Trace Element Contents in Thyroid Cancer Investigated by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescent Analysis
Background: Thyroid cancer is an internationally important health problem. The aim of this exploratory study was to evaluate whether significant changes in the thyroid tissue levels of Br, Cu, Fe, Rb, Sr, and Zn exist in the malignantly transformed thyroid. Methods: Thyroid tissue levels of six trace elements (Br, Cu, Fe, Rb, Sr, and Zn) were prospectively evaluated in 41 patients with thyroid malignant tumors and 105 healthy inhabitants. Measurements were performed using 109Cd radionuclide-induced energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescent analysis Tissue samples were divided into two portions. One was used for morphological study while the other was intended for trace element analysis. Results: It was found that contents of Br, Cu, and Rb were significantly higher (approximately 10, 3.4, and 1.4 times, respectively) and content of Zn were slightly, but significantly, lower (25%) in cancerous tissues than in normal tissues. Conclusions: There are considerable changes in trace element contents in the malignantly transformed tissue of thyroid.
Uterine Fibroids in Senegal: Polymorphism of MED12 Gene and Correlation With Epidemiological Factors
Background: Mediator complex subunit 12 (MED12) is a part of the mediator complex, which is believed to regulate transcription. Our recent study showed that MED12 is mutated at high frequency and with different mutation frequencies in Senegalese women with uterine fibroids. However, the status of mutations has not been correlated to the epidemiological factors that are implicated in uterine fibroids. Methods: This study aimed to analyze status of MED12 mutations in Senegalese population. MED12 was sequenced in tumoral tissues and blood samples of 54 Senegalese women with uterine fibroids. Clinical and pathological data were obtained from the patient’s records and other parameters were recorded. Mutation Surveyor software version 5.0.1, DnaSP version 5.10, MEGA version 7.0.26 and Arlequin version 3.5.1.3 were used to determine the level of mutations and genetics parameters. To estimate the genetic variation according to the epidemiological parameters, the index of genetic differentiation (Fst) and the genetic structure like analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) were determined with Arlequin software version 3.5.1.3. The significance level (P-value) was 0.05. Results: Our results showed that MED12 is mutated at 88.89% (48/54) only in tumor tissues. The variants frequencies were not similar to those found in the Finnish populations. The Chi2 test indicates a statistically significant difference for the variants c.130G>C, c.130G>A, c.131G>A and for the Intronic Variant Site (p
Humans Papillomavirus (Hpv) Infections in Female Sex Workers in Cote D’ivoire
Background: Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) are small virus non-enveloped double-stranded circular DNA. They infect epithelial cells (mucous membranes and skin). Many studies have indicated that having multiple sexual partners may lead to higher HPV transmission. Thus female sex workers (FSWs) may be at greater risk of infection compared to the general population. In female sex workers (FSWs), the risk of HPV infection and cervical cancer is especially high. The aim of this work is to determine the prevalence and the genotypes of Humans Papillomavirus (HPV) that circulate in female sex workers populations in Cote d’Ivoire. Methods: From December 2015 to May 2016, cervical samples from 350 female sex workers were tested for some HR-HPV. HPV DNA was amplified using PGMY09 /11 primers which generated 450 base pairs at the L1 region. The samples harboring HPV DNA were genotyped using the multiplex PCR with HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 45 and 51 primers. Results: The mean age of this population was 32.5 years. On 350 female sex workers HPV DNA was obtained in 51.5% of the population. A total of 168 (94.38%) specimens harboring HPV DNA were genotypes using multiplex PCR versus 5.61 %, which were not genotyped using HPV 16,18, 31, 33, 35, 45 and 51 by multiplex PCR. These 168 strains permit us to identify 204 strains of HPV on whom we have 88.69 % with single infection while 11.30 % with a multiple infection. Among the multiple infection 36.84 % had respectively double and triple HPV infection and 26.31 % had four HPV infections. HPV genotypes prevalence was the followed: HPV 16 (22.47%), HPV 18 (26.97%), HPV 35 (11.23%), HPV 31 and HPV 33 (7.86%) respectively and HPV 45 (7.30%). Any case of HPV genotype 51 was founded. Conclusion: The prevalence of HPV infection in female sex workers…
Hepatitis C Virus as risk factor for development of hepatocellular carcinoma in Egypt: II-Enhancement role of matrix metalloproteinases-2 in dissemination of HCC
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health problem all over the world. Egypt has the highest prevalence of HCV worldwide (17-26%) with subsequent high morbidity from chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Matrix metalloproteinase are proteolytic enzymes that play a role in the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) which is necessary for invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. The present work was designed to study the relationship between HCV infection and circulating MMP-2 level in chronic HCV patients (either without or with hepatic complication) and compared to that of non- HCV cirrhotic patients as well as healthy controls, in order to clarify the role of HCV in changing microenvironment and underlying mechanisms associated with dissemination of malignancy. The level of MMP-2 was estimated in sera collected at different stages of HCV infections as well as in ascetic fluids collected from those developing either HCC or cirrhosis. Statistical analysis of their results revealed that MMP-2 levels were significantly elevated in all patient groups as compared to healthy controls. The level of MMP-2 in HCV patients with HCC was significantly elevated when compared to other HCV patients. Meanwhile MMP-2 in ascetic fluids of cirrhotic patients were similar to that detected in their sera, while in HCC patients there were 2.4 times elevations in serum level of MMP-2 as compared to that in ascetic fluids. These results revealed that HCV infection is not only responsible for biochemical and hematological abnormalities recorded at chronic stages of infection but also creating a microenvironmental change by enhancing MMP-2 release, which effect on infected cell by obliging them to modify their phenotype in order to survive, thus increasing the invasion potential and facilitate tumor progression.
Hepatitis C Virus as risk factor for development of hepatocellular carcinoma in Egypt: I- HCV promotes HCC progression by increasing cancer stem marker (CD133 and CD44) expression
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents a major public health problem, affecting 3% of the world’s population. In majority of infected patients, HCV can effectively evade innate immunity resulting in chronic hepatitis, which can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Similar to most solid tumors, HCCs are believed to contain poorly differentiated cancer stem cell-like cells (CSCs) that initiate tumorigenesis and confer resistance to chemotherapy. The present work attempted to study the mRNA expression of cancer stem cell markers (CD133 and CD44) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (reflecting the role of HCV) and their correlation with progression toward cirrhosis and HCC. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) prepared from chronic HCV patients (either with or without complications) were probed for mRNA expression of CD133 and CD44 by RT-PCR and compared to that of non-HCV cirrhotic patients as well as healthy control subjects. Our results showed that mRNA expression of CD133 was significantly elevated in all HCV patients either with or without complications but not in those with non-HCV cirrhosis, with maximal expression in patients without complications (HCV patients only). On the other hand, maximal CD44 mRNA expression was recorded in HCC patients. Taken together, these results suggests that, chronic HCV infection appear to predispose cells towards the path of acquiring cancer stem cell traits by inducing CD133 and CD44 expression and it prove the hypothesis that the viral interference with signaling network of normal stem cells leads to their transformation into CSCs.
