Human Papillomavirus Is Associated with Breast Cancer in the North Part of Iran

We have analyzed the possible relevance of HPV infection for breast cancer risk among Iranian women from north part of Iran. Among women with breast cancer, 25.9% had positive test results for HPV DNA in breast tumor samples in contrast to 2.4% of women with noncancer status (P = 0.002). The infection of HPV has increased the risk of breast cancer (OR 14.247; 95% CI 1.558–130.284, P = 0.019). The high-risk HPV genotypes (types 16 and 18) in samples of breast cancer patients were the predominant types (53.34%). Other genotypes detected in breast cancer were HPV-6, HPV-11, HPV-15, HPV-23, and HPV-124, and one isolate could not be genotyped compared to HPV reference sequences. While the sole detected HPV in control specimens was HPV-124. Our study reveals that HPV infection and age are the risk factors in breast cancer development in the north part of Iran

Evaluating the Effect of Four Extracts of Avocado Fruit on Esophageal Squamous Carcinoma and Colon Adenocarcinoma Cell Lines in Comparison with Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

Most patients with gastrointestinal cancers refer to the health centers at advanced stages of the disease and conventional treatments are not significantly effective for these patients. Therefore, using modern therapeutic approaches with lower toxicity bring higher chance for successful treatment and reduced adverse effects in such patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of avocado fruit extracts on inhibition of the growth of cancer cells in comparison with normal cells. In an experimental study, ethanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and petroleum extracts of avocado (Persea americana) fruit were prepared. Then, the effects if the extracts on the growth of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and colon adenocarcinoma cell lines were evaluated in comparison with the control group using the MTT test in the cell culture medium. Effects of the four extracts of avocado fruit on three cells lines of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and colon adenocarcinoma were tested. The results showed that avocado fruit extract is effective in inhibition of cancer cell growth in comparison with normal cells (P<0.05). Avocado fruit is rich in phytochemicals, which play an important role in inhibition of growth of cancer cells. The current study for the first time demonstrates the anti-cancer effect of avocado fruit extracts on two cancers common in Iran. Therefore, it is suggested that the fruit extracts can be considered as appropriate complementary treatments in treatment of esophageal and colon cancers

Mermaid syndrome, Sirenomelia: A case report and review of literature

ABSTRACT Sirenomelia is a rare anomaly of caudal region of the body presented with fusion of lower limbs in which Genito-urinary, Gastrointestinal, Cardiovascular and Neural tube anomalies are found in most cases. We introduce a case of severe oligohydramnios, which had characteristic aspects of Sirenomelia at the time of delivery and review the pertinent articles. All in all it is our aim to present another case of sirenomelia to add to existing knowledge and data about the condition in order to make an earlier diagnosis and put an end to pregnancy safely in advance

Relationship of cortisol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine levels with war-induced posttraumatic stress disorder in fathers and their offspring

Objective:To compare afternoon serum/plasma levels of hormones in four groups: (A) veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), (B) offspring of PTSD veterans, (C) veterans without PTSD, and (D) offspring of non-PTSD veterans.Methods:Evaluation consisted of a semi-structured interview for axis I and II diagnoses, followed by measurement of afternoon serum cortisol and plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine by ELISA (Diametra) and LND (LDN Labor Diagnostika Nord GmbH & Co. KG) respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Student t, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, and nonparametric Mann-Whitney tests.Results:One hundred and sixty-eight volunteers were investigated across the four groups. The groups were similar in terms of demographic characteristics, war experience and traumatization, and psychiatric and medical conditions other than PTSD (group A was similar to group C and group B was similar to group D). Between-groups comparisons did not yield statistically significant differences. Post-hoc analyses revealed significant differences in afternoon cortisol level between the offspring of veterans with current/past history of PTSD and the offspring of veterans without a history of PTSD.Conclusion:We only found decreased cortisol levels in offspring of veterans after rearranging the groups to reflect previous history of PTSD. Further studies are required to investigate the relationship between cortisol levels and the transgenerational effects of trauma and parental PTSD

Association between Epstein - Barr Virus (EBV) and Breast Cancer

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in females worldwide. Several etiological factors including environmental factors have been recognized for breast cancer. Epstein Barr virus as a viral etiological factor has been proposed. So far, several studies have investigated the relationship between development of breast cancer and Epstein Barr virus, but few have been done in Iran. The aim of this study was to determine whether there was an association between EBV infection and female breast cancer in Iran. Materials and Methods: We analyzed paraffin embedded breast tissue specimens by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) including breast cancer specimens (as case group) and breast fibroadenoma specimens (as control group). PCR was performed to amplify specific sequences of EBV. Results: From 130 cases of breast samples, 67 cases of breast cancer tissues and 41 cases of breast fibroadenoma tissues had adequate quality and quantity of DNA to detect EBV. PCR for EBV was positive in 4 invasive ductal carcinoma specimens (7.3%) and only one of the fibroadenoma specimens (2.4%). No significant association was found between EBV infection and invasive ductal carcinoma (p> 0.05). Also, patient’s age and histological grade of IDC were not correlated with EBV infection (p>0.05). Conclusion: We observed no etiologic association between EBV infection and invasive ductal carcinoma of female breast in our regions however, further studies are required to elucidate this association

Nephroprotective effects of Feijoa Sellowiana leaves extract on renal injury induced by acute dose of ecstasy (MDMA) in mice

Objective(s): Because of the high total phenolic contents of Feijoa sellowiana , its nephroprotective effect was determined in 3,4-methylene dioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) treated mice.   Materials and Methods: Animals received 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg doses of aqueous or methanol extract of F. sellowiana leaves, intra-peritoneally. After one hour, an acute administration of MDMA (20 mg/kg, IP) was injected. Nephroprotective effect was assayed by determination of serum creatinine, serum urea and kidney glutathione level. Histopathological study was also used.   Results   : Both extracts at 40 mg/kg resulted in a significant reversal in the raised serum creatinine levels (P 0.05). A decrease in urea/ creatinine ratio was observed following aqueous extract treatment. Methanolic extract showed higher activity in increasing kidney glutathione (

Bilateral breast swelling in a 23-year-old woman with Burkitt lymphoma

Primary breast lymphoma (PBL) of the breast is a rare type of localized non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which is usually of the B-cell. The majority of breast lymphoma present as a unilateral painless breast masses in an older woman, average age at diagnosis 55-60. A less common but distinctive presentation is a young woman of childbearing age who presents during or immediately after pregnancy. We present a 23-year-old postpartum woman with bilateral breast swelling. After surgical drainage and debridement and pathologic examination, the diagnosis of breast Burkitt lymphoma (BL) was confirmed. Chemotherapy was immediately started for her and the patient showed a good response with complete remission

Effect of co-culturing normal fibroblasts with esophageal cancer cell lines on miR-21 expression levels.

<p>A) A schematic view of the co-culture system; B) MiR-21 expression in KYSE-30 cells and normal fibroblasts (HGF-1) after juxtaposition in a co-culture system; C) MiR-21 expression levels in KYSE-30 and HGF-1 cells after treatment with CM of HGF-1 and KYSE-30 cells, respectively; D) MiR-21 expression levels in FLO-1 adenocarcinoma and HGF-1 fibroblast cells after juxtaposition in a co-culture system; E) MiR-21 expression levels in FLO-1 and HGF-1 cells after treatment with CM of HGF-1 and FLO-1 cells, respectively. Data were normalized to expression after 24 h of co-culture. Each experiment was performed at least 2 times in triplicates.</p