Ahmad Piroozmand

Evaluation of natural killer cell activity in pre and post treated breast cancer patients

AIM To evaluate natural killer (NK) cells activity in breast cancer patients and its comparison with normal individuals. SETTINGS AND DESIGN Breast cancer is the most prevalent type of spontaneous tumor in humans, and NK cells are the first line defense against such tumors. There is a reverse correlation between NK activity and metastasis and reducing the tumor mass by surgery may be monitoring the NK activity. In this study, we evaluate NK activity in pre and post mastectomy patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighteen patients with invasive ductal carcinoma attended to cancer research institute were included in this study. NK cells were evaluated in pre and post mastectomy patients. PBMCs were isolated by ficoll hypaque. NK cell activity (% lysis of K562) was evaluated by flow cytometer. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED One way analysis of variation (ANOVA) and Kruskal Wallis nonparametric test were employed using SPSS software. RESULTS While NK cell activity was greatly impaired in breast cancer patients (average lysis of K562 target cells: 24.4% vs. 62.5% in healthy controls, n = 18), it was found to be significantly increased after mastectomy (37.7%). CONCLUSIONS Mastectomy may lead to increased activity of NK cells among patients suffering from breast cancer and their increased activity may produce positive therapeutic effect.

Current Status and Perspectives Regarding LNA-Anti-miR Oligonucleotides and microRNA miR-21 Inhibitors as a Potential Therapeutic Option in Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the leading causes of cancer‐related death, principally due to its metastatic spread and multifactorial chemoresistance. The therapeutic failure can also be explained by inter‐ or intra‐tumor genetic heterogeneity and tumor stromal content. Thus, the identification of novel prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic options are warranted in the management of CRC patients. There are data showing that microRNA‐21 is elevated in different types of cancer, particularly colon adenocarcinoma and that this is association with a poor prognosis. This suggests that microRNA‐21 may be of value as a potential therapeutic target. Furthermore, locked nucleic acid (LNA)‐modified oligonucleotides have recently emerged as a therapeutic option for targeting dysregulated miRNAs in cancer therapy, through antisense‐based gene silencing. Further work is required to identify innovative anticancer drugs that improve the current therapy either through novel combinatorial approaches or with better efficacy than conventional drugs. We aimed to provide an overview of the preclinical and clinical studies targeting key dysregulated signaling pathways in CRC as well as the therapeutic application of LNA‐modified oligonucleotides, and miR inhibitors in the treatment of CRC patients. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 4129–4140, 2017.

ToRCH “co‐infections” are associated with increased risk of abortion in pregnant women

ToRCH infections (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus and Herpes simplex virus) have long been known to be associated with bad obstetric outcomes. However, little information is available about the impact of ToRCH co‐infections on the outcome of pregnancy. Hence, we tested the IgG and IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes Simplex Virus among 81 pregnant women with abortion (case group) and 98 pregnant women with normal delivery (control group). In the single‐infection model, only CMV‐IgM seropositivity was significantly increased in case than control group (25.9% in case and 12.2 % in control, OR = 2.5, P = 0.019). In the co‐infection model, 14 patterns were recognized, but two patterns were significantly increased in the case than the control group. Co‐infection of T. gondii IgG + CMV IgM was 9.1‐fold increased in the case than the control group (8.6% in the case and 1% in control, OR = 9.1; P = 0.024). Also, co‐infection of T. gondii IgG + HSV IgG + CMV IgM was 7.7‐fold increased in case than the control group (7.4% in case and 1 % in control, OR = 7.7; P = 0.04). Although the OR of other co‐infections was higher in the case than the control group, the difference was not statistically significant. These findings indicate that ToRCH co‐infections are associated with increased risk of abortion than single infection. Hence, the rates of co‐infections should be considered in prenatal screening of ToRCH infections.

Toxoplasmosis-associated abortion and stillbirth in Tehran, Iran

Abstract Objectives: This study was aimed to evaluate the role of toxoplasmosis in etiology of abortion and stillbirth based on molecular and serological techniques. Material and methods: A total of 110 pregnant women with abortion and stillbirth were enrolled as the case group, and 110 pregnant women with normal delivery were enrolled as the control group. Serological and molecular detections of Toxoplasma gondii were assessed by ELISA and PCR methods. Results: The seroprevalence of IgG was 25.5% in the case group (26.8% in abortion and 21.4% in stillbirth) and 26.4% in the control group. IgM seropositivity was detected in 2.7% of the case group (3.6% in abortion and 0% in stillbirth) and 0.9% of the control group (p = 0.37). Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected in 6.4% of the case group (7.3% in abortion and 3.6% in stillbirth) and 1.8% of the control group by PCR (p = 0.17). The major risk factor of congenital toxoplasmosis was the history of eating undercooked meat (p = 0.06). Conclusion: Results of this study revealed that the rate of PCR positive in women with abortion and stillbirth was 3.7 times higher than that in normal delivery, but the difference was not statistically significant. These findings suggest that toxoplasmosis can be involved in etiology of abortion and stillbirth.

