Carrying SNP rs17506395 (T > G) in TP63 gene and CCR5Δ32 mutation associated with the occurrence of breast cancer in Burkina Faso.

Genetic alterations in the TP63 (GenBank: NC_000003.12, ID: 8626) and CCR5 (receptor 5 chemokine co-receptor) (GenBank: NC_000003.12, ID: 1234) genes may increase the risk of developing breast cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the probable involvement of polymorphisms rs17506395 in the TP63 (tumour protein 63) gene and the CCR5Δ32 mutation in the occurrence of breast cancer in Burkina Faso. This case-control study included 72 patients and 72 controls. Genotyping of SNP rs17506395 (TP63) was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, and genotyping of the CCR5Δ32 mutation was performed by allele-specific oligonucleotide polymerase chain reaction. For SNP rs17506395 (TP63), the genotypic frequencies of wild-type homozygotes (TT) and heterozygotes (TG) were, respectively, 27.72 and 72.22% in cases and 36.11 and 63.89% in controls. No mutated homozygotes (GG) were observed. For the CCR5Δ32 mutation, the genotypic frequencies of wild-type homozygotes (WT/WT) and heterozygotes (WT/Δ32) were 87.5 and 13.5%, respectively, in the cases and 89.29 and 10.71%, respectively, in the controls. No mutated homozygotes (Δ32/Δ32) were observed. None of the polymorphisms rs17506395 of the TP63 gene (OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 0.69-3.17, P = 0.284) and the CCR5Δ32 mutation (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 0.46-3.77; P = 0.79) were associated with the occurrence of breast cancer in this study.

Forensic autosomal and gonosomal short tandem repeat marker reference database for populations in Burkina Faso.

Tandem repeat genetic profiles used in forensic applications varies between populations. Despite the diversity and security issues in the Sahel that require the identification of victims (soldiers and civilians), Burkina Faso (BF) remains understudied. To fill this information gap, 396 unrelated individuals from BF were genotyped using a MICROREADER 21 ID System kit. All 20 short tandem repeat (STR) loci tested passed the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) test. The combined powers of exclusion for duos (CPE duos) and trios (CPE trios) for the 20 tested loci were 0.9999998 and 0.9999307, respectively. The probability that two individuals would share the same DNA profiles among the BF population was 9.80898 × 10-26. For the X-chromosome STR analysis, 292 individuals were included in this study using a MICROREADER 19X Direct ID System kit. Among the 19 loci, no significant deviations from HWE test were observed in female samples after Bonferroni correction (p < 0.05/19 = 0.0026), except for loci GATA165B12 and DXS7423. The results showed that the combined power of exclusion (CPE) and the combined power of discrimination in females (CPDF) and males (CPDM) were 0.999999760893, 0.999999999992, and 1, respectively. Comparison with other African sub-populations showed that geographical proximity is a reliable indicator of genetic relatedness.

Leptospirosis seroprevalence and risk factors among slaughterhouse workers in Burkina Faso.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of leptospirosis among slaughterhouse workers in Burkina Faso. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey of slaughterhouse workers from Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso between March and April 2021. Blood was collected by venipuncture and serum samples were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and microscopic agglutination test. Questionnaires were used to collect information from these workers on sociodemographic characteristics, work activities, knowledge of zoonosis, and risky behaviors. Results: Of the 172 subjects investigated, 28 (16.28%) were found seropositive for leptospirosis using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or microscopic agglutination test. The main Leptospira infecting serogroup were Mini, Autumnalis, Canicola, Copenhageni, L. mayottensis (ND), Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pyrogenes/Tarassovi (cross reaction), Panama, and Ballum. Risk factors according to multivariate analysis, included residence (P = 0.02), working at the bleeding station (P = 0.03), contact with feces and urine (P = 0.04), and the practice of agriculture outside the slaughterhouse (P = 0.05). Conclusion: These findings indicate that a significant proportion of slaughterhouse workers are being exposed to pathogenic Leptospira. Public-health interventions against leptospirosis will need to target this occupational group. Proper personal protective equipment and information about the disease should be disseminated among slaughterhouses.

