Allelic variants of KLK2 gene predict presence of prostate cancer at biopsy

Objective: Several single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with prostate cancer risk have been reported in recent years. We evaluated polymorphisms in the human glandular kallikrein 2 (KLK2) genes because the protein product of this gene is known to be increased in prostate cancer. Materials and methods: Blood samples were collected from sixty patients who underwent prostate biopsy sectioning, and from their genomic DNA the SNPs in KLK2 gene were investigated by direct DNA sequencing. Another 138 archived prostate tissue sections were also evaluated using the TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. Results: Eighteen known SNPs were identified in the KLK2 gene. The SNPs were located in introns, coding exons and untranslated regions of the gene. Further analysis showed that two of the SNPs were associated with prostate disease. The T/T allele of rs198977 was significantly predictive of the presence of prostate cancer at biopsy and was also associated with high tumour grade. The A/A allele of rs2664155 was also significantly associated with the presence of benign hyperplasia at biopsy. Conclusion: Our results support previous reports of association of the rs198977 SNP with prostate cancer risk and also indicated a link with the disease phenotype. However, the second SNP (rs2664155) was more associated with benign hyperplasia than prostate cancer risk. The method of TaqMan SNP genotyping could be clinically useful in genetic screening and risk stratification of patients for prostate diseases

Higher incidence of premenopausal breast cancer in less developed countries; myth or truth?

Background: Fundamental etiologic differences have been suggested to cause earlier onset of breast cancer in less developed countries (LDCs) than in more developed countries (MDCs). We explored this hypothesis using world-wide breast cancer incidence data. Methods: We compared international age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) of pre- (<50 years) and postmenopausal (≥50 years) breast cancers as well as temporal trends in ASRs of pre-and postmenopausal breast cancer among selected countries during 1975–2008. We used joinpoint log-linear regression analysis to estimate annual percent changes (APC) for premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer in the northern Europe and in Black and White women population in the US. Results: Premenopausal breast cancers comprised a substantially higher proportion of all incident breast cancers in LDCs (average 47.3%) compared to MDCs (average 18.5%). However, the ASR of premenopausal breast cancer was consistently higher in MDCs (29.4/100,000) than LDCs (12.8/100,000). The ASR of postmenopausal cancer was about five-fold higher in the MDCs (307.6/100,000) than the LDCs (65.4/100,000). The APC of breast cancer in Denmark was substantially higher in postmenopausal (1.33%) than premenopausal cancer (0.98%). Higher incidence of breast cancer among the white than black women in the US was pertained only to the postmenopausal cancer. Conclusion: The substantial and consistent lower age-specific incidence of breast cancer in LDCs than in MDCs contradicts the theory of earlier onset. Demographic differences with fewer old women in LDCs and lower prevalence of risk factors of postmenopausal cancer are the most likely explanation to the lower mean age at diagnosis in these countries

Comparative Effects of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Viscum album (Mistletoe) and Aloe vera gel in the Management of Streptozotocin -Induced Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract This study was aimed at comparing the efficacy of leaf extract of mistletoe with that of Aloe vera gel in the management of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Thirty six albino wistar rats weighing 180 -220 g were randomly divided into 6 groups of 6 rats each, thus; Group 1 -control; group 2 -diabetic untreated group; group 3 -diabetic group, treated with 0.4 ml/100g Aloe vera gel; group 4 -diabetic group, treated with 150 mg/kg mistletoe leaf extract; group 5 -control animals, treated with 0.4 ml/100g Aloe vera gel; group 6 -control animals, treated with 150 mg/kg mistletoe leaf extract. Administration of extracts was done per oral route and lasted for 21 days. Fasting blood glucose, water intake, food intake and body weight were measured during the study. Mistletoe treated diabetic group had a significantly (P&lt;0.001) lower fasting blood glucose (FBG) level compared to diabetic untreated group. Aloe vera treated diabetic group had a significantly (P&lt;0.001) lower FBG level compared to mistletoe treated diabetic group. Both extracts significantly (P&lt;0.001) reduced mean daily water and food intake in the diabetic rats. Aloe vera treated diabetic group had a significantly (P&lt;0.05) lower mean daily food and water intake compared to mistletoe treated diabetic group. Both extracts significantly (P&lt;0.001) increased body weight in the diabetic rats. Aloe vera treated diabetic group had a significantly (P&lt;0.001) higher body weight compared to mistletoe treated diabetic group. The Aloe vera treated control group had a significantly (P&lt;0.001) higher body weight compared to mistletoe treated control group. Unlike Aloe vera gel which increased the body weight of diabetic and normal animals significantly, mistletoe leaf extract was found to increase the body weight of diabetic animals minimally and reduced the body weight of normal animals significantly (P&lt;0.05) compared to control. On the basis of the results obtained from this study, we therefore conclude that Aloe vera gel proved to be more beneficial in the management of type 1 DM compared to mistletoe leaf extract

