome translocation with chronic

A large number of simple or complex translocation involving the CML and AML chromosomal abnormalities has been described. This study was aimed to investigate the complex chromosome aberrations in the series of myeloid malignancies including CML and AML. The present report deals analyzed 187 consecutive with CML and AML patients, using Methotrexate  cell synchronization and  un-stimulated cultures of   cells to determine the incidence of chromosomal aberrations and association of complex variant chromosome anomalies according to  French American British morphological subtypes. The results revealed an abnormal karyotype with a novel complex translocation involving chromosomes 1,2,4,9,11,22.  Complex variant translocations   were found in two cases of AML and two cases of CML. The present reports provides sufficient grounds for assuming that a chromosomes involving of complex abnormalities  plays an important  role in the development of malignancy.

Evaluation of frequency of kirsten rat sarcoma gene mutations in Iranian colorectal cancer

Background: Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) gene is a target of genetic alterations which are diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who are treated with monoclonal anti-EGFR antibodies such as cetuximab and panitumumab. KRAS mutations are seen in 35-42% of patients with colorectal cancer. The high frequency of these mutations in colorectal cancer represents their high potential as a biomarker in early diagnosis of cancer. This study was done to evaluate the frequency of KRAS gene mutations in a small population of Iranian patients suffering from colorectal cancer.   Methods: 50 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks with colorectal cancer (CRC), already confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry testing, were received to Payvand Clinical and Specialty Laboratory, Tehran, from across the country in 2015. DNA was extracted from the tissue blocks and its quality was then evaluated. The reverse dot blotting method was used to evaluate KRAS gene mutations. Results: KRAS mutations were found in 42% of the study patients. 30% and 12% of the mutations were found in codon 12 and codon 13, respectively. Moreover, no mutation was found in codon 61. Results also showed that the most frequency of samples examined belonged to male with 68% (average age of 56 years old) and then to female with 32% (median age of 54.8 years old). Conclusion: This study was performed to evaluate the frequency of KRAS gene mutations in Iranian colorectal cancer patients. According to the study results, the frequency of KRAS mutations was consistent with that of other countries, reported in previous studies. The high prevalence of these mutations in patients with colorectal cancer indicates the important role of these genes in this group of patients. Thus, the presence of these mutations can be used as a suitable biomarker for evaluation of response to targeted therapies in patients suffering from colorectal cancer