Risk factors of esophageal cancer in Turkmen Sahra of Iran

Present study was carried out in three years' duration (2002-2004) to investigate the risk factors of esophageal cancer in Iranian Turkmens (Northeast of Iran; where the esophageal cancer is the most common world wide). Concerning registered cases of esophageal cancer in the region, 139 cases were selected. Controls matching in terms of age and sex were 500 healthy individuals. Furthermore, a questionnaire was designated with several questions including: personal characteristics, family history of cancer, possible disease background, and addiction to cigarettes or drugs, and presence of any particular dietary habits. The questionnaires filled with free will (voluntarily) by cases and controls. The collected data was analyzed by SPSS 10.0 software. The mean age of people under study was 60 years. The studied cases were significantly correlated with their first line relatives in term of cancer contraction (P=0.001 and OR=7.6). It was also significant in second and third line relatives (P=0.042 and OR=3.38). There was a significant correlation considering the consumption of stale food and butter with esophageal cancer. As a conclusion, in addition to mentioned risk factors, some other factors as mode of nourishment, employment status, special hygienic habits and inheritance were important factors in esophageal cancer etiology among the studied subjects

Relationship between malondialdehyde level and glutathione peroxidase activity in diabetic rats

Background: This investigation describes the relationship between glutathione peroxidase activities, an antioxidant enzyme, and the oxidative status in diabetic rat blood. Methods: Malondialdehyde level and glutathione peroxidase activity were measured by spectrophotometric techniques. Results and conclusions: Malondialdehyde content in the diabetic rats group was increased compared to that in the controls [3.08±0.32 (mean±S.E.) vs. 1.15±0.29 mmol/g hemoglobin, P>0.01]. Glutathione peroxidase activity in the diabetic rats group was increased compared to that in the control [10.27±1.39 (mean±S.E.) vs. 3.14±0.38 μmol NADPH/min/g hemoglobin, P>0.01]. Our results show a positive correlation between serum glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde concentration in diabetic rats. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Serum Iron and Free Hemoglobin Concentrations in Patients with Acute Ischemia Stroke

A number of evidences suggest that during ischemic stroke, serum iron and hemoglobin (Hb) levels are changed. Yet, there are few reports in the literature related to this issue and resolution of this mechanism requires further experiments. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential role of serum iron and hemoglobin levels as a  biomarker in diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke.  The sample size was  60 ischemic  stroke patients who were admitted to the Rouhhani hospital in Babol, with 60 healthy volunteers selected as control group. Clinical evaluation consisted of complete medical history and physical examination and neuro-imaging's  studies. Sampling strategy was  based on clinical characteristics, including age, gender, and history of diseases. Laboratory measurements were performed in the department of clinical biochemistry. Serum iron and plasma hemoglobin levels were measured by standard kit of iron and hemoglobin ELISA Kit, as of the manufactures' manual. Data were analyzed through statistical software SPSS version 22. The mean level of serum iron and hemoglobin in patients with acute ischemic stroke were higher than those in control group (P<0.05). However, there was no relation between these biomarkers and age and gender of subjects (P>0.05). Our results reinforce the possibility of serum iron and hemoglobin as biomarker in diagnosis of ischemic stroke patients

Attenuation of serum laminin concentrations upon treatment of chronic hepatitis

Objectives: The aim of this work was to determine the serum laminin level cutoff point for predicting liver fibrosis highlighting its diagnostic value and determining the effect of treatment on serum laminin concentrations. Methods: Serum laminin concentrations in chronic hepatitis patients (n=62) and controls (n=20) were compared by ELISA and stages of fibrosis were assessed according to the modified Knodell score system. Results: Mean serum laminin concentration in patients (91.9 ± 20.9 ng/ml) was greater than controls (46.2 ± 10.2 ng/ml; p <0.001). Serum concentrations of laminin in all stages of hepatic fibrosis were significantly higher than those of healthy controls (p <0.05). A cutoff point of 52ng laminin/ml of serum was obtained for the discrimination of various stages of liver fibrosis showing a good sensitivity (96.8%) and specificity (80%). After 6 months of treatment, a gradual decrease in serum laminin concentrations were observed, however the level was still higher than that of the healthy group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the serum laminin concentration is a useful noninvasive marker of liver fibrosis and shows a strong positive correlation with different stages of the disease

Serum hyaluronic acid and laminin as potential tumor markers for upper gastrointestinal cancers

