ABSTRACT
Background: Gastric carcinoma is a deadly disease with high mortality. A better understanding of the molecular basis of gastric cancer has contributed to the development of rationally designed molecular targeted therapies which will improve the survival rate. A genetic alteration that could help in targeted therapy and prognostication includes Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2/neu) overexpression in gastric carcinoma. The objective of the present study was to identify and evaluate the HER2/neu protein immunohistochemical expression in gastric cancer from biopsies and surgical resection specimens and to evaluate their correlation with histopathological features.Methods: Total/subtotal gastrectomy specimens and gastric biopsies from a tertiary care center in South India were included in the study and assessed by light microscopy and Immunohistochemistry (IHC).Results: HER2/neu overexpression was seen in 28.6% of gastric adenocarcinoma. HER2/neu overexpression was seen in 44.2% of intestinal-type and 20% of mixed type with none of the diffuse type exhibited HER2/neu positivity and this was statistically highly significant with p value of <0.01. HER2/neu positivity was found in 50% well-differentiated and 36.4% moderately differentiated tumors with none of the poorly differentiated tumors exhibiting HER2/neu positivity and this was statistically highly significant with p value of <0.01.Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of the identification of HER2/neu overexpression in gastric adenocarcinoma. This will help in prognostication and identifying patients suitable for novel therapeutic interventions which will help in prolongation of survival of patients with this deadly disease.
ABSTRACT
Background: Body fat abnormalities and metabolic derangements are well known to occur in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The objective of present study was to evaluate the anthropometric parameters, fasting lipid profile and fasting blood sugar in treatment naïve HIV patients and to assess any relation with CD4 count.Methods: Anthropometric measurements, latest CD4 count were recorded from HIV patients. Blood was collected from patients for lipid profile and sugar measurements.Results: Anthropometric parameters showed a gradual increase in waist circumference (WC), increase in waist hip ratio (WHR) and decrease in body mass index (BMI) as CD4 count declined. Fasting lipid profile showed a gradual decrease in total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and increase in triglycerides (TG) and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) as CD4 count declined which were statistically highly significant (P<0.001). Compared to higher CD4 group (350-500/ mm3), the lower CD4 group (<50/mm3) showed a decrease in mean total cholesterol by 60 mg/dL, LDL-C by 76 mg/dL and HDL-C by 13 mg/dL. The increase in mean TG and VLDL-C were 154 mg/dL and 30 mg/dL respectively. Comparison of fating blood sugar (FBS) between CD4 groups showed a gradual rise in FBS as CD4 count declined.Conclusions: As CD4 count declines, metabolic alterations occur in treatment-naïve HIV patients with substantial decrease in serum total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C and an increase in TG and VLDL-C and increased incidence of impaired FBS. Morphological alteration in advanced HIV is evidenced by increased WC, WHR and decreased BMI.