Samaneh Khorrami; Masoumeh Tavakoli; Elahe Safari
Abstract
Background and Objective: S100A8/A9 is a heterodimer calcium-binding protein which is involved in tumor cell proliferation, adhesion and invasion, and is proposed as a biomarker for better diagnosis and prognosis in many cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the simultaneous serum-based level ...
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Background and Objective: S100A8/A9 is a heterodimer calcium-binding protein which is involved in tumor cell proliferation, adhesion and invasion, and is proposed as a biomarker for better diagnosis and prognosis in many cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the simultaneous serum-based level of S100A8/A9 and CA15-3 as well-illustrated cancer biomarkers, as well as their prognostic value in breast cancer patients and healthy matched controls. Material and Methods: Thirty breast cancer patients at different stages of disease and healthy matched controls with no history of inflammatory, autoimmune diseases, or cancer, were enrolled in the study. The levels of S100A8/A9 and CA15-3 were assessed serologically using the Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, and the relevance of these markers with patients’ clinicopathological features were subsequently assessed. Results: Based on our data, the serum levels of both S100A8/A9 and CA15-3 were significantly higher in patients compared to the healthy controls, and thus positively correlated with tumor size. Also, statistical analysis shows that the serum level of S100A8/A9 has 100% specificity and sensitivity (AUC = 1.00, 95% CI) for the diagnosis of breast cancer patients. Conclusion: According to our data as well as other observations, the S100A8/A9 heterodimer can be considered as a potential biomarker for the proper diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer.
Fatemeh Teimoorian; Mohammad Ranaei; Karimollah Hajian-Tilaki; Javad Shokri Shirvani; Zeinab Vosough
Volume 13, Issue 3 , July 2018, , Pages 325-332
Abstract
Background and objective: Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the most common chronic bacterial infections in the world, especially in the developing countries. This bacterium is the cause of many diseases such as lymphoma, gastritis, peptic ulcers, and stomach cancer. According to recent reports, ...
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Background and objective: Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the most common chronic bacterial infections in the world, especially in the developing countries. This bacterium is the cause of many diseases such as lymphoma, gastritis, peptic ulcers, and stomach cancer. According to recent reports, H. pylori infection can potentially increase the risk of colon cancer. The current study aimed at investigating the association of H. pylori infection and the risk of colorectal cancer and adenomatous polyps.Methods: The current study was conducted on 50 patients with colon cancer and adenomatous polyps as the case group and 100 subjects with no specific pathologies (i e, polyps, neoplasms, or inflammatory diseases) as the control group. Blood samples were collected from the patients in order to assess the presence of anti-Helicobacter pylori infection antibodies, and the serum titer levels of anti-Helicobacter pylori IgG and IgA antibodies were measured using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a kit procured by Pishtaz Teb Company (Iran).Results: A total of 33 patients in the current study had adenomatous polyps and 17 had colon cancer. H. pylori infection (IgA >20 U/mL and IgG >10 U/mL) was significantly more prevalent in the patients with colon cancer and adenomatous polyps compared with the healthy controls (P= 0.003, P= 0.039, respectively). Conclusion: The obtained results suggested that H. pylori infection can be considered as a risk factor for colon cancer and adenomatous polyps.
Biochemistry
Hassan Ghasemi; Nayere Askari; Sakine Moaiedmohseni; Soghrat Faghihzadeh; Susan Kabudanian Ardestani; Elham Faghihzadeh; Tooba Ghazanfari
Abstract
Background and objective Aside from direct toxic effects, Sulfur Mustard (SM) induced serum hormone abnormalities may aggravate ocular complaints, including Ocular Surface Discomfort (OSD) (burning, itching, and redness), dry eye sensation, photophobia, blurred vision, foreign body sensation, and pain. ...
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Background and objective Aside from direct toxic effects, Sulfur Mustard (SM) induced serum hormone abnormalities may aggravate ocular complaints, including Ocular Surface Discomfort (OSD) (burning, itching, and redness), dry eye sensation, photophobia, blurred vision, foreign body sensation, and pain. The aim of the current study was to investigate the possible association of ocular complaints with serum hormone concentrations in chronic phase of Sulfur Mustard (SM) exposure. Methods:As a part of Sardasht Iran Cohort Study (SICS), 372 SM-exposed patients and 128 non-exposed participants were enrolled. Ocular complaints and ocular surface biomicroscopic conditions and serum hormones were compared. Results:The exposed with tearing group had significantly higher mean serum levels of testosterone and prolactin (ng/mL) than controls (5.75 vs. 4.75, P=0.031; 11.71 vs. 8.42, P=0.009). The exposed with OSD group had significantly higher mean serum levels of prolactin than controls (12.48 vs. 6.90, P=0.002). The exposed with photophobia group had significantly higher mean serum levels of testosterone than the matched exposed (6.25 vs. 5.65, P=0.013). The exposed with blurred vision group had significantly higher mean serum levels of Thyroglobulin (Tg) (ng/mL) than the matched exposed (65.73 vs. 32.6, P=0.003). Conclusion: Higher mean serum levels of testosterone (in exposed with tearing and photophobia) and prolactin (in exposed with tearing and OSD) may play protective roles against SM effects. Higher mean serum levels of Tg may deteriorate the tear film integrity and optical surface, which causes blurred vision. In the chronic phase of SM toxicity, some ocular surface problems are associated with alterations in the serum concentrations of testosterone, prolactin, and Tg.
