S Pirouzpanah , Fa Taleban, Ar Abadi , M Atri , P Mehdipour,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (22 2009)
Abstract
Background & Objectives: The repression of retinoic acid receptor-β2 (RARβ2) expression is a concerning aspect of breast cancer, which is often induced by hypermethylation at promoter of the gene. We aimed to explore the correlation of plasma folate, vitamin B12 and total homocysteine (tHcy) levels with hypermethylation status of RARβ2 gene among Iranian breast cancer patients.
Methods: The hypermethylation status was investigated in 137 specimens tissues from primary breast cancer patients aged 28-85 years thorough methylation-specific PCR.
Results: Hypermethylation at RARβ2 gene was observed in 36.5 %. The hypermthylated RARβ2 associated with younger age at diagnosis and negative family history of breast cancer. The plasma level of folate was found lower in cases aged ≥48 years with hypermethylated RARβ2 gene (P<0.05). In contrast the level of tHcy was shown higher in cases aged <48 y (P<0.05). The risk of hypermethylation at RARβ2 gene increased with low plasma levels of folate (OR=0.21, 95%CI: 0.05-0.88) and vitamin B12 (OR=0.04, 95%CI: 0.01-0.92) and high plasma level of tHcy (OR=7.55, 95%CI: 1.07-25.7) in cases older than 48y.
Conclusions: Low plasma levels of folate, Vitamin B12 and high plasma level of total homocysteine could have important roles as prognostic factors in hypermethylation status of RARβ2 gene in breast cancer.
S Mehdipour, F Zolala, M Hoseinnejad, R Zahedi, E Najafi, M , N Farrokhnia, M Fathi,
Volume 14, Issue 2 (Vol.14, No.2, 2018)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Evidence suggests that underlying diseases increase the severity of influenza and lead to hospitalization or death. This study was conducted to determine the risk factors associated with hospitalization of patients in Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman, Iran during an outbreak of H1N1 influenza in December 2015.
Methods: In this case-control study, the case group comprised 85 patients who were hospitalized for influenza and the control group included 51 patients who had influenza symptoms and were discharged after required evaluations and check-up. The data were collected from both groups on a daily basis for two weeks. For data analysis, descriptive analysis, logistic regression analysis, Lasso Regression, and likelihood ratio were used. Analysis was performed using the Stata version 12 and R software.
Results: Among the variables examined, after removal of additional variables, 12 variables were introduced into the multivariate regression. The history of pulmonary disease and diabetes increased the odds of hospitalization following influenza by more than 11 (OR = 11.6, P. value = 0.003) and 9 times (OR = 9, P. value = 0.01), respectively.
Conclusion: Underlying disease and factors play a major role in exacerbating the disease. Therefore, the health system should take the necessary preventive measures when outbreaks occur.