Diagnostic values of gene expression of cytokeratin - 19 mrna and mammaglobin mrna in breast cancer patients using real-time polymerase chain reaction

Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women. It constitutes almost 20% of all malignancies in women. Currently it affects approximately 6% of the female population. Even before clinical detection of a primary tumour, cancer cells can invade the adjacent structures from where they travel through lymphatic and blood vessels as circulating tumour cells [CTCs]. CTCs colonize distant organ sites as disseminated tumour cells [DTCs] and eventually form microscopic deposits [micrometastasis < 2 mm in diameter], which may remain dormant, but then ultimately lead to an overt metastatic disease. Cytokeratins [CKs] have become the most widely accepted protein markers for the detection of epithelial tumour cells in mesenchymal tissues, BM, blood and lymph nodes. Based on its breast cancer-association and somewhat unique breast-specific pattern of expression, mammaglobin was believed to be an excellent candidate for a novel and clinically useful breast tumor marker, especially in detecting micrometastasis. This study was performed on one hundred female Individuals. They classified into: Group I: 20 apparently healthy females as control group. Group II: 20 females with stage I breast cancer . Group HI: 20 females with stage II breast cancer. Group IV: 20 females with stage III breast cancer. Group V: 20 females with stage IV breast cancer. The following specific investigations were done for all the studied persons:-Cancer Antigen 15-3 [CA15-3] and Carcinoembryonic Antigen [CEA] using chemilmnmescent immunometric assay [IMMULITE 1000 Analyzer]. Cytokeratin-19 mRNA [CK-19] mRNA and mammaglobin mRNA by Real-time polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR]. In group I [control group]: All the 20 healthy control females had low expression values for CK-19 and Mammaglobin. In group 2 [stage I breast cancer]: 35% of patients had over expression values for CK-19 and 20% had over expression values for Mammaglobin. In group 3[stage II breast cancer]: 47.4% of patients had over expression values for CK-19 and 47.4% had over expression values for Mammaglobin. In group 4 [stage III breast cancer] 68.4% of patients had over expression values for CK-19 and 73.7% had over expression values for Mammaglobin. In group 5 [stage IV breast cancer]: 95% of patients had over expression values for CK-19 and 95% had over expression values for Mammaglobin. Our findings support that all patients with breast cancer should be evaluated by CK-19 and Mammaglobin as a regular laboratory assessment beside the routine tumour markers specially in early stages of breast cancer to detect CTCs at the time of diagnosis

Selective cytotoxic activity against leukemic cell lines from mosquitocidal Bacillus thuringiensis parasporal inclusions.

The discovery of parasporin has triggered an interest in examining various Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) isolates for specific anti-cancer activity. The aim of this study was to determine the potency and specificity of parasporal inclusions from Malaysian mosquitocidal Bt isolates against a leukemic cell line (CEM-SS). The Bt isolates used in this study were identified as having weak to potent larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti and varying hemolytic activity. The 12 mosquitocidal Bt isolates examined in this study showed low to moderate cytotoxicity when tested against CEM-SS and HeLa. Interestingly the parasporal inclusions of Bt 18 (non-hemolytic isolate), showed therapeutic potential demonstrating specificity for CEM-SS compared to HeLa, whilst being non-cytotoxic to normal T lymphocytes. The mode of cell death by Bt 18 was shown to be initially apoptotic. SDS-PAGE analysis and N-terminal sequencing of the upper and lower bands of Bt 18 showed similarity between Bt 18 parasporal inclusions with Cry 24Aa and 25Aa of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp jegathesan and Cry 15Aa of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp israelensis. Although the BLAST analysis did not show sequence similarity between Bt 18 and Parasporin, we propose that the Bt 18 parasporal inclusions share similar characteristics to Parasporin since Bt 18 is not hemolytic but discriminately cytotoxic towards leukemic cell lines.

