PIK3CA mutation analysis in Iranian patients with gastric cancer

Background: Aberrant activation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinases [PI3K]/AKT/mTOR [mammalian target of rapamycin] pathway is a critical event during gastric cancer progression. Selective function of AKT inhibitor AZD5363 in PI3KCA mutant gastric cancer necessitates the assessment of PI3KCA mutations in these patients

Methods: The study included 100 patients with gastric cancer who underwent surgical resection at Imam Reza Hospital, Tehran, Iran, between January 2009 and December 2016. Mutations in codon 1047 of PIK3CA were evaluated by tetra-primer ARMS-PCR and direct sequencing methods

Results: We detected p.H1047R and p.H1047L in eight and three samples, respectively. Also, a significant association was found between PIK3CA mutations and lymphatic invasion. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated no significant differences in overall survival between patients with and without mutations

Conclusion: Our study detected gain-of-function mutations in exon 20 of PI3KCA gene in 11% of gastric cancer patients. Future studies are needed to assess the mutation rate in other regions of this gene to find eligible patients for targeted therapies

association between angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene A1166C polymorphism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its severity

Background: Genetic predisposition may have important role in pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD]. Angiotensin II type I receptor [AGTR1] has been known to involve in the process of liver steatosis and fibrosis. This study aimed to investigate the association between AGTR1 A1166C polymorphism and NAFLD

Methods; A cross-sectional study was conducted during May 2014-May 2015 among healthy adults referring to our radiology clinic for abdominal sonography. AGTR1 A1166C polymorphism was evaluated in subjects with NAFLD and healthy individuals using allelic discrimination method

Results: 58 subjects with NAFLD were compared with 88 healthy individuals without NAFLD. The frequency of AA and CC genotypes of AGTR1 was significantly higher in patients with NAFLD compared with controls [p=0.029 and 0.042, respectively]. C allele was more detected in subjects with NAFLD compared with the healthy controls [OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.23-3.61, p =0.006]. CC genotype [OR: 10.62; 95% CI: 1.05-106.57, p =0.045] and C allele [OR: 6.81; 95% CI: 1.42- 32.48, p =0.016] were also predictors of severe fatty liver disease in our study population

Conclusion: Our results provide the first evidence that AGTR1 gene A1166C polymorphism not only is associated with NAFLD and but also may predict its severity

[Gastric cancer as a multifactorial disease]

Gastric cancer is the fourth most common cancer and it is known as the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Carcinogenesis ius a multifactorial process that is dependent to parallel effects of environment and genetic. Environmental risk factors for gastric cancer are Helicobacter pylori infection, life style and nutrition. This study was a narrative review and the results of the collection and interpretation of available information on the causes of gastric cancer, Methods of diagnosis and treatment. Helicobacter pylori infection, genetic predisposition and environmental factors such as nutrition and health are risk factors of gastric cancer. But these factors have interactions. A poor nutrition increase inflammatory effect of bacteria and genetic background causes the progression of mild inflammation to ulcer, atrophy and ultimately it causes malignancy and cancer. Delayed diagnosis, treatment and prevention of gastric cancer is complex due to the involvement of infectious agents, gastric background and inflammatory response of the body. Improved diagnostic and treatment methods related to improving nutrition and development of the personalized medicine.

Comparison of Fecal Calprotectin Levels in Iranian general population and army personnel

Fecal Calprotectin is released in colon by activated neutrophils. Investigation of diagnostic application of determination of fecal Calprotectin levels is considered by many researchers to compare between different colorectal diseases like Irritable Bowel Syndrome [IBS] and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases [IBD]. Due to the effect of nutrition habits on the inflammatory processes of bowel, the main goal of this study was to evaluate the level of fecal Calprotectin in healthy subjects in Iranian army personnel that have specific and the same nutrition habits, in comparison with non-military population and also make this test an in-house method in Army laboratories. In this study a prospective and sample collection method used available samples [Convenience sampling]. We collected stool samples from 108 subjects from Army personnel and 108 samples from non-military Iranian population with corresponding data collection form. Determination of Calprotectin levels was done by specific third generation quantitative ELISA method and statistics were done using SPSS software. The results showed that mean Calprotectin level in two included groups were 26.1 micrograms per gram in Army personnel group and 25.4 micrograms per gram in non-military control subjects. Fecal Calprotectin level in two studied groups wasn't significantly different. Despite the little increase in Calprotectin levels in Army personnel group compared with control group this difference wasn't statistically significant [P>0.05]. We can conclude that the nutrition habits of army personnel could cause effects on inflammatory processes in digestive system. Determination of fecal Calprotectin levels as a cost effective and non invasive test could be used by military physicians for early diagnosis of inflammation in personnel by routine tests subjects