Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Association of Addison's disease with connective tissue diseases such as scleroderma and Sjogren have been rarely reported. Anti-centromere antibody (ACA) has been associated with exocrine gland dysfunction in anti-Ro, anti-La negative Sjogren’s syndrome and may be one of the causes of xerostomia in community. The purpose of this article was to introduce a rare case of scleroderma-Sjogren intermediate phenotype with positive anti-centromere antibody in a known case of Addison’s disease admitted for dental caries and xerostomia.
Case Presentation: A 29-year-old woman with Addison’s disease referred to a dental clinic due to recurrent dental caries. Addison’s disease was confirmed by low basal serum cortisol level and unresponsive serum cortisol level to adrenocorticotropin hormone (rapid ACTH stimulation test). Signs of xerostomia, xerophthalmia, Raynaud’s phenomenon, gastro-esophageal reflux, masked face, osteoporosis, positive anti-centromere antibody, negative anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies and failure to match the pathology of the minor salivary gland of lip with Sjogren's disease were found. The diagnosis of scleroderma-Sjogren intermediate phenotype was raised with considering some of the symptoms of scleroderma and Sjogren and not the exact classification criteria for each of these two diseases. Hydroxychloroquine, fluoride and Biotene® mouthwash (Laclede, Inc., CA, USA) (oral moisturizing saliva), chewing gum containing xylitol plus artificial tear droplet was prescribed. Drinking plenty of fluids was recommended. Due to gastroesophageal reflux and osteoporosis, Pantoprazole and CinnoPar® (Cinnagen, Iran) (parathyroid hormone analogue) plus calcium and vitamin D supplements was administered. Regarding adrenal insufficiency, Prednisolone and Fludrocortisone were continued.
Conclusion: For evaluation of recurrent dental caries, especially in patients with autoimmune disease, anti-centromere antibody may be useful to identify the cause of dry mouth, as well as early detection of limited scleroderma or scleroderma-Sjogren intermediate phenotype.

Background: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed and the leading cause of cancer death among females worldwide. The rate of breast cancer incidence among Iranian women is 17% of all cancers, it has been ranked first in Iran. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting axillary lymph node involvement in female patients with breast cancer.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 167 patients with breast cancer diagnosed between March 2012 and March 2015 at Shahid Beheshti of Babol, Shahid Rajaei of Tonekabon and Imam Sajad of Ramsar hospitals. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect information on the patients and pathology report of tumor and lymph nodes was completed.
Results: The rate of axillary lymph node involvement was observed in 117 patients (70.1%). Mean age was 49.64±11.62 years in the patients with breast cancer. The highest frequency of lymph node involvement was observed in the 40-49 age group (24%). The average size of tumor was 3.39 cm and the majority of patients had a tumor 2-5 cm (T2) but the most involvement was related to T3 (>5cm). The most common type of cancer and grading were invasive ductal carcinoma (93.4%) and tumor grade 2 (52.1%), respectively. Most lymph node involvement was observed in invasive ductal carcinoma and 85.1% of patients had tumor degree 3. 22.2% of patients with vessels involvement had axillary lymph node involvement. 63% of patients’ tumors had receptors of estrogen and progesterone. A statistically significant association was observed between axillary lymph node involvement and tumor size (P=0.031), tumor type (P=0.007), tumor grade (P=0.011), estrogen receptor (P=0.008) and progesterone receptor (P=0.038).
Conclusion: There was a statistically significant association between axillary lymph node involvement and tumor size, type and grade, estrogen and progesterone receptor status, but there was no statistically significant association between axillary lymph node involvement and age and estrogen as well as progesterone receptor status.

Results: The findings of the present study showed that the average age in the group with perforation was 48.7 and in the group without perforation was 42.04. In the non-perforated group, 58.5% of the patients were male, and in the group with perforation, 82.2% of the patients were male. In terms of smoking, 29.6% were smokers in the group without perforation and 50.4% were smokers in the group with perforation. Opium consumption was about 15.6% in people without perforation and about 33.3% in people with perforation. In terms of NSAID use, the prevalence was 35.6% in the group without perforation and 27.4% in the group with perforation. PPI consumption was 46.7% in the group without perforation and 21.5% in the group with perforation. In terms of the prevalence of H.pylori infection, the prevalence in the non-perforated group was 45.2% and in the perforated group it was 30.4%. The previous history of PUD was 56.3% in the non-perforated group and 37.8% in the group with perforation. Conclusion: There was a significant difference between cigarette and opium consumption in the perforated and non-perforated groups, and PPI consumption in these two groups. In general, the prevalence of PUD was higher in males in both perforated and non-perforated types. Fuzzy results also confirmed the effect of risk factors concordance with perforation.