[Impact of flour fortification with elemental iron on the prevalence of anaemia among preschool children in Morocco]

Anaemia is a public health problem in Morocco. To limit this problem, Morocco developed a national programme based on fortification of flour with electrolytic elemental iron. To evaluate the programme's impact on the prevalence of anaemia in children between 2 and 5 years, 4 surveys were conducted, between 2006 and 2008, throughout the country. The results showed a significant improvement in the mean rate of haemoglobin accompanied by a significant decrease in the prevalence of anaemia. This improvement appears to be the result of several mutually reinforcing actions in addition to the fortification of flour with iron, including the promotion of a diversified diet rich in micronutrients and the promotion of public health measures

Biochemical, pathological and genetical studies for HER-2/neu oncogene in cancer breast patients

Breast carcinoma ranks as first malignancy affecting females, contributing 33% of all female cancers. The C-erbB-2 is a class of oncogenes prevalent in breast cancer that play a role in cancer development. This research was performed to assess HER-2/neu oncogene amplification by semi-quantitative PCR technology, and HER-2/neu expression using immunohistochemical [IHC] staining. Electron microscopy made a contribution to the final diagnosis in the only case of invasive duct carcinoma. HER-2/neu gene amplification positive by PCR was detected in 40% of invasive duct breast cancer and showed a significant correlation between HER-2/neu gene amplification by PCR and HER-2/neu gene expression by IHC. Breast tumor specimens from 20 patients invasive duct carcinoma were studied; 10 without radiotherapy treatment and 10 after radiotherapy treatment. The study revealed a significant increase in chromosomal breaks and chromosomal rearrangements in breast cancer patients. There are also increases in chromosomal aberrations in patients received radiotherapy compared with patients not received radiotherapy. Cytogenetic study could be used as a prognostic factor in some breast cancer cases

Serum levels of p53, bcl-2 and lipids during experimental breast carcinogenesis and the protective effect of some natural and chemical agents

To investigate the possible protective effects of natural agents Nigella sativa [NS], Soybean [SB] and Vitamin C [Vit.C.] as well as chemical agent Aspirin [Asp.] against breast carcinogenesis induced in experimental animals using 9,10 Dimethyl benz [a] 1,2 anthracine [DMBA] as a potent breast.carcinogen. Materials and A single dose of dimethylbenz[a]anthracene [DMBA, 15mg], was administered to rats via intragastric intubation. The animals were divided into six groups [control, DMBA, [DMBA + Aspirin], [DMBA + Vitamin C], [DMBA + Nigella sativa] and [DMBA + Soybean] group]. Biochemical and histopathological analyses were done on serum and mammary glands tissue. The level of serum p53 and bcl-2 proteins was measured by ELISA and western blot techniques. The level of serum triacylglycerol [TG], cholesterol, high density lipoprotein [HDL] and low density lipoprotein [LDL] were determined spectrophotolmetrically. The protective effect of Asp, Vit.C, NS and SB was demonstrated by reducing the incidence of glandular tumors induced by DMBA from 73.3% to 50%, 43.3%, 40% and 36.6%, respectively. These protective agents, reduced also the levels of p53, bcl-2, TG and LDL, and attenuated the effect on HDL level. DMBA induced mutant p53 and bcl-2 over-expression were associated with early onset of carcinogenesis. Asp., NS, SB and Vit. C exhibited chemoprotective effect against tumor induction, through their antimutagenic effect

Distribution of P53 and mdm2 genes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

50 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, 36 males and 14 females 14-73 years old were studied in this work. Abnormal values of s.. bilirubin. AST, ALT and alkaline phosphatase were found in 52, 64 and 76% of cases respectively. 70%of cases had AFP levels between 50 and 150ng/dl while 6/had levels below 10ng/dl. 46.had stage 1:36 stage II and 18/had stage III disease. P53 was overexpressed in 46% of cases not related to age or sex. A statistically significant relationship was found between mdm2 overexpression and the stage of the tumor. 42% of cases were P53 positive and mdm2 negative and 24% of cases were P53 negative and mdm2 positive that may indicate that mdm2 overexpression and P53 mutation represent alternative mechanisms for inactivating the same regulatory pathway for suppressing cell growth. Concomitant overexpression of either P53 or mdm2 or both was found to have statistically significant relation with tumour stage indicating that P53 mutation and mdm2 overexpression are alternative mechanisms for inactivating the same pathway for suppressing cell growth. It can be concluded that P53 in activation may be involved in the molecular pathogenesis of HCC and its mutation is late in HCC and its frequency is related to tumour progression mdm2 overexpression has the same significance. Tumors with mdm2 overexpression were devoid of P53 mutations and vice verca; indicating that they represent alternative mechanisms for inactivating the same regulatory pathway for suppressing cell growth

ISO antigens A, B and H in urinary bladder lesions and its adjacent mucosa

Expression of blood group antigens A, B and H was studied in 6 cases with chronic cystitis, 31 cases with squamous cell carcinoma [S.C.C.], 13 cases with transitional cell carcinoma [T.C.C.], 3 cases with adenocarcinoma, 2 cases with undifferentiated carcinoma and 5 cases of normal urinary bladder epithelium as control-using the immunoperoxidase staining via peroxidase antiperoxidase [PAP] technique. It was found that the areas of chronic cystitis retained A, B and H antigens similar to be control [normal urinary bladder epithelium] while in patients with S.C.C., 55% of the patients with grade I tumours, 82% with grade II and 89% with grade III tumourse had loss of cell surface antigens and 29% of the cases expressed H-antigens in the areas of S.C.C. In patients with T.C.C., 50% of the patients with grade I tumours, 75% with grade II and all patients grade III tumours had loss of cell surface antigens and 38.5% of the cases demonstrated H-antigens in the areas of T.C.C. All cases of undifferentiated carcinoma had loss of cell surface antigens. In contrast, cases of adenocarcinoma showed loss of isoantigens in 2 cases of grade I and expressed them in grade II tumour. Sixty seven percent of the cases expressed H antigens in the areas of adenocarcinoma. The adjacent areas to carcinoma whether S.C.C. or T.C.C. were regaining the normal antigen and losing the H-antigen gradually as one goes from the micro-invasive area to areas of carcinoma in situ, dysplasia and back to normal epithelium. This study suggests that expression of A, B and H. blood group isoantigens in the urinary bladder carcinoma [S.C.C. or T.C.C.] is correlated to the grade of tumour and tends to be lost as the histological grade increase. Patients with blood group O were more susceptible to loss of blood group isoantigens. Further studies are recommended to correlate between A, B and H isoantigens with the prognosis

Distant infections caused by thrombophlebitic complications of cholesteatoma

The report of two cases of chest and kidney infections reminds of the possibility of distant infections caused by thrombophlebitic complications of cholesteatoma. Deep neck infection, mediastinitis, pleural empyema, pulmonary abscesses and hematogenic microabscesses of kidney have been proved by clinical, radiologic and laboratory examinations in two cholesteatoma patients. The clinical course of distant infections could be terminated by effective surgical elimination of contaminated thrombi from sigmoid sinus during a mastoid surgery