Fumonisin B1 Contamination of Cereals and Risk of Esophageal Cancer in a High Risk Area in Northeastern Iran

Alizadeh, Ali Mohammad,Roshandel, Gholamreza,Roudbarmohammadi, Shahla,Roudbary, Maryam,Sohanaki, Hamid,Ghiasian, Seyed Amir,Taherkhani, Amir,Semnani, Shahryar,Aghasi, Maryam Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.6

Introduction: Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a toxic and carcinogenic mycotoxin produced in cereals due to fungal infection. This study was conducted to determine FB1 contamination of rice and corn samples and its relationship with the rate of esophageal cancer (EC) in a high risk area in northeastern Iran. Methods: In total, 66 rice and 66 corn samples were collected from 22 geographical subdivisions of Golestan province of Iran. The levels of FB1 were measured for each subdivision by thin layer and high pressure liquid chromatographies. The mean level of FB1 and the proportions of FB1 contaminated samples were compared between low and high EC-risk areas of the province. Results: The mean of FB1 levels in corn and rice samples were 223.64 and 21.59 ${\mu}g/g$, respectively. FB1 contamination was found in 50% and 40.9% of corn and rice samples, respectively. FB1 level was significantly higher in rice samples obtained from high EC-risk area (43.8 ${\mu}g/g$) than those obtained from low risk area (8.93 ${\mu}g/g$) (p-value=0.01). The proportion of FB1 contaminated rice samples was also significantly greater in high (75%) than low (21.4%) EC-risk areas (p-value=0.02). Conclusion: We found high levels of FB1 contamination in corn and rice samples from Golestan province of Iran, with a significant positive relationship between FB1 contamination in rice and the risk of EC. Therefore, fumonisin contamination in commonly used staple foods, especially rice, may be considered as a potential risk factor for EC in this high risk region.

Cholangiocarcinoma: An-eight-year Experience in a Tertiary-Center in Iran

Mohammad-Alizadeh, Amir Houshang,Ghobakhlou, Mehdi,Shalmani, Hamid Mohaghegh,Zali, Mohammad Reza Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.11

Background and Aim: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an uncommon malignancy of the bile duct, occurring in nearly 2 out of 100,000 people. It is a type of adenocarcinoma that originates in the mucous glands of the epithelium, or surface layers of the bile ducts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features, diagnostic results and factors associated with survival, morbidity and mortalityof cholangiocarcinoma cases in Iranian patients. Method: In this retrospective study the hospital medical records of 283 patients with a primary or final diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma who had been admitted to gastroenterology ward of our hospital from 2004 to 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: 283 patients (180 male, 63%, and 103 female, 38.6%) with a mean age of $59.7{\pm}14.4$ years were studied. The most frequent symptoms were painless jaundice (190, 66.9%), abdominal pain (77, 27%), pruritus 133 (46.8%) and weight loss (169, 59.5%). The most frequent associated risk factors and diseases were as follows: gallstones (72, 25.4%), diabetes (70, 24.6%), HBV infection (52 (18.3%), HCV infection 43 (15%), primary sclerosing cholangitis (16, 5.6%) and smoking (120, 42.3%). The most frequent type of cholangiocarcinoma in ERCP and MRCP was hilar. The mean survival time was $7.42{\pm}5.76$ months. Conclusion: The mean survival time in our study was lower than one year. Moreover the most frequent risk factors and associated diseases were smoking, gallstones and diabetes. Painless jaundice, abdominal pain and weight loss were the most clinical features related to cholangiocarcinoma. Additionally survival time did not correlate with risk factors, associated diseases and clinical presentations, but was linked to biliary metallic stenting and surgery.