Advances in Etiopathological Role and Control of HPV in Cervical Cancer Oncogenesis.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a well-known oncovirus whose causal link in the occurrence and development of several cancers, such as cervical cancer (CC), has been well established. Indeed, numerous researches depicted the etiological role of HPV in CC pathogenesis in such a way as to develop efficient strategies, including early diagnoses and HPV vaccination, to mitigate HPV infection and CC occurrence. Despite the effectiveness of these strategies in preventing HPV infection, its persistence, and the progression to precancerous lesions and cancers, extensive work that could give a better understanding of other unknown factors favoring oncogenesis is much more needed. In this last decade, scarce or few but crucial and strategic studies have been carried out to improve and deepen our understanding of the etiopathological role of HPV in the progression towards the development of CC. In this review, we highlighted the recent findings on the pathological role of HPV in CC occurrence and the advances in novel adopted strategies to reduce HPV infection and prevent CC occurrence more effectively.

Prevalence and patterns of chromosomal abnormalities in patients suspected of genetic disorders: insights from a study in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: Chromosomal abnormalities contribute significantly to human morbidity and mortality, leading to various pathologies. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities among patients suspected of genetic disorders in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. METHODS AND RESULTS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1, 2018, to July 16, 2021, involving patients from different university hospitals in Ouagadougou. Blood samples were collected at Hôpital Saint Camille de Ouagadougou (HOSCO) and sent to the Cerba laboratory in France for cytogenetic analysis. A total of 61 cases with suspected genetic disorders were referred for cytogenetic examination. The average age of the patients was 26.81 years ± 18.92, ranging from 1 month to 68 years. Among the cases, 37 (60.65%) exhibited chromosomal abnormalities. Structural abnormalities were the most prevalent (78.38%), while number anomalies accounted for 21.62% of the cases. Chronic myeloid leukemia was detected in 59.45% of cases, followed by free and homogeneous trisomy 21 (18.91%) and sexual inversion (8.10%). Additionally, one case each of Turner syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome were identified. CONCLUSION: This this study revealed a high frequency of chromosomal abnormalities, with a predominance of structural abnormalities, among patients suspected of genetic disorders in Ouagadougou. The findings emphasize the significance of genetic evaluation and counseling services in the region, particularly for autosomal abnormalities.

Evaluation of ten (10) SARS-CoV-2 rapid serological tests in comparison with WANTAI SARS-CoV-2 ab ELISA in Burkina Faso, West Africa.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of ten (10) SARS-CoV-2 serological rapid diagnostic tests in comparison with the WANTAI SARS-CoV-2 Ab ELISA test in a laboratory setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten (10) SARS-CoV-2 serological rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM were evaluated with two (2) groups of plasma tested positive for one and negative for the other with the WANTAI SARS-CoV-2 Ab ELISA. The diagnostic performance of the SARS-CoV-2 serological RDTs and their agreement with the reference test were calculated with their 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: The sensitivity of serological RDTs ranged from 27.39 to 61.67% and the specificity from 93.33 to 100% compared to WANTAI SARS-CoV-2 Ab ELISA test. Of all the tests, two tests (STANDARD Q COVID-19 IgM/IgG Combo SD BIOSENSOR and COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test (Zhejiang Orient Gene Biotech Co., Ltd)) had a sensitivity greater than 50%. In addition, all ten tests had specificity greater than or equal to 93.33% each. The concordance between RDTs and WANTAI SARS-CoV-2 Ab ELISA test ranged from 0.25 to 0.61. CONCLUSION: The SARS-CoV-2 serological RDTs evaluated show low and variable sensitivities compared to the WANTAI SARS-CoV-2 Ab ELISA test, with however a good specificity. These finding may have implications for the interpretation and comparison of COVID-19 seroprevalence studies depending on the type of test used.

