Effect of PTEN Gene Mutations and Environmental Risk Factors on the Progression and Prognosis of Bladder Cancer.

Bladder cancer is the most frequent genitourinary malignancy in Iran. Environmental and genetic factors are the two factors linked with bladder cancer expansion. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of PTEN gene and environmental risk factors on the progression and prognosis of bladder cancer.We evaluated 55 tumor specimens and 66 bladder mucosa samples of non-cancerous patients between 2011 and 2013. All samples were analyzed for PTEN mutations using PCR and direct DNA sequencing methods. Demographic data collected, were analyzed using SPSS version 19.0 software and a P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Of the 55 patients examined, tumor stage was T1, T2 (T2a, T2b) in 34 (61.8%) and 21 (38.2%) and tumor grade was high, low in 34 (61.8%) and 21 (38.2%), respectively. No mutations in the PTEN gene were found in patients with bladder cancer and control. Among the risk factors studied, only the occupation and history of urinary tract stones, were significantly associated with bladder cancer (P valu

Micromechanical modeling of tension stiffening in FRP-strengthened concrete elements

This article presents a micromodeling computational framework for simulating the tensile response and tension-stiffening behavior of fiber reinforced polymer–strengthened reinforced concrete elements. The total response of strengthened elements is computed based on the local stress transfer mechanisms at the crack plane including concrete bridging stress, reinforcing bars stress, FRP stress, and the bond stresses at the bars-to-concrete and fiber reinforced polymer-to-concrete interfaces. The developed model provides the possibility of calculating the average response of fiber reinforced polymer, reinforcing bars, and concrete as well as the crack spacing and crack widths. The model, after validation with experimental results, is used for a systematic parameter study and development of micromechanics-based relations for calculating the crack spacing, fiber reinforced polymer critical ratio, debonding strength, and effective bond length. Constitutive models are also proposed for concrete tension stiffening and average response of steel reinforcing bars in fiber reinforced polymer–strengthened members as the main inputs of smeared crack modeling approaches

Buccal Mucosal Graft in Repeat Urethroplasty

Introduction: Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of a tubed buccal mucosal graft in repeat urethroplasty for patients with urethral stricture and failed previous operations.Materials and Methods: Ten patients (aged 12 to 47 years) with urethral stricture were entered into the study. All had a history of failed previous urethroplasties, and 5 had failed internal urethrotomies too. Repeat urethroplasties were performed by excising the fibrous tissue around the stricture; buccal mucosa was then harvested from the inner cheek, made into graft tubing, and interposed into the defect. The patients were followed at 1, 6, and 12 months. Results: The procedure was technically successful in all the patients. The mean operative time was 150 minutes. The stricture sites were in the posterior urethra in 8 and the anterior urethra in 2 patients. The mean urethral defect length was 4.9 cm. The primary etiology was pelvic fracture in 7 patients. Strictures recurred postoperatively in 3 patients, all of whom had a urethral defect longer than 5 cm, and 2 of whom had more than 1 previous failed urethroplasties (compared with 1 out of 7 in the successful cases). Urinary flow rate increased significantly (from 0 to 10.4 ± 7.33 mL/s) postoperatively (P = .018). Longer strictures produced signifcantly poorer graft urethroplasty outcomes (P = .001). Conclusion: Urethroplasty with buccal mucosal grafts is tough, resilient, easy to harvest, and it leaves no scar. It appears to be an optimal substitute for anterior and posterior urethral strictures longer than 3 cm.</p

