Myofibroblasts in calcifying odontogenic cyst and dentigerous cyst

Introduction:Calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC) is an odontogenic cyst that sometimes shows aggressive behavior, while dentigerous cyst (DC) always has a benign nonaggressive course. There are evidences that myofibroblasts are involved in invasion and their role in biologic behavior of odontogenic cysts has been less understood. So, the aim of the present study was to compare the role of myofibroblasts in COC and DC. Methods:In this cross-sectional study, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 20 COCs and 20 DCs were studied. Four-micron sections were prepared from tissue blocks and stained with α-SMA antibody using immunohistochemistry. Percentages of myofibroblasts were semi quantitatively classified into negative (50% of cells were positive). Percentage of myofibroblasts was compared between COC and DC groups using t-test and Chi-Square statistical tests. Results:Means of myofibroblasts percentages in COC and DC groups were respectively 35±33 and 32±30 that did not show significant difference between COC and DC groups (P=0.76). There was not any significant difference between COC and DC groups with respect to semi quantitative classification of percentage of myofibroblasts (P=0.62). Conclusion:Myofibroblasts probably do not play a significant role in different biologic behaviors of calcifying odontogenic and dentigerous cysts

Relationship between β-Thalassemia minor and Helicobacter pylori infection

Background: Until now, no study has been reported investigating the association between β-thalassemia minor and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. This study was designed to compare H. pylori infection rate between β-thalassemia minor patients and healthy controls. Methods: A number of 100 β-thalassemia minor patients (50 males, 50 females) and 100 gender-matched healthy controls were prospectively recruited in this study in a period of 3 months. The study population consisted of the people who referred to a health center in Babol, North of Iran, for premarital counseling. H. pylori status was assessed by measuring the anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Demographic information and informed consent were collected from all participants. Results: The overall H. pylori infection rate was 43%. The infection was significantly more prevalent in thalassemia patients (53%) than in the controls (33%) in both univariate (OR=2.29, 95% CI: 1.3-4.06) and multivariable analyses (OR=2.05, 95% CI: 1.12-3.76). Age was the only significant factor which was positively correlated with the infection in β-thalassemia minor cases (OR=1.11, 95% CI: 1.02-1.2). Gender, blood groups, residency, and education level were not related to the infection. Conclusions: According to the results, it can be concluded that β-thalassemia minor patients are possibly more susceptible to H. pylori infection than healthy people. Further studies are needed to discover more about the exact mechanisms of increased susceptibility to H. pylori infection in β-thalassemia minor patients

Comparison of maternal and neonatal serum leptin levels in preeclampsia and normal pregnancy

Background: Leptin is a protein product of obesity gene and is synthesized mainly by adipose tissue. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine maternal and neonatal serum leptin levels in term preeclamptic and normal pregnancies. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was performed on 37 preeclamptic and 40 normotensive term pregnant women without other disease. Serum level of leptin was measured in all of pregnant mothers and after delivery, their neonates. This study was performed in Babol Yahyanejad Hospital from March 2006 to December 2006. Results: Infants with preeclamptic mothers had significantly lower leptin level than control group (p=0.02). There was no significant difference in serum leptin levels between normal and preeclamptic women (p=0.749). Conclusion: According to the results, it would be concluded that leptin level in infants of preeclamptic mothers is lower than infants of normal mothers. This can only confirm the diagnosis of disease after birth but it cannot predict the preeclampsi

Comparison of maternal and neonatal serum leptin levels in preeclampsia and normal pregnancy

Background: Leptin is a protein product of obesity gene and is synthesized mainly by adipose tissue.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine maternal and neonatal serum leptin levels in term preeclamptic and normal pregnancies.Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was performed on 37 preeclamptic and 40 normotensive term pregnant women without other disease. Serum level of leptin was measured in all of pregnant mothers and after delivery, their neonates. This study was performed in Babol Yahyanejad Hospital from March 2006 to December 2006.Results: Infants with preeclamptic mothers had significantly lower leptin level than control group (p=0.02). There was no significant difference in serum leptin levels between normal and preeclamptic women (p=0.749).Conclusion: According to the results, it would be concluded that leptin level in infants of preeclamptic mothers is lower than infants of normal mothers. This can only confirm the diagnosis of disease after birth but it cannot predict the preeclampsia

