Predictive role of molecular subtypes in response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients

Background: Breast cancer is increasingly regarded as a heterogeneous disease which can be classified into distinct molecular subtypes with prognostic significance

Objectives: Retrospective evaluation of the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with the major molecular subtypes of breast cancer as classified using immunohistochemical assay and to investigate the patterns of benefit from the neoadjuvant chemotherapy in different molecular subtypes

Materials and methods: ER, PR, HER2 and ki-67 were used to divide102 breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy [NCT] into 4 subtypes: luminal A [ER+,PR+,HER2-, and ki-67 14% ; ER+ and/or PR+, HER2+], HER2-overexpression [ER-, PR- and HER2+] and triple-negative [ER-, PR-,and HER2-]

Results: Of the 102 patients analyzed, 9 patients [8.8% of all patients] achieved pCR with 2.6% [2/76] for luminal subgroup, 0.0% [0/8] for HER2-overpression subgroup and 38.9% [7/18] for triple-negative subgroup with a high statistical significant value [p=0.000]

Morbid parasitological and histopathological events in hamsters infected with intestinal amoebiasis given artesunate

This work is a trial to elucidate the parasitological and histopathological sequelae of giving the antimalarial drug [Artesunate] in experimental intestinal amoebiasis. A group of 20 hamsters were infected each by Entamoeba hisrolytica cysts orally by using an oral canula. This group was further subdivided into two main subgroups: Subgroup I constituted infected hamsters given 6000 E. histolytica cysts orally by an oral canula. then sacrificed five weeks post infection. Subgroup II: Infected hamsters given the same infective dose, then two weeks later, treated orally with Artesunate 30 mgm/ Kg body weight/ hamster/over 3 consecutive days Again sacrifice was initiated five weeks post infection. Multiple stool examinations, and histopathological examination of the caecal end of the large intestine were resorted to, in order to assess the anti-amoebic effect of the drug. It was found by mucosal scrapings of the caecum, that hamsters given Artesunate, revealed a minimal amount of Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites when compared to the control untreated animals [P< 0.001]. Histopathological study of the caecal mucosa, revealed complete resolution of the ulcerating shragged mucosal layer after treatment with Artesunate compared to the respective untreated control animals. This study may be of value in endemic areas where drug resistance to the usual antiamoebics may be commonly encountered

Correlative study between immunodulatory action of propolis on cultured PBMNCs and it's schistosomicidal activity

Propolis, a beehive product widely used in folk medicine as an anti-nflammatory agent, have heen attracting researchers attention to scientifically elucidate us biological properties and therapeutic activities. This study aimed to spot light on the value of propolis as an immune-stimulant and to evaluate the influence on schistosome hematobium infection cure rate. To achieve this goal we estimated the effect of propolis on cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells activation in-vitro by IL-2 and NO determination. We also evaluated the effect of in-vivo treatment with propolis on Schistosoma hematobium worm and bone marrow by parasitological and ultrastructural studies. Twenty S. haematobium infected golden hamsters were included in the study, subdivided into two groups each of 10 animals Group 1: Infected Control with 300 +/- 10 cercariae of S. haematobium by abdominal skin exposure. Group 2: Animals were treated with propolis three months post the infection. Our in-vitro results revealed that propolis induces a discreet elevation in IL-2 and NO release in PBMNCs cultures supernatant of S. hematobium infected hamsters. Mean level of IL-2 was 16.17 +/- 1.67 pg/ml in the presence of propolis and 3.31 +/- 0.76 in its absence with highly statistically significant difference [p < 0.001]. Regarding NO, Mean level of NO was 7. 76 +/- 1.30 U/ml in the presence of propolis and 2.6 +/- 0.42 in its absence with. highly statistically significant difference [p < 0.001]. Also, propolis caused observed activation and absence of apoptotic changes at the ultrastructural level of cultured PBMNCs revealed. In-viva results, revealed significant reductions in mature worm loads [either male or female], tissue egg loads [either intestinal or hepatic] 21.00 and 19.79% respectively and Percentage reductions of egg developmental stages was 68.07% with statistically significant difference compared with infected control group [P < 0.05]. Ultrastructural study of S. hematobium women revealed implantation and degeneration of the spines within vesiculated tegument and for the bone marrow it revealed evidence of lymphocyte and promonocyts activation in addition to remarkable increase in the number of the activated natural killer cell. Data suggest that propolis acts on host immunity by PBMNCs activation. This information would provide new insights in considering propolis to have a potential therapeutic benefit if used in conjunction with antischistosomal drug in treatment of schistosome infection

Effect of a novel antimalarial drug on different pathological and parasitological parameters in experimental intestinal giardiasis

Objectives the gold standard of this study, is to demonstrate the effect of the antimalarial drug Articulate in experimental intestinal Giardia lamblia infection. It aims at studying the pathological imprint of this drug on the duodenal mucosa of the studied infected hamsters

Methods: in this study, a group of fifteen Golden Syrian hamsters was used. This group was further subdivided into three small subgroups. Subgroup I: constituted control infected untreated hamsters. Infection was done by oral administration of 10,000 Giardia lamblia cysts through an esophageal tube. Subgroup II constituted infected animals, treated three weeks later with a single oral dose of Artesunate 100mg /Kgm body weight. Subgroup III included infected animals, given three weeks later two successive oral doses of Artesunate 100mg/Kgm body weight each, 24 hours appart. All animals were sacrificed two weeks post treatment. By faucal smear examination, it was noticed that the number of Giardia cysts was markedly reduced in the group given the single dose regimen. This number mostly vanished in the group given the double dose regimen when compared to the respective untreated control hamsters. Again, pathological examination of the upper third of the duodenum, revealed complete villus regeneration in the group given the double dose regimen, compared to the respective untreated control animals. This study could be of value un endemic areas where people tend to develop drug resistance to the commonly used antigiardial preparations