African Walnuts (Tetracarpidium conophorum) Modulate Hepatic Lipid Accumulation in Obesity via Reciprocal Actions on HMG-CoA Reductase and Paraoxonase.

BACKGROUND Obesity is characterized by increased body fat and involves an imbalance between the synthesis and degradation of lipids. OBJECTIVE The study aimed to investigate the effect of African walnuts (Tetracarpidium conophorum) on lipids storage and the regulatory enzymes of hepatic lipid metabolism in obese rats. METHODS Nuts were extracted in ethanol (WE) and further separated to obtain the ethyl-acetate fraction (ET) and the residue (RES). These were administered orally to 3 groups of monosodium glutamate- obese rats (n = 6), respectively, for 6 weeks. Other groups in the study were: normal (NC), obese control (OC) and standard control (SC) which received orlistat. Hepatic total lipids, total phospholipids, triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TCHOL), 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase and paraoxonase were studied. RESULTS Total lipids, TG and TCHOL which increased in OC compared to NC group, decreased. HMG-CoA reductase activity decreased in the 3 study groups relative to OC. Paraoxonase activity which decreased in OC was up-regulated, while the magnitude of hepatic cholesterol decreased from 94.32 % in OC to 52.19, 65.43 and 47.04 % with WE, ET and RES, respectively. Flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins and saponins were detected in the nut. GC-MS analysis revealed 16, 18 and 10 volatile components in WE, ET and RES, respectively. Unsaturated fatty acids (linolenic acids: 33.33, 47.95 and 50.93 %, and α-linolenic acids: 25, 19.66 and 26.63 %) in WE, ET and RES, respectively, are the most abundant, and likely to be responsible for the observed activity. CONCLUSION African walnuts can prevent hepatic lipid accumulation through reciprocal actions on HMG-CoA reductase and paraoxonase in obesity

African Walnuts (Tetracarpidium conophorum) Modulate Hepatic Lipid Accumulation in Obesity via Reciprocal Actions on HMG-CoA Reductase and Paraoxonase.

BACKGROUND Obesity is characterized by increased body fat and involves an imbalance between the synthesis and degradation of lipids. OBJECTIVE The study aimed to investigate the effect of African walnuts (Tetracarpidium conophorum) on lipids storage and the regulatory enzymes of hepatic lipid metabolism in obese rats. METHODS Nuts were extracted in ethanol (WE) and further separated to obtain the ethyl-acetate fraction (ET) and the residue (RES). These were administered orally to 3 groups of monosodium glutamate- obese rats (n = 6), respectively, for 6 weeks. Other groups in the study were: normal (NC), obese control (OC) and standard control (SC) which received orlistat. Hepatic total lipids, total phospholipids, triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TCHOL), 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase and paraoxonase were studied. RESULTS Total lipids, TG and TCHOL which increased in OC compared to NC group, decreased. HMG-CoA reductase activity decreased in the 3 study groups relative to OC. Paraoxonase activity which decreased in OC was up-regulated, while the magnitude of hepatic cholesterol decreased from 94.32 % in OC to 52.19, 65.43 and 47.04 % with WE, ET and RES, respectively. Flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins and saponins were detected in the nut. GC-MS analysis revealed 16, 18 and 10 volatile components in WE, ET and RES, respectively. Unsaturated fatty acids (linolenic acids: 33.33, 47.95 and 50.93 %, and α-linolenic acids: 25, 19.66 and 26.63 %) in WE, ET and RES, respectively, are the most abundant, and likely to be responsible for the observed activity. CONCLUSION African walnuts can prevent hepatic lipid accumulation through reciprocal actions on HMG-CoA reductase and paraoxonase in obesity