ABSTRACT
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the aggressive malignancies and mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis remain unclear. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme system plays a crucial role in many gastrointestinal malignancies and is an important regulator of cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and transformation. More precise outcome of COX-2 in ESCC is less investigated. In this study we investigated the risk factors of ESCC and expression of COX-2 in Carcinoma in situ (CIS) and ESCC compared to normal esophageal mucosa. ESCC relationship to clinico-pathological parameters using immunohistochemistry was also part of this investigation. Current study was conducted in the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan. A total of 69 diagnosed patients of ESCC, both Pakistanis and Afghans were enrolled. Various risk factors associated with ESCC were recorded. Mean age at the time of diagnosis was 55 years. Out of 69 patients of ESCC 46 (67%) were users of dipping tobacco (Naswar). Expression of COX-2 was determined in normal esophageal mucosa, CIS and invasive ESCC using Immunohistochemistry (IHC). Differences of mean were computed using ANOVA followed by applying Post Hoc test. Patients were categorized as positive with high expression or negative with low to nil expression. ANOVA showed large differences in expression of COX-2 in normal healthy mucosa compared with CIS and ESCC with the mean difference of -9.529 and -7.370 respectively, p-value being <.05 at 95% confidence interval (CI). No significant difference was noticed in the expression of COX-2 in CIS compared with ESCC with p-value >.05 at 95% CI. Our complete cohort (23-85 years) showed statistically significant difference in the expression of COX-2 gene in ESCC and CIS tissue samples compared with normal healthy mucosa. Results of this study indicate that over-expression of COX-2 is positively associated with ESCC.
Subject(s)
Cyclooxygenase 2/metabolism , Esophageal Neoplasms/enzymology , Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma/enzymology , Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Esophageal Mucosa/enzymology , Esophageal Mucosa/pathology , Esophageal Neoplasms/epidemiology , Esophageal Neoplasms/pathology , Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma/epidemiology , Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma/pathology , Female , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Risk Factors , Tobacco Use/epidemiology , Tobacco Use/metabolism , Tobacco Use/pathology , Tobacco, SmokelessABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: TBesides aging there are multiple factors involved in decreasing Bone Mineral Density. Knowing the burden of the diseaseand its related factors in our population can help better treat this. Therefore, our objective was to identify subjects with low Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and its risk factors in hospital visiting people in Islamabad. METHODS: Descriptive cross sectional study was conducted atRawal Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad in 3rd week of June, 2014. Total 300 persons including patients, attendants and hospital staff were selected.Calcaneus BMD was measured usingultrasound bone densitometer. T-score was calculated.Specific questionnaire form was filled to identify risk factors. Prevalence and prevalence ratio was calculated. RESULTS: Out of 300 study sample, 178 (59.3%) are females. Mean age of the study population is 37.34 (SD=12.93). Overall, prevalence of osteopaenia and osteoporosis in the study population is 107 (35.7%) and 5 (1.7%) respectively. Prevalence of osteopaenia is seen more in elderly subjects, females, people with low Body Mass Index (BMI), people who are usually not exposed to sunlight and who are mostly bound to houses. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased BMD is associated with increasing age, female gender, low BMI, little exposure to sun light and being restrained to homes. It is not affected by daily milk intake, parity of females, cola drinking and smoking in our part of the world.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Male breast cancer incidence rises with age with peak in the 6th & 7th decade. It is one of the rare diseases and accounts for less than 1% of all malignancies worldwide. It is usually diagnosed in the late stage with poor prognosis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to know the demographic pattern and tumour characteristic of breast cancer in men reported at Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine (IRNUM), Peshawar. METHODS: Retrospective data was collected from the (IRNUM), Peshawar for a period of three years (2006-2008). The evaluation was done from the histopathological reports of mastectomy and biopsy specimens. All male patients in the age group 26-86 year with breast cancer were included in the study. The age of the patients and tumour characteristics recorded were size, grade, type, skin involvement and stage. RESULTS: Total number of male patients with breast cancer were 31 (2.1%) out of the total patients with breast malignancy during the study period with the mean age of 58.3 years. Tumour size ranged from 2 to 12 Cm. with average of 3.6 Cm. Invasive ductal carcinoma was found in 87%, papillary carcinoma in 6.5%, each of malignant fibrous histocytoma and sarcoma in 3.2% cases. Maximum number of patients was of grade II (41%).Patients in whom stage of the disease was known were 22 cases with 45.5% had stage III disease and 32% had stage IV disease. Skin involvement was found positive in 8 (25.8%). CONCLUSION: Due to poor health care system breast cancer is diagnosed in a late stage of the disease and prognosis is poor.