Involvement of ERCC1 (rs3212986) and ERCC2 (rs1799793, rs13181) polymorphisms of DNA repair genes in breast cancer occurrence in Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: Genetic alterations can result in DNA repair defects, increasing susceptibility to breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the involvement of two DNA repair genes, ERCC1 (rs3212986, GenBank NC_000073.9) and ERCC2 (rs1799793, rs13181, GenBank: NC_000019.10) in the occurrence of breast cancer in Burkina Faso. METHODS: This case-control study enrolled 128 participants including 64 patients and 64 healthy controls. Genotyping of polymorphisms were performed by real-time PCR and PCR-RFLP. RESULTS: The heterozygous AC genotype of the ERCC2rs13181 polymorphism was associated with the occurrence of breast cancer when the mutant allele is inherited under the dominant pattern (CC/AC vs AA; OR = 2.74, 95% IC (1.09-6.87); p = .028), but this association became insignificant after the Bonferroni correction (p = .156). No association was observed between ERCC1rs3212986 and ERCC2rs1799793 polymorphisms and breast cancer risk. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the heterozygous genotype (CA) of the ERCC2rs13181 polymorphism may be associated with a risk of breast cancer.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and its association with HIV, HCV, HBV, HTLV-1&2 and syphilis among men who have sex with men in Burkina Faso.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to estimate herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) seroprevalence and its association with HIV, HBV, HCV, HTLV-1&2 and syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, West Africa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We screened MSM sera for HSV-2 antibodies. A total of 329 sera were collected from an HIV and syphilis behavioral and biological cross-sectional survey conducted among MSM in Ouagadougou from January to April 2013. Serum samples were tested using Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA) for the detection of IgG antibodies to HSV-2. Also, antibodies to HTLV-1&2, HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies were screened by ELISA. Laboratory assays were performed according to manufacturers' instructions at the Biomedical Research Laboratory at the "Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Sante" (IRSS) in Burkina Faso. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of HSV-2 infection among MSM was 14.3%(95% CI: 10.6-18.1), with disparities according to age and occupation. HSV-2 seroprevalence was high among MSM who were seropositive for HIV (40% versus 13.9%), for syphilis (42.9% versus 13.3%), for HCV (32.5% versus 11.7%) and for HTLV-1&2 (38.5% versus 12.9%) compared to people seronegative for these pathogens. Multivariate analysis showed that HIV-positive (ORa â€‹= â€‹5.34, p â€‹= â€‹0.027), anti-HCV-positive (ORa â€‹= â€‹4.44, p â€‹= â€‹0.001), and HTLV-1&2 positive (aOR â€‹= â€‹4.11, p â€‹= â€‹0.046) were associated with HSV-2 infection among MSM. However, no significant statistical association between HSV-2 and syphilis was found. CONCLUSION: HSV-2 seroprevalence among MSM in Burkina Faso is relatively high. Positive associations between sexual transmitted infections including HIV with HSV-2 suggest that HSV-2 infection's prevention should be strengthened through HIV transmission control programs.

Carriage of mutations R462Q (rs 486907) and D541E (rs 627928) of the RNASEL gene and risk factors in patients with prostate cancer in Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (Pca) is a public health problem that affects men, usually of middle age or older. It is the second most common cancer diagnosed in men and the fifth leading cause of death. The RNASEL gene located in 1q25 and identified as a susceptibility gene to hereditary prostate cancer, has never been studied in relation to prostate cancer in Burkina Faso. The aim of this study was to analyze the carriage of RNASEL R462Q and D541E mutations and risks factors in patients with prostate cancer in the Burkina Faso. METHODS: This case-control study included of 38 histologically diagnosed prostate cancer cases and 53 controls (cases without prostate abnormalities). Real-time PCR genotyping of R462Q and D541E variants using the TaqMan® allelic discrimination technique was used. Correlations between different genotypes and combined genotypes were investigated. RESULTS: The R462Q variant was present in 5.3% of cases and 7.5% of controls. The D541E variant was present in 50.0% of cases and 35% of controls. There is no association between R462Q variants (OR = 0.60; 95%IC, 0.10-3.51; p = 0.686) and D541E variants (OR = 2.46; 95%IC, 0.78-7.80; p = 0.121) and genotypes combined with prostate cancer. However, there is a statistically significant difference in the distribution of cases according to the PSA rate at diagnosis (p ˂ 0.001). For the Gleason score distribution, only 13.2% of cases have a Gleason score greater than 7. There is a statistically significant difference in the Gleason score distribution of cases (p ˂ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These variants, considered in isolation or in combination, are not associated with the risk of prostate cancer.

