hamid reza raziee

Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption have a well-known effect on the development of upper aerodigestive tract carcinomas, but such a role for opium is questionable. This study was designed to assess the correlation between opium inhalation and cancer of the larynx and upper esophagus.
Fifty eight patients with laryngeal cancer, ninety eight patients with upper esophageal cancer and twenty seven healthy individuals with no evidence of head and neck or esophageal malignancies were selected from Otolaryngology and Radiation Oncology Department of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Duration and amount of cigarette smoking and opium consumption were recorded through comprehensive interviews.
The crude odds ratio for laryngeal cancer was 5.58 (95% CI 2.05-15.15, P=0.000) in cigarette smokers relative to non-smokers and 9.09 (95% CI 3.21-25.64, P=0.000) in opium users relative to non-users. The crude odds ratio for esophageal cancer was 0.44 (95% CI 0.18-1.09, P=0.07) in cigarette smokers relative to non-smokers and 1.44 (95% CI 0.57-3.62, P=0.43) in opium users relative to non-users. After adjusting for smoking, the odds ratio for laryngeal cancer in opium users relative to non-users was 6.06 (95% CI 1.10-33.23, P=0.05). Laryngeal cancer was detected at a significantly lower age in opium users (54.54±10.93 vs 62.92±10.10 years, P=0.02) than in smokers. This effect was not observed in esophageal cancer. Although the duration (year 17.50±14.84 vs 21.91±14.03; P=0.34) and amount (pack/day 0.625 vs 0.978; P=0.06) of smoking were higher among those who were opium dependent, these differences were not statistically significant (P=0.34 and P=0.06, respectively).
Opium addiction by snuffing is an independent risk factor for the development laryngeal cancer but not esophageal cancer. Cigarette smoking increases this risk. Opium dependency increases the likelihood of developing laryngeal cancer at a younger age.

Cancer represents the second cause of mortality in the world. Saffron as a medicinal plant is known for its anti-cancer and anti-depressant properties. In this randomized double blind clinical trial, the effects of saffron on response to treatment in patients suffering from liver metastasis were evaluated. Thirteen patients suffering from liver metastases who referred to Ghaem and Imam Reza hospital, Mashhad, Iran were included in this study and then divided into two different groups. Both groups received chemotherapy regimen. Patients in group one were treated with saffron capsule (50 mg, twice daily) during chemotherapy periods whereas patients in group two received placebo. A sum of the longest diameter were calculated and compared for all lesions in IV contrast CT scan before and after the treatment. from 13 patients included in this study, six patients quit and seven continued until the end. In saffron-treated group, two patients showed partial and complete response (50%) whereas in placebo group, no response was seen. Also, two deaths in placebo and one in saffron group occurred. This research suggests that saffron might be useful in patients suffering from liver metastasis. However, further investigations with larger sample size are required.

B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is a common malignancy of lymphoid tissues. Different types of NHL show various behaviors, prognoses, and responses to treatment. Evaluation of disease activity in NHL can be helpful in managing and even increasing the patient’s survey.Methods and In total, 121 patients (76 males and 45 females), and their age range were 18-53 years, were evaluated in this study. The mean level of serum carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA-125) was 89.3±18.5 u/ml, ranging from 27 to 135 u/ml. There were significant differences in International Prognostic Index (IPI) score (p=0.002), stage of the disease (p=0.006), mortality rate (p=0.02), and relapse rate (p=0.04) between patients with serum CA-125 level <35 u/ml and patients with CA-125 level >35 u/ml. CA-125 seems to be a useful and reliable tumor marker for monitoring a patient with NHL. It might be the time to consider CA-125 in staging, prognostic scoring, or decision making about NHL treatment.

Various infectious agents like Ebstein Barr Virus (EBV), HTLV-1 and Helicobacter pylori have known as etiologic factors in different sub-types of lymphoma. Although Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has not only been important for its hepatotropism and hepatitis development, but also in recent years its association with some forms of non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), especially B cell NHL, has reported.In some countries, the rate of B cell NHL development in HCV infected patients was four times more than general population, and then association between HCV infection and B-NHL has proposed in many studies. To assess this relationship in our geographic region, in a descriptive study; we have evaluated patients with B-NHL in an oncology center in northeast of Iran for HCV infection. Out of 128 B-NHL patients, HCV Antibody test (with third generation ELISA method) was positive in only one patient, which confirmed with Nested PCR technique. Then the frequency of HCV infection in our patients was 0.7%. Respecting to the incidence of HCV infection in general population in Iran, which is between 0.5-1%, we couldn’t show higher prevalence of HCV infection in NHL patients than general population, and hence couldn’t confirm relation between HCV infection and B-NHL in our region.