Clinical, Laboratory Biomarkers and Imaging Findings of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma in Iran

Hadizadeh, Mohammad,Padashi, Maryam,Alizadeh, Amir Houshang Mohammad,Zali, Mohammad Reza Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.10

Background: Pancreatic cancer has a high mortality rate because it is usually diagnosed late. Since little is known about this cancer in Iran, with the aim of improving this knowledge deficiency, we evaluated clinical, laboratory biomarkers, imaging findings and treatment modalities in Iranian patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Materials and Methods: 131 cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in 2010-2013 were obtained from the Taleghani Hospital Record Department. Cases confirmed by histopathology from CT-guided biopsy, EUS-FNA and surgery examination were included. We excluded those with incomplete medical records. Results: The study included 131 subjects between 24 and 97 years of age and a mean age of $63{\pm}13.4$ years. Eighty (61.1%) were male and 51 (38.9%) female. Previous history included diabetes mellitus in 36 (27.5%), alcohol drinking in 5 (3.9%), smoker in 28 (21.4%) and opium addiction in 13 (10%). The common presenting history included weight loss in 79 (60.3%), abdominal pain in 77 (58.8%), fever in 11 (8.4%), nausea in 30 (22.9%), jaundice in 72 (55%), pruritus in 52 (39.7) and anemia in 33 (25.2%). CA19-9 levels with cut offs of 50, 100 and 200 U/ml were increased in 81%, 72% and 66% of patients, respectively. Tumor staging was: stage I, 3 (2.3%); stage II, 10 (7.6%); stage III, 58 (44.3%); and stage IV, 60 (45.8%). From 45 patients, 17 received ERCP inserted metallic stents and 22 plastic stents, the remaining 6 failed that PTC was done. Whipple surgery and chemotherapy were conducted for 10 and 29 patients, respectively. Conclusions: This disease affected older people and there was a male preponderance. The commonest risk factors were diabetes mellitus, smoking and cholelithiasis. The majority of patients presented with loss of appetite, loss of weight, jaundice, abdominal pain and discomfort. Almost all presented at late stages of the disease so that curative surgery was impossible. Also chemotherapy was only performed in a few patients as a neoadjuant treatment.

Diagnosis of Malignant Biliary Strictures: Conventional or Negative Pressure Brush Cytology?

Abbasi, Mohammad Reza,Mirsaeed, Seyedeh Masoumeh Ghazi,Alizadeh, Amir Houshang Mohammad Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.10

Background/Objective: The aim of this study was to perform a comparative evaluation of the yields of conventional brush cytology and brush cytology with negative pressure in the diagnosis of malignant biliary strictures. Methods: A total of 132 consecutive patients undergoing endoscopic were identified. Of these, 88.0 had brush cytology after ERCP and 44 were Brush cytology with negative pressure. Retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) including brush cytology and brush cytology with negative pressure in patients with biliary strictures between 2012-2015. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was performed with a standard videoduodenoscope Olympus TFJ 160-R (Olympus, Hamburg, Germany) and brush cytology with a Cook medical Double Lumen Biliary BrushTM (Cytology). Means and standard frequencies were used to calculate variables. Results: Positive results for malignancy were obtained in 22 of 88 patients (25%) by brush cytology and 31 of 44 patients (70.4 %) by brush cytology with negative pressure. Conclusions: Sensitivity of cytology sampling could be maximized by negative pressure during ERCP.

Salivary soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand/osteoprotegerin ratio in periodontal disease and health

Zahra Alizadeh Tabari,Abbas Azadmehr,Mohammad Amir Alizadeh Tabrizi,Jalaloddin Hamissi,Fatemeh Baharak Ghaedi 대한치주과학회 2013 Journal of Periodontal & Implant Science Vol.43 No.5

