Background and Objective: Due to progress in treatment, the average survival rate of the colorectal cancer (CRC) patients has been steady increasing in recent decades. The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival rate and affecting demographic factors in the Iranian patients with colorectal cancer. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 243 cases of CRC patients, whom were referred to the registration center of Namazi Hospital in Shiraz (2003-2008), were included to the study. Collected data were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier, Log rank, and Cox regression models using the SPSS version 16 software. Results: The mean follow up time of the patients was 35.4 ±37.49 months. The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were estimated as 93.9%, 50.3%, and 27.2%, respectively. The Cox regression model revealed that there were some significant correlations between the income status, initial detection method, alcohol consumption, initial treatment strategy, and metastases and the overall survival rate. Conclusion: Despite the progress in treatment, the average CRC survival rate in Iran is lower than developed countries.

Background and Objective: Pterygium is a common ocular surface disorder. A number of surgical procedures are used to remove it. The purpose of this study was to compare recurrent, visual acuity and intraocular pressure after pterygium surgery using mitomycin C during and after surgery. Materials and Methods: In this interventional study, 119 patients with indications for pterygium surgery were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups. In the first group, intraoperative 2% mitomycin C was used for 3 min and in the second group, 2% mitomycin C was given four times a day for 2 weeks The patients were followed up for 15 months after the surgery. The data was collected and analyzed by using SPSS software (version 16), and repeated measurement test at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The mean visual acuity showed no significant difference in intraoperative and postoperative mitomycin (P=0.8). Also, the difference in the mean of intraocular pressure between the two groups was not significant (P=0.3). Conclusion: The use of intraoperative mitomycin-C in pterygium surgery was not correlated with visual acuity and intraocular pressure. It is recommended to use mitomycin C in intraoperative methods due to its fewer problems.

Background and Objective: Macular edema is an important cause of visual loss in diabetic patients which can lead to permanent vision loss in untreated cases. This study compares the efficacy of intravitreal injection and the sub-tenon capsule of triamcinolone on the visual acuity in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Materials and methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 82 diabetic retinopathy eyes were randomly assigned to intravitreal triamcinolone injection group and 74 eyes to sub tenon capsule injection. In terms of visual acuity and intraocular pressure, patients were followed up after first week, first month, and 3^rd month. The collected data were analyzed using ANOVA with repeated data (Repeated ANOVA) and  Stata software (version 13).

Results: Crude comparison between groups  did not exhibit significant differences. However, by controlling the confounding baseline effect, level of visual acuity, logMar[d1]  of the visual acuity in the  intravitreal injection group (-0.78) was significantly less than the sub-tenon capsule group (-0.67). Also, after controlling for other confounding variables (age and sex), the mean IOP was significantly higher in the intravitreal injection group.

Conclusion: [d2] Visual acuity in intravitreal injection group was significantly less than the sub-tenon capsule group and also the mean IOP was higher in the intravitreal injection group. Therefore, sub-tenon capsule of triamcinolone stands out as a superior approach.

Background and Objective: Ghrelin has different functions in the body and one of its newly known roles is the antiapoptotic effect. However, this effect of ghrelin has not been considered in the probable hypoxia induced apoptosis in the animal lung tissue. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of ghrelin treatment on Bax/Bcl-2 gene expression in the lung tissue of rats with chronic hypoxia.  

Materials and Methods: Twenty four male Wistar rats were divided in three experimental groups of normal, hypoxic+saline and hypoxic+ghrelin and were treated for 2 weeks. The expression level of Bax and Bcl-2 genes were assessed using Real-Time PCR in isolated lung tissues of all animals. In addition, histological changes of pulmonary arteries were examined following Hematoxylin-Eosin staining of the isolated tissues.

Results: Chronic hypoxia caused pulmonary artery wall thickness and treatment with ghrelin reversed the changes to the normal. Keeping animals under chronic hypoxia treated or not with ghrelin had no significant effect on Bax/Bcl-2 gene expression ratio as measured in the total lung.

Conclusion: Ghrelin treatment restores the histological changes induced by chronic hypoxia in rats. However, no significant changes in Bax/Bcl-2 gene expression ratio as a marker of cell apoptosis seem to occur in the isolated lung tissues, even after ghrelin treatment. Further similar studies especially in vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells are recommended.