Recently، special attention has been paid to patients with cancer in order to promote their mental health. Evidences suggest that psychological training has positive effect on reduction of cancer consequences. The aim of the present research was to determine the efficacy of stress inoculation training on the improvement of dysfunctional attitudes and social problem solving skills in women with breast cancer. This is a pilot study in which pre-test and post-test follow-up control was used. Participation included all women who were newly diagnosed with breast cancer and referred to two clinical centers in Mashhad، Iran in 2010 and they were spending their first chemotherapy period. 30 women among newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer were selected and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The therapeutic technique used for the experimental group was stress inoculation training. For data collection، questionnaires of Social Problem-Solving Inventory and Dysfunction Attitude Scale were used. Data were analyzed by using repeated measures analysis of variance and follow-up tests. P value less than 0. 05 was considered statistically significant. The mean±SD age of the subjects was 7. 03±47. 33 in the experimental group and 5. 75±41. 27 in the control group. A Repeated Measure of Analysis of Variance showed that stress inoculation training was effective in improvement of dysfunction attitude and social problem-solving skills of patients with breast cancer. In other words، the average scores of dysfunction attitude، negative orientations، and styles of impulsive/avoidant of subjects were significantly lower in the experimental group at post-test and follow-up test compared to the control group (p<0. 001)، while scores of positive orientation and subjects'' rational style of problem-solving were increased in the experimental group than the control group at post-test and follow-up test. Stress inoculation training can be effective in reduction of dysfunctional attitudes and enhancement of social problem -solving skills in patients with breast cancer.

Extranodal lymphoma may arise anywhere outside lymph nodes mostly in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract as non-Hodgkin''s disease. We reviewed the clinicopathological features and treatment results of patients with primary GI lymphoma. A total number of 30 cases with primary GI lymphoma were included in this study. Patients referred to the Radiation Oncology Department of Omid Hospital (Mashhad, Iran) during a 5-year period (2006-11). Clinical, paraclinical, and radiological data was collected from medical records of the patients. Out of the 30 patients with primary GI lymphoma in the study, 12 were female (40%) and 18 were male (60%) (male to female ratio: 3/2). B symptoms were present in 27 patients (90%). Antidiuretic hormone (LDH) levels were elevated in 9 patients (32.1%). The most common primary site was stomach in 14 cases (46.7%). Other common sites included small intestine and colon each in 8 patients (26.7%). All patients had histopathologically proven non-Hodgkin''s lymphoma. The most common histologic subtype was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBL) in 16 patients (53.3%). In addition, 28 patients (93.3%) received chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, prednisolone (CHOP regimen). The median course of chemotherapy was 6 cources. Moreover, 8 patients (26.7%) received radiotherapy with cobalt 60. The median follow-up time was 26 months. The overall 5-year survival rate was 53% and the median survival time was 60 months. Primary GI lymphoma is commonly seen in stomach and small intestine and mostly is DLBCL or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma.

Primary bone lymphoma (PBL) is a rare disease and distinct clinicopathological entity. The optimal treatment strategy is still unclear. Because of rarity of PBL, we report our institute experience in PBL clinicopathological feature and treatment results. 28 patients diagnosed with PBL were referred to Omid Hospital, cancer research center (CRC), between March 2001 and February 2009. Immunophenotype studies on 16 out of 28 pathological blocks were performed. We analyzed disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates. 14 patients with PBL were analyzed retrospectively. 17 patients (60.7%) were male and 11 (39.3%) were female with a median age of 41 years (range: 11-79). Long bones were the most primarily site of involvement (71%). 26 (93%) patients had diffuse large B cell lymphoma and 2 (7%) had small lymphoblastic lymphoma. One (3%) patient received radiation alone, 18 (66%) cases received combined modality (chemotherapy + radiotherapy) and 8 (30%) received only chemotherapy during their treatment period. The median follow up was 18 months (range: 1-82). Mean DFS was 51 months (range: 37-66). Overall survival (OS) was 54 months (range: 40-68). OS was significantly better in the chemoradiotherapy group compared with other two groups (64 versus 27 months, respectively, p = 0.014). DFS was also significantly better in combined modality arm compared with other two groups (64 versus 21 months, respectively, p = 0.003). In spite of small number of patients reported in this study, combined modality treatment (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) was shown to be useful as an effective treatment strategy in PBL.

Approximately half of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphomaare cured with current chemotherapy regimens. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Bax andBcl2 expression and their relationship with the response to chemotherapy. This study was a prospective analysis on 44 patients with diffuse largeB-cell lymphoma. Their specimens were stained with immunohistochemistery method for Bax andBcl2. The relationship between Bax/Bcl2 expression and the response to chemotherapy as well assome other prognostic factors were assessed. Out of 44 patients, 29 were Bax+ and 15 Bax-, 31 Bcl2+ and 13 Bcl2-. We found astatistically significant relationship between IPI score and the response to chemotherapy (P = 0.002).The response rates were relatively better (but not significant) in cases with Bax + compared to Baxandin patients with Bcl2- compared to Bcl2 + tumors. The combination of immunohistochemisteryresults for Bcl2 and Bax could predict relatively higher response rates in a way that those with Bax+Bcl2- had a higher response compared to Bax- Bcl2+ (57%% VS.22%, P=0.15). Although we found a relatively higher responses in our cases with Bax+vs. Bax- and inthose with Bcl2- vs. Bcl2 +, the differences were not statistically significant. We suggest further studiesto confirm whether the Bcl2 and Bax expressions have any effect on the response to chemotherapyand whether they could be considered as predictor factors for chemotherapy response.