Detection of schistosoma mansoni DNA in human blood as a diagnostic method for schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is a major health problem, the diagnosis of which relies on direct examination for ova, and/or serological assays for specific antibodies and circulating antigens. The present study aimed at evaluating the detection of Schistosoma mansoni DNA by polymerase chain reaction [PCR] versus the detection of antibodies by indirect haemagglutination test [IHAT] as means for diagnosis of Schistosomiasis in human blood. The individuals under study were categorized into four groups. Group I included 36 patients with active intestinal Schistosomiasis. Group II included 20 patients with past history of intestinal Schistosomiasis. Group III included 20 patients with Schistosoma haematobium and other parasitic infections, and finally group IV which included 15 individuals serving as negative controls. For all groups under study stool and urine were examined for parasitic ova; serum was examined for S. mansoni circulating DNA by PCR and for the detection of bilharzial antibody by IHAT. PCR proved highly significant in diagnosis of active intestinal Schistosomiasis with a sensitivity of 97.2%, specificity of 100%, predictive value of positive [PVP] of 100%, predictive value of negative [PVN] of 98.2% and a diagnostic accuracy of 98.9%. All cases in group II, III, and IV were negative. IHAT results showed a sensitivity of 77.8% in group I, 90.0% in group II, 25% in group III and in group IV all cases were negative. The specificity of IHAT in the diagnosis of active intestinal Schistosomiasis was 85.7%, with PVP 84.8% and PVN 78.9%; the diagnostic accuracy was 81.6%.S. mansoni DNA detection may be used as a valuable and species specific test for diagnosis of early infection or in situations of low worm burden in which other diagnostic methods show low sensitivity and specificity. Early treatment of such cases avoids the occurrence of irreversible pathological damage by the deposited eggs

Blastocystis hominis among symptomatic and asymptomatec individuals in Talkha center, DaKahlia governorate, Egypt

Blastocystis hominis is now getting acceptance as an agent of human intestinal disease. B. hominis in stool samples of symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals was evaluated as a possible cause of gastro-intestinal troubles. B. hominis was found in 106 [10.1%] out of 1050 individuals examined from six villages and one city in Talkha Center, Dakahlia Governorate. The highest infection rate was in Manshayt El-Badawy village [25.47%], whereas Talkha City showed the lowest rate [4.73%]. Age group 10-20 years had higher infection [13.3%]. In twenty- three symptomatic patients, B. hominis represented the only causative parasitic agent. The most common symptoms were diarrhoea [30.4%], abdominal pain [26.1%], flatulence [21.7%], vomiting [13.1%] and fatigue [8.7%]. High concentrations of B. hominis were found in symptomatic patients than in asymptomatic ones with statistical significant difference [8.2 cells/100 x field versus 3.8 respectively]. The mean number of B. hominis was significantly high in patients complaining of diarrhoea and abdominal pain

Surgical advances in Islamic mediicne and the practice of anesthesia up to the fall of the Islamic state

World civilization first started along the major rivers of the Middle East, namely the Nile valley and in between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in the land of Mesopotamia, 4000 years ago. Greek and Roman medicine were a continuum of the previous civilizations with regard to medicine. The Arabic translation of Greek medical writings helped to make Islamic physicians supreme in the Middle Ages. Baghdad became the center of knowledge in alchemy and medicine. Surgical procedures were performed and anesthesia was used. Many brilliant minds including Avicenna, Albucassis, and Ibn al Koff flourished in this time and left a written legacy of their teachings. This high level of medical achievement continued over many centuries and withstood the passage of time and political turmoil, prevailing until the Salajic and early Ottoman periods

Cardiac amyloidosis: Diagnostic features and clinical implications

Seven patients with cardiac amyloidosis were referred to King Khaled University Hospital. All patients in this study developed congestive heart failure. They had a long duration of illness and thickened ventricular wall with marked abnormalities in the left ventricular filling, and normal systolic function. Diastolic function is suggested as a possible mechanism of congestive cardiac failure in the patients presented. The cardiac functional evaluation was made by echocardiography, whereas the diagnosis of amyloidosis was confirmed by rectal biopsy and positive technetium Tc 99m pyrophosphate scintigraphy. The diagnostic characteristic hemodynamic features of the left ventricle and its function are described and discussed with the clinical implications of the presenting features