Safety and efficacy of bevacizumab with hypofractionated stereotactic irradiation for recurrent malignant gliomas.

Purpose: Preclinical studies suggest that inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) improves glioma response to radiotherapy. Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against VEGF, has shown promise in recurrent gliomas, but the safety and efficacy of concurrent bevacizumab with brain irradiation has not been extensively studied. The objectives of this study were to determine the safety and activity of this combination in malignant gliomas.

Do endoscopic markers still play a role in the diagnosis of celiac disease?

Background: A number of changes in the duodenum are associated with celiac disease (CD), and can be identified endoscopically. Their accuracy becomes crucial as CD markers. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic value of endoscopic markers and to find ways of applying them in the diagnosis of CD.

How frequent is celiac disease among epileptic patients?

Background: A variety of neurological disorders have been reported in association with celiac disease (CD) including epilepsy, ataxia, neuropathy and multifocal leucoencephalopathy. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of CD among epileptic patients.

Methods: Our study population consisted of 108 consecutive unexplained epileptic patients from Epilepsy Clinics.

Chaperone-like activity of heme group against amyloid-like fibril formation by hen egg ovalbumin: possible mechanism of action.

It is well accepted that porphyrins related to heme, are effectively able to act as pharmaceutical. For instance, they were found to interfere with the aggregation of beta-amyloid peptide. In present study, the influence of heme concentration on the amyloid-type aggregation of ovalbumin was investigated.

High expression of minichromosome maintenance protein 6 in classic Hodgkin's lymphoma points to a cell cycle arrest in G1 phase.

Background: Minichromosome maintenance protein 6 (MCM6) is one of the six proteins of minichromosome maintenance family that are involved in the initiation of DNA replication and thus represent a marker for proliferating cells. The aim of this study was to determine the proliferation characteristics of neoplastic cells in patients with classic Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Methods: Paraffin-embedded blocks of lymph node, mediastinal, subcutaneous chest wall, and lung mass biopsies of 55 patients with classic Hodgkin's lymphoma were immunostained by the proliferation-associated monoclonal antibodies; Ki-S5 (Ki-67 antigen) and Ki-MCM6 (MCM6 antigen).

Spectrum separation resolves partial-volume effect of MRSI as demonstrated on brain tumor scans.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) is currently used clinically in conjunction with anatomical MRI to assess the presence and extent of brain tumors and to evaluate treatment response. Unfortunately, the clinical utility of MRSI is limited by significant variability of in vivo spectra. Spectral profiles show increased variability because of partial coverage of large voxel volumes, infiltration of normal brain tissue by tumors, innate tumor heterogeneity, and measurement noise.

Effects of triploidy on the Caspian salmon Salmo trutta caspius haematology.

The aim of this study was a comparison of key haematological features of diploid (2n) and triploid (3n) Caspian salmon (Salmo trutta caspius). Morphometric indices of erythrocytes were determined on blood smears by light microscopy. Triploidy significantly (P < 0.

Craniofacial and intracranial manifestations of langerhans cell histiocytosis: report of findings in 100 patients.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to review the craniofacial and intracranial clinical and radiologic manifestations of patients diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). This report will compare the frequency of the various manifestations found in our series with those reported in the medical literature.

Conclusion: In LCH, involvement of the calvaria, skull base, maxillofacial bones, and hypothalamic-pituitary axis is fairly common.

Diagnostic accuracy of IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase in patients suspected of having coeliac disease in Iran.

Background And Aim: As there are little data about the sensitivity of the IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase (IgA anti-tTG) antibody test in the clinical practice setting, we evaluated the sensitivity of this serologic test in a group of patients who were suspected of having coeliac disease and had serologic testing performed at commercial laboratories.

Patients And Methods: The study was performed at Poursina Hakim Research Institute in Isfahan-Iran. A total number of 350 consecutive patients were enrolled in our study.

Ischemic stroke in patients with primary brain tumors.

Background: Primary brain tumor patients are at increased risk for stroke from disease and treatment-specific mechanisms.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with primary brain tumors diagnosed with MRI-confirmed ischemic stroke between 1996 and 2006. Data were collected including risk factors, diagnostic workup, and treatment for stroke.

Lymphocytic bronchiolitis as presenting disorder in an undiagnosed adult patient with chronic granulomatous disease.

Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD) is a rare primary immunodeficiency disease. Although the most affected patients are diagnosed in childhood, there are several reports of the disease presenting in adult patients. Here we present a 40 years old man who was admitted in hospital due to respiratory symptoms and ground glass pattern in high resolution computed tomography of lung.

Isolated primary pulmonary Kaposi's sarcoma in a renal transplant recipient: a case report.

Kaposi's sarcoma (Ks) a relatively common malignancy after kidney transplantation, generally presents as characteristic dermatomucosal lesions. Visceral organ involvement is common in conjunction with skin lesions; however, isolated visceral KS is an uncommon disease among kidney recipients. Isolated primary pulmonary KS is a rare finding in this population.

One-week versus two-week furazolidone-based quadruple therapy as the first-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection in Iran.

Background And Aim: Furazolidone-based regimens for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori are low cost and effective although less tolerable. Our aim was to compare the efficacy and compliance of 1-week furazolidone-based quadruple therapy (furazolidone, amoxicillin, bismuth subcitrate, omeprazole; FABO) with 2-week quadruple therapy using the same drugs.

Methods: One hundred and fifty-six consecutive patients with H.

Fungal peritonitis in Iranian children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: a national experience.

Introduction: Fungal peritonitis (FP), causing catheter obstruction, dialysis failure, and peritoneal dysfunction, is a rare but serious complication of peritoneal dialysis. In this study, the frequency and risk factors of FP are evaluated in children who underwent peritoneal dialysis.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective multicenter study was performed at the 5 pediatric peritoneal dialysis centers in Iran from 1971 to 2006, and FP episodes among 93 children were reviewed.

Meningioma of the mandible: imaging with CT.

We present the first description of CT of a meningioma of the mandible in the literature. Extracranial meningiomas are exceedingly rare. There have been 3 cases of meningioma of the mandible described in the literature, but none characterized with cross-sectional imaging.

Hemomediastinum and bilateral hemothorax with extensive angiomatosis of anterior mediastinum.

Angiomatosis is a rare, benign but clinically extensive and serious vascular lesion of soft tissue. Hereby, we report a case of diffuse angiomatosis of mediastinum, presenting with hemomediastinum and bilateral massive hemothorax in a 19-year old boy. On medical imaging, mediastinal widening along with enhanced small vessels and capillaries were detected.

Oral cavity and oropharynx tumors.

Cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx are the most common head and neck cancers in the United States, and squamous cell carcinoma is the most frequent histologic type. The clinical behavior and outcome of tumors in the oral cavity is distinct from those of the oropharynx. As a general rule, surgical resection is the primary treatment for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma, whereas oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas are treated with radiation with or without chemotherapy.

Use of MR spectroscopy and functional imaging in the treatment planning of gliomas.

Routine anatomical imaging with CT and MRI does not reliably indicate the true extent or the most malignant areas of gliomas and cannot identify the functionally critical parts of the brain. The aim of the study was to see if the use of MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) along with functional MRI (fMRI) can better define both the target and the critical structures to be avoided to improve radiation delivery in gliomas. 12 patients with gliomas underwent multivoxel MRS and functional imaging using GE processing software.

YKL-40 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 as potential serum biomarkers for patients with high-grade gliomas.

Purpose: Biomarkers can facilitate diagnosis, monitor treatment response, and assess prognosis in some patients with cancer. YKL-40 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are two proteins highly differentially expressed by malignant gliomas. We obtained prospective longitudinal serum samples from patients with gliomas to determine whether YKL-40 or MMP-9 could be used as serum markers.

Solution conformation of longifolene and its precursor by NMR and ab initio calculations.

We describe the conformation and stereospecific 1H and 13C chemical shift assignments of longifolene 1 and its penultimate precursor 2 through the combined use of ab initio calculations and experimental NMR techniques. The predicted stable conformation for both compounds was similar and adopts a twisted chair conformation at the seven-membered ring where C4 lies on top of the exocyclic double bond. The calculated chemical shifts for the stable conformation agree well with the experimental values.

Chronic granulomatous disease with unusual clinical manifestation, outcome, and pattern of inheritance in an Iranian family.

CGD is a rare phagocytic disorder manifesting as recurrent, severe bacterial and fungal infections. We describe an Iranian family with eight children, of whom six, five males and one female were diagnosed with CGD resulting in diffuse pulmonary sterile granulomatous lesions. Three died despite multiple courses of antibiotic and antituberculosis medications while three are alive, to date they are asymptomatic but with imaging and pathologic findings of pulmonary granulomatosis, treated with steroids.