Histopathological changes of gastric mucosa following oral administration of fumonisin B1 in mice

Fumonisin B1 is a common secondary metabolite produced by Fusarium moniliforme that occurs in corn and corn-based foods. This mycotoxin is toxic to many species of laboratory and domestic animals and is known to induce a variety of diseases such as hepatic cancer and renal and hepatic dysfunction. The structure of fumonisin B1 (FB1) resembles sphingolipids so it can inhibit synthesis of ceramide, an enzyme in the sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway. This inhibition leads to the disruption of sphingolipid metabolism and increased levels of sphinganine and sphingosine (sphingoid bases) in the serum of treated animals. It is believed that the toxicity effect of fumonisin B1 is the result of these sphingoid bases. In the present research, mice were treated with FB1 to determine its pathological effects on gastric gland and gastric mucosa in the treated mice. For this purpose, the mice were randomly assigned into two groups, namely, control (n?=?14) and treatment (n?=?15). The treatment group was fed with prepared food containing FB1 (150 mg/kg) for a period of 4 months. One day after the last treatment, all animals in both groups were euthanized and their stomach were sampled and prepared for microscopic analysis. Histopathological analysis revealed a significant decrease in parietal cell number and a significant increase in the number of inflammatory cells in gastric mucosa. Also, atrophy of gastric glands was observed. The study confirmed that FB1 poisoning can have toxicopathological effects such as gastric gland atrophy and gastritis on mice gastric tissue.     

Hypoglycemia, the first presenting sign of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hypoglycemia is a well-known paraneoplastic manifestation of hepatocellular carcinoma usually occurring in the terminal stages of the disease. However, during initial presentation this manifestation is uncommon. We report a 77-year-old man who presented with signs and symptoms of severe hypoglycemia for example drowsiness. After clinical work-ups, we detected a large mass in the liver. Interestingly, after surgical excision of the tumor, the attacks of decreased level of consciousness and hypoglycemia seized.     

Detection of Epstein-Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus in Gastric Cancers in Kerman,Iran

Gastric cancer (GC) is a multifactorial disease with different factors having roles in its genesis. Helicobacter pylori and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are known infectious agents that could contribute. In addition, there is evidence of a relationship with cytomegalovirus (CMV). Since data on CMV prevalence in gastric cancer are limited, we here evaluated the frequency of EBV and CMV in Iranian patients. Ninety paraffin blocks of GC tissues from patients in Kerman were evaluated for the presence of EBV and CMV genomes by real-time polymerase chain reaction. EBV was detected in 10 cases (11.1%) and CMV in seven. One out of 17 female patients (5.88%) and nine out of 73 male patients (12.3%) were positive for EBV, while one out of 17 female patients (5.88%) and six out of 73 male patients (8.22%) were positive for CMV. The mean age for EBV-positive patients was 60.514.9 years and the mean age for CMV-positive patients was 67.912.3years. This study shows that the frequency of EBV-associated GC is high in Kerman. It also indicates that further studies of associations between GC and CMV are warranted, covering larger samples and populations from different areas of the world.     

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion induced by bilateral carotid artery stenosis causes selective recognition impairment in adult mice

Objectives: Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) can result in vascular dementia and small vessel white matter ischemic injury. These findings have previously been demonstrated in a murine experimental model of CCH secondary to bilateral common carotid artery stenosis (BCAS). This study sought to elucidate the effects of CCH on recognition memory as assessed by the novel object recognition (NOR) test and histological analysis of the hippocampus and perirhinal cortex.

Methods: Studies were performed on ten-week-old male mice using bilateral 0.18 mm microcoils to narrow the carotid arteries in accordance with prior publications. Following surgery, BCAS (n = 6) and sham (n = 6) mice were evaluated using NOR and 8-arm radial maze testing paradigms. Tissue damage was assessed using H&E staining on a parallel cohort of mice (n = 6 BCAS, n = 7 sham).

Results: In the NOR paradigm, BCAS mice demonstrated significant deficits in short-term memory. Consistent with prior studies, BCAS mice also performed significantly worse on 8-arm radial maze testing. BCAS mice exhibited significantly more neuronal injury in the perirhinal cortex when compared to sham-operated mice. However, no significant differences in neuronal damage were observed in the CA1 region of the hippocampus.

Discussion: Experimental CCH secondary to BCAS results in recognition memory deficits on NOR testing. Damage to the perirhinal cortex, rather than to the hippocampus, may underlie this impairment.     

