Morphology of colorectal carcinoma among Nigerians: A 30-year review

Background: The incidence of colorectal carcinoma has been on the increase in the developing countries, including Nigeria, as a result of change in diet and adoption of western lifestyle.Objectives: The aim of this review is to highlight the prevalence, age and sex distribution, anatomical location, and morphological characteristics of colorectal carcinomas in Ilorin, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of all cases of histologically diagnosed colorectal carcinoma in the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria, over a 30-year period (January 1979–December 2008), using the departmental record and histological slides of the cases.Result: A total of 241 cases of colorectal carcinoma were reported, 144 cases (60%) in males and 96 cases (40%) in females with a male: female ratio of 1.5:1. The peak age of occurrence for males was between 51 and 60 years, while that of the females was between 41 and 50 years. The malignancy was found in the rectum in 60.2% of the cases, while the least affected site is the descending colon (1.2%). The exophytic occluding masses were found in 82.2% of the cases, and the most common histological type is adenocarcinoma (77.2%) with well-, moderately, and poorly differentiated forms constituting 52.3%, 32.8%, and 14.9% respectively. Of the 241 cases that were seen over the last 30 years, 93 cases (38.6%) were seen in the last 5 years.Conclusion: Colorectal carcinoma is no longer a rare disease in Nigeria. The surge in the incidence reported in the last 5 years in this center calls for a pragmatic action in its control, with emphasize on colonoscopic  screening for those with family history, and possibly making digital rectal examination a mandatory aspect of clinical examination, because most colorectal carcinomas are within the reach of examining finger

Review of prostate cancer research in Nigeria

Prostate cancer (CaP) disparities in the black man calls for concerted research efforts. This review explores the trend and focus of CaP research activities in Nigeria, one of the ancestral nations for black men. It seeks to locate the place of the Nigerian research environment in the global progress on CaP disparities. Literature was reviewed mainly through a Pubmed search with the terms “prostate cancer”and “Nigeria”, as well as from internet and hard copies of journal pages

Dissecting the Shared Genetic Architecture of Suicide Attempt, Psychiatric Disorders, and Known Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide, and nonfatal suicide attempts, which occur far more frequently, are a major source of disability and social and economic burden. Both have substantial genetic etiology, which is partially shared and partially distinct from that of related psychiatric disorders. METHODS: We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 29,782 suicide attempt (SA) cases and 519,961 controls in the International Suicide Genetics Consortium (ISGC). The GWAS of SA was conditioned on psychiatric disorders using GWAS summary statistics via multitrait-based conditional and joint analysis, to remove genetic effects on SA mediated by psychiatric disorders. We investigated the shared and divergent genetic architectures of SA, psychiatric disorders, and other known risk factors. RESULTS: Two loci reached genome-wide significance for SA: the major histocompatibility complex and an intergenic locus on chromosome 7, the latter of which remained associated with SA after conditioning on psychiatric disorders and replicated in an independent cohort from the Million Veteran Program. This locus has been implicated in risk-taking behavior, smoking, and insomnia. SA showed strong genetic correlation with psychiatric disorders, particularly major depression, and also with smoking, pain, risk-taking behavior, sleep disturbances, lower educational attainment, reproductive traits, lower socioeconomic status, and poorer general health. After conditioning on psychiatric disorders, the genetic correlations between SA and psychiatric disorders decreased, whereas those with nonpsychiatric traits remained largely unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Our results identify a risk locus that contributes more strongly to SA than other phenotypes and suggest a shared underlying biology between SA and known risk factors that is not mediated by psychiatric disorders

Diseases Of The Male Breast in Ilorin, Nigeria.

