Prevalence of intimate partner violence and reproductive health outcomes among Afghan refugee women in Iran

Refugee women are at high risk of experiencing high level of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and its negative impacts. We conducted a cross-sectional population-based household survey with refugees in a settlement in the city of Semnan, Iran, from 2016 to 2017. Afghan refugee women (n?=?188) with ages between 15 and 49?years were recruited for the survey. Overall, about 79.8% of the participants reported to have experienced a form of IPV in the past 12?months. IPV exposure is associated with a negative reproductive health outcome. The high prevalence of IPV found among refugee women in the present research and its strong links with poor reproductive health outcomes, underline the urgent need for the development and testing of appropriate interventions in refugee settlements.     

The effect of n-3 fatty acids on bone biomarkers in Iranian postmenopausal osteoporotic women: a randomized clinical trial

Recently, n-3 fatty acids are in the center of attention for their potent anti-inflammatory effects. Osteoporosis as a chronic senile disease is associated with inflammation, and the role of inflammatory mediators has been demonstrated in recent years. The beneficial effects of n-3 fatty acids on bone were proven in many animal studies, while to date, no conclusive data is available in human. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of n-3 fatty acids on bone biomarkers in osteoporotic postmenopausal women. Twenty-five osteoporotic postmenopausal women were recruited in the study and randomized in treatment and control groups. The patients received 900 mg n-3 fatty acid capsules or placebo per day for 6 months. Serum levels of osteocalcin, bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), calcium, vitamin D, and parathormone and urine concentration of pyridinoline (Pyd) were measured at baseline, second month, and sixth month in both groups. In the treatment group, compared with baseline, at the second month, osteocalcin increased slightly; thereafter, it showed decrement trend until the end of the study. In the control group, it decreased all over the study. None of these changes was significant. BALP showed nonsignificant decrease from baseline over the time in both groups. Urine level of Pyd decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the treatment group, while no significant change was seen in the control group. Serum calcium and vitamin D increased in both groups; however, changes were not significant. No significant changes were seen in calcium clearance and parathormone. In conclusion, n-3 fatty acids can decrease bone resorption; however, it could not affect bone formation significantly after 6 months treatment. Further investigations are recommended.     

Expression of galectin-3, nm-23, and cyclooxygenase-2 could potentially discriminate between benign and malignant pheochromocytoma

Currently, the only reliable indicator of malignancy in pheochromocytoma is the presence of distant metastasis or extensive local invasion; predicting behavior of pheochromocytoma remains challenging. We aimed to correlate the behavior of pheochromocytoma with its expression of nm-23, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and galectin-3 (genes used to predict the course of some neoplastic diseases), evaluated immunohistochemically in 55 paraffin blocks of formalin-fixed pheochromocytoma specimens with confirmed behavior. In 3 (7%) of 44 benign and 7 (64%) of 11 malignant pheochromocytomas, there was negative nm-23 expression (P = .000). COX-2 immunoreactivity was positive in 10 (23%) of benign and 9 (82%) of malignant tumors (P = .000). Galectin-3 was expressed in 5 (11%) of benign and 9 (82%) of malignant pheochromocytomas (P = .000). Negative nm-23, along with positive COX-2 or galectin-3, predicted malignancy with 100% specificity. Dual negativity for galectin-3 and COX-2, along with nm-23 positivity, indicated benign behavior with 100% sensitivity. In early pheochromocytoma, evaluation of nm-23, galectin-3, and COX-2 expression could predict the outcome. Larger studies seem necessary to confirm the potential practical value of our findings.     

The short-term effect of mustard gas on the serum immunoglobulin levels

Mustard gas (MG), as a chemical warfare agent was used by the Iraqi army in Iran-Iraq conflict against military men in the battlefield in 1985.The serum levels of IgG, IgA and IgM of patients exposed to MG in the battlefield were measured by single radial immunodiffusion from day 3 up to one month after exposure to MG. The serum levels of IgG in patients showed significant decrease on day 3 after exposure to MG. However, the levels of IgG in the serum samples collected from the patients during 4-18 days after exposure to MG were found to increase. The increase in serum IgG levels in the sera of patients which were collected during 19-31 days after exposure to MG was found to be highly significant, surpassing those from the controls. The levels of serum IgA in patients during one month after exposure to MG showed alterations similar to those of serum IgG, however the serum alterations of the patients IgA, comparing to those of the normal controls were not significant. The serum levels of IgM in patients did not show marked alterations during one month after exposure to MG comparing to those of the normal controls. The initial decrease in serum levels of IgG in patients is discussed in terms of a possible leakage of IgG into the skin blisters and into other severely affected parts of the body such as respiratory system, whereas the subsequent increase in serum IgG is interpreted as due to (auto) antigenic stimulation of the patients' immune systems.     

Non-functioning pituitary adenoma: immunohistochemical analysis of 85 cases

Pituitary adenomas without clinically active hypersecretion are summarized under the term non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA). Since there are no specific serum markers, the differential diagnosis and treatment imply special difficulties. By using immunohistochemical methods we will have new insight into the nature and pathogenesis of these tumours. Ki-67 is a nuclear antigen detected by the monoclonal antibody MIB-1 and its labelling index (LI) is considered a marker of normal and abnormal cell proliferation. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of immunohistochemistry and MIB1-LI determination in NFPAs to predict tumoural behaviour and better management. In this clinicopathological study, 85 cases of NFPAs were analysed immunohistochemically. MIB1-LI was also determined in studied cases. Clinical presentation, treatment and follow-up data were also reviewed and the correlation between clinical and pathologic findings was established. Eighteen adenomas (21.2%) were immunoreactive to one or two adenohypophysial hormones of which 4 GH positive adenomas had aggressive behaviour (2 significant juxtasellar extensions and 2 recurrences). MIB-1 LI was more than 5% in only 5 cases including 2 invasive adenomas but with no evidence of recurrence. No significant statistical difference between clinical presentations in immunoreactive and non-immunoreactive NFPAs was observed except for unilateral temporal hemianopia which was more common in immunoreactive adenomas (P=0.022). NFPAs comprise several pathologically different types of tumours, some of which are potentially hormone producing, but some defects in hormone secretion or production of biologically inactive or insufficient amount of hormone may be the culprit in the lack of evidence of rising serum hormone levels. MIB-1 LI may be indicative of invasiveness but not a predictor of recurrence. Silent somatotropinomas may have more aggressive behaviour in comparison with other NFPAs.