A 6-year retrospective study of fine needle aspiration cytology pattern of otorhinolaryngological cases of patients referred to national ear care centre Kaduna (2013-2018)

Background: This study was carried out to obtain the retrospective study of FNAC cases referred to NECC; and review occurrences of ortorhinolaryngological swellings and demographic studies of patients for a period of 6 years (2013-2018). Records of FNAC were obtained from the laboratory department’s unit’s register alongside the biodata of patients for demographic studies. Methods: FNAC samples were treated for diagnosis according to the unit’s standard operating procedure for cytology. A total of three hundred and fifty-three 353 cases were reported and tables were then plotted to present the study cases using simple descriptive statistics. Results: Highest age distribution was between thirty to thirty-nine (30-39) years with a total of ninety-five cases 95(26.9%) followed by the range of forty to forty-nine (40-49) years with a value of eighty 80(22.6%). Females had the highest frequency of one hundred and thirty-three 133 (62.3%) compared to their male patient counterpart with a value of two hundred and twenty 220 (37.6%). The site of sample collection had ANS with the highest value of eighty-one 81 (42.4%) compared to other sites. The year 2016 had the highest number of FNAC cases and finally ninety 6 cases 96 (27.2%) of cases were inflammatory, two hundred and thirty-two 232 (65.7%) were benign while twenty five 25 (7.1%) were malignant. Conclusions: In conclusion; FNAC plays a vital role in managing otorhinolaryngology conditions and gives a way forward for effective treatment to patients and often at times is therapeutic as some patients come with fluid field swelling that get relieved after the procedure

HIV/AIDS-related non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas and confounders: preliminary report of the Sub-Saharan Africa Lymphoma Consortium (SSALC)

CITATION: Ayers, L.W. et al. 2012. HIV/AIDS-related non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas and confounders : preliminary report of the Sub-Saharan Africa Lymphoma Consortium (SSALC). Infectious Agents and Cancer, 7(Suppl 1):P11, doi:10.1186/1750-9378-7-S1-P11.The original publication is available at http://infectagentscancer.biomedcentral.comSSALC was established to characterize HIV/AIDS-related lymphoma and the indigenous background of malignant lymphomas (ML) in sub-Saharan Africa. Because WHO classified lymphoma subgroups can vary in prevalence African, Asian or European ancestry, we surveyed lymphoma heterogeneity in geographically diverse East, South and West sub-Saharan populations, particularly for HIV/AIDS associated immunophenotypes.http://infectagentscancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1750-9378-7-S1-P11Publisher's versio

Extranodal NK/ T-Cell lymphoma in an African

Background: Extranodal Nasal NK (Natural Killer) / T-Cell lymphoma is one of the rare tumours of the head and neck region. Its prevalence is unknown among Africans. It is characterised by progressive destruction of the structures in the nasal cavity, may erode the palate and in some cases, it may metastasize. Hallmark of diagnosis is immunohistochemistry. With delayed presentation, the prognosis is very poor.Methods: We present a 30 year old lady with complaints of two years' history of thick nasal discharge, progressive nasal blockage, hyponasal speech and pains in the nose. She was diagnosed with retroviral disease few weeks before presentation. Anterior rhinoscopy revealed a mass in the right nasal ala, destroyed nasal septum, crusts filling both nasal cavities. Patient had biopsy of the nasal mass and was screened for syphilis and Tuberculosis. She also had full blood count, serum electrolytes urea and creatinine assessment.Results: Mantoux test and VDRL (Veneral Disease Research Laboratory) test were negative, histology result revealed malignant lymphoma and immunohistochemistry was positive for CD45, CD3, CD79a and Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA (EBER) but negative for CD10, CD20, EMA and Vimentin. By the time of making the diagnosis, the patient was lost to followup.Conclusion: Extranodal NK/T-Cell lymphoma, being rarely seen among Africans, required high index of suspicion for diagnosis. Physicians should be on the lookout for it, multicentre reports should be collated to find its prevalence among Africans.Keywords: African, NK / T-cell lymphoma, immunohistochemistr

Pattern of HER2 Overexpression in Urinary Bladder Carcinomas in Kano, Nigeria

Background: The worldwide distribution of bladder cancer varies, conforming to differences in environmental and genetic risk factors. HER2 neu is overexpressed in many human cancers, including urinary bladder carcinomas. The aim of this study is therefore to evaluate the pattern of HER2 positivity, and correlate HER2 positivity of urinary bladder carcinomas with age, gender of patients, histological subtypes, and tumor grades. Methods: This is a 2-year retrospective study from January 2015 to December 2016. Patients’ clinicopathological information was extracted from their case folders and pathology reports. The histological subtyping using the WHO 2016 classification and grading was done and then reviewed by authors. HER2 scoring was done using the recommendations of the American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists. Results: Sixty cases of bladder cancer were diagnosed during the study period. HER2/neu positivity (3+) was observed in 24 (40%) of all the cases. Statistically significant association was observed between HER2 neu protein overexpression and increasing tumor grade (p≤ 0.001). Conclusion: This study recorded HER2 overexpression in 40% of study subjects. There is a statistically significant association between HER2 overexpression and increasing tumor grade

