Gastric Obstruction by Opium Packets: A Case Report.

Background: We reported a case of gastric obstruction in a body packer who swallowed a large number of opium packets.

Case Report: A 36-year-old man opium addict visited the emergency department with epigastric pain for three days. He swallowed nearly 90 packets of opium for smuggling purposes four days earlier.

Efficacy of Preoperative Albendazole on Protoscoleces Viability in Hydatid Cyst of the Liver.

Background: Optimal duration for medical therapy of liver hydatid cysts before surgery in not certainly defined yet. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of 2 weeks preoperative albendazole in decreasing viable cysts.

Methods: Patients referring to Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran with a diagnosis of hepatic hydatid cyst were randomly divided into intervention (44 patients) and control (46 patients) groups.

Elucidated tumorigenic role of MAML1 and TWIST1 in gastric cancer is associated with Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has a fundamental role in tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. Helicobacter pylori (HP) induces EMT and thus causes gastric cancer (GC) by deregulating multiple signaling pathways involved in EMT. TWIST1 and MAML1 have been confirmed to be critical inducers of EMT via diverse signaling pathways such as Notch signaling.

Concomitant empyema and peritonitis with Morganella morganii in an immunocompetent patient: A case report.

Background: Peritoneal infection following pleural empyema is not a common occurrence. Concomitant pleural empyema and peritonitis have been described in the literature mostly in immunocompromised patients with different pathogenic mechanisms and a wide array of microorganisms. Here we report a case of concomitant pleural empyema and peritonitis with an unusual microorganism in an immunocompetent host.

Induction of T cell-mediated immune response by dendritic cells pulsed with mRNA of sphere-forming cells isolated from patients with gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) as the third most common cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide is one of the cancers with very high heterogeneity. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) as a small subset of cancer cells in solid tumors with the self-renewal, differentiation and tumorigenic ability are responsible for tumor initiation, progression, recurrence, metastasis, and resistance to current treatments. Therefore, eradication of CSCs is very vital to cure cancer.

Serum Procalcitonin and Lactoferrin in Detection of Acute Appendicitis; a Diagnostic Accuracy Study.

Introduction: Finding an accurate diagnostic test can reduce the rate of unnecessary abdominal surgery in cases of suspected acute appendicitis (AA). This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum lactoferrin (LF) and procalcitonin (PCT) in detection of patients with acute appendicitis.

Methods: In this diagnostic accuracy study, screening performance characteristics of PCT and LF were calculated in patients suspected with acute appendicitis and healthy volunteers as control group.

Molecular Landscape in Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma: Implications for Molecular Targeted Therapy.

Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a highly aggressive rare soft tissue sarcoma (STS) with poor prognosis especially in the metastatic form. ASPS is resistant to standard chemotherapy. Although, early diagnosis and surgical resection of operable tumor could lead to improved patient survival but novel treatment options are needed for advanced (metastatic) ASPS.

Evaluation of the diagnostic value of serum level of total bilirubin in patients with suspected acute appendicitis.

Introduction: Clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis still remains a problem. Delays in diagnosis of acute appendicitis may cause perforation and septic peritonitis which result in increasing morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity, specificity and the diagnostic value of total serum bilirubin levels as a predictor of acute appendicitis.

Chronic Anal Fissure: A Comparative Study of Medical Treatment Versus Surgical Sphincterotomy.

To determine whether the medical Treatment of anal fissure can be an effective alternative for surgery Methods: Retrospectively, we randomly selected 190 Patients being treated for anal fissure between the years 2005-2010 in 3 equal groups: group A: Patients who received medical treatment with topical nitroglycerin, group B: Patient treated with topical diltiazem, and group C: Patients underwent surgery. The results were then correlated with the statistical program SPSS using chi-square test. Main complaints of the patients were first anal pain and then bleeding.

Concomitant splenic and hepatic hydatidosis: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Hydatid disease has a worldwide spreading. The most common site of the disease is the liver, lungs, kidney, bones, and brain. Splenic hydatid disease has been reported to constitute 2% to 6% of patients with abdominal hydatid disease.

Assessment of surgical site infection risk factors at Imam Reza hospital, Mashhad, Iran between 2006 and 2011.

Background: The present study was conducted to establish the patterns and risk factors of surgical site infections in our institution between 2006 and 2011.

Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. The surgical site infection (SSI) was identified based on the presence of ICD-10-CM diagnostic code in hospital discharge records.

Spontaneous rupture of the spleen secondary to amyloidosis.

Spontaneous splenic rupture (SSR) is a rare condition. It may be an idiopathic event or may occur secondary to a pathological condition of the spleen. Systemic amyloidosis is characterized by the extracellular deposition of amyloid proteins in one or more organs.

Study of the Radical vs. Conservative Surgical Treatment of the Hepatic Hydatid Cyst: A 10-Year Experience.

The hepatic hydatid cyst is a major health problem in endemic areas. Surgery is still the best choice for the treatment of hydatid cyst of the liver. There is controversy regarding efficacy of radical versus conservative surgical approaches.

Large omental cyst: a case report and review of the literature.

Omental cysts occur rarely. Patients with omental cysts usually present with abdominal distention and a painless abdominal mass. In children it may present as an acute abdomen due to intestinal obstruction.

Primary localization of a hydatid cyst in the latissimus dorsi muscle: an unusual location.

Background: Hydatid disease is a parasitic infection that is endemic in Iran. It infests humans and herbivorous animals and reflects infection by Echinococcus granulosus. Although it can develop anywhere in the body, the liver and lungs are the most common sites of involvement.