The Association of High Risk Human Papillomaviruses in Patients With Cervical Cancer: An Evidence Based Study on Patients With Squamous Cell Dysplasia or Carcinoma for Evaluation of 23 Human Papilloma Virus Genotypes

Background Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in females. Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the major risk factor of cervical cancer. Objectives The aim of the current study was to explore the frequency and role of 23 different HPVs in patients with cervical cancer. Materials and Methods Overall, 117 formalin-fix and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues from cervical cancer patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or dysplasia were collected from Mirza-Kochakkhan-Jangali hospital, Tehran, Iran during year 2013, to investigate the presence of HPV- HPV- 67, 68, 6, 11, 13, 16, 17, 30, 69, 39, 40, 42, 64, 66 and 51 to 59 genotypes. Results The Pap smear report illustrated the presence of malignancy in 71 cases, while 11 cases had no evidence of malignancy. Among the patients, 26 cases had sexually transmitted disease with relative frequency of 0.58. Infection with papilloma virus was observed in 83.6% of SCC patients and 45% of the dysplasia group. The most prevalent HPV genotypes were 18 with 31.62% and 16 with 27.35% of cases. Moreover the relative frequencies of HPV-33, -6, -58, -52, -35 and -51, genotypes were 15.38, 7.69, 5.98, 5.12 and 3.41%, respectively. Among the different genotypes of HPV, 31 had the lowest and 16 had the highest relative frequency. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that HPV-16 and -18 have a higher prevalence in our population than 31 and 51. Further investigations are required to evaluate the role of these genotypes in a larger multicenter setting for establishing their values for early detection of patients, which is useful for screening and vaccination programs of cancerous and precancerous lesions of cervical cancer.

Comparison of the serum and salivary antibodies to detect gastric Helicobacter pylori infection in Kashan (Iran)

Background and aim Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is an important and common contagious human pathogen which may cause peptic ulcer and also gastric cancer. The definite diagnosis of it is made through invasive tests. Recently, non-invasive tests including serologic tests of serum and saliva have been conducted for diagnosis of H. pylori infection. In this research, the diagnostic values of serum and salivary serology were compared together to use salivary anti-H. pylori test as an alternative method in the future. Methods During this prospective case-control study on patients who were candidates for endoscopy and gastric biopsy from March 2015 to April 2016 in Shahid Beheshti hospital, Kashan, Iran, serum and salivary samples were obtained for measurement of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody levels against H. pylori by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Histopathology was the gold standard test. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS software version 16. Statistical tests included Kolmogorov-Smirnov, independent-samples t-test, Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, McNemar and correlation. Results Of 123 patients, sixty-one patients (49.6%) were H. pylori-positive according to histology. The median levels of anti-H. pylori antibodies in serum (p<0.001) and saliva (p<0.001) of H. pylori-positive cases were significantly higher than H. pylori-negative cases. Sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio and accuracy of serologic tests in serum were 75%, 79%, 3.5, 0.3, 77% and for saliva were 85%, 82%, 4.7, 0.18, 84% respectively. Conclusion Diagnostic values of salivary ELISA are comparable to serum ELISA and can be used as an alternative modality for diagnosis of H. pylori infection.

Detection of blaKPC and blaGES Carbapenemase Genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from Hospitalized Patients in Kashan, Iran

INTRODUCTION Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing bacteria are among the highly antimicrobial resistant gram negative bacteria and infections due to them are an increasingly major health problem worldwide. METHODS In this study we have detected the blaKPC and blaGES carbapenemase genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from hospitalized patients in Kashan, Iran. In a cross-sectional study, a total of 181 K. pneumoniae isolates were recovered from clinical specimens during November 2013 to October 2014. RESULT Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were determined using disk diffusion method according to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) and CLSI guidelines. Carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates were identified. PCR method and sequencing were used for detection of blaKPC and blaGES carbapenemase genes. Of the 181 K. pneumoniae isolates, 35 (19.3%) were found to be resistant to imipenem and 150 (82.9%) were identified as MDR strains. Among carbapenems, the most resistant rate 39 (21.5%) was seen against ertapenem using disk diffusion method. Of K. pneumoniae isolates 21 (11.6%) and 42 (23.2%) carried blaKPC and blaGES genes, respectively and 19(10.5%) carried both genes simultaneously. CONCLUSION The data of current study revealed that the frequency of resistance to carbapenems and production of carbapenemase enzymes especially GES type was high among clinical isolates of K pneumoniae in Kashan, Iran.