Usefulness of salivary and serum auto-antibodies against tumor biomarkers HER2 and MUC1 in breast cancer screening

International audienceBackground: The aim of this work was to investigate if serum and salivary auto antibodies, isotypes IgG and IgM, against HER2 and MUC1 tandem repeat fragments could play a role in breast cancer screening. Materials and Methods: Our case-control study was conducted in breast cancer patients, in early stages (n=29), at the gynecology service, Maternity Souissi Hospital, Rabat, Morocco and healthy woman (n=31). Salivary and serum auto-antibodies against HER2 and MUC1 (tandem repeat) were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compared between patients and healthy women using the Mann Whitney U test. A P-value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Our data showed higher expression of all serum and salivary autoantibodies in patients as compared to healthy women p<0.05. However, serum IgM anti-MUC1 expression did not show a significant difference between cases and controls (p=0.79). Similarly, salivary IgG anti-HER2 expression did not differ (p=0.15). The correlation between the different isotypes of antibodies revealed that the highest correlation was between salivary IgG anti-HER2 and salivary IgG anti- MUC1(r=0.65). In fact, we have found in saliva the correlation between autoantibodies anti-MUC1 and anti HER2 more important than in serum (r=0.59 and r=0. 55). However, the correlation between serum and saliva values for all antibodies was weak. Conclusions: Autoantibodies against HER2 and MUC1 may provide a useful approach in breast cancer screening when using both serum and saliva values

Serum levels of Selenium and C-reactive protein in comatose patients with severe traumatic brain injury during the first week of hospitalization: case-control study

Introduction: Mortality and morbidity related to traumatic brain injuries still remain high in patients. Many authors reported the importance of Selenium in maintaining the integrity of brain functions. This fact is supported by clinical evidence that therapy with selenium supplementation could help patients suffering from brain disorders like neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of our study was to assess the relationship between Selenium concentration in serum and evolution of comatose patients with severe traumatic brain injury, in the first week of admission, and the correlation between selenium and C-reactive protein. Methods: This case-control study was conducted with 64 comatose patients with TBI, in the Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, IbnSina University Hospital and Hospital of specialties in Rabat-Morocco, and healthy volunteers recruited in Blood transfusion center of Rabat. Blood sampling was collected from TBI patients, in the first week (3h after admission and each 48h during one week), and from healthy volunteers one time. Concentration of Se in serum was determined by electrochemical atomic absorption spectrometry. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical software (SPSS) and the cases and controls were compared using the Mann- Whitney U test. A P-value &lt; 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Comparison selenium concentration in the first day (D0), third day (D2) and fifth day according to the death and survival statue in patients did not show statistical significance (p &gt; 0.05). Selenium concentration of D0 in patients and Selenium concentration in control group also did not show statistical significance (p &gt; 0.05). Similarly, we did not report a correlation between selenium and C-reactive protein. Conclusion: According to our data selenium and CRP may not play a role in progression of coma state in patients with severe traumatic brain injury