Tehran University Medical Journal

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Breakthrough bleeding (BTB) is the cause of 50% of discontinuations of use by long-acting progestogen-only contraceptive users. BTB appears to be associated with capillaries of abnormal morphology and fragility. Disturbances in vessels integrity, intercellular junctions or alteration of the basement membrane (BM) composition has been proposed to contribute toward the fragility of these capillaries. In a clinical trial study, 34 healthy fertile volunteers were studied before and during use of levonorgestrel releasing subdermal contraceptive implant Norplant. Three endometrial biopsies were taken from each volunteer, one before insertion and 2 at different time intervals after exposure to Norplant. Then 3 major components of BM of endometrial vessels Collagen IV (CIV), laminin and heparan sulphate proteglycan (HSPG) were immunostained and studied. The density of immunostained vessels by each antibody were measured and compared with density of vessels stained by CD34. Double immunostain of CD34 and laminin was also used for demonstration of vessels without BM. Significant decrease in vascular density showing BM components were shown in the study. The density of laminin, CIV, and HSPG-positive vessels were decreased from 176±8, 166±6.6 and 61±6 vessels/mm² (Mean±SEM) in the endometrium of Norplant acceptors before use control samples to 156±6, 144±6.2 and 33±2.9 in the endometrium of Norplant acceptors after 2 to 13 weeks Norplant exposure, respectively (P<0.05). This was occurring at the same time as the overall density of small vessels in Norplant exposed endometrium was showing increase. Significant decrease was also demonstrated over 13 to 42 weeks of use in the densities of laminin and HSPG-positive vessels compared with control (P<0.05), although decrease in the density of CIV positive vessels was not significant. Percentages of vessels showing BM was also calculated in the study. Significant decrease in the percentage of vessels showing BM were demonstrated after 2 to 13 weeks of Norplant use. The percentages of CD34 positive vessels showing laminin, CIV and HSPG-positive BM in control samples were 97±3%, 88±32% and 31±2% (Mean±SEM) which significantly decreased to 79±3%, 75±4% and 20±2% in Norplant users, respectively (P<0.05). Decrease in the percentage of vessels showing BM was thought to be due to disturbances in the integrity of BM in endometrial vessels of women using Norplant, which could be a cause for the fragility of the vessels. The decrease could also be due to decrease in the density of arteriols and increase in the density of venules and appearance of solid cords of endothelial cells. Double immunostaining of the endometrial vessels with anti-CD34 and anti-laminin clearly demonstrated loss of BM or weak staining of BM in the endometrial vessels of Norplant users. Clarification of the local mechanisms which leads to capillary fragility and abnormal endometrial bleeding may lead to the development of better treatments or prevention and ultimately improve the acceptability of these contraceptives.

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Tumor angiogenesis shown by Microvessel Count (MVC) or Microvessel Density (MVD), is assessed by several studies as prognostic factor in some types of tumors, and also in colorectal carcinoma. This article is payed to correlation between clincopathologic factors and tumor angiogenesis. In this study, immunohistochemical techniques are used for vascular evaluation in specimens from twenty-nine colorectal carcinoma, and stained for Factor VIII-Related Antigen (F8RA) by using monoclonal antibody. Uni and multivariate analysis disclosed that total MVC was higher in tumor [76.3±33 (×100=2.5 mm²/field) and 29.8±11 (×200=0.785 mm²/field)] than in normal tissue [37.7±15.8 (×100) and 17.6±7.8 (×200)], (P=0.022, P=0.000009). Microvessel quantification was significantly higher in stage D (115±36.6, ×100 and 26.7±6.4, ×200, P=0.002 and P=0.04). In this study MVD has correlation with vascular invasion (P=0.024, ×100 and P=0.007, ×200), the mean tumor vessel count although was increased with clinicophatologic findings such as age<60 years, male, right colon involvement, infiltrating type, mucinous carcinoma, transmural penetration, grade III, lymphatic and perineural invasion, but was not statistically significant. Lymph node and hematogenous metastasis and size of tumor also, was not important. As a conclusion, MVD was increased in tumor and has shown correlation with metastasis, and vascular invasion. Resulting angiogenesis increase risk of metastasis.