BRCA1, BRCA2, TP53, PIK3CA, PTEN and AKT1 genes mutations in Burkina Faso breast cancer patients: prevalence, spectrum and novel variant.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the two most commonly mutated tumor suppressor genes associated with hereditary breast cancer (BC). Also, mutations in TP53, PIK3CA, PTEN and AKT1 were observed at a high frequency in BC with their mutation spectrum exhibiting a subgroup particularity with enormous clinical significance in the prevention, classification and treatment of cancers. Unfortunately, the mutation spectrum of these genes is still unknown in most Sub-Saharan African population. Therefore, using samples from 133 unselected BC patients, we aimed to assess the contribution of these mutations by direct Sanger sequencing. The analysis revealed pathogenic germline variants on BRCA1 exon 11 (c.3331C > T, 0.75%) and BRCA2 exon 11 (c.5635G > T, c.6211delA; 1.5%). Five other pathogenic variants were identified in 61 of the 133 subjects (45.86%), with 39.09% for PIK3CA, 12.78% for TP53. Interestingly, a variant in PIK3CA found in high frequency in our population was different from the one usually found in other populations (c.1634A > C, 38.34%), and four patients carried mutations linked to Cowen Syndrome 5 c.[1634A > C;1658_1659delGTinsC]. A novel variant (c.312G > T) was found in TP53 gene at 12.78%. Overall, mutation carriers were found more in Her2 negative and in patients that underwent surgery and chemotherapy. No pathogenic variant was found in PTEN and AKT1. Our population displayed a high frequency of PIK3CA mutations with an unusual distribution and spectrum as well as a relatively low prevalence of BRCA mutations. Our results provided novel data on an unstudied population and may help in prevention, and the establishment of suitable therapeutic approaches for our population.

Mutations in exon 11 (11.1 and 11.2) of the BRCA1 gene and risk factors for breast cancer in Burkina Faso.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women in both developed and developing countries. It is multifactorial, including genetic predispositions such as oncogenic mutations on BRCA1 and 2 genes. The objectives of the present study were to identify oncogenic mutations in exon 11 of the BRCA1 gene and to determine the risk factors for breast cancer among women population in Burkina Faso. This study involved 100 women, including 50 cases of breast cancer and 50 controls (no clinical signs and no family history of breast cancer or other cancers). Mutations in the BRCA1 gene were detected by PCR using sequence primers specific for exon 11 fragments (11.1 and 11.2). In our study population, age (OR=22.40; CI: 4.33-115.82; p<0.001) and obesity (OR=4.23; CI: 1.64-10.92; p=0.003) were risk factors while multiparity was a protective factor for breast cancer (OR=0.35; CI: 0.15-0.81; p=0.02). A mutation was found on both fragments 11.1 and 11.2 of the BRCA1 gene exon 11 in 04/50 (8.0 %) of patients. No mutations were observed in controls. The present study revealed high frequency of oncogenic mutations in exon 11 fragments (11.1 and 11.2) of the BRCA1 gene. These mutations on exon 11 are and involved in the occurrence of breast cancer in our population. Age and obesity were also risk factors for breast cancer among women population in Burkina Faso.