Accuracy of intra-operative frozen section in the diagnosis of ovarian mass

Introduction: Ovarian cancer is the most common cause of cancer death from gynecological tumors in Iran. Despite the fact that intra-operative frozen section, which is widely used in diagnosis of ovarian tumors, there are problems associated with the diagnostic procedure in this setting. The aim of this study was to compare the intra-operative frozen section with the permanent histo-pathological sections in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer at Rouhani Hospital in north of Iran. Methods:  The intra-operative frozen section diagnosis was conducted on 126 women with ovarian masses, who underwent surgery between January 2006 and July 2011. The results of the intra-operative frozen section were compared with those of the past histopathological diagnoses of permanent sections as the gold standard. Results: The overall accuracy of intra-operative frozen section diagnosis was 94.4%. There were 0.9% cases with false-positive as well as 1.8% cases with false-negative. The sensitivity and specificity values were 66.7% and 100% for malignant tumors, 80.0% and 95.9 % for borderline tumors, and 99.1% and 90.0% for benign tumors, respectively. All inaccurate diagnoses were for the epithelial tumors. Conclusion: The intra-operative frozen section diagnosis is a reliable method for the surgical management of the patients with an ovarian mass. Diagnostic problems can occur during the intra-operative frozen section examination. The clinicians and pathologists must be aware of the pitfalls of this method therefore, there is an urgent need to establish a good communication among them in order to obtain more accurate results

CD-1a immunoexpression in oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid reaction

Introduction: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is an immunologically mediated mucocutaneous diseases. Langerhans cells (LCs) are antigen presenting cells resident within oral mucosa which, together with intraepithelial lymphocytes, play a role in mucosal defense. The aim of present study was to determine the immunohistochemical expression of LC in Oral Lichenoid reaction (OLR) and OLP compared with normal oral mucosa (NOM). Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 61 oral mucosal specimens diagnosed histopathologically as OLP (n=31) and OLR (n=30) and 11 NOM were used to study the immunohistochemical expression of CD1a. The CD1a positive LCs in three regions (basal, suprabasal, and connective tissue) were counted in six randomly selected fields. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 24, T-test, ANOVA, LSD, Games-Howell tests. P<.05 was considered significant. Results: CD1a expression in OLP and OLR was significantly higher compared to NOM (P<0.001). CD1a expression in OLP was also significantly higher than OLR (P=0.009). There was a statistically significant difference between the three groups in basal, suprabasal and connective tissue regions (P<0.001). The mean of CD1a positive cells in the basal, suprabasal and connective tissue regions was significantly higher in the OLP group than OLR and NOM. Also, in comparison between OLR and NOM, the OLR group had significantly more CD1a positive cells (P<0.05). Conclusion: Increasing the number of CD1a in OLP and OLR compared with the NOM indicates the role of LC in the pathogenesis of these diseases

Serum C-reactive protein in asthma and its ability in predicting asthma control, a case-control study

Background: Increased serum high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in asthma and its association with disease severity has been investigated in many studies. This study aimed to determine serum hs-CRP status in asthma versus healthy controls and to examine its ability in predicting asthma control. Methods: Serum CRP was measured by ELISA method using a high sensitive CRP kit. Severity of asthma was determined using Asthma Control Test. Spearman and chi square tests were used for association and correlation respectively. The predictive ability was determined by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. Accuracy was determined by determination of area under the ROC curve (AUC). Results: A total of 120 patients and 115 controls were studied. Median serum hs-CRP in asthma was higher than control (P=0.001. In well controlled asthma the hs-CRP decreased significantly compared with poorly controlled (P=0.024) but still was higher than control (P=0.017). Serum hs-CRP at cutoff level of 1.45 mg/L differentiated the patients and controls with accuracy of 63.5 % (AUC= 0.635±0.037, P=0.001). Serum hs-CRP &le 2.15 mg/L predicted well controlled asthma with accuracy of 62.5% (AUC= 0.625±0.056, p=0.025). After adjusting for age, sex, weight and smoking, there was an independent association between serum hs-CRP >1.45 mg/L and asthma by adjusted OR=2.49, p=0.018). Conclusion: These findings indicate that serum hs-CRP in asthma is higher than healthy control and increases with severity of asthma and decreases with. Thus, serum hs-CRP measurement can be helpful in predicting asthma control and treatment response

Visfatin expression in gingival tissues of chronic periodontitis and aggressive periodontitis patients: An immunohistochemical analysis

Background: Visfatin, also known as nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, has been suggested as a pro-inflammatory and immunomodulating marker for periodontitis. The aim of this study was an immunohistochemical analysis of visfatin in gingival tissues of patients with chronic periodontitis and aggressive periodontitis. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study based on clinical evaluation and inclusion and exclusion criteria. Twenty patients with generalized chronic periodontitis, 13 patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis, and 20 periodontally healthy individuals enrolled. Gingival tissue samples were obtained during periodontal flap surgery and crown lengthening surgery in periodontal patients and healthy group, respectively. Tissue samples were transferred to a pathology laboratory to determine the degree of inflammatory infiltration by hematoxylin and eosin staining and the level of visfatin expression by immunohistochemistry. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 statistical software and paired t-test, Mann–Whitney test, and Spearman rank correlation coefficient. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Inflammation grading and visfatin expression were significantly higher in periodontally diseased gingiva compared to the control group (P 0.05). Conclusion: Visfatin expression was increased in gingival tissues of chronic periodontitis and aggressive periodontitis patients. Hence, visfatin may have a role in the etiopathogenesis of chronic periodontitis and aggressive periodontitis