Clinicopathological Characteristics of Breast Cancer in a Population of Eastern Algeria

Background: One of the most common cancers in female is the breast cancer. It is the most important cause of neoplasie deaths among women in both developed countries and developing countries. The incidence of breast cancer has increased more than 10000 new cases per year. The aim of our study is to determine the clinical characteristics of breast cancer in the Eastern Algeria. Methods: This is a retrospective study made in public hospital EHS Abdallah Nouaouria El Bouni, Annaba gynecology and anatomy pathology services, which included 40 patients over a period of three months from July to September 2019. Results: The mean age was 49.87 (SD = 9.2) years. The age group of 40–76 years represented the majority of the study population (85%). A total of 30 patients (75%) had invasive ductal carcinoma, while 3 (7,5%) had ductal carcinoma in situ, 3 (7,5%) had inflammatory breast cancer, 2 (5%) had mucinous carcinoma and 2 (5%) had phyllodes tumors . The average size tumor was 3,7 cm. The rate of tumor grade with large size T2, T3 and T4b was 70%.  45% of patients had positive lymph nodes and 2,5 % had bilateral breast cancer. No metastatic cases were reported. Results also show that the most affected women are between 35 and 55 years; 92,5% have an  invasive breast cancer, and more than 80% are in advanced stage . Conclusion: Histological diagnosis is important since it state the specific type of carcinoma. One of the best approaches to prevent this disease is early diagnosis

Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester and Its Amide Analogue Are Potent Inhibitors of Leukotriene Biosynthesis in Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

BACKGROUND: 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) catalyses the transformation of arachidonic acid (AA) into leukotrienes (LTs), which are important lipid mediators of inflammation. LTs have been directly implicated in inflammatory diseases like asthma, atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis; therefore inhibition of LT biosynthesis is a strategy for the treatment of these chronic diseases. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Analogues of caffeic acid, including the naturally-occurring caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), were synthesized and evaluated for their capacity to inhibit 5-LO and LTs biosynthesis in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) and whole blood. Anti-free radical and anti-oxidant activities of the compounds were also measured. Caffeic acid did not inhibit 5-LO activity or LT biosynthesis at concentrations up to 10 µM. CAPE inhibited 5-LO activity (IC(50) 0.13 µM, 95% CI 0.08-0.23 µM) more effectively than the clinically-approved 5-LO inhibitor zileuton (IC(50) 3.5 µM, 95% CI 2.3-5.4 µM). CAPE was also more effective than zileuton for the inhibition of LT biosynthesis in PMNL but the compounds were equipotent in whole blood. The activity of the amide analogue of CAPE was similar to that of zileuton. Inhibition of LT biosynthesis by CAPE was the result of the inhibition of 5-LO and of AA release. Caffeic acid, CAPE and its amide analog were free radical scavengers and antioxidants with IC(50) values in the low µM range; however, the phenethyl moiety of CAPE was required for effective inhibition of 5-LO and LT biosynthesis. CONCLUSIONS: CAPE is a potent LT biosynthesis inhibitor that blocks 5-LO activity and AA release. The CAPE structure can be used as a framework for the rational design of stable and potent inhibitors of LT biosynthesis

Autotaxin-LPA Signaling Contributes to Obesity-Induced Insulin Resistance in Muscle and Impairs Mitochondrial Metabolism

Autotaxin (ATX) is an adipokine that generates the bioactive lipid, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). ATX-LPA signaling has been implicated in diet-induced obesity and systemic insulin resistance. However, it remains unclear whether the ATX-LPA pathway influences insulin function and energy metabolism in target tissues, particularly skeletal muscle, the major site of insulin-stimulated glucose disposal. The objective of this study was to test whether the ATX-LPA pathway impacts tissue insulin signaling and mitochondrial metabolism in skeletal muscle during obesity. Male mice with heterozygous ATX deficiency (ATX+/−) were protected from obesity, systemic insulin resistance, and cardiomyocyte dysfunction following high-fat high-sucrose (HFHS) feeding. HFHS-fed ATX+/− mice also had improved insulin-stimulated AKT phosphorylation in white adipose tissue, liver, heart, and skeletal muscle. Preserved insulin-stimulated glucose transport in muscle from HFHS-fed ATX+/− mice was associated with improved mitochondrial pyruvate oxidation in the absence of changes in fat oxidation and ectopic lipid accumulation. Similarly, incubation with LPA decreased insulin-stimulated AKT phosphorylation and mitochondrial energy metabolism in C2C12 myotubes at baseline and following palmitate-induced insulin resistance. Taken together, our results suggest that the ATX-LPA pathway contributes to obesity-induced insulin resistance in metabolically relevant tissues. Our data also suggest that LPA directly impairs skeletal muscle insulin signaling and mitochondrial function

A glycopeptide dendrimer inhibitor of the galactose specific lectin LecA & of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms

Biofilm inhibition is achieved with a phenylgalactosyl peptide dendrimer (see picture) that binds to the galactose-specific lectin LecA of P. aeruginosa. The multivalency of the ligands is critical for biofilm inhibition, although the nature of the linker between the peptide dendrimer and the galactose can provide additional contacts to the lectin and also has an effect on the interaction

Comparative analysis of specialized metabolites and antioxidant capacity in vitro of different natural populations of Globularia spp.

Total phenolic, flavonoid, condensed tannin and iridoid content, as well as antioxidant capacity in vitro, were determined spectrophotometrically in methanolic extracts of different plant parts of the Mediterranean medicinal plant Globularia alypum L. and three widespread European species of the same genus: G. cordifolia L., G. meridionalis (Podp.) O. Schwarz and G. punctata Lapeyr. In order to consider possible environmental influences on the production of specialized metabolites, each species, except G. alypum, was collected from three different natural populations. Great variations in the amounts of specialized metabolites were observed among different plant parts and species. For example, total phenolic content ranged from 10.13 (G. punctata, flowers) to 44.90 (G. cordifolia, flower stems) mg gallic acid equivalent g–1 dry weight. Moreover, great differences, attributed to location-specific environmental factors, were observed among different populations of the same species. For example, a strong positive correlation was observed among mean monthly temperatures and total phenolic contents in the leaves of studied Globularia spp. (r = 0.75, p = 0.019). However, despite these differences, all species were rich in bioactive substances when compared to G. alypum, especially in their aerial parts. A very good positive correlation was observed between total phenolic content and DPPH radical scavenging capacity (r = 0.86, p < 0.001)/ABTS radical scavenging capacity (r = 0.83, p < 0.001). The results obtained show that G. cordifolia, G. meridionalis and G. punctata are rich in bioactive substances, providing support for their pharmaceutical utilization. Further investigations are needed to verify the possibility of their medicinal use