Training the Next Generation of African Pathologists

Quality patient care requires correct and timely evidence-based diagnoses. Pathology and laboratory medicine training varies significantly across the continent, but is inadequate to serve the needs of the population. This article summarizes the current state of pathology workforce and training in sub-Saharan Africa; discusses challenges to recruitment and retention; and outlines the necessary elements for training and sustaining a robust workforce in pathology and laboratory medicine. The authors provide several case studies of institutions around the continent that include expansion of existing programs, a de novo program, South-South collaborations, and skill building for the existing workforce

An analysis of dietary fiber and fecal fiber components including pH in rural Africans with colorectal cancer

Background/AimsColorectal cancer (CRC) is now a major public health problem with heavy morbidity and mortality in rural Africans despite the lingering dietary fiber-rich foodstuffs consumption. Studies have shown that increased intake of dietary fiber which contribute to low fecal pH and also influences the activity of intestinal microbiota, is associated with a lowered risk for CRC. However, whether or not the apparent high dietary fiber consumption by Africans do not longer protects against CRC risk is unknown. This study evaluated dietary fiber intake, fecal fiber components and pH levels in CRC patients.MethodsThirty-five subjects (CRC=21, control=14), mean age 45 years were recruited for the study. A truncated food frequency questionnaire and modified Goering and Van Soest procedures were used.ResultsWe found that all subjects consumed variety of dietary fiber-rich foodstuffs. There is slight preponderance in consumption of dietary fiber by the control group than the CRC patients. We also found a significant difference in the mean fecal neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin contents from the CRC patients compared to the controls (P<0.05). The CRC patients had significantly more fecal pH level than the matched apparently healthy controls (P=0.017).ConclusionsThe identified differences in the fecal fiber components and stool pH levels between the 2 groups may relate to CRC incidence and mortality in rural Africans. There is crucial need for more hypothesis-driven research with adequate funding on the cumulative preventive role of dietary fiber-rich foodstuffs against colorectal cancer in rural Africans “today.

Prognostic significance of BIRC7/Livin, Bcl-2, p53, Annexin V, PD-L1, DARC, MSH2 and PMS2 in colorectal cancer treated with FOLFOX chemotherapy with or without aspirin.

Evasion of apoptosis is associated with treatment resistance and metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Various cellular processes are associated with evasion of apoptosis. These include overexpression of pro-apoptotic proteins (including p53 and PD-L1), anti-apoptotic proteins (BIRC7/Livin and Bcl-2), chemokine receptors (including DARC), and dysregulation of DNA mismatch repair proteins (including MSH2 and PMS2). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of folinic acid, 5-FU and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) as a single agent and aspirin plus FOLFOX in various combinations on the aforementioned proteins in human CRC, SW480 cell line and rat models of N-Methyl-N-Nitrosourea (NMU)-induced CRC. In addition, effects of the NMU-induced CRC and chemotherapeutic regimens on haematological and biochemical parameters in the rat models were studied. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and immunoblot techniques were used to study the expression pattern of the related proteins in the human CRC cells pre- and post-treatment. Double contrast barium enema, post-mortem examination and histological analyses were used to confirm tumour growth and the effect of the treatment in vivo in rat models. Notably, we found in human mucinous CRC, a significant increase in expression of the BIRC7/Livin post-FOLFOX treatment compared with pre-treatment (p = 0.0001). This increase provides new insights into the prognostic role of BIRC7/Livin in evasion of apoptosis and facilitation of treatment resistance, local recurrence and metastasis particularly among mucinous CRCs post-FOLFOX chemotherapy. These poor prognostic features in the CRC may be further compounded by the significant suppression of DARC, PD-L1, PMS2 and overexpression of MSH2 and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and p53 proteins observed in our study (p < 0.05). Importantly, we found a significant reduction in expression of BIRC7/Livin and reactivation of DARC and PD-L1 with a surge in Annexin V expression in rat models of CRC cells post-treatment with a sequential dose of aspirin plus FOLFOX compared with other treatments in vivo (p <0.05). The mechanistic rational of these effects underscores the importance of expanded concept of possible aspirin combination therapy with FOLFOX sequentially in future CRC management. Validation of our findings through randomized clinical trials of aspirin plus FOLFOX sequentially in patients with CRC is therefore warranted