Purpose: The receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK)/RANK ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) system plays a significant role in osteoclastogenesis, activation of osteoclasts, and regulation of bone resorption. This study aimed to evaluate the use of the salivary soluble RANKL (sRANKL)/OPG ratio as a diagnostic marker for periodontitis in nonsmokers. Methods: Twenty-five patients with chronic periodontitis and 25 individuals with a healthy periodontium were enrolled in this study. Samples containing 5 mL of unstimulated saliva were obtained from each subject. Salivary sRANKL and OPG concentrations were determined using a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS ver. 18.0. Results: The levels of sRANKL and OPG were detectable in all of the samples. Positive relationships were found between the plaque index and clinical attachment level and both the salivary concentration of sRANKL and the salivary sRANKL/OPG ratio (P<0.05). The salivary concentration of sRANKL and the sRANKL/OPG ratio were significantly higher in the periodontitis group than in the healthy group (P=0.004 and P=0.001, respectively). In contrast, the OPG concentration showed no significant differences between the groups (P=0.455). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the salivary sRANKL/OPG ratio may be helpful in the screening and diagnosis of periodontitis. However, longitudinal studies with larger populations are needed to confirm these results. Purpose: The receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK)/RANK ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) system plays a significant role in osteoclastogenesis, activation of osteoclasts, and regulation of bone resorption. This study aimed to evaluate the use of the salivary soluble RANKL (sRANKL)/OPG ratio as a diagnostic marker for periodontitis in nonsmokers. Methods: Twenty-five patients with chronic periodontitis and 25 individuals with a healthy periodontium were enrolled in this study. Samples containing 5 mL of unstimulated saliva were obtained from each subject. Salivary sRANKL and OPG concentrations were determined using a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS ver. 18.0. Results: The levels of sRANKL and OPG were detectable in all of the samples. Positive relationships were found between the plaque index and clinical attachment level and both the salivary concentration of sRANKL and the salivary sRANKL/OPG ratio (P<0.05). The salivary concentration of sRANKL and the sRANKL/OPG ratio were significantly higher in the periodontitis group than in the healthy group (P=0.004 and P=0.001, respectively). In contrast, the OPG concentration showed no significant differences between the groups (P=0.455). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the salivary sRANKL/OPG ratio may be helpful in the screening and diagnosis of periodontitis. However, longitudinal studies with larger populations are needed to confirm these results.

Investigating the best mixture extraction systems in the separation of rare earth elements from nitric acid solution using Cyanex272, D2EHPA, and 8-Hydroxyquinoline

Seyed Mohammad Seyed Alizadeh Ganji,Seied Ziaeddin Shafaei,Nasser Goudarzi,Asghar Azizi 한국자원공학회 2016 Geosystem engineering Vol.19 No.1

This study is aimed at determining the optimum mixing ratio and solvent group to extract REEs from nitric leach solution, and the efficiency was tested using three different kinds of extractants, which were prepared to mix three different solvents of Cyanex272, D2EHPA, and HQ. In order to select the best mixture system, different volumes (ml) of solvent extractions were used under optimum conditions (.05 M concentration and pH of 2). The result indicated that the mixture system of Cyanex272 (8 ml) and D2EHPA (2 ml) had the highest separation factor and enrichment ratio in the separation of rare earth element, especially dysprosium. The degree of performance of mixture systems in separation of the rare earth elements indicated that the best extraction systems were in the order of Cyanex272 (8 ml) and D2EHPA (2 ml) > HQ (2 ml) and D2EHPA (8 ml) > Cyanex272 (8 ml) and HQ (2 ml).

Salivary soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand/osteoprotegerin ratio in periodontal disease and health

Tabari, Zahra Alizadeh,Azadmehr, Abbas,Tabrizi, Mohammad Amir Alizadeh,Hamissi, Jalaloddin,Ghaedi, Fatemeh Baharak Korean Academy of Periodontology 2013 Journal of Periodontal & Implant Science Vol.43 No.5

Purpose: The receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK)/RANK ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) system plays a significant role in osteoclastogenesis, activation of osteoclasts, and regulation of bone resorption. This study aimed to evaluate the use of the salivary soluble RANKL (sRANKL)/OPG ratio as a diagnostic marker for periodontitis in nonsmokers. Methods: Twenty-five patients with chronic periodontitis and 25 individuals with a healthy periodontium were enrolled in this study. Samples containing 5 mL of unstimulated saliva were obtained from each subject. Salivary sRANKL and OPG concentrations were determined using a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS ver. 18.0. Results: The levels of sRANKL and OPG were detectable in all of the samples. Positive relationships were found between the plaque index and clinical attachment level and both the salivary concentration of sRANKL and the salivary sRANKL/OPG ratio (P<0.05). The salivary concentration of sRANKL and the sRANKL/OPG ratio were significantly higher in the periodontitis group than in the healthy group (P=0.004 and P=0.001, respectively). In contrast, the OPG concentration showed no significant differences between the groups (P=0.455). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the salivary sRANKL/OPG ratio may be helpful in the screening and diagnosis of periodontitis. However, longitudinal studies with larger populations are needed to confirm these results.

