Conversion from Cystine to Noncystine Stones: Incidence and Associated Factors.

Purpose: Patients with cystinuria are often treated with medical alkalization and shock wave lithotripsy, although each treatment is hypothesized to increase the risk of calcium phosphate stones. We performed a multicenter retrospective review to evaluate whether stones of another composition develop in patients with cystinuria and with what frequency.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of a multi-institutional cohort of patients with cystinuria.

Stage-specific prognostic biomarkers in melanoma.

The melanoma staging system proposed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) (which classifies melanoma patients into four clinical stages) is currently the most widely used tool for melanoma prognostication, and clinical management decision making by clinicians. However, multiple studies have shown that melanomas within specific AJCC Stages can exhibit varying progression and clinical outcomes. Thus, additional information, such as that provided by biomarkers is needed to assist in identifying the patients at risk of disease progression.

eIF4E is an adverse prognostic marker of melanoma patient survival by increasing melanoma cell invasion.

Human cutaneous melanoma is a devastating skin cancer because of its invasive nature and high metastatic potential. We used tissue microarray to study the role of human eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) in melanoma progression in 448 melanocytic lesions and found that high eIF4E expression was significantly increased in primary melanomas compared with dysplastic nevi (P<0.001), and further increased in metastatic melanomas (P<0.

A combination of p300 and Braf expression in the diagnosis and prognosis of melanoma.

Background: To date only a handful of drugs are available for the treatment of melanoma. Among them vemurafenib, a BrafV600E specific inhibitor, showed promising results in terms of response rate and increase in median survival time. However, its effectiveness is limited by development of resistance and the search for additional drugs for melanoma treatment is ongoing.

Pleiotropic function of SRY-related HMG box transcription factor 4 in regulation of tumorigenesis.

In addition to their critical roles in embryonic development, cell fate decision, and differentiation, members of Sox (Sry-related high-mobility group box) family of transcription factors including Sox4 have been implicated in various cancers. Multiple studies have revealed an increased expression along with specific oncogenic function of Sox4 in tumors, while others observed a reduced expression of Sox4 in different types of malignancies and suppression of tumor initiation or progression by this protein. More interestingly, the prognostic value of Sox4 is debated due to obvious differences between various reports as well as inconsistencies within specific studies.

Effects of opium addiction on bleeding after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: report from Iran.

Purpose: Opium abuse is a major type of drug abuse in Iran. This study was designed to find the possible relation between opium addiction and excessive bleeding after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Methods: In a historical cohort study during a 1.

Impact of psoriasis on quality of life in Iran.

Background: The Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI) questionnaire is a widely used instrument to measure psychological morbidity in plaque-type psoriasis patients.

Aims: This study aimed to validate the Persian version of the PDI and to evaluate the impact of psoriasis on quality of life (QOL).

Methods: The English language version of the PDI was translated into Persian (Iranian official language) and was used in this study.

Topical immunotherapy with diphenylcyclopropenone in vitiligo: a preliminary experience.

Background: Despite recent significant therapeutic advances, vitiligo remains a clinical conundrum. Topical immunotherapy has been extensively tested in the treatment of various dermatologic disorders, especially those believed to have an immunologic basis.

Aim: To evaluate the role of topical diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) in the treatment of vitiligo.

Retinoic acid synergistically enhances the melanocytotoxic and depigmenting effects of monobenzylether of hydroquinone in black guinea pig skin.

Monobenzylether of hydroquinone (MBEH) has long been utilized for the depigmentation therapy of patients with extensive vitiligo. In this approach, the normally pigmented areas surrounding vitiligo lesions are depigmented to achieve a uniform skin tone. One of the important disadvantages of MBEH therapy, however, is the resistance of a considerable number of vitiligo patients against the depigmenting effect of this agent.