ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer related deaths affecting both men and women worldwide. In the present study, any probable role of MTDH mRNA expression in CRC tumorigenesis was explored using both discovery and validation cohorts. METHODS AND RESULTS: After prior ethical and biosafety approvals, tumor tissue samples along with their adjacent controls were collected for this study from Pakistani patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer. RNA was isolated using Trizol reagent, followed by cDNA synthesis. Transcript analysis of MTDH was performed by using qPCR. Moreover, genome-wide expression of MTDH was also determined through micro-array data analysis using BRB-array tools software. MTDH expression was significantly high in tumor tissue samples (p < 0.05) compared to their respective controls. Likewise, results of microarray analysis also revealed overamplification of MTDH in tumor samples as compared to controls. Expression of MTDH was also found to be positively correlated with KI-67 index (p < 0.05) and were observed to be significantly upregulated in advance tumor grade (p < 0.05) and stage (p < 0.05). However, no association of MTDH overexpression with age and gender could be established. CONCLUSION: Hence, it can be concluded that MTDH is a core element that plays a pivotal role in colorectal tumorigenesis irrespective of patient's age and gender. Molecular insight into the tumor microenvironment revealed MTDH as a niche, representing distinctive framework for cancer progression, thus, making it an innovative target strategy for colorectal cancer treatment.
Subject(s)
Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Aged , Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Cell Adhesion Molecules/genetics , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Movement/genetics , Cell Proliferation/genetics , Female , Gene Expression/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/genetics , Humans , Male , Membrane Proteins/genetics , Middle Aged , Pakistan , RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , Transcriptome/genetics , Tumor Microenvironment/genetics , Tumor Microenvironment/physiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Unexplained abdominal pain is a common but difficult presenting feature faced by the clinicians. Such patients can undergo a number of investigations with failure to reach any diagnosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of laparoscopy in the diagnosis and management of patients with unexplained abdominal pain. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad from January 2009 to December 2013. This study included 91 patients of unexplained abdominal pain not diagnosed by routine clinical examination and investigations. These patients were subjected to diagnostic laparoscopy for evaluation of their conditions and to confirm the diagnosis. These patients presented 43% of patients undergoing investigations for abdominal pain. Patients diagnosed with gynaecological problems were excluded to see surgeon's perspective. The findings and the outcomes of the laparoscopy were recorded and data was analyzed. RESULTS: Unexplained abdominal pain is common in females than in males. The most common laparoscopic findings were abdominal tuberculosis followed by appendicitis. Ninety percent patients achieved pain relief after laparoscopic intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy is both beneficial and safe in majority of patients with unexplained abdominal pain. General surgeons should acquire training and experience in laparoscopic surgery to provide maximum benefit to these difficult patients.
Subject(s)
Abdominal Pain/etiology , Appendicitis/diagnosis , Laparoscopy , Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal/diagnosis , Abdominal Pain/surgery , Adolescent , Adult , Appendicitis/surgery , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal/surgery , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Ingrown toe nail is common problem presenting to the surgeon. Partial Nail avulsion only results in recurrence of the ingrown toe nail. The aim of this study was too see the effect of phenolization in preventing recurrence after partial nail avulsion. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial carried out at Department of Surgery, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. This study included 100 patients (50 in each group) with ingrown toe nail presented from November 2009 to October 2010. This study compared the application of phenol after partial avulsion with partial avulsion alone in the treatment of ingrown toe nail. RESULTS: Sixty-nine percent of the patients were males and 31 % were female. The mean age in both groups was 18 years. Patient in the partial nail avulsion with application of phenol group had less pain as compared to patient with partial nail avulsion group only. Our study has shown that patient in phenol group had less post operative infection, spike formation and recurrence as compared to wedge resection group only. CONCLUSION: Partial nail avulsion with phenolization is better than nartial nail avulsion only for the management of the in-growing toe nail.
