Histological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies on the protective effect of ginger extract against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in male rats.

Cisplatin (CP) is a widely used anticancer drug; however, it has several side effects such as nephrotoxicity. Ginger, the rhizome of Zingiber officinale, consumed since ancient times has numerous health benefits. The objective of this work was to evaluate the protective effect of ginger extract (GE) against CP-induced nephrotoxicity. CP group displayed a marked renal failure characterized by a significant increase in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels in addition to severe histopathological and ultrastructural renal alterations. Also, CP group showed an increase in the immunohistochemical expression of Bax proapoptotic protein. In contrast, GE+CP group showed significant decrease in the elevated serum creatinine and BUN levels and an improvement in the histopathological and ultrastructural renal injury induced by CP. The overexpression of Bax proapoptotic protein was significantly decreased in the GE+CP group. Hence, the present results indicated that GE has a protective effect against CP-induced renal damage in rats. Thereby, such findings recommended the usage of GE to prevent and/or decrease the renal damage induced by CP chemotherapeutic treatment.

Chondrosarcoma of the chest wall: single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: chondrosarcoma is the most common primary tumor of the chest wall. We analyzed cases of chest wall chondrosarcoma to establish the presentation, diagnostic tools, surgical treatment, and outcome. METHODS: this was a retrospective observational analysis of 45 patients who underwent surgery for chondrosarcoma. RESULTS: the mean age was 42.3 ± 8.5 years, and 57.8% patients were male. Symptoms were a painful chest wall mass in 91.1% of patients. Chest radiography and computed tomography, and biopsy were the diagnostic tools. The tumor was right-sided in 57.8% of patients. It was located in the lateral (71.1%), anterior (26.7%), or posterior (2.2%) chest wall. The mean tumor diameter was 7.6 ± 3.3 cm. Radical en-bloc excision was performed in all patients. Chest wall reconstruction was carried out using methylmethacrylate and Prolene mesh (42.2%), Prolene mesh alone (37.8%), and direct closure (20%). A muscle flap was used for soft tissue reconstruction in 11.1%. Complications were encountered in 6.7%. There was no operative mortality. Follow-up was complete in 66.7% of patients. The mean follow-up period was 3.7 ± 2.1 years. Local recurrences and late mortality occurred in 4.4%. CONCLUSION: surgery for chondrosarcoma can be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality. Proper selection of patients and radical en-block excision of the tumor are the keys for successful treatment and better outcomes.

Chemoprevention of rat mammary carcinogenesis by spirulina.

Spirulina (SP) (Arthrospira platensis; previously Spirulina platensis) is a filamentous blue-green microalga (cyanobacterium) with potent dietary phytoantioxidant and anticancerous properties. We investigated the chemopreventive effect of SP against 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat breast carcinogenesis, and further studied its underlying mechanisms of action in vitro. Remarkably, SP cleared DMBA-induced rat mammary tumors, which was clearly confirmed by morphological and histological methods. SP supplementation reduced the incidence of breast tumors from 87% to 13%. At the molecular level, immunohistochemical analysis revealed that SP supplementation reduced expression of both Ki-67 and estrogen α. More interestingly, molecular analysis in the in vitro experiments indicated that SP treatment inhibited cell proliferation by 24 hours, which was accompanied by increased p53 expression, followed by increased expression of its downstream target gene, Cdkn1a (alias p21 or p21(Waf1/Cip1)). In addition, SP increased Bax and decreased Bcl-2 expression, indicating induction of apoptosis by 48 hours after SP treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first report of in vivo chemopreventive effect of SP against DMBA-induced breast carcinogenesis in rat, supporting its potential use in chemoprevention of cancer.