Performance of Molecular Tests in the Diagnosis of Syphilis From 2009 to 2019: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Syphilis continues to be a public health problem, and its diagnosis still has limitations. Molecular diagnosis provides an alternative for rapid and effective management. The objective is to determine the accuracy of tests in the molecular diagnosis of syphilis. METHODS: We searched PubMed and Web of Sciences for articles related to molecular detection of syphilis from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2019. The bivariate Reitsma model and the hierarchical receiver operating characteristic curve model were used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of molecular tests at a 95% confidence interval. A subgroup meta-analysis was performed to explore sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Forty-seven articles were identified for qualitative synthesis, of which 23 met the inclusion criteria for meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivities in conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR were 77.52 (59.50-89.01) and 68.43 (54.96-79.39), respectively. The pooled specificities were 98.00 (90.73-99.59) and 98.84 (97.55-99.46), respectively. Ulcer samples had a better performance (sensitivity of 79.88 [69.00-87.62] and specificity of 98.58 [97.25-99.27]), and the major target genes were the polymerase A gene and tpp47 gene. CONCLUSIONS: Our work showed that conventional PCR was more widely used than real-time PCR in the diagnosis of syphilis, and ulcers were the best specimens. Sample types and target genes are factors that may influence the quality of the different tests. These results could provide evidence for further work in the direction of providing a more efficient diagnostic test.

Seroprevalence, Genotyping, and Monitoring of Hepatitis C Viral Loads in Patients on Antivirals in Burkina Faso.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a major public health problem worldwide. In Burkina Faso, nearly 720,000 people are living with HCV, and each year about 900 people die from complications of cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. This study was planned to determine the HCV seroprevalence, characterize circulating genotypes, and monitor HCV viral loads in patients under treatment with antivirals. METHODS: A total of 4,124 individuals and 167 patients in the pre-therapy program were recruited. The "SD Bioline HCV" kit was used for rapid screening of anti-HCV antibodies. Viral load and genotyping were performed in 167 HCV patients on antivirals using the "Iontek HCV Quant" and "Iontek genotyping" kits. RESULTS: Prevalence of HCV was 1.65% (68/4,124), and the median viral load of participants was 5.37 log10/mL (1.32-7.67 log10/mL). Genotype 2 was predominant with a frequency of 86.23% (144/167) and appeared to be more active with higher viral load compared to 13.77% (23/167) for genotype 1 (p < 0.001). After 24 weeks of pan-genotypic direct-acting antivirals, such as sofosbuvir/daclatasvir and sofosbuvir/velpatasvir, the viral loads of all patients became undetectable. CONCLUSION: The responses to antivirals by the circulating genotypes indicate that the results are very satisfactory. Therefore, the prevalence of HCV in the population can be reduced through identification of cases and treatment.

Carriage of Ser217Leu and Ala541Thr Variants of ELAC2 Gene and Risk Factors in Patients with Prostate Cancer in Burkina Faso.

Background: Genetic factors are one of the significant contributors to prostate cancer (PCa) development, and hereditary prostate cancer 2 (HPC2) locus gene ELAC2 is considered a PCa susceptibility region. The HPC2/ELAC2 gene has been identified by linkage analysis in familial prostate cancer patients in the United States but has never been studied in Burkina Faso. The objective of the present study was to analyze the carriage of the C650T (Ser217Leu) and G1621A (Ala541Thr) mutations of the ELAC2 gene and the risk factors in prostate cancer patients in Burkina Faso. Methods: This case-control study included 76 participants, including 38 histologically confirmed prostate cancer cases and 38 healthy controls without prostate abnormalities. PCR combined with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was used to characterize the genotypes of the Ser217Leu and Ala541Thr polymorphisms of the ELAC2 gene. The correlations between the different genotypes and risk factors for prostate cancer were investigated. Results: The C650T mutation was present in 44.73% of prostate cancer cases and 47.37% of controls. The G1621A mutation was present in 26.32% of prostate cancer cases and 15.79% of controls. We did not detect an association between prostate cancer risk and the Ser217Leu (p=0.972) and Ala541Thr (p=0.267) variants of the ELAC2 gene. Also, the two ELAC2 SNPs did not correlate with clinical stage, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level at diagnosis, or the Gleason score on biopsies. However, we found that 100% of homozygous carriers of the T650 mutation have an A1621 mutation (p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: Ser217Leu and Ala541Thr polymorphisms of ELAC2, considered alone or in combination, are not associated with prostate cancer risk.

