Biomedical Research and Therapy

Genetic predisposition of interleukin-6 (rs1800797) polymorphism in cervical cancer: A Meta-analysis

2024-04-15T19:39:38+07:00

Background: Cervical cancer is a significant health burden, especially in less developed countries with limited access to HPV vaccines and screening. Dysregulation of immune cells, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and proinflammatory mediators have been implicated in cancer progression. SNPs in the IL-6 gene are thought to influence cervical cancer. A meta-analysis investigated the relationship between the IL-6 rs1800797 polymorphism and cervical cancer risk.

Methods: We conducted data mining on the PubMed database to identify relevant studies meeting specific criteria, including genotype data for IL-6 rs1800797, publication between 2015 and 2023, and reporting covariate risk factors. The meta-analysis comprised six publications focusing on the polymorphism at rs1800797 in IL-6 associated with cervical cancer.

Results: None of the five genetic models studied proved a significant link between the IL-6 rs1800797 polymorphism and cervical cancer risk. Because it included data from many ethnic groups, some racial groups may not experience the same consequences as others, based on this meta-analysis. The research revealed substantial heterogeneity. Egger's test and sensitivity analysis showed no evidence of publication bias.

Conclusion: Based on this comprehensive meta-analysis, we find no evidence that the IL-6 rs1800797 polymorphism contributes substantially to cervical cancer risk. However, further study is needed to investigate possible connections with additional IL-6 polymorphisms and the interplay between genetic and environmental variables in the development of cervical cancer. Identifying reliable tumor markers for cancer therapy remains an important area of investigation.

Immunophenotypic Expression and its Association with Prognostic Factors, Clinical Stages, and Clinical Profiles in Newly Diagnosed Patients with Plasma Cell Myeloma: Insights from Two Tertiary Care Centers

2024-04-15T20:44:35+07:00

Objective: Plasma cell myeloma (PCM) is an incurable clonal neoplasm of plasma cells, which typically presents a poor prognosis. This study aimed to determine the clinical profile of newly diagnosed plasma cell myeloma cases in two tertiary care centers in Malaysia and evaluate the association of aberrant immunophenotypic expression with prognostic factors and clinical stages.

Methods: A four-year retrospective study of 78 newly diagnosed PCM cases was conducted at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) and Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM). The study retrieved data from medical records, including socio-demographic characteristics, hematological and biochemical parameters, cytogenetic and molecular abnormalities, immunophenotypic expression profile, and clinical stages of PCM cases. All data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 26.0.

Results: The mean age of PCM patients was 60 years, with 73.1% of cases showing a normal white blood cell (WBC) count. A total of 65.4% and 24.4% of cases had anemia and mild to severe anemia, respectively. Cases were associated with thrombocytopenia (24.4%), normal platelet counts (75.6%), a bone marrow plasma cell percentage >10% (93.6%), and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (63.3%). Additionally, 66.7% of cases demonstrated hypoalbuminemia and elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), calcium, and creatinine levels. All cases indicated hyperproteinemia (56.4%), hypoproteinemia (6.4%), normal serum total protein (37.2%), elevated serum paraprotein (69.2%), and blood beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) (62.5%) levels, as well as aberrant cytogenetic abnormalities (16.7%). The cases were grouped into Stage III (39.7%), Stage II (24.4%), and Stage I (5.1%). CD38 and CD138 demonstrated 100% expression, with every case exhibiting expression of more than one aberrant antigen, including CD19 (28.2%), CD45 (23.1%), CD56 (83.3%), CD117 (25.6%), kappa (60.3%), and lambda light chain (38.5%). However, only CD19 markers and serum creatinine levels exhibited a statistically significant association (p = 0.036).

Conclusion: Immunophenotyping by multiparametric flow cytometry is powerful in distinguishing PCM from normal cells. The aberrant antigens expressed in this study displayed a heterogeneous immunophenotypic profile unique to our population. However, to enhance outcome and robustness of this study, it is recommended to engage additional centers purposefully to increase the sample size.

