Effect of IL-1β and IL-1RN polymorphisms in carcinogenesis of the gastric mucosa in patients infected with Helicobacter pylori in Algeria

Background: Infection with Helicobacter pylori is considered a potential risk of developing gastric cancer in association with contributing host genetic factor. IL-1β and IL-1RN polymorphisms appear to maintain and promote Helicobacter pylori infection and to stimulate neoplastic growth of the gastric mucosa.Objective and methods: In order to elucidate the effect of these polymorphisms in combination with gastric cancer in a population from northwestern Algeria, a case-control study was carried out on 79 patients infected with H. pylori with chronic atrophic gastritis and/or gastric carcinoma, and 32 subjects were recruited as casecontrol. IL-1β-31 bi-allelic and IL-1β-511 bi-allelic polymorphisms and IL 1RN penta-allelic were genotyped.Results: IL-1β-31C was associated with an increased risk of developing gastric carcinoma (OR4.614 [1.4314.81], p = 0.01). However, IL-1RN2 heterozygous allele type was significantly associated with chronic atrophic gastritis (OR4.2 [1.233.61], p = 0.022). IL-1β-511T was associated with an increased risk of development of chronic atrophic gastritis (OR4.286 [1.5411.89], p = 0.005).Conclusion: IL-1β and IL-1RN polymorphisms associated with H. pylori infectioncontribute to the development of chronic atrophic gastritis and gastric carcinomas in an Algerian population. The alleles IL-1β-31C and IL-1RN were associated with an increased risk of developing gastric carcinoma, and IL-1β-511T with an increased risk of developing chronic atrophic gastritis with no significant association of developing gastric carcinoma.Keywords: gastric mucosa; Helicobacter pylori; IL-1β; IL-1R

Ameliorative or corrective effects of Fig “Ficus carica” extract on nickel-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats

peer reviewedMany heavy metals and metalloids (e.g., Pb, Cd, and Ni) can contaminate the environment and cause severe health problems. Through this study, investigated the possible corrective effects of Ficus carica extract (FCE) against nickel (Ni) induced stress response and damage on the liver of rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (8 rats per group) and co-treated with FCE (350 mg/kg) and exposed to Nickel chloride (10 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. The volatile compounds of FCE were characterized by solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) coupled with GC–MS, and the biochemical parameters of stress were determined. The SPME–GC/MS analysis of FCE indicated the presence of thirty (30) phyto-bioactive compounds including alcohols, aldehydes, organic acids, ketones, furans, terpenes, ester and others. The best capacity for scavenging DPPH free radicals and metal chelating were found with the IC50 values of 0.49 and 2.91 mg/mL, respectively. Ni induced damage to various macromolecules. Malondialdehyde, protein carbonyls, alanine aminotransferase and gamma glutamyl transferarse levels were significantly increased in Ni exposed group compared to control group and co-treatment with FCE reduced the levels of these parameters. In conclusion, current findings showed that Ni-induced oxidative damage and the administration of FCE can improve correct and restore the alteration in the rat liver

CCK-2/Gastrin-R Immunodistribution in a Solid Pseudopapillary Pancreatic Tumor: A Case Report of a 28-Years-Old North African Woman

The presence of a large bulky pancreatic tumour in a young female should raise suspicions of the diagnosis of solid-pseduopapillary tumour of the pancreas.Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas are uncommon, accounting for only 1-2% of all pancreatic neoplasms. These tumors are being detected at an increased rate, probably due to the increased awareness and the liberal use of imaging.We report a case of a 28-year-old North African woman with no prior medical or surgical history diagnosed with solid pseudopapillary pancreatic tumor. Our immunohistochemical study demonstrated that the tumor cells were positive for CCK-2/gastrin receptors and that were highly expressed within the cytoplasmic area of the cells. Hence we attempted to raise a hypothesis and to establish a link between some female hormones which represents powerful regulators of the expression of CCK and their possible impact on the development of solid pseudopapillary pancreatic tumours in young women.&nbsp;</p

HER2 Status in Male Breast Carcinoma: a Single North African Institution Experience of 10 Cases and Review of the Literature

Background: To investigate clinic-pathological characteristics, hormonal receptors and HER2 receptor of male breast cancer.Materials and methods: Retrospective study of 10 cases between 2010 and 2013. The studied parameters were: tumor size, histological type, histological grade, lymph node status, hormonal status and overexpression of HER2.Results: The average age of our patients was 60.2 years, in 70% of cases; the histological size that was found was T4; and infiltrating ductal carcinoma was diagnosed in all cases. The grades classification was as follow: grade 2 (30%) and grade 3 (70%). 70% of cases had lymph node metastasis. Estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER,PR) were positive in 60% of tumors. Overexpression of HER2 was positive (Score3) in one case. Luminal B was the most common subtype in our study.Conclusion: Male breast cancer is a rare disease with a poor prognosis despite the recent increase in incidence in recent years. The diagnosis is often delayed and injuries are treated in advanced stages.</p