Upregulation of sulfatase-1 decreases metastatic potential of SKOV3 human ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

Aim: Sulfatase-1 (SULF-1) is one of the genes associated with the inhibition of several signaling pathways by desulfating HSPG in cancer cells. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of SULF-1 upregulation on SKOV3 ovarian cancer cell line and its influence on cell proliferation, migration, invasion in vitro, and lymph node metastasis in 615 inbred mice in vivo. Materials and Methods: In in vitro study, we upregulated SULF-1 in SKOV3 cells using SULF-1 expression plasmid. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting were used to measure SULF-1 expression levels after stable upregulation. CCK-8, flow cytometry, Boyden Transwell-chamber, and scratch-wound healing assay were performed to explore the effect of SULF-1 on the proliferation, migration, and invasion. In in vivo study, immunohistochemistry and eosin stain (H and E) were used to evaluate the expression level of SULF-1 gene and to measure the lymph node metastatic rate of mice inoculated with SULF-1-SKOV3-expressed plasmid, SKOV3, and Nc-SKOV3 cells. Results: qRT-PCR and western blot assay confirmed that SULF-1 was upregulated both in mRNA and protein levels. Following SULF-1 stable upregulation, the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were significantly reduced in the SULF-1 upregulated cells (SULF-1-SKOV3) compared with the nontransfected (SKOV3) and the nonspecific sequence transfected cells (Nc-SKOV3). IHC results showed that SULF-1 was highly expressed after stably upregulation in SKOV3 cells, and H and E stain confirmed that the mice inoculated with SULF-1-SKOV3 cells decreased lymph node metastatic rate compared to the two control groups. Conclusions: Our findings showed that overexpression of SULF-1 in SKOV3 results in a decrease in ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and decreased lymph node metastasis in vivo. This finding could have a potential therapeutic window in the management of ovarian cancer

Acute abdomen at El Obeid Hospital, Western Sudan

Acute abdominal pain is the presenting complaint in emergency departments of all hospitals worldwide, resulting in a huge drain of human and non-human resources. To study the pattern, causes and management outcomes of patients presenting with acute abdomen to El Obeid Hospital, Western Sudan. This was a prospective study. All patients who presented with acute abdomen to the University Surgical Unit at El Obeid Hospital between January 1999 and December 2000 were included. The patient characteristics, clinical features, investigations, management and postoperative care were recorded in a pre-designed sheet. There were 421 patients. 242 were males [57.5%]. Acute appendicitis was the commonest cause accounting for 63% of the patients, followed by acute intestinal obstruction 20.4% and abdominal trauma 11.6%. One third of the patients with acute appendicitis reported with complications. The majority of acute intestinal obstruction cases were due to obstructed and/or strangulated hernia. Acute cholecystitis and perforated duodenal ulcers were not common. Perforated typhoid ulcers and tuberculous peritonitis were less frequent but had high mortality. The overall mortality was 8.5% and those deaths occurred mostly in patients presenting late with generalized peritonitis. Acute abdomen was a common surgical emergency at El Obeid Hospital, Western Sudan. The leading causes were acute appendicitis, acute intestinal obstruction and abdominal trauma. Awareness of the seriousness of the condition and better hospital facilities and care may reduce an unacceptable high mortality

Assessment of tolerability of beta- blockade therapy in patient with left ventricular systolic dysfunction heart failure

Little data exist to demonstrate the tolerability of beta-blocker therapy in an unselected community heart failure population already treated with the clinical trial or higher dose ACEI or ARB. 141 patients who had left ventricular systolic failure on standard therapy were recruited in our study. Patients were assigned to receive either Carvedilol or Bisoprolol. This prospective observational study showed that beta-blocker therapy is well tolerated and can be safely titrated in an out-patient setting