Reconstructive Surgery Buccal Mucosal Graft in Repeat Urethroplasty

ABSTRACT Introduction: Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of a tubed buccal mucosal graft in repeat urethroplasty for patients with urethral stricture and failed previous operations. Materials and Methods: Ten patients (aged 12 to 47 years) with urethral stricture were entered into the study. All had a history of failed previous urethroplasties, and 5 had failed internal urethrotomies, too. Repeat urethroplasties were performed by excising the fibrous tissue around the stricture; buccal mucosa was then harvested from the inner cheek, made into graft tubing, and interposed into the defect. The patients were followed at 1, 6, and 12 months. Results: The procedure was technically successful in all the patients. The mean operative time was 150 minutes. The stricture sites were in the posterior urethra in 8 and the anterior urethra in 2 patients. The mean urethral defect length was 4.9 cm. The primary etiology was pelvic fracture in 7 patients. Strictures recurred postoperatively in 3 patients, all of whom had a urethral defect longer than 5 cm, and 2 of whom had more than 1 previous failed urethroplasties (compared with 1 out of 7 in the successful cases). Urinary flow rate increased significantly (from 0 to 10.4 ± 7.33 mL/s) postoperatively (P = .018). Longer strictures produced signifcantly poorer graft urethroplasty outcomes (P = .001). Conclusion: Urethroplasty with buccal mucosal grafts is tough, resilient, easy to harvest, and leaves no scar. It appears to be an optimal substitute for anterior and posterior urethral strictures longer than 3 cm

Serum selenium level and prostate cancer: a case-control study

Selenium is a potential chemopreventive agent against prostate cancer. This study sought to evaluate and compare the serum selenium level in men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer and noncancerous patients. Between 2005 and 2006, this prospective case-control study was performed on patients referred to Sina and Imam University hospitals, Tehran, Iran; it included 62 men with clinicopathologically confirmed diagnosis of prostate cancer (case group) and 68 men with no detectable prostate cancer [normal digital rectal examination and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level] or any other malignant disease (control group). The serum selenium level was assessed using Zeeman graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer (Varian Company, Australia). The mean serum selenium level in the case and control group was 66.3 ± 17.7 µg/l and 77.5 ± 22.5 µg/l, respectively ( P = 0.002). Serum selenium was inversely associated with prostate cancer risk. After adjustment for age, body mass index (BMI), and smoking, the odds ratio was 0.16 and 95% confidence intervals were 0.06 to 0.47 ( P trendq = 0.001) comparing the highest with the lowest tertile (≥89.3 µg/l). No correlation was observed between serum selenium level and age, BMI, or PSA level. In conclusion, serum selenium levels in prostate cancer cases were lower than in controls, which supports the hypothesis that selenium may protect against prostate cancer

Posttransplant Infectious Complications: A Prospective Study on 142 Kidney Allograft Recipients

Introduction: We evaluated the posttransplant complications resulting from infections and their association with graft function, immunosuppressive drugs, and mortality.Materials and Methods: A total of 142 kidney allograft recipients were followed for 1 year after transplantation. The patients’ status was assessed during regular visits, and data including clinical characteristics, infections, serum creatinine level, acute rejection episodes, immunosuppressive regimen, graft function, and mortality were recorded and analyzed. Results: Infections occurred in 77 patients (54%). The lower urinary (42%) and respiratory (6.3%) tracts were the most common sites of infection. The most frequent causative organisms were Klebsiella in 34 (24%) and cytomegalovirus in 25 patients (18%). Wound infection occurred in 7 patients (5%). The mortality rate was 7.7% and infection-related death was seen in 5 patients (3.5%) who developed sepsis. Graft loss was seen in 16 patients (11%), of whom 2 developed cytomegalovirus infection, 2 experienced urinary tract infection, and 5 developed sepsis and died. Mycobacterial and hepatitis C infections were noticeably rare (0.7% and 2.8%, respectively). Conclusion: This study showed that infections are important causes of morbidity and mortality during the posttransplant period. We recommend that serologic tests be performed before and after transplantation to recognize and meticulously follow those who are at risk. In our study, high-risk patients were those with elevated serum creatinine levels who received high doses of immunosuppressive drugs. As the urinary tract is the most common site of infection, early removal of urethral catheter is recommended to reduce the risk of infection.</p