Background: Finding suitable tumor markers with higher sensitivity and specificity for malignancy could be a fine approach to early diagnosis, response to treatment and follow up after treatment in cancers. The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of telomerase enzyme with carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA), Cyfra21-1 and parathyroid hormone (PTH), in diagnosis of patients with lung cancer and other cancerous diseases visited in Lung and Tuberculosis Research Center of Tabriz Medical University.

Materials and Methods: In this research a diagnostic value was designed on 50 lung cancer patients and 20 normal individuals. Telomerase activity was measured by TRAP assay, based on PCR- ELSA, in lung tumor biopsies. The serum levels of PTH, CEA, and Cyfra-21-1 were measured using commercially available immunoassay kits. Sensitivity, specificity and other diagnostic value markers were calculated. To compare quantitative means of the two groups, T independent and Man-Whitney analysis were applied.

Results: Telomerase activity had the highest sensitivity and accuracy (76% and 82.9%, respectively). The mean values for Cyfra-21-1 were 58% and 70%, respectively. The highest value of sensitivity for telomerase was calculated in small and large cell carcinoma with 100% in lung cancer patients. The highest sensitivity of Cyfra-21-1 (98%) was seen in the large cell carcinoma.

Conclusion:  The diagnostic sensitivity of telomerase enzyme was higher than that of cyfra21-1 and CEA. It seems that the positive value of telomerase enzyme could be considered as a rapid diagnostic factor especially in lower stages of lung cancer.

Background : Sodium benzoate is used as a disinfectant agent against some microorganisms in food. The toxic effect of this chemical has been shown in some studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sodium benzoate on testicular tissue, gonadotropins and thyroid hormones level in adult (Balb/C) mice.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 18 adult male mice (Balb/C, 10-12 weeks) were divided into three equal groups. Two groups of mice were given sodium benzoate 140 mg/kg/day and 280 mg/kg/day for 60 days respectively. The control animals received tap water. Post-anesthetic blood sampling from left ventricle was used for hormonal measurements. After scarification, the testes were removed and fixed for morphologic studies. Data were analyzed by student t-test.

Results: No significant difference was evident concerning weight loss between the control and case groups. The testosterone level was significantly decreased in the case groups (P<0.0001). Also FSH, LH, T3 and T4 levels was significantly decreased in the high dose against the control group (P<0.0001 for FSH, LH & p<0.001 for T3, T4) however, TSH was considerably increased in the high dose and control groups (P<0.001). Ultrastructural study of testicular tissue showed the picnotic nature of germinal cells nuclei and plenty of distended vascular in cytoplasm.

Conclusion: Sodium benzoate decreases plasma level of the testosterone, gonadotrophins, T3 and T4. Thus, it is recommended to replace it with other preservatives in drugs and foods.

Background: Treatment with antiepileptic drugs such as phenobarbital (PB), carbamazepine (CBZ) and sodium valproate (VPA) has a lot of complications and may affect the endocrine function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of CBZ and VPA on thyroid function tests.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 patients referred to Kashan Shahid-Beheshti hospital during 2010-2011. The patients were randomly divided into two treatment groups with CBZ (n=22) and VPA (n=28). Patients with thyroid, hepatic and renal disorders, pregnants and those who had taken levothyroxine and oral contraceptives were excluded from the study. Fasting blood samples were taken from all patients and T3, T4, FT4, TSH and rT3 uptake were measured before and after 2 months of treatment.

Results: Forty-four cases had tonic-clonic and 6 cases partial seizure. In the CBZ group, there was no change in the mean values of T3 and rT3 T4 level was decreased and TSH and FT4 levels were increased, but the differences were not statically significant. Moreover, T3 level was significantly increased in the VPA group (P=0.038).

Conclusion: According to the results of the study, the mean T3 level was significantly increased in the VPA group.

Background: Due to the high prevalence of epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs are widely prescribed for the epileptic patients. One of the major side effects of these drugs is their negative effect on thyroid function. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of sodium valproate and phenobarbital on thyroid function in children.

Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on children with the first epileptic experience or those epileptic children who had not received any medication. The participants were allocated into three groups: the sodium valproate (31 cases), phenobarbital (22 cases), and control (60 cases) groups. Serum level of TSH and T4 before the treatment and 1 and 3 months later were measured and analyzed.

Results: Mean age of the children (60 male and 53 female cases) was 3.83±2.01 years. No difference was found among the three groups regarding the age and sex. In the valproate group, the level of TSH was increased only within 3 months after the treatment, while no change was detected in T4. There was no detected change for the thyroid hormones in the phenobarbital group as well.

Conclusion: Phenobarbital had no effect on thyroid tests, while sodium valproate appeared to increase the TSH in the epileptic patients. Therefore, further studies are recommended in this regard with the consideration of the relevant clinical signs.