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In the past, coronary artery bypass grafting was the treatment of choice for patients with symptomatic multi vessel coronary artery disease, but in recent years per cutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) accepted as an alternative approach to revascularization. To assess the initial success and in hospital results of coronary angioplasty of more than one lesion per procedure in patients with multi vessel coronary artery disease, a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent selective coronary angioplasty at Imam Khomeini medical center from 1994-1997 were peformed. From 1994 to 1997 per cutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) were done in 257 patients, that 201 (78.2 percent) were male and their age range 23-73 years. The numbers of patients with multi vessel coronary artery disease were 98 (38.13 percent), that complete revascularization (PTCA of more than one lesion per procedure) underwent in 34 (13.58 percent) of them (27 men, 7 women, age: mean±SD 48±9.8 range 30-70). A total of 71 lesions were tried, that 22 (31 percent) were type A, 45 (63.4 percent) were type B, and 4 (5.6 percent) were type C. Among patients 21 (61.8 percent) had unstable angina and 13 (38.2 percent) had stable angina. Procedures were successful in 68 (95.8 percent) of lesions and 31 (91.2 percent) patients were discharged fro procedural complications included 3 (8.8 percent) non-Q wave myocardial infarction and no mortality. Without any complication, (success defined as residual stenosis <50 percent). As a conclusion, in selected patients with multi vessel coronary artery disease PTCA of more than one lesion per-procedure is effective and safe.

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Background: Several randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of drug eluting stents (DES) in selected groups of patients with less complicated diabetes. We conducted this study to determine how an unselected group of diabetic patients in Iran fare following DES implantation.

Methods: Data were collected on 147 consecutive diabetic patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with the implantation of at least one DES at the Tehran Heart Center from June 2003 to September 2005. Clinical follow-up was performed by timely scheduled visits at one, four and nine months following DES implantation. Nine months of follow-up was completed for 94.5% of the patients. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), which include cardiac death, myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization (TVR). In-hospital complications were the secondary endpoint.

Results: A total of 158 coronary artery lesions were treated with DES in 147 diabetic patients (mean age = 56.4±8.92 years, 57.1% were men). During the nine-month follow-up, MACE occurred in 3.4% of patients, with a myocardial infarction rate of 1.4% and TVR rate of 1.4%. Considering one patient who underwent TVR due to acute stent thrombosis following angioplasty (during hospitalization) the total number of TVR reached 3 (2%). Only one patient (0.7%) died of cardiac death, which occurred after the procedure and before discharge. In-hospital complications occurred in six patients (4.1%) five patients suffered from myocardial infarction.

Conclusions: PCI with DES seems to be safe and effective in diabetic patients. However, more studies with larger study populations and longer follow-up are required to confirm this issue.

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Background: The electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing system is an adjunct to the hemostatic technique, which has been successfully used in many abdominal operation, recently made available to thyroid surgery. The purpose of this was compare the outcomes of new hemostatic technique with traditional method of clamp and tie.
Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study has been done in surgery's wards of Milad & Rasul- Akram hospitals in Tehran, Iran. During three- year period between 2005-2008 all patients with different kind of pathology that need operation were assessed. Time duration of surgery and hospital stay and post surgery complication in two group, ligasure (n=45) and clamp & tie (n=145) were compared with each others.
Results: No difference was seen between two groups in time duration of surgery. Significant difference was seen in hospital stay and complications of surgery. Time of operation in Ligasure group was 132/22 minute and in clamp and tie group was 130/10 minute. There was found significant difference in duration of hospital stay and postoperative complication. Hypocalcemia were seen in two and 24 cases in Ligasure and Clamp & Tie group, respectively (p<0.05). Hospital stay was 2.18 versus 2.65 day in ligasure and clamp & tie group, respectively (p=0.005).
Conclusions: Although Ligasure is easier than clamp & tie for surgeons but no reduction in time duration of surgery was seen in ligasure group. The advantages of this method in this study was reduction of hospital stay and complication.

