Bleeding per rectum: aetiological factors and a study of loss of heterogenisity [LOH] of NF1 gene in cases of colorectal cancer

This prospective study was designed to identify etiological factors of lower gastrointestinal bleeding and study the [LOH] of NF1 gene in cases of colorectal cancer among the attendants of gastrointestinal tract [GIT] out-patient clinic in El-Minia University hospital in sex months interval. During the period between February and August 2004, [4500] patients presented to the GIT out-patient clinic, Eighty [80] patients of them were complaining of bleeding per rectum. These 80 patients subjected to history taking, clinical examination, abdominal ultrasound, stool analysis, trial of medical treatment and colonoscopy, and study of LOH of NF1 gene in cases of tumours. We found that: 30% of cases of bleeding per rectum showed internal piles, while 10% of patients showed ulcerative colitis and 13.8% showed non specific colitis and 1.3% showed solitary rectal ulcer. Colorectal polyps were found in 11.3% of cases, cancer colon was found in 10% of cases, while normal colonic mucosa was found in 10% of cases. Rectal varices represented 5% of cases, while stenotic lesions represented 1.3% of cases and angiodysplasia represented 1.3% of cases. Juvenile polyps were the commonest colorectal polyps as they were detected in 33.3% of all cases of polyps. Double colonic lesions were detected in 13.8% of cases in our study. LOH was studied in cancer cases and the polyps to detect if it is precancerous or not. Out of the 10% diagnosed as colon cancer, 7% had LOH of NF1 gene while out of 11.3% of the polyp cases only 2% showed LOH. The most common colorectal lesions were internal piles followed by colorectal polyps and inflammatory and ulcerative colonic lesions. A tumor suppressor gene which is NF1 play and important role in cancer development. Screening program for early detection of premalignant and [or] early malignant lesions are highly recommended

effect of vitamin E administration on cisplatin-induced oxidative and histopathological damage of kidney, liver and lens tissues in albino rats

Cisplatin is one of the most active cytotoxic agents in the treatment of cancer but its clinical use is associated with toxicity. The present study evaluated biochemically and histologically the effect of vitamin E as a line of prevention of cisplatin toxicity in rats. Its was carried out on 90 adult male albino rats divided into 6 groups each contains 15 rats, the first group was used as-ve control, the second group received distilled water 1ml/animal intraperitoneally [IP], the third group received corn oil 0.25 ml/animal orally,the fourth group received vitamin E 100 mg/kg orally. Animals of groups II, III and IV served as +ve controls. The fifth group received cisplatin 5 mg/kg IP and the sixth group received vitamin E 100 mg/kg orally 24 hours prior to IP cisplatin 5 mg/kg. After 7 days of treatment, rats were sacrificed,then Malondialdehyde [MDA], reduced glutathione and glutathione perioxidase were measured in kidney, liver and lens tissues. Also kidney, liver and lens tissues were prepared for light microscopic examination. The results revealed significant increase in kidney, liver and lens MDA levels in rats treated with cisplatin in comparison to the-ve control group. Reduced glutathione and glutathione perioxidase levels in kidney, liver and lens were significantly lower in cisplatin group than in the-ve control group. Histopathological examination revealed renal and liver necrosis and cataract changes in cisplatin treated rats. The increased MDA levels, the decreased antioxidant enzymes and histopathological damage in the kidney, liver and lens of rats administered cisplatin were significantly improved with vitamin E administration. So, it is concluded that, vitamin E may play a role in preventing cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and cataract formation in cancer patients