COVID-19: profil virologique et clinique des patients diagnostiqués dans deux laboratoires à Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso / COVID-19: Virological and clinical profile of patients diagnosed in two laboratories in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Contexte/objectif : La maladie à coronavirus (COVID-19) est une maladie émergente, dont l'agentpathogène est le virus du syndrome respiratoire aigu sévère dû au coronavirus 2 (SRAS-CoV-2). L'objectif de cette étudeétait de décrire le profil virologique et clinique des patients diagnostiqués dans deux laboratoires. Matériels et méthodes : Il s'est agi d'uneétude descriptive avec collecte rétrospective de données des patients atteints de COVID-19, qui a couvert la période du 04 avril au 31 décembre 2020. Le test de khi deux et le test exact de Fisher sont les tests statistiques utilisées. Résultats : Au total, 28 872 échantillons ont été testés dans les deux laboratoires. L'étude arévélé 1965 cas positifs soit 6, 80% (63 % hommes et 37,05 % femmes). La tranche d'âge de 20 à 50 ans représentait 68,68 %. La province de la capitale a enregistré autant le plus grand nombre d'échantillons (26277 soit91,00%) que le plus grand nombre des cas positifs (91,15%). Les manifestations cliniques étaient dominées par la toux 68,42%, la fatigue générale (43,86%), les céphalées (43,86%), l'écoulement nasal (40,93%), la fi èvre (39,18%). Les comorbidités les plus fréquentes étaient l'hypertension artérielle (HTA) et le diabète. Conclusion: Cette étude a montré unepopulation jeune testée. La capitale (Ouagadougou) a enregistré le plus grand nombre de demandeurs de tests et de cas positifs. La toux était la principale manifestation clinique. Les patients avec comorbidités dont l'HTA et le diabète ont été les plus nombreux a effectué le test

Background/Purpose. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an emerging disease, whose pathogen is the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus due to coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The objective of this study was to describe the virological and clinical profile of patients diagnosed in two laboratories. Methods. This was a descriptive study with retrospective data collection of patients with COVID-19, which covered the period from 04 April to 31 December 2020. Chisquare test and Fisher's exact test were used as statistical tests. Results. A total of 28,872 samples were tested in the two laboratories. The study revealed 1965 positive cases or 6, 80% (63% male and 37.05% female). The age group 20-50 years represented 68.68%. The capital province recorded both the largest number of samples (26277 or 91.00%) and the largest number of positive cases (91.15%). Clinical manifestations were dominated by cough 68.42%, general fatigue (43.86%), headache (43.86%), nasal discharge (40.93%), fever (39.18%). The most frequent comorbidities were arterial hypertension (AH) and diabetes. Conclusion. This study showed a young population tested. The capital (Ouagadougou) recorded the highest number of testers and positive cases. Cough was the main clinical manifestation. Patients with comorbidities including hypertension and diabetes were the most numerous to be tested

Carriage of HLA-DRB1*11 and 1*12 alleles and risk factors in patients with breast cancer in Burkina Faso.

Several factors contribute to the development of breast cancer, including the immune system. This study is aimed to characterize the carriage of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1*11 and 1*12 alleles in patients with breast cancer. This case-control study consisted of 96 histologically diagnosed breast cancer cases and 102 controls (cases without breast abnormalities). A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to characterize the carriage of HLA-DRB1*11 and 1*12 alleles. The HLA-DRB1*11 allele was present in 26.59% of cases and 22.55% of controls. The HLA-DRB1*12 allele was present in 56.63% of cases and 55.88% of controls. This study found no direct association between the carriage of the HLA-DRB1*11 and HLA-DRB1*12 alleles and the occurrence of breast cancer. In addition, the deletion of the HLA-DRB1*11 allele is associated (beneficial effect) with obesity/overweight (OR = 0.13; 95% CI [0.01-1.14]; and p = 0.03) which is a risk for breast cancer. No direct association was found between the carriage of HLA-DRB1*11 and 1*12 alleles and breast cancer risk. However, further investigation of other HLA alleles involved in the occurrence of breast cancer may provide more information.