This study was undertaken to ascertain the pattern of diseases of the male breast as reported in the Department of Pathology of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Illorin, Nigeria. Gynaecomastia and carcinoma were the preponderant lesions and both constituted over 93% of the diseases. Both diseases showed a rising incidence and they were found to affect older age groups compared to reports from other centres. These rising patterns were thought to be due, in parts, to some newly discovered aetiopathogenic factors of male breast diseases. Both sides were virtually affected uniformly and no case of bilateral carcinoma was found. The study corroborated other similar studies that have documented higher incidence of gynaecomastia and carcinoma of the male breast in Africans compared to the Caucasians. Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine Vol. 9, No. 1 (1999) pp. 8-1

Histological Pattern of Prostatic Diseases in Nigerians

Objective: This is a laboratory-based retrospective study of the histopathological pattern of prostatic lesions seen at Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) over a 10 year period (1989-1998). Material and Methods: In total, 493 prostatic lesions were seen representing 3.2% of the 15,424 surgical specimens obtained during the study period. After histological assessment, the tumors were classified according to the WHO recommendation. Histological grading/scoring of adenocarcinomas was done using the Gleason system. Results: 372 (75.4%) prostatic lesions were benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with co-existing chronic prostatitis in 23.6% of cases. The peak age of occurrence of BPH was in the seventh decade of life. Prostate cancer constituted 121 (24.6%) of all prostatic lesions with a peak age of occurrence in the seventh decade. 94.2% of the cancer cases were adenocarcinomas, while adenosquamous and squamous cell carcinoma represented 1.7% each of cases. Leiomyosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcomawere noted in 0.8% each of cases. The adenocarcinomas were well, moderately and poorly differentiated in 85.1%. 7.9% and 7% of cases, respectively, and incidental carcinoma was detected in 12.3% of cases. The paucity of other rare lesions was also noted and, with few exceptions, the patterns of prostatic lesions were comparable to the findings in other parts of the world. Conclusion: In preparation for a potential future increase in the incidence and mortality rates from prostate cancer, every effort should be made to improve diagnosis, staging and management facilities. Even though a small number of cancer cases was reported in the past, dietary and environmental risk factors may escalate the rates necessitating the need for screening by PSA assays and sextant biopsies under ultrasound guidance. This will ensure early diagnosis and treatment promising an improvement of the survival rates. Modèle histopathologique des maladies prostatiques chez les Nigériens Objectifs : C\'est une étude rétrospective basée sur le résultat de laboratoire du modèle histopathologique des lésions prostatiques vues à l\'hôpital universitaire de Jos (JUTH) sur une période de 10 ans (1989-1998). Matériel et méthodes : Un total de 493 lésions prostatiques ont été vus représentant 3,2% des 15.424 spécimens chirurgicaux reçus pendant la période d\'étude. Après évaluation histologique, les tumeurs ont été classées conformément à la recommandation d\'OMS. Grade/score histologique des adénocarcinomes a été fait en utilisant le système de Gleason. Résultats : 372 (75,4%) lésions prostatiques étaient à type d'hyperplasie prostatique bénigne (BPH) avec co-existence de la prostatite chronique dans 23,6% des cas. L\'âge maximal de l\'occurrence de BPH avait lieu dans la septième décennie de la vie. Le cancer de prostate a constitué 121 (24.6%) de toutes les lésions prostatiques avec un âge maximal d\'occurrence dans la septième décennie. 94.2% des cas de cancer étaient des adénocarcinomes, alors que le carcinome à cellules adenosquameuses et squameuses représentait 1,7% chacun. Le leiomyosarcome et le rhabdomyosarcome ont été notés dans 0,8% des cas chacun. Les adénocarcinomes bien, modérément et mal différenciés ont été diagnostiqués dans 85,1%, 7,9% et 7% des cas respectivement, des carcinomes de découverte fortuite ont été détectés dans 12,3% de cas. Le manque d\'autres lésions rares a été également noté et, à peu d\'exceptions, les modèles des lésions prostatiques étaient comparables aux résultats dans d\'autres régions du monde. Conclusion : En vue d\'une future augmentation potentielle des taux d\'incidence et de mortalité du cancer de prostate, des efforts devraient être fait pour le diagnostic, le staging et la prise en charge. Même si un nombre restreint de cas de cancer était rapporté dans le passé, les facteurs de risque diététiques et environnementaux peuvent faire escalader les taux rendant nécessaire le besoin d\'examiner par des analyses de PSA et des biopsies en sextant sous guidage ultrasonographique. Ceci assurera un diagnostic et un traitement précoce avec une amélioration des taux de survie. African Journal of Urology Vol.11(1) 2005: 33-3