Trace elements in rhinoscleroma

The aim of this study is directed towards demonstration of the possible changes present in the levels of three important trace elements affecting state of cell mediated immunity in the course of rhinoscleroma.50 rhinoscleroma patients were picked up from the outpatient clinic of ENT department in EL-Minia University Hospital, allover 18 months, 15 pathological contols as contols for the tissue levels of trace elements [the pathological controls were suffering from allergic nasal polypi].15 healthy controls as controls for the serum levels of trace elements The 3 trace elements [zinc, copper and iron] were estimated in serum and tissues of the scleroma patients and controls [healthy and pathological controls]. Results of this study -revealed that there were decrease in zinc level both in serum and tissues of patients more than in the controls. Also, we found hypercupraemia in the patients group than controls. Iron was found to be decreased in the patients than controls. From the above results we conclude that all scleroma patients better to be investigated for the trace elements as these elements play a very important role in cell mediated immunity. Also, may be there is a role of the nutritional aspect regarding to zinc and iron in the routine treatment of scleroma and in the prophylaxis from any immune deficiency in their contacts

protective effect of garlic against adriamycin cardiomyopathy: experimental study

The usefulness of adriamycin [ADR], a potent anti tuumor antibiotic, is limited by the development of life-threatening cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. The present study aimed to determine whether garlic has a protective effect against chronic ADR cardiotoxicity. The work was carried on 200 rats divided into four groups. The first group [control group] had animals received distilled water [vehicle] for 6 weeks. In the second group, ADR [cumulative dose, 15 mg/kg body wt divided into six doses was administered in rats in six equal doses by intraperitoneal injection [IP] over a period of 2 weeks. The third group contains rats which, were administcred garlic 250 mg/kg daily orally for 6 weeks [4 weeks before ADR administration and 2 weeks alternating with IP ADR injections]. The fourth group has animals administrated by garlic for 6 wecks. In the adriamycin group, increased oxidative stress was evidenced by a significant increase in myocardial TBARS thiobarbituric acid reactive substances] and decrease in myocardial SOD [superoxide dismutase], catalase and GSH [myocardial reduced glutathione] activity. Treatment with garlic was accompanied by an increase in myocardial GSH catalase and SOD activities with a concomitant decrease in lipid peroxidation. Under electron microscopy, extensive sarcoplasmic vacuolization and severe disruption of mitochondrid fine structure were observed in ADR treated rats, but mininial d sarcoplasmic vacuolization was observed, and the mitochondrial structural changes were decreased in the garlic treated rats. These data show for that garlic can provide protection against ADR cardiomyopathy. This protective effect of garlic may be related to the maintenance of the antioxidant status of the heart

Clonal origins of human endometrial cancer

The aim of this study was to analyze the X inactivation in DNA extracted from microdissected endometrial carcinoma by Hpa II restriction and PCR of the androgen receptor exon I CAG polymorphism. The results revealed that monoclonality was confirmed in 105/133 samples of carcinoma cells from 31/32 informative endometrial cancers. Clonality was identical in seven cases. Unexpectedly, four of twelve cancers with two or more monoclonal samples available were mosaic [polyclonal] in respect of X chromosome inactivation between morphologically homogeneous tumor cell samples. It was concluded that concordant clonality supports a common clonal origin of high grade and low grade endometrial cancers, but frequent mosaic X inactivation in endometrial cancer cannot be explained by non-tumor cell contamination. These carcinomas are probably multiclonal. Possible mechanisms include simultaneous transformation of cell groups straddling X chromosome inactivation, or recruitment of bystander stem cells by DNA transfer from necrotic or apoptotic tumor cells

Up-regulation of the tumor suppressor gene P53 and WAF1 gene by IP6 in CP-3 human prostatic carcinoma cell line

This study investigated the effects of IP6 on the expression of p53 and WAF1/p21 in PC-3 human prostate carcinoma by immunocytochemistry. The immunocytochemical studies with anti p53 antibodies [wide type- PAb246 and Pab1620] and anti p21 WAF1 [EA10] antibodies demonstrated an increased level of p53 and p21 WAF1 after 3 and 6 days of treatment with 3.3 and 5 mM IP6. This increase was dose-dependent; however, a definite time-dependent increase was not observed. These data demonstrated that IP6 up-regulates the expression of the tumor suppressor gene p53 and p21 WAF1 gene and their modulation may be one of the mechanisms of the anti-neoplastic action of IP6 since loss of p53 function enhances cancer cells resistance to chemotherapeutic agents, the stimulating function of IP6 on p53 makes it an attractive adjuvant chemotherapeutic agent as well