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Background and Objectives: Gastric cancer is known as one of the most common cancers and causes of deaths. Early and proper diagnosis is one of the most important things for treatment response. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the expression of p53, CD44, Ki-67, and HER-2/neu markers in the gastric cancer and its relationship with histopathological indicators., Methods: This is a descriptive-analytical study, in which 60 patients with cancer who underwent gastrectomy surgery in 2011-2016 in Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital. The participants were investigated for p53, CD44, Ki-67, and HER-2/neu markers' staining plus demographic characteristics, rate of survival, and histopathological features of the tumors., Results: The mean age of the participants (44 males and 16 females) was 60.25±1.29 years. The patients' survival rate was 23.82±1.56 months on average. The tumor size was reported as 6.09±2.61 mm and the major tumor type reported was intestinal type (n=40, 66.7%). The level of expression of Ki-67 and CD44 makers was recorded as 33.75 and 24.50%, and p53 and HER-2/neu genes were positive in 25 (41.7%) and 20 (33.3%) patients, respectively. The expression of p53 and CD44 markers had no significant relationship with the demographic characteristics, rate of survival, and histopathological features of the tumor of patients (all p>0.05). The expression of p53 gene was associated with the lower rate of survival (p=0.014), while the expression of HER-2/neu was associated with higher probability of developing intestinal type of stomach adenocarcinoma (p=0.010) and ulcerative macroscopic view (p=0.034)., Conclusion: This study illustrated that p53 and CD44 markers did not have any diagnostic value in predicting the biological behavior of gastric cancer. In fact, incidence of p53 gene was associated with the lower rate of survival, and the expression of HER-2/neu was associated with higher probability of developing the intestinal type of stomach adenocarcinoma and ulcerative macroscopic view.

Aim: This study was designed to report epidemiologic findings of polyps in Iranian patients, and predict histology of polyp regarding to demographic and colonoscopic findings. Background: Classification of colorectal polyps had been revised in the past two decades and there is a need for polyp categorization in the Iranian Health System. Patients and methods: In this retrospective study, the medical records of patients with colonoscopic diagnosis of polyp in pathology departments of SBMU affiliated teaching hospitals were reviewed. Patient’s slides evaluated and demographics findings were assessed. The anatomical location, macroscopic appearance including size and histological assessment of all polyps were recorded. Results: From total number of 1106 polyps (detected in 862 patients), adenomatous polyps (638 [57.7%]) were the most prevalent findings, followed by colon mucosal tag (184[16.6%]), hyperplastic and serrated polyps (122[11%]), inflammatory polyps (110[9.9%]), hamartomatous (21[1.9%]), and malignant lesions (13[1.2%]). Multivariate logistic regression showed age (each one year increasing age; odds ratio [OR] = 1.026, 95%confidence interval [CI] = 1.016–1.036, p < 0.0001), location of polyp (right colon; OR = 1.905, 95%CI = 1.366–2.656, p < 0.0001), and polyp size of 5-10 mm (OR = 1.662, 95%CI = 1.214–2.276, p = 0.002), and polyp size of >10 mm (OR = 2.778, 95%CI = 1.750–4.411, p< 0.0001) were independently associated with neoplastic polyps. Also, polyp size of >10 mm (OR= 2.613, 95%CI= 1.083-6.307, p=0.033), tubulovillous pattern of polyp (OR= 3.508, 95%CI= 1.666-7.387, p=0.001) and villous pattern of polyp (OR= 10.444, 95%CI= 4.211-25.905, p<0.0001) were associated with high grade dysplasia in neoplastic polyps. Conclusion: Increased age, location of polyp (right colon), increased size of polyp and villous component of polyp could classify patients in high risk groups.

Background: Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is an endocrine tumor featuring parafollicular or C-cell differentiation, with calcitonin as a specific biomarker in MTC diagnosis. Germline mutations in the RET proto-oncogene are considered responsible for its familial occurrence and somatic mutations can cause sporadic lesions. MicroRNAs can act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors by inhibiting the expression of target genes.. The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between plasma levels of calcitonin and miRNA323 expression in MTC patients with or without RET mutation. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, MTC lesions (based on pathological confirmation) were investigated. Genomic DNA was extracted and Exons 10 and 11 of RET were genotyped using PCR-sequencing. Division was into two groups of 43 cases each with or without mutation. Plasma levels of calcitonin were determined in both. Results: miRNA323 was measured using real-time-PCR. After performing normality tests, independent T-tests and Mann Whitney tests were used for the statistical comparison of parametric and nonparametric data, respectively. Plasma levels of calcitonin were significantly higher in MTC cases without a RET mutation compared to those with a mutation. Conclusion: There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the expression of miRNA323 so that this parameter could not be used as a bio-index germ line mutations in MTCs. However, determination of calcitonin levels in plasma might be helpful in this regard., (Creative Commons Attribution License)

Objective: Using diagnostic pathological methods during surgery is a valuable means of determining the appropriate management for patients. Application of Frozen Section in CNS surgeries might face challenges due to friability of brain tissue and its relative inaccessibility. Various studies have evaluated the diagnostic acuity of frozen section compared to gold standard but results have been quite inconsistent. We conducted the present study to evaluate the accuracy of cryostat in diagnosing central nervous system tumors compared to the Gold Standard method. Methods: In this descriptive retrospective study, patients with definite diagnosis of central nervous system tumors made through histopathological evaluations were identified by reviewing the archives of pathology reports during 1996-2013. Demographic data, clinical history, radiologic findings and results of pathologic evaluations were extracted from the medical records and entered into SPSS statistical software v.22 for analysis. Results: A total of 405 patients diagnosed with CNS tumors were identified, of which 16 patients were not eligible and eventually 389 patients were included in the study. Regarding tumor category, subtype and grade, the results of the two methods were totally compatible in 303 patients (77.9%) and discrepant in 22.1% of cases. The tumors located in the middle fossa (p=0.031; OR=2.27; 95% CI: 1.08-4.79) and the posterior fossa (p=0.021; OR=2.46; 95% CI: 1.15-5.26) and the tumors biopsied using the stereotactic method (p=0.050; OR=2.42; 95% CI: 1.001-5.83) were associated with an increased chance of discrepant results between the two methods. Conclusion: Frozen section can correctly diagnose and affect the management of CNS lesions in 77.9% of cases. Finding ways to increase the sensitivity and specificity of this method and providing surgeons with more definite and exact intra-operative diagnosis can improve management of central nervous system lesions to a considerable degree., (Creative Commons Attribution License)