Background & objective: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer related death in females. Sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) and its product sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) are the essential key regulator molecules in breast cancer through their ability to promote cell proliferation, angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and lymphagiogenesis. SPHK1 is overexpressed in multiple types of cancer including breast cancer and is associated with resistance to treatment. The current study aimed at investigating the expression of SPHK1 in estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER, PR) negative in comparison to ER, and PR positive breast cancer and their normal controls, and also finding the relationship between SPHK1 expression and high body index (BMI) in the selected groups with breast cancer. Methods: A total of 120 human breast cancer tissue specimens were analyzed for SPHK1 expression using Quantitative Real–Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (q RT-PCR) assay. Detection of hormonal status of breast cancer tissue samples was conducted by immunohistochemical assay. Result: The current study findings showed that the level of SPHK1 expression in the breast cancer tissue was significantly higher in patients with estrogen and progesterone negative receptors, compared to the ones without them (P-value< 0.05). The obtained data confirmed that the obesity in patients with ER negative was higher than the ones with positive receptors (BMI> 25). Conclusion: The current study showed that expression of SPHK1 gene was higher in the patients with ER and PR negative breast cancer and high BMI, compared with other groups.

Introduction: Hemorrhoids can be managed by means of several therapeutic options. Regarding this, it is of fundamental importance to identify the hemorrhoidectomy method with fewer complications (e.g., bleeding, pain, and postoperative infections) or beneficial outcomes (e.g., accelerated speed of wound healing and resumption of normal life activities). Such knowledge can play a significant role in the advancement of medical and educational goals. Therefore, the present study was conducted to compare the clinical results of Milligan-Morgan surgery and hemorapy device in the treatment of patients with hemorrhoids.Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 60 patients aged over 20 years with hemorrhoids referring to Bahonar and Afzalipour hospitals of Kerman, Iran, and diagnosed to need surgery by a surgical specialist. The study population was selected using a simple randomization method and then allocated into two groups of A and B, regardless of gender. Group A was operated by open or Milligan-Morgan technique, while group B was subjected to hemorapy method. After the surgery, the patients' data were recorded in specific forms and analyzed by SPSS software (version 21). Results:Out of 60 patients with hemorrhoids, 37 (64%) cases were male. Regarding the severity of hemorrhoids, 19 (32%) and 41 (68%) patients had fourth-degree and third-degree hemorrhoids, respectively. The mean age of the patients was 35.86±12.84 years. Four weeks after the surgery, the mean pain scores of the patients in the Milligan-Morgan and hemorapy groups were 3.67±1.84 and 1.67±1.35, respectively, showing a statistically significant difference (P=0.001). However, 8 weeks post-surgery, no pain, bleeding events, urinary retention, or incontinence were observed in the patients, except for anal stenosis in two patients treated with Milligan-Morgan method.Conclusions: According to the results, hemorapy method resulted in lower postoperative pain than Milligan-Morgan method. In addition, the hemorapy technique was accompanied by considerably fewer complications, such as bleeding, urinary retention, gas incontinence, and stenosis, compared to the Milligan-Morgan method. Consequently, hemorapy method can be recommended for hemorrhoidectomy.