Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common cancer in the oral area. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and especially MMP-2 and MMP-9 are increased in malignancy and lymph node involvement in oral SCCs. We aimed to evaluate the serum levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in patients with oral SCC compared to normal subjects and their relation with clinicopathological findings. Materials and Methods: In this case control study, 20 patients with oral SCC and 20 healthy subjects were included and serum levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were compared between groups. Also, the correlation between these markers with clinicopathological findings including grade (T) and node (N) were evaluated. Results: Patients with oral SCC had significantly higher serum levels of MMP-2 (p=0.01) and MMP-9 (p<0.001) compared to healthy subjects. With increase in grade T, MMP-2 was significantly increased (p=0.001), but in the MMP-9 case this was not significant (p=0.27). The levels of MMP-2 (p=0.002) and MMP-9 (p=0.01) in cases with lymph node involvement and that of MMP-2 in subjects with smoking history (p=0.001) were significantly high. There was significantly positive correlation between MMP-2 with grade T tumor (r=0.598, p=0.005), lymph node involvement (r=0.737, p<0.001) and smoking (r=0.674, p=0.001) and also between MMP-9 and lymph node involvement (r=0.474, p=0.03). Conclusions: Both markers are significantly increased in oral SCC compared to healthy subjects. However, MMP-2 was better for evaluating lymph node involvement and tumor grade.

Background: Laryngeal cancer is an important malignancy in head and neck area and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common type accounting for 95% of cases. Increase in matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in different tumors and their correlation with tumor invasiveness has been documented. However, most studies have evaluated MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression and few have evaluated serum levels. The aim of current study was to evaluate serum levels in patients with laryngeal SCC compared to normal subjects and assess any relation with tumor clinicopathological findings. Materials and Methods: In this case control study, 20 patients with oral SCC and 20 healthy subjects were included. Serum levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were compared between groups and correlations with findings including grade (T) and node involvement (N) were evaluated. Results: Patients with laryngeal SCC had significantly higher serum levels of MMP-2 (p=0.01) and MMP-9 (p=0.03) compared to healthy subjects. Patients with higher T stage (T3,4) had significantly higher MMP-2 (p=0.04) and MMP-9 (p=0.01). There was significant positive correlation between serum levels of MMP-2 with T stage (r=0.45, p=0.04) and lymph node involvement (r=0.563, p=0.01) and between levels of MMP-9 with T stage (r=0.527, p=0.01). Conclusions: Our results showed that compared to healthy subjects, both MMP-2 and MMP-9 are significantly increased in serum of laryngeal SCC cases. MMP-2 was correlated with lymph node involvement while MMP-9 has stronger correlation with T stage compared to MMP-2.

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Background: Epidemiologic and molecular evidences have established a strong link between high risk types of Human Papilloma Virus and a subgroup of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas (HNSCC). We evaluated the frequency of HPV positivity in HNSCC and its relationship to demographic and some risk factor variables in an open casecontrol study.

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The present study aimed at determining in sacco and in vitro the nutritive value of lentil screenings (LS), common vetch screenings (CVS) and bitter vetch screenings (BVS). For this purpose, three experiments (Exp.) were conducted. Ruminal degradation characteristics of the screenings were determined in Exp. 1 by the nylon bag technique using three ruminally fistulated rams. Gas production kinetics, and ruminal degradability and fermentation indices of the screenings were determined using 144 and 24-h incubations, respectively in Exp. 2. In Exp. 3, a basal growing ration for lambs (control) was supplemented by 175 or 350 g/kg of either LS, CVS or BVS (LS175, LS350, CVS175, CVS350, BVS175 and BVS350 respectively), and ruminal degradability and fermentation of the rations were evaluated in vitro. Soluble and potentially degradable fractions of protein were 0.321 and 0.719, 0.362 and 0.688, and 0.333 and 0.707, for LS, BVS and CVS respectively. Metabolisable energy was 11.1, 11.6 and 12.1 MJ/kg DM for LS, BVS and CVS respectively. The screenings had comparable gas production profiles, ruminal digestibility and total volatile fatty acid concentration. However, CVS and BVS had a higher propionate and a lower acetate:propionate ratio than LS (P &lt; 0.05). Including BVS and LS in the mixed ration increased total volatile fatty acid at both inclusion levels, but only BVS enhanced propionate proportion and lowered the acetate:propionate ratio (P &lt; 0.05). These results revealed that these screenings have a good nutritional value and can be used in ruminant diets without adversely affecting the rumen fermentation.

Background & Aims: Delirium is a common problem in hospitalized patients and may threaten the patient's life. Patients undergoing