ABSTRACT
The application of immunohistochemistry (IHC) for molecular characterization of breast cancer (BC) is of paramount importance; however, it is not universally standardized, subject to observer variability and quantifying is a challenge. An alternative molecular technology, such as endpoint reverse transcription (RT)-PCR gene expression analysis, may improve observer variability and diagnostic accuracy. This study was intended to compare IHC with the RT-PCR based technique and assess the potential of RT-PCR for molecular subtyping of BC. In this comparative cross-sectional study, 54 BC tissues were collected from three public hospitals in Addis Ababa and shipped to Gynaecology department at Martin-Luther University (Germany) for laboratory analysis. Only 41 samples were qualified for IHC and RT-PCR investigation of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and Ki-67 protein expression analysis. Kappa statistics was used to assess the concordance between the two techniques. The overall percent agreement between RT-PCR and IHC was 68.3% for ER (positive percent agreement [PPA] 71.1%; negative percent agreement [NPA] 33.3%), 39.0% for PR (PPA 14.3%; NPA 92.3%), and 82.9% for HER2 (PPA 62.5%; NPA 87.9%). Cohen’s κ-values of 0.018 (< 0.20), 0.045 (< 0.200), and 0.481 (0.41-0.60) were generated for ER, PR, and HER2, respectively. Concordance for molecular subtypes was only 56.1% (23/41) and 0.20 kappa value. IHC and endpoint RTPCR techniques have shown to be discordant for 43% samples. Molecular subtyping using endpoint RT-PCR was fairly concordant with IHC. Thus, endpoint RT-PCR may give an objective result, and can be applied for BC subtyping.
ABSTRACT
Coffee is one of the most commonly consumed beverages in the worldwide and is assumed to have protective effects against metabolic syndrome. The present study was aimed at investigating the effect of coffee on body weight, serum glucose, uric acid and lipid profile levels in male albino Wistar rats feeding on high fructose diet. A post-test experimental study was conducted on a total of 30 (9–10 weeks old) male albino Wistar rats. The rats were divided into 6 groups: group I (normal control)-fed on standard chow and plain tap water only; group II (fructose control)-fed on standard chow and 20% of fructose solution; group III–VI (treatment groups)-fed on standard chow, 20% of fructose solution and treated with 71, 142, 213 and 284 mg/kg body weight/day of coffee respectively for six weeks. At the end, body weight, serum glucose, uric acid and lipid profile levels were investigated. Data was entered and cleared by epi-data software version 3.1 and analyzed by one way ANOVA followed by Tukey post hoc multiple comparison tests using SPSS V. 23.00. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05. The results showed that body weight, fasting serum glucose and uric acid levels significantly lowered in rats treated with 213 (p = 0.047; 0.049; 0.026) and 284 (p = 0.035; 0.029; 0.010) mg/kg body weight/day of coffee compared to fructose control group. Fasting serum triglycide (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels showed significant reduction in rats treated with 284 mg/kg body weight/day of coffee as compared to fructose control group (p = 0.031; 0.046) respectively. In conclusion, treating rats with coffee decreased body weight, fasting serum glucose, uric acid, TC, TG and LDL-C, and increased HDL-C in a dose dependent manner in rats feeding on high fructose diet, suggesting that coffee consumption may be helpful in ameliorating metabolic syndrome.