Closure of Interatrial Defects by Immediate-Release Patch

The Immediate-Release Patch is the newest version of the Transcatheter Patch, which is a bioabsorbable device for the closure of cardiac defects. Closure of 12 atrial septal defects and 1 fenestration was attempted using this device. Of the 13 devices used, 12 were implanted successfully (including that for the fenestration), whereas 1 device moved from the original position and was retrieved percutaneously. No other major adverse events occurred. After a median follow-up period of 11?months, trivial (??2-mm) residual shunts remained in two patients, and a significant residual defect (7?mm) remained in 1 patient. The major advantages of this device include its wirelessness, its bioabsorbablity, potential application for defects up to 30?mm using only three sizes, its easier retrieval, and its ability to occlude defects with a deficient rim and some ostium primum and sinus venosus type defects. In contrast to the metal devices, it is bulkier and has a different application method requiring operator familiarity, and it sometimes leaves residual shunts.     

Metabolic syndrome in Iranian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and its determinants

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Iranian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its determinants. In a cross-sectional study, 98 patients with SLE and 95 controls were enrolled. Prevalence of MetS was determined based on American Heart Association and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI) and 2009 harmonizing criteria. In addition, demographic features and lupus characteristics such as disease duration, pharmacological treatment, laboratory data, SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage index (SDI) were recorded. The predictors of MetS were obtained by backward stepwise regression analysis. Using AHA/NHLBI, MetS was observed in 35 (35.7%) patients and 28 (29.8%) controls (P?=?0.4). Using harmonizing criteria, MetS was observed in 37 (37.7%) patients and 33 (35.1%) controls (P?=?0.7). There was no difference in frequency distribution of MetS components between the patients and the controls. In multivariate regression analysis, low C3, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and body mass index were independent determinants of MetS in lupus patients. BUN, low C3, and body mass index were the major determinants of MetS in lupus patients.     

Evaluation of HPV DNA positivity in colorectal cancer patients in Kerman,Southeast Iran

Background: The HPV virus is known to be oncogenic and associations with many cancers has been proven. Although many studies have been conducted on the possible relationship with colorectal cancer (CRC), a definitive role of the virus has yet to be identified. Method: In this cross-sectional study, the frequency of HPV positivity in CRC samples in Kerman was assessed in 84 cases with a mean age of 47.7 ± 12.5 years over two years. Qualitative real time PCR was performed using general primers for the L1 region of HPV DNA. Results: Out of 84 CRC samples, 19 (22.6%), proved positive for HPV DNA. Genotyping of positive samples showed all of these to be of high risk HPV type. Prevalence of HPV infection appears to depend geographic region, life style, diet and other factors. Conclusion: In our location frequency of CRC is low, and this limited the sample size for evaluation of HPV DNA. The most prevalent types were HPV types 51 and 56. While HPV infection may play an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis, this needs to be assessed in future studies.     

Low Prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus in Patients with Breast Cancer,Kerman; Iran

Breast cancer is the first of the most important causes of the deaths of women in the world and in Iran. There arevarious causes and causes of this cancer, one of which has recently been described as a cause of breast cancer, is the humanpapillomavirus (HPV). The HPV is transmitted through sexual contact and skin lesions. There are more than 100 types ofHPV that can influence different parts of the body. Some types of HPV can cause cancer (such as cervical or anal cancer)and others can cause warts (such as genital or plantar warts). To study the risk of HPV infection in Breast Cancer, wemanaged a Case-Control study in Kerman, southeast of Iran. For this purpose, 98 paraffin blocks of breast cancer and40 paraffin blocks of fibrocystic as a control were tested for the presence of HPV DNA using Real-Time PCR, andHPV typing was done using INNo-Lippa assay. HPV DNA was detected in 8 out of 98 patients (8.2%), while it wasnot detected in the control group samples. HPV types 16, 18 were the most common (62.5%) types in positive samples.The prevalence of HPV in patients with breast cancer of Iran is very low and less than other regions of the world,it seems that maybe rout of transmission of HPV in Iran is under control. No one knows exactly why breast canceroccurs. The environment, hormones, Viruses, or your lifestyle could all play a role in the development of breast cancer.Currently, Vaccination is the best way to prevent cancer that’s due to HPV. However, additional studies on the largergroup of patients are needed to explain the roles of HPV in Breast cancer.