Effects of extracts and molecules derived from medicinal plants of West Africa in the prevention and treatment of gynecological cancers. A Review.

Medicinal plants are a potential source of drug discovery and development of new pharmacological compounds for cancer chemoprevention. More than 80% of the West African population uses medicinal plants. It is estimated that over 60% of approved anti-cancer agents are derived from plants. The plant raw material used in African traditional medicine and particularly in West Africa can be an important source for the research of anti-tumor drugs against gynecological cancers. These tumors have a negative impact on women's general health status and causes enormous health costs as they affect all age groups. Gynecological cancers remain thus a major concern worldwide, especially in West Africa where these cancers are the leading cause of cancer deaths in women. This review reports on the contribution of West African flora to the discovery of potential antiproliferative and/or cytotoxic phytochemical compounds against gynecological cancer cells. Scientific databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus and GoogleScholar were used to extract publications reporting West African plants and/or isolated compounds used in cell models of gynecological cancers. Thresholds of cytotoxicity and modes of action of these phytochemicals have been summarized. This research can serve as a basis for taking medicinal plants into account in the management of these gynecological cancers in resource-limited countries such as those in West Africa.

Pharmacological Modulation of Steroid Activity in Hormone-Dependent Breast and Prostate Cancers: Effect of Some Plant Extract Derivatives.

: The great majority of breast and prostate tumors are hormone-dependent cancers; hence, estrogens and androgens can, respectively, drive their developments, making it possible to use pharmacological therapies in their hormone-dependent phases by targeting the levels of steroid or modulating their physiological activity through their respective nuclear receptors when the tumors relapse. Unfortunately, at some stage, both breast and prostate cancers become resistant to pharmacological treatments that aim to block their receptors, estrogen (ER) or androgen (AR) receptors, respectively. So far, antiestrogens and antiandrogens used in clinics have been designed based on their structural analogies with natural hormones, 17-ß estradiol and dihydrotestosterone. Plants are a potential source of drug discovery and the development of new pharmacological compounds. The aim of this review article is to highlight the recent advances in the pharmacological modulation of androgen or estrogen levels, and their activity through their cognate nuclear receptors in prostate or breast cancer and the effects of some plants extracts.

Genetic analysis and population structure of the Anopheles gambiae complex from different ecological zones of Burkina Faso.

The Anopheles gambiae complex (Diptera: Culicidae) is the most important vector for malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa, besides other vectors such as Anopheles funestus. Malaria vector control should encompass specific identification, genetic diversity and population structure of An. gambiae to design vector control strategies. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of sibling species of the An. gambiae complex according to climatic regions related to cotton-growing or cotton-free areas by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Then, variation in mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) was used to assess the genetic structure within and between populations from our selected ecological zones. At the sibling species level, the following proportions were found across all samples (n = 180): An. coluzzii 65.56%, An. gambiae stricto sensu (s.s). 21.11%, and An. arabiensis 3.33%. Hybrids between An. gambiae s.s. and An. coluzzii (7.78%) and hybrids between An. coluzzii and An. arabiensis (2.22%) were found. The phylogenetic tree and Integer Neighbour-Joining (IntNJ) haplotype network did not reveal any distinct genetic structure pattern related to climatic or agricultural conditions in Burkina Faso. The Fst (Wright's F-statistic) values close to zero showed a free gene flow and no differentiation in An. gambiae complex populations. Furthermore, neutrality indices calculated by Tajima's D, Fu and Li's D⁎, Fu and Li's F⁎, Fu's Fs tests suggested an excess of rare mutations in the populations. Overall, variation in the proportions of An. gambiae s.s., An. coluzzii and An. arabiensis was found according to climatic regions, but COI analysis did not evidence any population structuring of the An. gambiae complex. These scientific contributions can be used as a basis for further in-depth study of the genetic diversity of the An. gambiae complex for epidemiological risk assessment of malaria in Burkina Faso.