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Background: Despite advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment, survival rate of patients suffering from glioblastoma multiform (GBM) has not been significantly improved. Therefore, novel therapeutic adjuncts to routine therapies have been suggested over time. Inhibition of angiogenesis by antiangiogenic drugs is one of the new approaches to inhibit the growth of malignant cells. Microvessel density (MVD) assay is a technique performed by counting immunohistochemically-stained blood vessels. Nowadays, athymic nude mice are widely used for the establishment of xenograft tumor models in cancer research. The aim of this study was to evaluate the MVD of autochthonous xenograft models of GBM isolated from Iranian patients for use in pharmaceutical research on antiangiogenic drugs.Methods: Fresh tumor samples of GBM were obtained from three patients in Cancer Institute of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Fall of 2010 and Winter of 2011. After preliminary processing, minced tumor samples were implanted heterotopically on flanks of athymic nude mice. Two months later, the animals were sacrificed and the xenograft tumor samples were sent to the pathology laboratory. After establishing the proof of the xenograft tumor type, MVD-CD34, an endothelial cell marker, was assessed by counting hot spot areas in 22 samples.Results: The mean number of microvessels in these xenograft tumor models was 30±2.1. Conclusion: These autochthonous xenograft models of GBM can be used in preclinical settings for research on antiangiogenic drugs regarding a pharmacogenomics-based treatment regimen for the Iranian population. Moreover, such models can be used in future studies for determining the sensitivity or resistance to antiangiogenic drugs in individualized cancer therapy.

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Background: The anatomy of the palmar vascular arches and their variations, being one of the most challenging anatomical regions for reconstructive surgeon.
Case Presentation: During a routine dissection of a male adult cadaver in dissection hall of zahedan university of medical sciences, a complex, unilateral and rare variation in the pattern of blood supply to the palm of the right hand was observed. The history of the individual and cause of the death is not known. In this cadaver there was an incomplete superficial palmar arterial arch had no contribution from the radial artery. The superficial palmar arch giving only one common palmar digital artery, that supply second interdigital space and then it terminated by giving rise to a common trunk for princeps pollicis and radialis indicis arteries. Absence of the second and third common palmar digital artery with the contiguous sides of the third and forth interdigital spaces supply by the second and third palmar metacarpal arteries from the deep palmar arch respectively. The third palmar metacarpal artery giving rise to a branch which supplies the medial side of the little finger.
Conclusion: Having knowledge of the variations of vascular patterns resulting from a number of developmental errors could provide an important source of information for Anatomists, Radiologist, reconstructive and vascular surgeons.

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Background: In patients who undergoing PCI, association between right ventricular function and outcome of the procedure remained unclear. The present study aimed to determine association between echocardiography findings of systolic right ventricular function and functional status of patients following PCI. Methods: In a cross-sectional study conducted at Imam Ali hospital and heart center in Kermanshah, Iran in 2013, 40 patients with history of inferior wall myocardial infarction (Inf MI) according to previous electrocardiography (ECG) in past hospitalization for MI who were candidate for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on right coronary artery (RCA) and had left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 40% were included. The subjects underwent echocardiography on admission to assess echocardiography indices of systolic right ventricular function including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), tricuspid annular systolic velocity (TASV), Tei-index (Myocardial performance index), and RV fractional area (RVFA) change that was repeated one month later. Baseline functional status was assessed based on the New York Heart Association functional classification score (NYHA score) that divided to 4 grades. Results: NYHA score improved following PCI procedure (from 2.20±0.46 to 1.10±0.30, P<0.001). The mean score of TAPSE significantly increased from 18.68±2.12 to 20.40±2.11 (P<0.001). The mean of TASV also increased from 13.28±1.52 to 14.85±1.90 (P<0.001). Also, Tei-index was improved from 0.52±0.05 to 0.47±0.03 (P<0.001). Moreover, RVFA was significantly increased after PCI (from 35.02±2.40 to 38.25±2.57, P<0.001). There was no significant relationship between the changes in NYHA score and each of right ventricular systolic function indices. Conclusion: Although right ventricular systolic function considerably improved fol-lowing PCI procedure, but the changes in this improvement is not associated with the improvement of function class after the procedure.

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