Environmental carcinogen exposure and lifestyle factors affecting cancer risk in Qatar: findings from a qualitative review

To meet the country's health goals for 2011-2016, a qualitative review of exposure to risk factors for cancer in Qatar was conducted in 2013. The review included exposure to environmental agents carcinogenic to humans [International Agency for Research on Cancer classification], as well as lifestyle factors known to affect cancer risk. Information from all available sources was assembled and reviewed. The levels of particulate matter reported in Qatar were in the upper range of ambient air pollutants reported internationally, and may influence the country's future lung cancer burden. The limited data on occupational exposure suggests that the greatest risks for workers in the construction industry are likely to be from environmental dust and related air pollutants. The greatest cancer risks for Qatari nationals may be lifestyle factors, particularly obesity, physical inactivity and tobacco use. Extended monitoring of the composition of and human exposure to air pollutants is recommended

Genetic heterogeneity among Leishmania major isolates in Iran determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism [RFLP] and multilocus microsatellite typing [MLMT]

In recent years, molecular methods for characterizing genetic heterogeneity have found a major place in modern approaches. In this study, two different molecular techniques including Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism [RFLP] and Multi Locus microsatellite typing [MLMT] were carried out in order to evaluate genetic heterogeneity among isolates of Leishmania major in Iran. In this experimental study, 24 Lmajor isolates from different endemic foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis were evaluated. All samples were amplified by specific primers for Internal Transcribed Spacer ribosomal RNA [ITS_rRNA] and miniexon genes [ME]. Ten different microsatellite markers were applied to 24 collected isolates as well. Restriction fragment length polymorphism of Polymerase chain reaction of ITS-rRNA and ME regions was identified in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Size polymorphisms in PCR products of microsatellites markers were measured in the CEQ 8000 automated genetic analysis system. Population structure of the isolates was investigated by Structure Version 2.3.2 software. According to ITS- RFLP and ME-RFLP techniques, three and two different strains of Lmajor were determined, respectively, while microsattellites markers revealed 21 different genotypes, which were clustered in three genetic groups using structure software. Although genetic heterogeneity among studied L. major isolates was identified by molecular tools as used in this study, it seems that microsatellites markers are more useful in population structure and epidemiological studies. Our findings also showed correlation between different identified strains and their geographical regions

Arsenic contamination in groundwater and its proposed remedial measures

Arsenic contamination occurs in groundwater of Bangladesh mainly from the alluvial and deltaic sediments. Arsenic contamination of groundwater in Bangladesh was first detected more than a decade ago and the 'shallow tubewells' were reported as the main source of arsenic contaminated water. From the nutritional and metabolic points of view, arsenic is likely to adversely affect human health and nutrition. Up to now, several studies have been carried out on this context; however, inadequate knowledge on arsenic sources, mobilization and transport still remains as a constraint due to lack of data, information and technological advances. Thus, a review study has been undertaken on the sources of arsenic, its causes, mobilization, transport, effects on human health, arsenic test procedures and removal methods, in the context of groundwater contamination in Bangladesh, and finally sustainable remedial measures of arsenic have been proposed. This study suggests that laboratory facilities for testing of arsenic and effects of enhanced groundwater pumping, phosphate fertilizer etc., need to be updated, expanded and studied. This review work is significant to further knowledge improvement, as the topic is general and worldwide. It can be concluded that the integration of the proposed remedial measures with the national geographic information system interface database relating to arsenic for analysis, production of hazard maps, and dissemination on television show for the planners, engineers, managers, field supervisors and affected people, can reach at the sustainable solution for mitigating arsenic and associated problems successfully in Bangladesh

Serum interleukin-8 and insulin-like growth factor-1 in Egyptian bladder cancer patients

Bladder cancer is a major health problem in Egypt as it represents the most common malignancy. The increasing morbidity and mortality rates of bladder cancer have forced the scientists to zearch for new unfailing diagnostic and therapeutic methods that will improve treatment effects. Insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1] and Interleukin-8 [IL-8] have been implicated in the development of various human cancers. To evaluate the potential usefulness of serum IGF-1 and IL-8 in Egyptian bladder cancer patients. serum levels of IL-8 and IGF-I were determined in 51 bladder cancer patients and 45 controls using a chemiluminescence enzyme immunometric assay. Serum IL-8 was significantly higher in cancer patients than in controls [p<0.0001]. It was significantly higher in patients with invasive cancer than those with superficial cancer [p<0.01]. In addition, IL-8 showed a significant elevation in relation to schistosomal infection [p=0.02] however, it did not differ in relation to either pathological type of tumor or its grade [p>0.05]. Receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve indicated that IL-8 cutoff value of 28 pg/mi yielded the best sensitivity [76.5%] and specificity [84.4%] for differentiating patients with bladder cancer from control subjects. Serum IGF-1 levels showed no significant difference between bladder cancer patients and controls [p>0.05]. There was no relationship between IGF-1 levels and clinicopathological parameters. In Egyptian patients with bladder cancer, serum IL-8 was significantly elevated and its level was related to tumor invasion and associated schistosomal infection. Moreover, serum IGF-1 level did not help as a serum tumor marker in these patients

