Wnt Signaling: A Potential Therapeutic Target in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cellular maintenance and development are two fundamental mechanisms regulated by the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway controls a myriad of cellular processes that are essential for normal cell functioning. Cell cycle progression, differentiation, fate determination, and migration are generally orchestrated by canonical Wnt signaling. Altered Wnt/beta-catenin signaling has been considered a promoting event for different types of cancers and the oncogenic potential of Wnt signaling have been discussed in many cancer types, including breast, colon, pancreatic as well as head and neck. Furthermore, Wnt signaling is critical for the maintenance and stemness of both the normal as well as cancer stem cells. This review sheds new light on Wnt signaling and explains how it can regulate normal physiological processes and curtail the development of cancer. It depicts the vital functions of Wnt signaling in the stem cell growth and differentiation by focusing on current druggable targets that have been ascribed by recent studies. Thus, Wnt signaling pathway retains a tremendous potential in eradicating head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Treatment of uncomplicated plasmodium falciparum malaria with quinine-doxycycline combination therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of quinine-doxycycline combination therapy in uncomplicated falciparum malaria in terms of malarial parasite clearance from peripheral blood. METHODS: One hundred adult males were included in the study. Malarial parasite counts in peripheral blood films were determined at the time of admission and then 12 hourly until clearance and thereafter weekly for 28 days (4 weeks). Treatment was started with quinine sulphate 10 mg of salt/kg body weight 8 hourly orally for a minimum period of 3 days and maximum of 7 days along with doxycycline 100 mg 12 hourly orally for 7 days. Primary efficacy outcome measure was early treatment failure, whereas secondary efficacy outcome measure was late treatment failure. Tolerability outcome measure was the development of treatment related adverse effects resulting in discontinuation from the study. RESULTS: The primary efficacy outcome measure of the study i.e. malarial parasite index declined from a mean of 6.34 (SD +/- 2.83) before treatment to zero at day 7 of treatment. Parasite clearance time was 1-7 days (mean 3.58, SD +/- 1.28). Mean duration of quinine treatment till clearance of malarial parasites was 4.63 days (SD +/- 1.38). Mean duration of fever was 2.96 days (range 1 to 6 days). There was no early or late treatment failure. There was no relapse during the 28 days follow up period. Drug related side effects were mild and did not warrant discontinuation of treatment in any patient. CONCLUSION: Quinine-doxycycline combination is effective in southern Pakistan. Randomized controlled trials are needed to further validate the claim.

Pattern of the cause of death in adult males - a perspective on autopsy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the causes of death on autopsy in adult male patients in order to provide a baseline data for health care policy makers. DESIGN: An observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Pathology Departments of Army Medical College, Rawalpindi and Combined Military Hospital, Kharian, a tertiary care hospital, between 1982-2001. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data was taken from the autopsy record of the pathology departments and analysed for the causes of death. RESULTS: A total of 626 autopsies performed between 1982-2001 were analysed. Infectious diseases, malignancies and miscellaneous conditions comprised 209, 67 and 350 cases respectively. Infections included tuberculosis (n=62), typhoid fever (n=15), bacterial infections not otherwise specified (NOS) (n=52), parasitic diseases including malaria (n=6), fungal infections (n=12), viral infections (n=13) and infections NOS (n=49). Malignancies included lymphoreticular malignancies, leukemias, astrocytoma, carcinoma lung, liver, pancreas, stomach, gallbladder, renal and metastatic carcinomas. The miscellaneous diseases included accidental/traumatic conditions including one case of intrauterine foetal anoxia (n=59), and systemic and metabolic diseases involving different organs/systems (n=569) with more than one disease in some cases. CONCLUSION: Infections, particularly tuberculosis were a frequent cause of death in this series. The result of the study could indicate that cause of death is useful outcome indicator for disease control programmes.

Sedimentation retention basin utilization for best management practice.

Approaches to the artificial impoundment and theoretical design of sedimentation retention basin are reviewed with particular attention to best management practice (BMP) to control agriculture and surface runoff. Sediments retention basins are the small version of farm pond used where a criteria of farm pond is not met. Such basin traps the pollutants and suspended solids prior to entry into streams and lakes. The study is focused with special reference to the assessment and control of non-point source pollution (NPSP) from the sub-basin area of Tai Lake in the Xishan County of Wuxi City of China. The author suggested two different approaches to conduct this study including theoretical design for sedimentation retention basin and computation of flow, sediment transport and deposition during the artificial impoundment of retention basin for BMP's utilization. Theoretical design will provide a useful function as a first line defense against the movement of sediments and transport of pollutants into the Tai Lake while the assessment of sediments deposition will help to make its proper use and periodic cleanup.

Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita.

A case of cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (CMTC) is reported. A young girl had an unusual presentation with sclerosis in the skin lesions, senile features, hypoplasia of the mandible, transverse nail dystrophy, and transverse toe defects resembling Adams-Oliver syndrome. These associated abnormalities are very rare and some have not been documented before with CMTC. The possible relationship of CMTC with Adams-Oliver syndrome is also discussed.