RESUMO
Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) may be associated with colorectal cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Objectives: Explore the serostatus of H. pylori cytotoxicity-associated gene A product (CagA) in patients with colorectal carcinoma, and assess the association of H. pylori with colorectal cancer via c-Myc and MUC-2 proteins at tumor tissues. Methods: H. pylori CagA IgG antibodies were screened using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 30 patients with colorectal carcinoma and 30 cancer-free control subjects. Paraffin-embedded blocks were examined for the expression of c-Myc and MUC-2 protein by immunohistochemistry. Results: H. pylori CagA seropositivity increased significantly among colorectal cancer patients (p <0.05). The expression of c-Myc and MUC-2 in colorectal carcinoma patients was over-expressed (80%), and downexpressed (63%) in resection margins (p <0.05). c-Myc over-expression and MUC-2 down-expression were associated with CagA-positive rather than CagA-negative H. pylori patients. In 16 CagA seropositive vs. 14 CagA seronegative patients, the expression rate was 97.3% vs. 64.2% and 33.3% vs. 78.5% for cMyc and MUC-2, respectively. CagA IgG level was significantly higher in positive than in negative c-Myc patients (p= 0.036), and in negative than in positive MUC-2 patients (p= 0.044). c-Myc and MUC-2 were positively and inversely correlated with CagA IgG level (p <0.05). Conclusions: CagA-seropositive H. pylori is most probably associated with colorectal cancer development. Part of the underlying mechanism for such association might be via alterations in expression of MUC-2, which depletes the mucous protective layer in the colo-rectum, and c-Myc, which stimulates the growth of cancerous cells.
RESUMO
Many previous studies revealed that salivary and serum IgA response to infectious agents such as EBV-coded antigens in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma [NPC] had a vital role in the combat against tumorigenesis. Moreover, it could be considered as a reliable index for the humoral limb of anti-cancer immunological action. One hundred twenty two head and neck cancer [HNCA] patients were selected randomly from two main hospitals, Alkadhimya hospital and radiotherapy center in Baghdad. Also 100 apparently healthy control subjects [HC] underwent the same examinations and tests. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] test was applied on all HNCA patients sera and saliva, in order to measure anti-EBV IgA antibodies Revealed that NPC patients were the only group that showed a sero-positive ELISA readings of anti-EBV serum IgA. No saliva EBV antibodies were detected in the studied groups. S. IgA level seems to be an applicable index for evaluating EBV burden originated from nasopharyngeal cancerous cells. Such index might help in diagnosing early and specifically the carcinogenesis of NPC, moreover, might help in evaluating the progress of the disease
RESUMO
Background: inadequate control of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients consequently lead to the emergence of complications, like impairment of lipid profile and microalbuminuria. The main cause behind these events is the elevation in the oxidant stress process
Methods: this study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic utility of a novel formula which contain 75 mg zinc sulphate and 100 mg allopurinol, where 17 poorly controlled, type 2 diabetic patients were treated with a single daily dose of this formula, in addition to the regularly used oral hypoglycemic agents for 60 days
Results: obtained reflected a significant improvement in the blood glucose level [48% reduction], and microalbuminuria [60% reduction], associated with elevation of HDL-C levels [144%] and reduction of LDL-C levels [19%] compared with the per-treated values
Conclusions: the use of zinc sulphate and allopurinol may have an insulin mimetic activity which improve the glycemic control in inadequately controlled , type 2 DM patients according to a mechanism which require further extensive studies to be elucidated