The CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) alpha (CEBPA) and Runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) genes have been traditionally regarded as two essential genes involved in normal myeloid maturation. Although the link between mutations in these genes and the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been extensively documented, the ramifications of gene expression dysregulations of CEBPA and RUNX1 has drawn less attention. The present study investigated CEBPA and RUNX1 gene expression levels in 96 primary AML specimens against a normal control group by way of real-time RT-PCR. Our results reveal that CEBPA and RUNX1 gene expression levels were unexpectedly and significantly higher in patients with AML when compared to the levels detected in the normal control group (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, the correlation between CEBPA and RUNX1 was significant and positive (P-value: 0.011, r: 0.257). Our data contradicts the widely established role of CEBPA and RUNX1 in myeloid differentiation, as we saw lower levels of CEBPA and RUNX1 expression to be exhibited in patients with AML. Likely, our data demonstrates that higher levels of CEBPA and RUNX1 expression were closely correlated with reduced myeloid maturation, but this idea needs to approved. It suggests that despite the current established functions of genes involved in cell differentiation, the leukemogenesis process has the capability to transform normal hematopoietic precursors in a manner that may employ the differentiation related gene at the service of malignancy.

Background: Malnutrition is common in patients with cancer, and in many cases can result in shortened survival rate. More than 20% of cancer mortality can be attributed to the effects of malnutrition, rather than malignancy itself. Malnutrition results in poor response to treatment, increased length of hospital stay, immunodeficiency, reduced quality of life, and increased health care costs in patients with cancer. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status of patients with gastrointestinal cancer during chemotherapy. Patients and Methods: In this study, 92 patients over the age of 18 who were referred to Valie-e-Asr hospital of Zanjan (since Apr, 2011 to Dec, 2011) were selected. Nutritional status of patients during 3 cycles of chemotherapy was assessed by a questionnaire. The obtained data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA, using SPSS 16.0. Results: There was a significant relationship between duration of treatment and the average of mid arm circumference (MAC) and body mass index (BMI). BMI can be considered as an anthropometric index which can be used to alarm the physicians about nutrition problems of the patient. Conclusions: At the end of treatment, patients who survived had better nutritional statuses compared to the ones who passed away. During chemotherapy, malnutrition got worse in patients with metastatic esophageal cancer. Our findings show that patients with moderate or severe malnutrition are in the critical need to improve their malnutrition status.

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Introduction: COVID-19 emerged as a global clinical threat following an outbreak in China in late 2019. Objectives: The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of hemoperfusion in COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure. Patients and Methods: In this prospective study, a total of 98 patients over the age of 18 with the positive COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test were investigated. The patients were divided into two groups; a control group consisting of 47 patients who did not receive hemoperfusion, and an exposed group consisting of 51 patients who met the criteria for hemoperfusion. Various parameters including complete blood cell counts, serum bilirubin, creatinine, C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels were evaluated in all patients. Results: The results of our study revealed a statistically significant difference in intensive care unit (ICU) admission between the two groups. Hospitalization time (19.941±1.75 versus 14.615±1.39, P=0.021) and ICU time (14.98±1.30 versus 9.62±1.15; P=0.003) were significantly higher in patients who received hemoperfusion. Regarding the mortality rate, only 36.7% of the patients survived; however, there was no significant difference observed between the two groups (P=0.34). Conclusion: In conclusion, the findings of our study indicate that hemoperfusion in COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure led to a significant increase in hospital stay and ICU stay compared to those without hemoperfusion. Further research is needed to determine the optimal timing and frequency of hemoperfusion to improve treatment outcomes in COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure.

Objectives: Calreticulin (CALR) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) alpha (CEBPA) are two important multifunctional proteins which play different roles in regulation of hematopoiesis. Expressional changes of these genes were related to the malignancy. Methods: The present study aimed to investigate the expression levels of CALR and CEBPA genes in 96 de novo AML patients compared to 18 normal people as the control group through the Real-Time-PCR. Results: Results of the present study revealed that the expression of these genes was significantly higher in patients with AML than the normal group (P <0.0001). Furthermore, there was a significant and positive correlation between CALR and CEBPA (P= 0.001 and r= 0.348). Discussion: Higher level of CALR expression was expected, but the overexpression of CEBPA was on the contrary to its well-known role in the myeloid maturation. Based on the studies, CALR probably played roles in the expression of oncogenic CEBPA and it repressed the CEBPA translation in tumor suppressor gene (TSG). Conclusion: The present study first indicated the over-expression of CALR in AML patients and compared it with the healthy normal control group and also found a positive relationship between CALR and CEBPA expression in the AML patients. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.19(4) 2020 p.730-736