Yersinia enterocolitica, a Neglected Cause of Human Enteric Infections in Côte d’Ivoire

International audienceBackground: Enteropathogenic Yersinia circulate in the pig reservoir and are the third bacterial cause of human gastrointestinal infections in Europe. In West Africa, reports of human yersiniosis are rare. This study was conducted to determine whether pathogenic Yersinia are circulating in pig farms and are responsible for human infections in the Abidjan District. Methodology/Principal findings: From June 2012 to December 2013, pig feces were collected monthly in 41 swine farms of the Abidjan district. Of the 781 samples collected, 19 Yersinia strains were isolated in 3 farms: 7 non-pathogenic Yersinia intermedia and 12 pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica bioserotype 4/O:3. Farm animals other than pigs and wild animals were not found infected. Furthermore, 2 Y. enterocolitica 4/O:3 strains were isolated from 426 fecal samples of patients with digestive disorders. All 14 Y. enterocolitica strains shared the same PFGE and MLVA profile, indicating their close genetic relationship. However, while 6 of them displayed the usual phage type VIII, the other 8 had the highly infrequent phage type XI. Whole genome sequencing and SNP analysis of individual colonies revealed that phage type XI strains had unusually high rates of mutations. These strains displayed a hypermutator phenotype that was attributable to a large deletion in the mutS gene involved in DNA mismatch repair. Conclusions/Significance: This study demonstrates that pathogenic Y. enterocolitica circulate in the pig reservoir in Côte d'Ivoire and cause human infections with a prevalence comparable to that of many developed countries. The paucity of reports of yersiniosis in West Africa is most likely attributable to a lack of active detection rather than to an absence of the microorganism. The identification of hypermutator strains in pigs and humans is of concern as these strains can rapidly acquire selective advantages that may increase their fitness, pathogenicity or resistance to commonly used treatments

Dissecting the shared genetic architecture of suicide attempt, psychiatric disorders, and known risk factors.

Background: Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide, and nonfatal suicide attempts, which occur far more frequently, are a major source of disability and social and economic burden. Both have substantial genetic etiology, which is partially shared and partially distinct from that of related psychiatric disorders. Methods: We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 29,782 suicide attempt (SA) cases and 519,961 controls in the International Suicide Genetics Consortium (ISGC). The GWAS of SA was conditioned on psychiatric disorders using GWAS summary statistics via multitrait-based conditional and joint analysis, to remove genetic effects on SA mediated by psychiatric disorders. We investigated the shared and divergent genetic architectures of SA, psychiatric disorders, and other known risk factors. Results: Two loci reached genome-wide significance for SA: the major histocompatibility complex and an intergenic locus on chromosome 7, the latter of which remained associated with SA after conditioning on psychiatric disorders and replicated in an independent cohort from the Million Veteran Program. This locus has been implicated in risk-taking behavior, smoking, and insomnia. SA showed strong genetic correlation with psychiatric disorders, particularly major depression, and also with smoking, pain, risk-taking behavior, sleep disturbances, lower educational attainment, reproductive traits, lower socioeconomic status, and poorer general health. After conditioning on psychiatric disorders, the genetic correlations between SA and psychiatric disorders decreased, whereas those with nonpsychiatric traits remained largely unchanged. Conclusions: Our results identify a risk locus that contributes more strongly to SA than other phenotypes and suggest a shared underlying biology between SA and known risk factors that is not mediated by psychiatric disorders