Impact of Antioxidant Therapy on Lipid Peroxidation and Venous Hemodynamics in Women with Pelvic Venous Incompetence

2024-04-09T04:37:31+07:00

Introduction: Pelvic varicosity, a subset of pelvic venous incompetence (PVI), is considered a multifactorial, chronic disease with a progressive course. One effective therapeutic approach may be the use of drugs that inhibit oxidative stress (OS) reactions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an antioxidant complex on the state of the lipid peroxidation system and venous hemodynamic parameters in the treatment of patients with pelvic varicose veins.

Methods: One hundred fifty patients with PVI were divided into two groups of seventy-five each, comparable in basic characteristics. Treatment for both groups included standard therapy with one of the venotropic drugs for 60 days. Additionally, the patients in the second group received an antioxidant complex application (ACA) for 30 days (one course), with a total of three courses over two months. Spectrophotometric and immunoenzymatic research methods were used.

Results: In patients with PVI, the application of an antioxidant complex in combination with baseline venotropic therapy resulted in a statistically significant decrease in levels of LH, CDs, TBARs, and an increase in Catalase, SOD, GPO, GR, GST, and GSH after treatment. Additionally, there was an increase in blood flow velocity in varicose pelvic veins (iliac, ovarian, and arcuate), as well as a decrease in the duration of retrograde discharge to 0.3 cm.

Conclusion: The use of antioxidant drugs (superoxide dismutase, acetyl glutathione, astaxanthin) in combination with venotropic therapy for the treatment of PVI significantly improves the indices of the lipid peroxidation-antioxidant defense system and venous hemodynamics in the pelvic organs of this patient cohort. The advantages of this complex treatment are evident both in comparison with the data before treatment and with the data from patients on venotropic therapy alone.

Sarcomatoid Renal Cell Carcinoma: Report of a Large Malignant Tumor with a Review of the Literature

2024-04-15T20:03:33+07:00

Introduction: Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive kidney tumor with poor prognosis and distinct microscopic features. Traditional modalities versus new targeted therapy are used in different patients with controversial but some promising results.

Method: A 73-year-old man was referred with right flank pain and hematuria. Computed tomography (CT) scan reported a solid mass measuring 62x100 mm in the posterior right kidney with perinephric infiltration. Multiple tumor nodules were present in perinephric fat. A metastatic mass measuring 21x33 mm in the right adrenal gland with a few metastatic lymph nodes measuring 18 mm in the paraaortic, renal hilum, and right retro crural space were also present.

Result: Radical nephrectomy was done. The cut section of the kidney revealed firm, homogeneous gray- yellowish huge mass measured 13.5 cm. The pathologist reported:" Renal cell carcinoma, Sarcomatoid type, High grade (4/4) invading perirenal fat with a greatest diameter of 13.5 cm and free surgical and vascular margin. IHC was done with CK, Vimentin, and CD10 positive and EMA, CK7, Desmin, Myogenin, and E-Cadherin negative". Unfortunately the patient passed away 25 days later in the background of lung and cardiac failure.

Conclusion: Pathologists and clinicians should be familiar by this rare, but aggressive, entity for sooner diagnosis and treatment. Different treatments should be assessed for better service to the patient.

An Uncommon Presentation of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: Osteolytic Bone Lesion as the Initial Manifestation

2024-04-15T19:32:32+07:00

Background: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm that typically occurs in the fifth and sixth decades of life with presentations usually confined to hematopoietic tissues—primarily blood, bone marrow, and spleen. However, primary presentation of CML as extramedullary involvement (osteolytic lesion) is extremely rare, occurring in less than 1% of cases.

Case Presentation: Here, we present a case of a 25-year-old male with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), characterized by an atypical presentation of a femur fracture accompanied by an osteolytic lesion. The peripheral blood findings displayed typical features of CML, including leukocytosis with a full spectrum of myeloid maturation stages, basophilia, and occasional blasts. The diagnosis of CML in the blastic phase was confirmed by the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome and the BCR-ABL1 fusion gene (b2a2), as well as features of myeloid sarcoma in the tissue biopsy.

Conclusion: Given the aggressive nature of granulocytic sarcoma and its impact on prognosis, early recognition and intervention are essential to mitigate complications and improve patient outcomes.