Expression of MIB-1 in prostatic carcinoma: An immunohistochemical study

Immunohistochemical assessment of MIB-1 expression in prostatic carcinoma as a proliferation marker and the correlation between the immunohistochemical findings and the most important prognostic factors of prostatic carcinoma. The specimens of 60 cases of prostatic carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed. The study material included 20 [33%] radical prostatectomy specimens, 10 [17%] specimens from transurethral resection of the prostate [TURF] and 30 [50%] specimens of transrectal ultnasonography [TRUS]-guided biopsies. The archival formalin-fixed paraffin- embedded blocks were collected and immunohistochemically stained for Ki-67 [MIB-1]. The results of the immunohistochemical staining were correlated with Gleason score, tumor stage, Mostofi-WHO nuclear grade, perineural infiltration and pre-operative PSA level. There was a statistically significant correlation between MIB- I immunoneactivity and increasing Gleason score and Mostofi-WHO nuclear grade. MIB-1 positivity was significantly higher in patients with tumor stage C and in cases with a pre-operative PSA >10 ng/ml. Cases with evidence of perineural invasion showed a higher percentage of moderate and marked MIB- 1 immunoreactivity than cases without perineural invasion, but this difference was not statistically significant. The proliferative index measured by the expression of the Ki-67 protein [using the Ki-67 antibody clone MIB-1] correlated significantly with most of the well established prognostic factors in prostatic carcinoma. MIB-1 expression could serve as a prognostic factor in prostatic carcinoma using standardized immunohistochemical methods

Insulin resistance syndrome in pre-eclampsia

This study is designed to determine if hyperinsulinaemia, hypertension, hypertriglyceridaemia, and low level of high density lipoprotein 2[HDL[2]] cholestrol are present in women with non-proteinuric hypertension or pre-eclampsia. In 40 cases pregnancy - induced hypertension [20 non-proteinuric hypertension and 20 pre-eclampsia] and 20 healthy pregnant women [control group]. Serum concentration of insulin, triglyceride and HDL2 cholesterol were measured It has been found that insulin and triglyceride were significantly increased while HDL2 cholesterol was significantly decreased in both non-proteinuric hypertension and Pre-eclampsia as copmared with the control group. There was no significant difference in serum concentrations of insulin, triglyceride or HDL2 cholesterol between both groups of pregnancy induced hypertension. It has been concluded that the metabolic characteristics of insulin resistance syndrome are present in non-proteinuric hypertension, but they are not aggravated in Pre-eclampsia. Although these metabolic perturbations may be related to the pathogenesis of Pre-eclampsia, it is propable that Pre-eclampsia has characteristic serum factor[s] responsible for the pathopysiological changes in this symlrome

new modified method for the detection of antibody producing cells during parasitic infections

A modified method for detecting antibody producing cells [APC] was described in this work The method depends on spreading the cell mixture prepared for the assay in a single layer on a gelatin cusion without using a solidifying medium. The method was proved to be highly sensitive and less costly. The method was applied to detect APC during infection with H nana. Infected animals showed fewer APC in their splenocytes when compared with a control group

new stain for parasitic protozoa and helminths ova extracted from the roots of Furwa plant Rubia Tinctorum L.

In this work, a new highly efficient stain was discovered to stain different parasitic protozoa and most of the common helminths ova. The stain was extracted from the roots of the wild plant Fuwa [Rubia], and both watery and alcoholic extracts were examined for their ability to stain different parasitic protozoa [both cysts and trophozoites] and helminths ova. The stain has proved to be highly efficient and it has been suggested that the new stain could be used as an alternative to the conventional stains such as iodine and trichrome. No obvious differences were noticed between the alcoholic and watery extracts of the new stain, therefore it was recommended to use the watery solution of the stain [in sa1ine] at a concentration of 6% [wt/vol.] for both routein and teaching purposes. The stain. can be easily obtained and it is much less costly than other conventional stains