Background: Early diagnosis of patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer is important because many cases are diagnosed in advanced stages and have poor prognosis. Several studies have reported increased serum levels of hyaluronic acid and laminin in various cancers and the correlation of the levels with poor prognosis. However, little data on the use of serum hyaluronic acid and laminin levels for early detection of esophageal and gastric cancers are available. Methods: We assessed serum hyaluronic acid and laminin levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 20 gastric cardia cancer, 23 gastric noncardia cancer and 20 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma incident cases and 25 controls in the Golestan Province, northern Iran, a high risk area for upper gastrointestinal cancers. Results: Mean serum hyaluronic acid and laminin concentrations in cancer cases were higher than in controls in crude analyses. Significant correlations were observed between hyaluronic acid levels and gastric noncardia cancer (Beta-coefficient = 0.390; P = 0.01) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (Beta-coefficient = 0.332; P = 0.05) and between laminin levels and gastric cardia cancer (Beta-coefficient = 0.454; P = 0.003) in multivariate models. For esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, gastric cardia cancer, and gastric noncardia cancer, area under ROC curve (AUC) of hyaluronic acid was 0.708, 0.694, and 0.770, and of laminin was 0.706, 0.828, and 0.671. Conclusions: Our study suggests that hyaluronic acid and laminin may be used to identify potentially high-risk groups of upper gastrointestinal cancers for further diagnostic work-ups, particularly in high incidence areas. Nevertheless, further studies with larger sample size and tumor staging information are warranted to clarify the clinical significance of hyaluronic acid and laminin in those cancers. © 2011 European Federation of Internal Medicine

Serum Irisin level in patients undergoing different Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease

Background: Irisin is a myokine that regulates energy metabolism by inducing browning of adipose tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between irisin level and biochemical parameters of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients in stage 2 and stage 4. Methods: The research was a cross-sectional study; the study population included patients with CKD who were over 18 years of age, included 90 individuals with CKD, of these participants, 45 were in the second stage of the CKD while the other 45 subjects were in the fourth stage. Serum irisin concentration plus the level of glucose (Glu), urea, creatinine (Cr) and hemoglobin (Hb) were measured. Results: In the present study, the serum irisin level of patients in stage 4 was significantly reduced (13.00 ng / ml) compared with patients in stage 2(21.41 ng / ml). Conclusion: With the progression of CKD from stage 2 to stage 4, parameters such as serum Cr, TG, LDL, FBS, BUN and urea levels significantly increased. Inversely, factors such as irisin, GFR, Alb, HDL and Hb levels significantly decreased. These findings suggest that irisin may be involved in the regulation of biochemical factor levels in CKD patients through the progression from stage 2 to stage 4

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Relationship between serum hyaluronic acid level and stage of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis

Article retraction: Ana-Maria Simundic. Parsian H et al. Relationship between serum hyaluronic acid level and stage of liver fi brosis in patients with chronic hepatitis. Biochem Med 2009;19:154-65. Biochemia Medica 2012;22(2):259. Editor-in-chief Biochemia Medica The above stated article has been retracted from the Biochemia Medica Journal. It has been recently brought to the Editor-in-chief’s attention by Monica Acalovschi, who is the Editor-in-chief of the Journal Gastrointestinal Liver Diseases that Hadi Parsian has since 2009 published three articles with close similarities: Parsian H, Rahimipour A, Nouri M, Somi MH, Qujeq D, Fard MK, Agcheli K. Serum hyaluronic acid and laminin as biomarkers in liver fibrosis. J Gastrointestin Liver Dis. 2010;19(2):169-74. Parsian H, Rahimipour A, Nouri M, Somi MH, Qujeq D. Assessment of liver fibrosis development in chronic hepatitis B patients by serum hyaluronic acid and laminin levels. Acta Clin Croat. 2010;49(3):257-65. Parsian H et al. Relationship between serum hyaluronic acid level and stage of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis. Biochemia Medica 2009;19(2):154-65. Authors have submitted their work to Biochemia Medica along with a cover letter clearly stating that their manuscript is original, has not been published before and is not currently being considered for publication elsewhere. Unfortunately, after thourough investigation we conclude that all three published articles have close similarities and high degree of homology. They originate from the same investigation, they report same results on the same patients. This is considered as self-plagiarism and serious publication misconduct. Article published in the Journal of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases in June 2010, has been retracted this March. Due to the above stated reasons, we therefore retract the article published in Biochemia Medica. The authors have been informed about the reasons for the retraction decision

Tracing the success of scaling and root planning (SRP) in patients with chronic periodontitis by salivary nitric oxide

Introduction: Salivary biomarkers may elucidate orodental inflammatory processes. Nitric oxide (NO) may help us to diagnose such changes. Methods: In this case-control study, all referral patients diagnosed with 130% sites were enrolled as generalized mild to moderate periodontitis group (PG). All PG and healthy control group (CG)’ individuals underwent scaling and root planning (SRP). The periodontal indices were recorded at baseline (day0) in both PG and CG, in addition to 14 days after SRP (day 14) : salivary nitric oxide level on same occasions also recorded. Results: Twenty seven individuals were enrolled as PG and 17 individuals were assessed in CG. All indices were improved with SRP after 14 days. Except for NO, none of the periodontal indices subsided to the normal values of CG. Conclusions: Nitric oxide is a sensitive biomarker in tracing periodontal inflammation