Microbiology
Khashayar Mohseni; Reza Mirnejad; Vahab Piranfar; Shiva Mirkalantari
Abstract
Background & Objective: Since the symptoms of Brucellosis are often atypical and nonspecific, using clinical signs alone to diagnose brucellosis is not advised; therefore, the diagnosis relies predominantly on laboratory testing. Currently, molecular, serological, and microbiological methods are ...
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Background & Objective: Since the symptoms of Brucellosis are often atypical and nonspecific, using clinical signs alone to diagnose brucellosis is not advised; therefore, the diagnosis relies predominantly on laboratory testing. Currently, molecular, serological, and microbiological methods are used for diagnosis of this disease. In this study we examined ELISA, PCR and serum agglutination (SAT) methods on human patient serum samples. Methods:A total of 100 serum samples were collected from suspected patients. Fifty serum samples gave a positive result with the Wright test. The ELISA method was first employed on all samples for the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies against Brucella. Subsequently, the rapid PCR methodology was used to identify presence of Brucella genome in 500 µL of each serum sample. The B4/B5 primer pair was used for PCR amplification. Results:Out of the 100 serum samples obtained from patients with suspected brucellosis, 50 samples tested positive by SAT and displayed high titers of 1/160. Of these 50 positive samples, 49 samples were positive as per the ELISA test whereas one sample tested negative. The PCR test was conducted on all 100 serum samples and results showed that the 45 serum samples that gave a positive agglutination test were also positive by PCR. Conclusions: Various laboratory methods have beenused or introduced for the detection of Brucella. Molecular methods such as PCR, a rapid and sensitive method for detection of bacteria, have also been reported. Based on the results of this study, we propose that the simultaneous use of serology and molecular techniques has the potential to overcome limitations of detection thereby enabling the selection of appropriate treatment for the patient.
Foroogh sadat Hashemi; Maryam Abolhasani; Seyed Mohammad Hakimi
Volume 2, Issue 2 , April 2007, , Pages 54-58
Abstract
Introduction and Objective: Zinc as the second trace element of the human body plays an important role in numerous functions. A large number of research studies have showed serum zinc deficiency and excess urinary excretion in patients with major beta thalassemia, but few studies revealed excess urinary ...
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Introduction and Objective: Zinc as the second trace element of the human body plays an important role in numerous functions. A large number of research studies have showed serum zinc deficiency and excess urinary excretion in patients with major beta thalassemia, but few studies revealed excess urinary zinc excretion in minor beta thalassemia and no study investigated serum zinc levels in this group. This study aimed to measure serum and urine zinc level in patients with minor beta thalassemia. Materials and Methods: The study was observational and cross-sectional. Blood and 24-hour urine samples were collected from carriers of beta thalassemia who attended Ali Asghar Hospital for blood transfusions for their children. They had documented hemoglobin electrophoresis for their status. The serum and urine zinc levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Student’s t test was used for comparison of groups. Results: The average level of zinc in the serum and urine of the male cases was 69 ± 10 μg/dl and 714 ± 162 μg/dl and in the female cases was 58 ± 11 μg/dl and 751 ± 162 μg/dl respectively and was 64 ± 12 μg/dl and 730 ± 120 μg/dl totally. The obtained serum zinc was lower and the urine zinc was higher in minor beta thalassemic persons than the amounts mentioned by references for the subjects of the same sex and age. The serum zinc level of anemic patients with minor beta thalassemia was lower (63 ± 11 vs 72 ± 13 μg/dl) and the urine zinc level was higher (792 ± 183 vs 673 ± 202 μg/dl) than non-anemic patients. Conclusion: Minor beta thalassemics have lower serum zinc level and due to abundant roles of zinc can make benefit from zinc supplementation. This decrement may be attributed to tubulopathy in these patients.