Cancer incidence in Nigeria: a report from population-based cancer registries.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer has become a major source of morbidity and mortality globally. Despite the threat that cancer poses to public health in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), few countries in this region have data on cancer incidence. In this paper, we present estimates of cancer incidence in Nigeria based on data from 2 population-based cancer registries (PBCR) that are part of the Nigerian national cancer registry program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from 2 population based cancer registries in Nigeria, the Ibadan Population Based Cancer Registry (IBCR) and the Abuja Population Based Cancer Registry (ABCR) covering a 2 year period 2009-2010. Data are reported by registry, gender and in age groups. We present data on the age specific incidence rates of all invasive cancers and report age standardized rates of the most common cancers stratified by gender in both registries. RESULTS: The age standardized incidence rate for all invasive cancers from the IBCR was 66.4 per 100000 men and 130.6 per 100000 women. In ABCR it was 58.3 per 100000 for men and 138.6 per 100000 for women. A total of 3393 cancer cases were reported by the IBCR. Of these cases, 34% (1155) were seen among males and 66% (2238) in females. In Abuja over the same period, 1128 invasive cancers were reported. 33.6% (389) of these cases were in males and 66.4% (768) in females. Mean age of diagnosis of all cancers in men for Ibadan and Abuja were 51.1 and 49.9 years respectively. For women, mean age of diagnosis of all cancers in Ibadan and Abuja were 49.1 and 45.4 respectively. Breast and cervical cancer were the commonest cancers among women and prostate cancer the most common among men. Breast cancer age standardized incidence rate (ASR) at the IBCR was 52.0 per 100000 in IBCR and 64.6 per 100000 in ABCR. Cervical cancer ASR at the IBCR was 36.0 per 100000 and 30.3 per 100000 at the ABCR. The observed differences in incidence rates of breast, cervical and prostate cancer between Ibadan and Abuja, were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Cancer incidence data from two population based cancer registries in Nigeria suggests substantial increase in incidence of breast cancer in recent times. This paper highlights the need for high quality regional cancer registries in Nigeria and other SSA countries

Genetic regulation of catecholamine synthesis, storage and secretion in the spontaneously hypertensive rat

Understanding catecholamine metabolism is crucial for elucidating the pathogenesis of hereditary hypertension. Here we integrated transcriptional and biochemical profiling with physiologic quantitative trait locus (eQTL and pQTL) mapping in adrenal glands of the HXB/BXH recombinant inbred (RI) strains, derived from the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and normotensive Brown Norway (BN.Lx). We found simultaneous down-regulation of five heritable transcripts in the catecholaminergic pathway in young (6 weeks) SHRs. We identified cis-acting eQTLs for Dbh, Pnmt (catecholamine biosynthesis) and Vamp1 (catecholamine secretion); enzymatic activities of Dbh and Pnmt paralleled transcripts, with pQTLs for activities mirroring eQTLs. We also detected trans-regulated expression of Vmat1 and Chga (both involved in catecholamine storage), with co-localization of these trans-eQTLs to the Pnmt locus. Pnmt re-sequencing revealed promoter polymorphisms that result in decreased response of the transfected SHR promoter to glucocorticoid, compared with BN.Lx. Of physiological pertinence, Dbh activity negatively correlated with systolic blood pressure in RI strains, whereas Pnmt activity was negatively correlated with heart rate. The finding of such cis- and trans-QTLs at an age before the onset of frank hypertension suggests that these heritable changes in biosynthetic enzyme expression represent primary genetic mechanisms for regulation of catecholamine action and blood pressure control in this widely studied model of hypertension

Mechanisms of toxic action of copper and copper nanoparticles in two Amazon fish species: Dwarf cichlid ( Apistogramma agassizii ) and cardinal tetra ( Paracheirodon axelrodi )

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T16:52:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-07-15Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do AmazonasConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Copper oxide nanoparticles (nCuO) are widely used in boat antifouling paints and are released into the environment, potentially inducing toxicity to aquatic organisms. The present study aimed to understand the effects of nCuO and dissolved copper (Cu) on two ornamental Amazon fish species: dwarf cichlid (Apistogramma agassizii) and cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi). Fish were exposed to 50% of the LC50 for nCuO (dwarf cichlid 58.31 μg L−1 and cardinal tetra 69.6 μg L−1) and Cu (dwarf cichlid 20 μg L−1 and cardinal tetra 22.9 μg L−1) for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Following exposure, aerobic metabolic rate (ṀO2), gill osmoregulatory physiology and mitochondrial function, oxidative stress markers, and morphological damage were evaluated. Our results revealed species specificity in metabolic stress responses. An increase of ṀO2 was noted in cardinal tetra exposed to Cu, but not nCuO, whereas ṀO2 in dwarf cichlid showed little change with either treatment. In contrast, mitochondria from dwarf cichlid exhibited increased proton leak and a resulting decrease in respiratory control ratios in response to nCuO and Cu exposure. This uncoupling was directly related to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Our findings reveal different metabolic responses between these two species in response to nCuO and Cu, which are probably caused by the differences between species natural histories, indicating that different mechanisms of toxic action of the contaminants are associated to differential osmoregulatory strategies among species.Brazilian National Institute for Research of the Amazon Laboratory of Ecophysiology and Molecular Evolution, Ave André Araújo, 2936 AleixoMount Allison University Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 63C York St.São Paulo State University (UNESP) Institute of BiosciencesSão Paulo State University (UNESP) Institute of BiosciencesFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas: N° 3159/08CNPq: N° 573976/2008-

Acid-base physiology and CO2 homeostasis: Regulation and compensation in response to elevated environmental CO2

Acid-base balance is one of the most tightly regulated physiological processes. Accumulation of metabolic CO2 produced at the tissues causes extra- or intracellular acidosis that can disrupt cellular processes. Consequently, fish have a well-developed system for CO2 transport and excretion; however, the system varies significantly among fish groups, which we review in this chapter. Elevated environmental CO2 that occurs naturally or due to anthropogenic factors (e.g., climate change and in aquaculture), in both freshwater and seawater, induces a rapid acid-base disturbance in fish. The resulting acidosis is compensated by a net elevation in plasma in exchange for [Cl−], primarily through processes at the gills, but also the kidney. The rate and completeness of acid-base compensation during CO2 exposure is affected by water ion composition, and at high CO2 levels, there appears to be an upper limit to the increase in plasma . Fish that naturally live in such high CO2 environments appear to have an exceptional capacity for intracellular pH regulation. While it has long been thought that fish would not be affected by climate change relevant CO2 levels, negative physiological effects are seen. The effect of fluctuating CO2 levels in both marine and freshwater environments may be especially problematic, and an area where more research is required