Human parvovirus B19 in patients with beta thalassemia major from Tehran, Iran

Seyed Ali Mohammad Arabzadeh,Farideh Alizadeh,Ahmad Tavakoli,Hamidreza Mollaei,Farah Bokharaei-Salim,Gharib Karimi,Mohammad Farahmand,Helya Sadat Mortazavi,Seyed Hamidreza Monavari 대한혈액학회 2017 Blood Research Vol.52 No.1

Background: Due to the tropism of human parvovirus B19 to erythroid progenitor cells, infection in patients with an underlying hemolytic disorder such as beta-thalassemia major leads to suppression of erythrocyte formation, referred to as transient aplasia crisis (TAC), which may be life-threatening. We investigated the prevalence of parvovirus B19 among patients with beta thalassemia major attending the Zafar Adult Thalassemia Clinic in Tehran, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed to determine the presence of parvovirus B19 DNA in blood samples and parvovirus B19 genotypes in plasma samples of patients with thalassemia major. The population consisted of 150 patients with beta-thalassemia major who attended the Zafar clinic in Tehran. Specimens were studied using a real-time poly-merase chain reaction assay. Results: The prevalence of parvovirus B19 in our study population was 4%. Of 150 patients with thalassemia, six (4%) were positive for B19 DNA. There was no significant correlation between blood transfusion frequency and B19 DNA positivity. Finally, phylogenetic analy-sis of human parvovirus B19 revealed genotype I in these six patients. Conclusion: In this study, acute B19 infections were detected in patients with beta thalassemia major. Screening of such high-risk groups can considerably reduce the incidence and prevalence of B19 infection; thus, screening is required for epidemiologic surveillance and dis-ease-prevention measures.

Human parvovirus B19 in patients with beta thalassemia major from Tehran, Iran

Seyed Ali Mohammad Arabzadeh,Farideh Alizadeh,Ahmad Tavakoli,Hamidreza Mollaei,Farah Bokharaei-Salim,Gharib Karimi,Mohammad Farahmand,Helya Sadat Mortazavi,Seyed Hamidreza Monavari 대한혈액학회 2017 Blood Research Vol.52 No.1

Background: Due to the tropism of human parvovirus B19 to erythroid progenitor cells, infection in patients with an underlying hemolytic disorder such as beta-thalassemia major leads to suppression of erythrocyte formation, referred to as transient aplasia crisis (TAC), which may be life-threatening. We investigated the prevalence of parvovirus B19 among patients with beta thalassemia major attending the Zafar Adult Thalassemia Clinic in Tehran, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed to determine the presence of parvovirus B19 DNA in blood samples and parvovirus B19 genotypes in plasma samples of patients with thalassemia major. The population consisted of 150 patients with beta-thalassemia major who attended the Zafar clinic in Tehran. Specimens were studied using a real-time poly-merase chain reaction assay. Results: The prevalence of parvovirus B19 in our study population was 4%. Of 150 patients with thalassemia, six (4%) were positive for B19 DNA. There was no significant correlation between blood transfusion frequency and B19 DNA positivity. Finally, phylogenetic analy-sis of human parvovirus B19 revealed genotype I in these six patients. Conclusion: In this study, acute B19 infections were detected in patients with beta thalassemia major. Screening of such high-risk groups can considerably reduce the incidence and prevalence of B19 infection; thus, screening is required for epidemiologic surveillance and dis-ease-prevention measures.

Stability of Nonlinear Hybrid Dynamical Systems with Time Delay via Sum of Squares Decomposition

Mohammad Ali Badamchizadeh,Sohrab Khanmohammadi,Gasem Alizadeh,Ali Aghagolzadeh 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2009 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.7 No.3

Considering an infinite number of eigenvalues for time delay systems, it is difficult to determine their stability. We have developed a new approach for the stability test of time delay nonlinear hybrid systems. Construction of Lyapunov functions for hybrid systems is generally a difficult task, but once these functions are found, stability’s analysis of the system is straight-forward. In this paper both delay-independent and delay-dependent stability tests are proposed, based on the construction of ap-propriate Lyapunov-Krasovskii functionals. The methodology is based on the sum of squares decom-position of multivariate polynomials and the algorithmic construction is achieved through the use of semidefinite programming. The reduction techniques provide numerical solution of large-scale in-stances; otherwise they will be computationally infeasible to solve. The introduced method can be used for hybrid systems with linear or nonlinear vector fields. Finally simulation results show the correct-ness and validity of the designed method.