The information gained from the Human Genome Project has facilitated molecular as well as cellular studies not only to find the origins of Breast Cancer (BC), but also to create novel, and effective treatments. In order to provide an infrastructure for local and international research in this area, Iranian Center for Breast Cancer (ICBC) has established a Bio-Bank (BB) for BC. This article describes the aim, structure, and activities in general, and the challenging issues confronting the bank as a model for the establishment of Bio-Banks in developing countries in particular. The methods employed by the Bank could be explained in the following categories: Blood and Tissue sampling, Preparation and Banking of collected Samples, Clinical and Histopathology data collection, Collaboration Protocol, Challenging issues, and the programs to confront the problems. During the five-year activity of the bank, 110 families were enrolled for genetic counseling, from whom 600 biologic samples were obtained, including 387 blood samples and 213 tissue samples. Of 387 blood samples, 317 (82%) were found to belong to the BC patients and the remaining 70 (18%) belonged to their available relatives. The number of samples increased over the study period partly as a result of the programs designed to confront the problems. During the study period, there were some finished research studies using the samples of BB, and many other studies which are still ongoing. ICBC-BB is a model of biologic sample banking which provides a significant number of biological samples for local and international collaborative research projects regarding molecular and cellular aspects of BC. In establishing the ICBC-BB we have experienced problems and challenges, some general and some local. Some were expected and others not, but we have identified solutions.

Background:In the past few decades, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) - a disease with progressive decline in renal function - has become an important problem of global public health, not only in developed countries, but also in developing countries with less economic power.Objectives:In this study, CKD progression to death or End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) in elderly Iranian patients was compared with younger counterparts.Patients and Methods:This retrospective cohort study was conducted on CKD patients with estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min, in a nephrology clinic in Tehran from December of 2006 until December of 2012. eGFR trend, death and need to renal replacement therapy (RRT) were evaluated as outcomes and compared between patients younger and older than 60 years. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 13.Results:Five-hundred and two patients were enrolled and followed up for an average of 37.6 months. Two thirds of the patients were older than 60 years. The incidence density of ESRD in patients younger and older than 60 years were 6.3 and 3.6 for 100 persons per year, respectively. Younger ones showed more rapid decline in their eGFR, while older patients had more stable renal function.Conclusions:It seems necessary to conduct more researches in order to redefine CKD and identify its prognostic markers in elderly population.

Introduction: Gail model is one of the most important models for the evaluation of breast cancer risk between US white females. According to genetic diversity, there is a possibility of affecting the efficiency of the Gail model in risk assessment of breast cancer among Iranian populations. In this study, the Gail model efficiency in specifying the risk of breast cancer in Iranian population was evaluated. Methods: This was a case-control study. The case group was formed of the referrals to Breast Cancer Research Center, Academic Center for Education Culture and Research (ACECR), who were affected by different types of aggressive cancer. Results: A total of 416 patients with breast cancer and the same number in the control group were considered during the study. There were no meaningful statistical differences in age at menarche, age at first live birth, and nulliparous women between case and control groups. The average of five-year risk of breast cancer in the case and control groups had no statistically significant difference. Chemoprevention was only eligible for 7.2% of the patients based on 1.67% five-year risk. In addition, there was no statistically meaningful difference between comparative risk and breast cancer risk in a lifetime. Conclusions: The low risks estimated by the Gail model among patients with breast cancer as well as the absence of meaningful statistical difference in the estimated risks by this model between the case and control groups showed that the Gail model had insufficient efficiency in determining breast cancer risk in the Iranian society.

No abstract