Lower expression of miR-218 in human breast cancer is associated with lymph node metastases, higher grades, and poorer prognosis

Breast cancer is considered as the most prevalent malignancy in women worldwide. Despite emergence of several prognosticators for better management of patients, there are still limitations for their clinical application due to the complexity of breast tumors, and therefore, new biomarkers for better prognosis of clinical outcomes would be of the great essence. MicroRNAs are highly conserved small non-coding regulatory RNAs involved in post-transcriptional regulating of gene expression during different cellular mechanisms. Accumulating studies suggest that miR-218 plays a multifunctional role in various cancer types and different stages. Here, to address prognostic significance of miR-218 in breast cancer, we investigate the expression profile of miR-218 and B-cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1 ( BMI1) gene, as one of the putative targets of miR-218, in 33 paired breast tumors and their adjacent normal tissues with respect to the clinicopathological features of patients using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The correlation of both miR-218 and BMI1 gene expression with overall survival of breast cancer patients was also examined recruiting OncoLNC data portal. Finally, to better understand biological function of miR-218 in breast cancer, we performed in silico Gene Ontology and signaling pathway enrichment analysis on miR-218 targetome. According to our data, significant elevation of the expression of miR-218 and downregulation of BMI1 were observed in clinical breast cancer specimens compared with normal tissues ( p < 0.0001). The lower expression of miR-218 was associated with lymph node metastases, higher grades, and poorer prognosis (logrank p = 0.00988), whereas no significant difference in overall survival was observed between patients with higher and lower expression of BMI1 (logrank p = 0.254). These findings suggest that miR-218 expression profiling might be clinically applicable as a prognostic biomarker in breast cancer. In addition, our in silico enrichment analyses revealed that the association of miR-218 expression with breast cancer prognosis might be through its involvement in endocytosis and gap junction biological pathways.

Isolated hydatid cyst of the breast that developed after breast feeding

A hydatid cyst of the breast is extremely rare, even in endemic areas. There are few reports of breast hydatid cysts. We report a case of an isolated hydatid cyst of the breast that was identified as a painless breast lump that had increased in size just after completion of breast feeding and was present with a painful breast mass after 25 years. This may indicate the possibility of retrograde passage of an Echinococcus granulosus egg through lactating ducts during breast feeding, liberation of an embryo that penetrates ductal mucus and enters the breast tissue and then develops into a hydatid cyst. When a patient comes from an area with little healthcare and where hydatid cysts are epidemic, and if this disease was indicated by radiologic or serologic examination, total mass excision without spillage is the best diagnostic and treatment.

The Influence of Incorrect Customs of Lifestyle in Hepatitis B Infection Transmission

Hepatitis B (HB) disease occurs with high risk behaviors in the different communities. Aim of this study was to find out some of local customs in lifestyle that might be risk factors for transmitting this disease in order to design the educational programs and control it periodically in Chaharmahal VA Bakhtiari, Iran. This was a case-control study, carried out on patients with HB and the control group in Buldaji's district since October 2008 to March 2011. An expert person interviewed both these groups with a valid and reliable questionnaire. The data were gathered and analyzed by descriptive statistics; Chi-square and logistic regression.A total of 85 patients with HB were enrolled in the study. Four of wrong customs were considered as predicting risk factors for transmission of hepatitis B infection in two groups; history of making shallow incisions on the auricle or leg for healing a disease or exchanging their blood in childhood [P=0.000, OR=6.130, 95%CL: 2.648-14.192], tattooing [P=0.033, OR=1.391, 95%CL: 1.028-1.882], be born at home by an untrained midwife [P=0.005, OR=3.217, 95%CL: 1.425-7.263], receiving dental services by experimental dentists [P=0.034,OR=0.218, 95%CL: 0.053-0.893]. For development of health education materials' in our region, we focus not only on proper prevention of general risk factors of HBV transmission but also necessarily draw upon local social and cultural contexts which may spread this disease .We encourage the people to improve these customs or don't do it to control transmission of HB.

Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava

Inferior vena cava leiomyosarcoma is a rare tumor with a variety of symptoms. A 41-year-old woman was admitted with nonspecific epigastric pain. Computed tomography revealed a dense mass between the inferior vena cava and the liver. The patient underwent successful resection of the mass. The pathologic study confirmed leiomyosarcoma. Adjuvant radiation therapy was completed, and after 12 months of follow-up, the patient had no problems.

Recommending Different Treatments as Preventive Measures against Incisional Endometrioma

OBJECTIVE

To consider incisional endometrioma (IE) as a differential diagnosis of abdominal disorders and to recommend different treatments as preventive measures. Incisional endometrioma (IE), as a rare condition, usually develops in surgical scar of cesarean section or hysterectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of 12 cases at Department of Surgery, Shahrekord University of medical sciences, Shahrekord from August 2010 to August 2012. The participants were diagnosed with IE using their pathology specimens.

RESULTS

The age ranges were from 23 to 44 years (mean age 32.75 years). A total of 12 patients had previous cesarean sections through a Pfannenstiel incision, which the wound was managed with regular irrigation, but peritoneum was not repaired. The main symptom was an abdominal wall mass about the previous caesarean section surgical scars, associated with cyclic pain. The mean duration of symptoms was 6 to 24 months (mean duration 6.66 months). There was 100% recovery after surgical treatment without any relapse of symptoms during follow-up till now.

CONCLUSION

We recommend irrigation of the wound with high-jet saline solution before wound closure and repair of peritoneum at the time of cesarean section as a preventive measure.

Bile bacteria of patients with cholelithiasis and theirs antibiogram

To prevent post cholecystectomy infection, the most common microorganisms causing it and their antibacterial susceptibility pattern should be determined. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the exact incidence and nature of the microbial flora in the bile of the patients with cholelithiasis and chronic cholecystitis as well as their antibiotic sensitivity pattern. In this study, a total of 132 samples from the patients were tested for bacterial strains using the appropriate methods for testing them. The isolated bacteria were subsequently subjected to antibacterial susceptibility test using Kirby-Bauer method. The data were analyzed using Frequency, Chi-square and t-test. Fifty of 132 (37.87%) studied patients were positive for bacteria. The most common isolated organisms were Escherichia coli (13; 26%), Enterobacteriaceae (9; 18%), and Salmonella typhi (7; 14%). The most effective antibiotics were sequentially Amikacin, Ceftriaxone, and Clindamycin. Isolating bacteria and determining their sensitivity to different antibiotics may be help physicians take prophylactic measures against postoperative infection of cholelithiasis and chronic cholecystitis.

Penetrating neck trauma: review of 192 cases

Background

The neck region contains a high density of vital organ structures within a relatively small and unprotected anatomic region, making it one of the most vulnerable areas of the body for all types of injuries.

Objectives

In this article, we studied penetrating neck trauma cases in Alzahra Hospital over a 10-year period.

Patients and Methods

In this retrospective, descriptive, analytical study, penetrating neck trauma cases admitted to Alzahra Hospital between April 2000 and April 2010 were analyzed for epidemiology, mechanism of trauma, zone of trauma, therapeutic method, injuries to other organs, complications, and mortality.

Results

Among 192 penetrating neck injuries, the mean age at the time of injury was 25.08 ± 15.02 years. Of these cases, 96.4% occurred in men. The most common mechanisms of trauma was stab wounds (85.93%). In 56.3% of penetrating neck injuries, zone 2 was involved. Neck exploration was positive in 84.4% of cases, and 52.1% of patients underwent surgery. Vascular exploration was the most common cause of surgery (67.2% of patients). The most common surgical intervention was vein ligation (50.8% of cases). In 11.98% of cases, another organ injury occurred simultaneously, and chest injury was the most common coexisting problem (65.2%). Complications were reported in 9.3% of patients, and the need for intubation was the most common complication (5.2% of patients). Mortality rate was 1.5%.

Conclusions

According to the findings of this study, the most common cause of penetrating neck injuries was stab wounds, and the majority of patients were young men, therefore, preventive measures should be implemented. Because of fatal complications associated with neck injuries, we recommend early neck exploration in unstable cases or when injuries are deeper than the platysma.