Background and Objective: Gestational diabetes is one of the most common metabolic disorders during pregnancy. In order to find out a simple and cost effective method with acceptable sensitivity and specificity, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and one hour 50-g glucose challenge test (OGCT) were compared in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Materials and Methods: In this prospective cohort study, pregnant women without preexisting diabetes underwent FPG and OGCT tests between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. If the OGCT threshold values exceeded ≥ 130 mg/dl, the 100g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed using Carpenter and Coustan criteria. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the performance of the two tests. Results: GDM was diagnosed in 7.3% and impaired glucose tolerance in 3.2%. The best cut-off points for GCT and FPG were 134mg/dl(sensitivity: 99.24%, specificity: 76.57%) and 87mg/dl(sensitivity: 80.15%, specificity: 85.62%).By using GCT, an optimal cut-off values of GCT<135mg/dl (sensitivity: 96.95%) to rule out GDM and values ≥ 165mg/dl (specifity: 96.10%) to rule in GDM, would eliminate the need for the OGTT in 80.1% women (misclassification rate: 3.83%). By using FPG, an optimal cut-off values of <76mg/dl (sensitivity: 95.42%) to rule out GDM and values ≥ 91mg/dl (specifity: 95.56%) to rule in GDM, would eliminate the need for the OGTT in 51% women (misclassification rate: 4.43%). Conclusion: The results showed that the best test for predicting macrosomia, preterm delivery and caesarian section is OGCT and for preeclampsia and respiratory distress is FPG. As OGCT can decrease the necessity of OGTT performance with lower misclassification rate comparing to FPG, OGCT would be the best screening test for GDM in Iran.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world that can metastasize to other sites. The most common sites of metastasis are liver, lung, bone, and adrenal glands. Skin metastasis in gastric cancer is rare, and it usually occurs after diagnosis of primary cancer (1). The patient reported here is a 65-years old male with gastric adenocarcinoma that in the course of chemotherapy came down with some skin lesions. The biopsy report points to skin metastasis from gastric cancer. In spite of good systemic response to chemotherapy, the lesions progressed. Skin metastasis has poor prognosis, and it is a sign of disease diffusion (2).

Background and Objective: Elevation of the b-HCG serum levels has been reported in several tumors including breast cancer, and it is usually associated with aggressiveness. The aim of this study was to examine the possible correlation between the b-HCG serum levels and different grades of breast cancer tumors in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the city of Zanjan during 2009-10. Serum samples from 56 cases of breast cancer patients were collected after surgery and prior to chemotherapy for analysis of total free b-HCG by electro chemiluminescence immunoassay, and the same procedure was repeated after 8 courses of chemotherapy. The b-HCG serum levels were compared in poor versus mild to moderate grades before and after chemotherapy. Results: In 37 cases of mild to moderate grade tumors, the mean b-HCG level was 1.09 ±1.4 miu/ml compared with 1.2 ±0.3 miu/ml (P= 0.75) in 29 cases of poor grade tumors. The mean b-HCG levels before and after chemotherapy were 1.15 ±1.4 miu/ml and 1.17 ±1.4 miu/ml (P=0.24), respectively. Conclusion: We did not find any significant association between the b-HCG serum levels and breast cancer tumor grades. Furthermore, chemotherapy does not appear to have an effect on b-HCG serum levels.

Background and Objective: Upper gastro intestinal cancers are considered to be a global health problem and gastric cancer is the fourth common malignancy worldwide. In cancer patients, low levels of albumin,
C-reactive protein and platelets are considered as bad prognostic factors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of Albumin (Alb), C-reactive protein (CRP), and Platelets in patients admitted to Endoscopy Unit of Vali-e-Asr Hospital in Zanjan in 2011-2012.

Materials and Methods: 308 patients who had been admitted for upper gasterointestinal endoscopy to Endoscopy Unit of Vali-e-Asr Hospital in Zanjan were entered into this study. Through the upper endoscopy of all abnormal lesions went through biopsy and pathological studies were followed.

Results: Patients were assigned to three groups of normal, benign and malignant lesions and their platelets, albumin levels, BMI and C-reactive protein were measured and compared as prognostic factors. The mean BMI, in the malignant group was significantly lower than the other two groups) PV=0.051(. The mean values of serum albumin in the malignant group was significantly lower than the other two groups (PV=0.023). Meanwhile, the average level of CRP and platelets in the malignant group was significantly higher than the other two groups.  

Conclusion: Due to the high prevalence of gastrointestinal malignancies in Iran, measurement of albumin, C-reactive protein and platelet levels can be an efficient approach to diagnose or prognosis in these diseases.