Survival rate of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of larynx undergoing nonsurgical treatments and radiotherapy, from 2003 to 2015

Background: The incidence rate of head and neck cancer in the world is about 560,000 new cases a year. Larynx cancer is the most common malignancy in head and neck in Iran. The most common head and neck carcinoma is the malignancy of squamous epithelial cells. This study was conducted to determine the survival rate of patients undergoing nonsurgical treatment methods for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma in Kerman, Iran. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on patients with squamous cell carcinoma of larynx following nonsurgical treatment, who were referred to a radiation therapy center in Kerman, Iran, from 2003 to 2015.The likelihood of survival of patients based on the age, sex, stage of disease, non-surgical treatment, laryngeal preservation, as well as survival without progression and recurrence of the disease was determined. Results: Mean age of the studied patients was 56.56 years. The patients had a mean survival rate of 52.92 months, mean disease free survival rate of 47.60 months and mean progression free survival rate of 11.29 months. The survival rate was higher in patients undergoing RT, followed by those undergoing CCRT and CT-RT (P<0.001). The patients had a one-year disease free survival rate of 69, a three-year disease-free survival rate of 57 and a five-year disease-free survival rate of 44 and had a one-year progression free survival rate of 13 as well as a three- and a five-year progression free survival rate of 18. Conclusion: Overall survival rate was significantly different based on the type of non-surgical treatment, gender and the stage of cancer. © 2020, Kerman University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

The effect of calcitriol and all-trans retinoic acid on T-bet, IFN-γ, GATA3 and IL-4 genes expression in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease which affects the central nervous system (CNS). In the present study, the in vivo effects of ATRA, calcitriol, and their combinations on the expression of murine CD4+ T cell cytokines and their specific transcription factors in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)-induced mice were explored. Thirty-two EAE induced inbred C57BL/6 female mice with an age ranged from 8 to 10 weeks were divided into four categories in a random manner. The first, second, and third groups received ATRA, calcitriol, ATRA+ calcitriol, respectively, and the fourth group received vehicle. The treatment started on the day prior to immunization and through the IP injections every other days for 21 days. The dosages of administration for calcitriol, ATRA, and calcitriol+ ATRA were 100 ng, 250 μg, and 50ng + 125 μg, respectively per mouse. An equal volume of excipient was administered for the vehicle group. T-bet, IFN-γ, GATA-3, and IL-4 genes expression were assessed in the splenocytes of EAE -induced mice. The expression of T-bet and IFN-γ genes in the splenocytes of ATRA, calcitriol and combination- treated mice were significantly reduced compared to vehicle group (p < 0.05). A significant decrease in T-bet expression was observed in the combination-treated group compared to the ATRA-treated group (p < 0.05). The expression of GATA3 and IL-4 genes was significantly increased in the ATRA-, calcitriol-, and combination-treated mice when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the effect of calcitriol alone and in combination with ATRA was more considerable than that of ATRA alone. The nutraceutical approaches may be promising in the prevention and/or treatment of MS. © 2020 APMIS. Published by John Wiley & Sons Lt

Major risk factors and histopathological profile of treatment failure, relapse and chronic patients with anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis: A prospective casecontrol study on treatment outcome and their medical importance

Over the last years, there has been a remarkable increase in the number of unresponsive patients with anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) reported worldwide. The primary objective of this study was to explore the role of demographic, clinical and environmental risk related-factors in the development of treatment failure, relapse and chronic cases compared to responsive patients with ACL. Moreover, molecular, histopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) findings between these forms were explored. This work was undertaken as a prospective and case-control study in southeastern Iran. Culture media and nested PCR were used to identify the causative agent. Univariate multinomial and multiple multinomial logistic regression models and the backward elimination stepwise method were applied to analyze the data. A P<0.05 was defined as significant. Also, for different groups, skin punch biopsies were used to study the histopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) profile. All samples showed that L. tropica was the only etiological agent in all unresponsive and responsive patients with ACL. Data analysis represented that 8 major risk factors including nationality, age groups, occupation, marital status, history of chronic diseases, duration of the lesion, the lesion on face and presence of domestic animals in the house were significantly associated with the induction of unresponsive forms. The histopathological and immunohistochemical findings were different from one form to another. The present findings clearly demonstrated a positive relation between ACL and distinct demographic, clinical and environmental risk determinants. Knowledge of the main risk factors for ACL infection is crucial in improving clinical and public health strategies and monitor such perplexing factors. Negligible data are present related to anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) treatment outcome and resultant unresponsiveness risk determinants. The role of demographic, clinical, and environmental risk associated-factors in the development of treatment failure, relapse, and chronic forms of ACL has not been studied. We carried out a case-control study for a period of 4 years (2015-2019) using culture media and nested PCR to identify the causative agent. Afterward, we analyzed the data by univariate multinomial and multiple multinomial logistic regression models and the backward elimination stepwise method. Also, we examined skin punch biopsies to study the histopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) profile for different comparative groups. The findings identified 8 major risk factors were significantly associated with the creation of unresponsive forms. Clinical practitioners and health surveillance systems should be aware of and monitor such perplexing factors. Awareness of the major determinants for unresponsiveness to the treatment of ACL is critical to improving clinical strategies and public health measures. These multidisciplinary approaches need to address specific barriers that directly affect the treatment outcome. © 2021 Bamorovat et al