Identification of miR-20a as A Potential Discerning Biomarker for Non-Invasive versus Invasive Retinoblastoma.

Objective: Intraocular retinoblastoma (RB) is common in kids. Although the cause of this disease is a mutation in the RB1 gene, the formed cancerous mass in different patients is seen in non-invasive states, limited to the ocular cavity or in invasive states distributed to other parts of the body. Because this tumor's aggressiveness cannot be predicted early, these patients receive systemic chemotherapy with multiple drugs.

Hsp70, in Combination with IL-15 and PD-1 Blocker, Interferes with The Induction of Cytotoxic NK Cells in Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients.

Objective: Natural killer (NK) cells are critical immune cells for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) targeting. However, little is known about the relationship between using checkpoint inhibitors and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) as NK cell activators to control AML. Therefore, the study aims to find the best formulation of Hsp70, human PD-1 (Programmed cell death protein 1) blocker, and interleukin 15 (IL-15) to activate NK cells against AML.

Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in newly diagnosed type-1 diabetes patients: a phase I/II randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background: Type-1 diabetes (T1D) occurs following autoimmune-induced pancreatic beta cells death. Among several treatment modalities, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation is promising for autoimmune disorders due to immunomodulation, regeneration, and migration to damaged tissue upon systemic injection. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of intravenous injection of autologous bone marrow-derived MSCs in newly diagnosed T1D patients.

Hsa-miR-625 Upregulation Promotes Apoptosis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cell Line by Targeting Integrin-linked Kinase Pathway.

Background: Growing evidence has demonstrated that microRNAs have a major effect on development of different types of cancer including AML. The overexpression of miR-625 could decrease tumorgenesis of acute myeloid leukemia cell lines through Integrin-linked kinase signaling pathway and reducing the associated oncogenes.  The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of hsa-miR-625 upregulation on apoptosis and proliferation of KG1 cell line via ILK signaling pathway.

Upregulation of hsa-miR-625-5p Inhibits Invasion of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cancer Cells through ILK/AKT Pathway.

Objective: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by abnormalities of differentiation and growth of primary hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the blood and bone marrow. In many studies, miR-625-5p has been shown to inhibit downstream pathways from affecting the metastasis and invasion of the integrin-linked kinase (ILK) signaling pathway. It has been proved that the expression of miR-625-5p decreases in AML cell lines.

Genomic alterations and possible druggable mutations in carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP).

Carcinoma of Unknown Primary (CUP) is a heterogeneous and metastatic disease where the primary site of origin is undetectable. Currently, chemotherapy is the only state-of-art treatment option for CUP patients. The molecular profiling of the tumour, particularly mutation detection, offers a new treatment approach for CUP in a personalized fashion using targeted agents.

Treatment challenges and outcomes for pediatric intracranial ependymoma at a single institution in Iran.

Background: The scarcity of information on pediatric ependymoma in Iran motivated this study. Our main objectives were to determine outcomes, identify clinical management challenges at a nongovernment hospital in Iran, and devise guidelines for improving care.

Procedure: A retrospective chart review was performed for pediatric patients with ependymoma who were younger than 15 years and treated at MPCTRC between 2007 and 2015.

Management and outcomes of treating pediatric medulloblastoma: an eight years' experience in an Iranian pediatric center.

Purpose: The clinical management of pediatric medulloblastoma requires a multidisciplinary approach, which can be challenging, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to identify current challenges and describe the treatment and outcomes of Iranian pediatric patients with medulloblastoma who were referred to our center in Tehran, Iran.

Methods: Our retrospective review included 126 patient records from April 2007 to May 2015.

Features of Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Iran: a Report from Double Center Study.

Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia is one of the important malignancies in children. For better managing the prognosis of this disease, there should be enough information about common features of this malignancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate these common features in children with Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia.

CD7 aberrant expression led to a lineage switch at relapsed childhood acute pre-B lymphoblastic leukemia.

Immunophenotypic changes and lineage switch between diagnosis and relapse in acute lymphoblastic leukemia are uncommon and accompanied by poor outcomes. In this report, a 12-year-old boy with diagnosis of pre-B ALL with an aberrant expression of CD 7 is described. Patient was treated with the ALL-BFM 2000 protocol and suffered an episode of relapse with a lineage switch from pre-B ALL to T cell ALL.

Family History and Relapse in Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

We report the epidemiology and characteristics of acute myeloid leukemia and outcomes of its treatment with the AML-BFM 83 protocol at the Mahak Pediatric Cancer Treatment and Research Center, Tehran, Iran, from 2007 to 2012. A positive family history of cancer or leukemia was associated with the risk of relapse (family history of cancer in relapse: n = 11; 61%, P = 0.136, leukemia: n = 7; 39%; P = 0.

Consequences of delayed diagnosis in treatment of retinoblastoma.

Objective: One of the primary factors in managing patients with retinoblastoma is early diagnosis. The main idea of this study was to recognize the consequences of delay in diagnosis on therapy of the disease.

Methods: A retrospective review of all children with proven retinoblastoma, who had presented to MAHAK hospital in Tehran, from April 2007 to Dec 2011, was performed.

Intrathecal injection of CD133-positive enriched bone marrow progenitor cells in children with cerebral palsy: feasibility and safety.

Background Aims: Recent studies have proposed that cellular transplantation may have some regenerative and functional efficacy in the treatment of cerebral palsy (CP); however, much remains to be understood regarding its safety, feasibility and efficacy. This study was initiated to evaluate the safety of autologous bone marrow-derived CD133(+) cell intrathecal injection.

Methods: Children (n = 12), aged 4 to 12 years, who were diagnosed with different types of CP underwent BM aspiration.

Childhood central nervous system tumors at MAHAK's Pediatric Cancer Treatment and Research Center (MPCTRC), Tehran, Iran.

Purpose: As central nervous system (CNS) tumors account for second most common childhood malignancies and the first cause of mortality in children with cancer, improving treatment modalities can lead to increase the health care of patients. In this study, we examined the prevalence of childhood brain tumors in patients who referred to MAHAK's Pediatric Cancer Treatment and Research Center (MPCTRC) for treatment.

Methods: A retrospective review of all children less than 15 years old with a CNS histologically proven tumor, who presented to MPCTRC from April 2007 to April 2010, was performed.

Intramuscular midazolam for pediatric sedation in the emergency department: a short communication on clinical safety and effectiveness.

Background: Procedural sedation in children continues to be a problem in the emergency department (ED). Midazolam is the first water-soluble benzodiazepine and it has been widely used for procedural sedation in pediatric patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was evaluation of clinical safety and effectiveness of intramuscular Midazolam for pediatric sedation in the ED setting.

Hydroxyurea-induced hematological response in transfusion-independent beta-thalassemia intermedia: case series and review of literature.

Background: Hydroxyurea (HU) may improve the symptoms in thalassemia patients by increasing gamma-globin chain expression. However, the efficacy of HU in beta-thalassemia intermedia (TI) is unclear.

Methods: The authors treated 16 transfusion-independent TI patients (8 males) aged 10.