Survivin gene polymorphism association with papillary thyroid carcinoma

Survivin expression is correlated with suppression of apoptosis in human solid tumors. A polymorphism at position -31 (G/C) (rs 9904341) has been associated with cancer risk in several studies. We evaluated the correlation of this polymorphism with the risk of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in an Irananian population. The cases consisted of patients with PTC (n=123) and normal controls, composed of non-related healthy people (n=131). The frequency of GC or CC genotype in patients with PTC was significantly higher than in the controls [GC+CC vs GG, p=0.02 OR; 1.7, 95%CI (1.05-3.04)]. There was a significant difference between patients with more aggressive clinical manifestations, including lymphatic involvement compared to the controls [GC+CC vs GG, p=0.0006, OR; 3.7, 95%CI (1.6-9.2)]. The presence of C allele was significantly associated with the presence of more profound manifestations, including lymph node involvement, vascular involvement and multifocality.

Associations between HLA-C alleles and definite Meniere's disease

Both genetic and environmental factors seem to play role in the etiology of Meniere's disease (MD). Several genes may be involved in susceptibility of MD including Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA). The associations between MD and HLA alleles have been previously studied in other populations and certain HLA alleles were shown to be predisposing. The aim of this study was to determine the association between HLA-C allele frequencies and definite MD in patients who refer to Amir-Alam otolaryngology tertiary referral center in Tehran. Patients with definite MD (N=22) enrolled according to the diagnostic criteria of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS). Cases with all 3 symptoms of MD (Vertigo, Tinnitus and lower frequency of sensory-neural hearing loss) were included and those with suspected MD were excluded from study. HLA-Cw allele frequencies were determined in patients non-related healthy controls (N=91) using PCR -SSP. We found that the frequency of HLACw*04 was significantly higher in patients compared to the controls [P = 0.0015, OR; 20, 95% CI (3.7-196.9)]. Our results revealed that HLA-C is a genetic predisposing factor in definite MD in patients who refer to Amir-Alam otolaryngology tertiary referral center.

Intraoperative findings in revision chronic otitis media surgery

In this study, we reviewed the surgical findings in a series of revision tympanomastoidectomy to determine the most common causes of failure in chronic otitis media surgery. The intraoperative findings at revision mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty of 116 patients were analyzed. The most common sites of pathologic tissue at revision surgery (with cholesteatoma and/ or granulation tissue) were unexenterated cells of the sinodural angle. The most common mechanical cause of retention of debris in canal wall down procedures was facial ridge.