Differentiation and transplantation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells.

The generation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) with a high differentiation potential provided a new source for hepatocyte generation not only for drug discovery and in vitro disease models, but also for cell replacement therapy. However, the reported hiPSC-derived hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) were not well characterized and their transplantation, as the most promising clue of cell function was not reported. Here, we performed a growth factor-mediated differentiation of functional HLCs from hiPSCs and evaluated their potential for recovery of a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-injured mouse liver following transplantation.

Lipid Profiles and Hepatitis C Viral Markers in HCV-Infected Thalassemic Patients.

Background/aims: The distribution of blood lipids, glucose and their determinants in thalassemic patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has rarely been investigated. Thus, we aimed to investigate the relationship between both liver histologic findings and viral markers and serum lipids in thalassemic patients chronically infected with HCV.

Methods: We enrolled 280 polytransfused thalassemic patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Cancer incidence in southern Iran, 1998-2002: results of population-based cancer registry.

Purpose: The main aim of this study was to obtain population-based cancer incidence data for the entire population of Fars province in Iran, and to compare these rates with those obtained from a previous study in the same population ten years previously.

Methods: Data were collected on all patients in major cities of Fars province who were diagnosed with cancer between 1998 and 2002. The data were computerized using SPSS (Chicago, IL) software, version 13.

WITHDRAWN: Low dose ribavirin for treatment of HCV infected thalassemia major patients: New indications for combination therapy.

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Peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin treatment of patients with haemophilia and hepatitis C virus infection: a single-centre study of 367 cases.

Background/aims: Chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) is a major comorbidity in patients with haemophilia. Peginterferon alpha and ribavirin is current standard anti-HCV therapy but there is little information about safety and efficacy of peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin combination therapy in these patients.

Material And Methods: In an open-label single-treatment arm cohort study, 367 haemophilia patients seronegative for hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus markers and chronically infected with HCV (HCV RNA>50 IU/ml for at least 6 months) received 180 microg of Pegasys and 800-1200 mg of ribavirin according to body weight.

Hepatitis C infection in hemodialysis patients in Iran: a systematic review.

Hemodialysis (HD) patients are recognized as one of the high-risk groups for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The prevalence of HCV infection varies widely between 5.5% and 24% among different Iranian populations.

High titers of hemagglutination inhibition antibodies against 2009 H1N1 influenza virus in Southern Iran.

Background: Pandemic flu had at least two waves in Iran. Knowing how many of the general population were already exposed to this infection has a major impact on national preventive measures. As of December 30, 2009, a total of 3672 confirmed cases of human infection with a novel Influenza A (2009 H1N1) virus had been reported in Iran with 140 deaths.

Pulmonary complications in cirrhotic candidates for liver transplantation.

Background And Aims: The determination of the prevalence of cardiopulmonary complications at a liver transplant center in Iran.

Methods: Ninety-nine patients (61 male and 38 female) with a mean age of 36.5 (15-66) years with proven cirrhosis were enrolled in this study.

Implementing strategies for hepatitis B vaccination.

This study reviewed the effects of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination programs on disease control and the need, if any, to introduce additional strategies taking into account the various risk factors of transmission. We performed a search conducted on vaccine administration, hepatitis B risk factors and the impact of HBV vaccination on prevention of disease, using the electronic database MEDLINE (1987 to 2008), EMBASE, OVID, Google (for Local websites and medical journals), Websites of Iranian universities and Iran medex in English and Persian language. We recommend in addition, to routinely practice the Extended Program of Immunization (EPI) schedules for infants as well as implementing HBV vaccination in selected adolescents at risk for HBV infection.

Distribution of hepatitis C virus genotype in Iranian multiply transfused patients with thalassemia.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common transfusion-transmitted disease in multiply transfused patients worldwide. In this study, the aim was to investigate distribution of HCV genotypes in Iranian patients with thalassemia.

Study Design And Methods: Blood samples were received from 280 multiply transfused patients with thalassemia with chronic hepatitis C who were referred to us to start pegylated interferon-alpha plus ribavirin for duration of 48 weeks.

Acute mesenteric ischemia: causes and mortality rates over sixteen years in southern Iran.

Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is a catastrophic disorder of the gastrointestinal tract with high mortality. Few data on the characteristics of this disease in Iran are available. Patient records of public and private hospitals in Shiraz, southern Iran, with impression of acute abdomen, bowel gangrene or abdominal pain, and patients with risk factors for this disease, who were admitted between March 1989 and March 2005, were reviewed.

Immunoglobulin and complement depositions in the liver of chronic hepatitis patients.

Background/aims: Liver biopsy is a cornerstone in the management of chronic hepatitis patients. In biopsy, liver cell damage as well as severity of inflammatory cell infiltration in the parenchyma and portal tracts are evaluated. There are some other inflammatory markers such as complements (C) and immunoglobulins (Ig), which are involved in the pathogenesis of inflammation.

Hepatitis B and C in dialysis units in Iran: changing the epidemiology.

Hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses are the most important infections transmitted by the parenteral route in patients receiving maintenance dialysis. The prevalence varies markedly from country to country. The aim of this study is to review the efficacy of the strategies to reduce the incidence of these infections and the trend of results in Iran.

The changing epidemiology of viral hepatitis B in Iran.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence has decreased dramatically in Iranian population during the last decade, and now our country is classified as having low endemicity for hepatitis B infection. Improvement of the people's knowledge about HBV risk factors, national vaccination program since 1993 for all neonates, and vaccination of high risk groups might justify this decrease. The HBV vaccination started in infants in two provinces (Zanjan and Semnan) in 1989, and in 1993 the vaccination was included in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) countrywide.

Polymorphism of the promoter region of C-509T of transforming growth factor-beta1 gene and ulcerative colitis.

Background: Transforming growth factor-beta is a regulatory protein that plays a key role in inflammatory, fibrotic, and immunological events in the intestinal mucosa. Recently, attention has been focused on the role of transforming growth factor-beta in the etiopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. Enhanced expression of transforming growth factor-beta mRNA in the lamina propria and a disordered expression pattern of transforming growth factor-beta1 receptors I and II in epithelial cells have been documented in the colonic mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Does delayed gastric emptying shorten the H pylori eradication period? A double blind clinical trial.

Aim: To evaluate the gastric emptying inhibitory effects of sugar and levodopa on H pylori eradication period.

Methods: A total of 139 consecutive patients were randomized into 6 groups. The participants with peptic ulcer disease or non-ulcer dyspepsia non-responding to other medications who were also H pylori-positive patients either with positive rapid urease test (RUT) or positive histology were included.

Analysis of patients listed for liver transplantation in Shiraz, Iran.

Aim: To analyze records of patients listed for liver transplantation (LT) at our hospital, the first and the largest LT center in Iran.

Methods: We analyzed medical records of patients aged 14 years or older, who were listed for LT for chronic liver disease between 1994 and 2004. Outcome was determined from records or follow-up data.

Gastric xanthoma: a diagnostic problem on brushing cytology smears.

Objective: To describe the cytologic findings of gastric xanthomas and to compare them with the findings of signet-ring adenocarcinoma because atypical xanthoma cells can be easily confused with signet-ring adenocarcinoma cells.

Study Design: Five cases of gastric xanthoma that were confirmed by biopsy reports were selected for study. The patients' ages ranged between 50 and 58 years; 4 were men and 1 was a woman.

A novel DNA sequence variation in the first genetically confirmed allgrove syndrome in iran.

Allgrove syndrome or triple-A syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by adrenal insufficiency, achalasia and alacrima. Affected patients may also present with a constellation of central and peripheral nervous system manifestations. The gene for Allgrove syndrome (ALADIN) is located on chromosome 12q13.

Low dose intradermal versus high dose intramuscular hepatitis B vaccination in patients on chronic hemodialysis.

Patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis (HD) are at high risk for hepatitis B infection. We randomly assigned 86 new patients on HD to receive either 40 microg intramuscular (group 1) or 20 microg intradermal (group 2) recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, in three doses at 0, 1, and 4 months. All patients were seronegative at baseline for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs-Ag), hepatitis B surface antibody (HBs-Ab), and hepatitis B core antibody (HBc-Ab).