Effect of some local cercaricidal agents on different stages of experimental schistosoma mansoni infection

Objectives: the goal of this study, is to demonstrate the lethal effect of topical Cedar wood oil [P-methyl -d- 3- tetrahydroacetophenone] administration alone and1 or in combination with the solvent: Demzo [Dimethylsulphoxide], and Propolis [a natural bee wax extract, or resinous substance collected by bees from tree exudates], in experimental schistosomiasis mansoni. It is a trial to explore the repercussions of using these compounds upon worm and tissue egg loads, and oograrn pattern in experimental murine schistosomiasis mansoni

Methods: in this study, a group of 40 Swiss albino mice was used. This group was further subdivided into four small subgroups. Subgroup I: constituted control untreated mice. Infection was done by dermal inoculation of 80 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae per mouse through a ring, after shaving the abdominal skin. Subgroup II constituted abdominally shaved mice, wiped with absolutely 100 ul per mouse Demzo + 800 ul per mouse Cedalwmd oil then infected immediately after with 80 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. Subgroup III: abdominally shaved mice, wiped with absolutely 100 ug per mouse Proplis + 100 ul per mouse Demzo + 800 ul per mouse Cedarwood oil, then infected immediately after with 80 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. Subgroup IV constituted mice wiped over the abdominal skin with absolutely 50 ug per mouse Propolis + 100 ul per mouse Demzo+ 800 ul per mouse Cedarwood oil and again, infected immediately after with 80 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. All animals were sacrificed 6 weeks post infection

Results: mice given absolutely [100 ug per mouse Propolis + 100ul per mouse Demzo + 800 ul per mouse Cedar wood oil], revealed a statistically significant drop [P< 0.001] in the total worm recovery, when compared to the respective untreated controls. This value was less evident in the group given half the dose of Propolis [50 ug], and least evident in the group given Demzo and Cedarwood oil only. Again, the former group revealed the least number of tissue egg load [both hepatic and intestinal], and more mature than immature eggs in the oograrn, compared to the latter two groups

Conclusion : cedarwood oil could be successfully used in conjunction with Demzo and Pro- polis as a topical prophylactic agent in experimental schistosomiasis mansoni infection. This constitutes a hopeful and promising tool in endemic areas. In Egypt, this could be of special interest when indigenous or newly coming foreigners are exposed to unpreventable infection, such as fishing or rowing in the Nile River

Investigation of parasitic agents in diarrheic patients in a rural population

Infectious intestinal diseases are highly prevalent and diarrhea is among the commonest complaints. A cross sectional study was carried out on 56 diarrhea1 cases of El Shobak El Sharki villagers [Guiza Governorate]. The study aims at investigating the parasitic causative agents of diarrhea and comparing four different techniques for diagnosis. These were Merthiolate-Iodine-Formaldehyde [MIF] concentration technique, Modified Ziehl Neelsen [ZN] staining technique, Enzyme Imrnunoassay [EIA] and Merifluor Cryptosporidium /Giardia lmmunofluorescence Assay [IFA]. Depending on the diagnosis by the four methods together, Giardia lamblia was found in 46.4%, Cryptosporidium parvum in 37.5%, and Entamoeba histolytica in 7.1% of diarrheic cases. Comparison of the different techniques showed that IFA was superior in diagnosing C. parvum [90.5% sensitivity], while ZN stain had a sensitivity of 85.7%. The technique of EIA was not so efficient in diagnosing C. parvum [28.6% sensitivity]. As regards the diagnosis of G. lamblia, sensitivity of IFA was 84.6%, while EIA showed 65.4% sensitivity. Giardia lamblia could be diagnosed by MIF technique which showed u sensitivity of 30.8%. The four techniques showed 100% specificity with all studied protozoa. Many factors were correlated to the positive findings. Cryptosporidium parvum was found more in adult age groups than younger ones the reverse is true as regards infection with G. lamblia. Drinking water and swimming in water canals were potential sources of transmission, also finding the same parasite in members of the same family is discussed. In conclusion C. parvum represented more than one third the number of causative agents of diarrhea in rural population having diarrhea. So, health care professionals must be aware of the different diagnostic procedures plus its specific treatment. Routine stool analysis depending on MIF and modified ZN staining techniques is a cost-effective tool for screening of diarrhea. If the results are negative and parasitic agents for diarrhea could not be excluded clinically, referral should be made to reference laboratory to do Cryptosporidium/Giardia Merifluor IFA technique. If negative results are still obtained, repetition of IFA technique for successive days is recommended

Effects of carnosine on liver enzymes of bilharzias infested hamsters

We tested the ability of prophylactic camosine alone and in conjunction with praziquantel to overcome the disturbances of liver enzyme activities and total protein content caused by Schistosoma mansoni infestation in hamsters. The present work showed that the infection increased hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, AMP deaminase and adenosine deaminase total activities and decreased the activity of lactate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, arginase, transaminases [OAT, AST and ALT] and liver total protein content. Prophylactic carnosine stimulated hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, succinate dehydrogenase and both deaminases. Carnosine inhibited the activity of arginase and the three transaminases, yet this inhibition was less than that caused by untreated infection. Praziquatel therapy after prophylactic carnosine treatment caused suppression of the stimulatory effects of carnosine alone on hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, succinate dehydrogenase, both deaminases and liver total protein content. With regard to arginase and the transaminases, this combined therapy decreased the inhibitory effects of infection more than camosine alone