Histological Changes in Renal, Hepatic and Cardiac Tissues of Wistar Rats after 6 Weeks Treatment with Bipyridine Gold (III) Complex with Dithiocarbamate Ligands.

Bipyridine gold (III) dithiocarbamate compounds are Gold-III complexes with promising cytotoxic properties. In this study, the subacute toxicity of a Gold (III) complex with dithiocarbamate ligand was evaluated. In the acute toxicity component, an initial LD50 (38.46 mg/kg) was calculated by the administration of 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg of the compound to five groups of rats, respectively (n = 4 each). The sixth group was the control. The sub-acute toxicity component comprised the control group A (n = 6) and the study groups B (n = 10) and C (n = 4), which were administered 1 mL distilled water, 1/10 LD50 (3.8 mg/kg), and 1/5 LD50 (7.6 mg/kg), respectively, daily for 6 weeks. The alive animals were then sacrificed. Autopsy; preservation of renal, hepatic and cardiac tissue in buffered formalin; histopathological processing; microscopic evaluation; and comparison with the controls were sequentially conducted. In the subacute toxicity study at dosages of 3.8 mg/kg and 7.6 mg/kg, the renal tubules remained unaffected with no necrosis or vacuolization. Mild to moderate renal interstitial, hepatic capsular, lobular and portal inflammation along with mild focal hepatic vacuolization were present. At 3.8 mg/kg, the cardiac muscle fibers were unremarkable in 80% (n = 8) of the specimens, with mild focal hyalinization in 20% (n = 2) of the specimens. The same was observed in 50% (n = 2) of the specimens at 7.6 mg/kg. Variable congestion was evident in all of the groups. In the subacute toxicity study, the absence of renal tubular necrosis or vacuolization, the presence of mild inflammatory hepatic and renal alterations, and predominantly unremarkable cardiac muscle fibers suggest that Bipyridine gold (III)-dithiocarbamate is safe in animal studies and is a potential candidate for clinical trials.

Biological alterations in renal and hepatic tissues by a novel gold (III) anti-cancerous compound.

OBJECTIVES: Newer organo-metallic, specifically gold (III) complexes with multiple ligands are currently being formulated with primary focus of having increased anti-cancerous properties and decreased cytotoxicity. In this study, histological toxicity profile of a newly formulated anti-cancerous gold (III) compound [trans-(±)-1,2-(DACH)2Au]Cl3 Bis(trans-1,2-Diaminocyclohexane) was investigated by evaluation of kidney and liver tissues of rats treated by the compound. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a quasi-experimental study. In acute toxicity component of the study, (n = 16) male rats weighing between 200-250 g were administered single, variable concentration of the gold (III) compound, [trans-(±)-1,2-(DACH)2Au]Cl3 Bis(trans-1,2-Diaminocyclohexane) to determine LD50 (dose that is lethal to 50% of rats). An IP injection of 2.3 mg/kg (equivalent to 1/10 of LD50) was injected for 14 consecutive days to (n=10) male rats in the sub-acute component of the study. Autopsy preservation of liver and kidney tissue in buffered formalin, sample processing, histopathological evaluation, and comparison with unremarkable controls (n=5) was conducted sequentially. RESULTS: A dose of 2.3 mg/kg did not produce any tubular necrosis in kidney specimens. Mild interstitial inflammation with prominence of plasma cells was the main histological alteration. Plasmacytic pyelitis was also seen. Varying extents of cytoplasmic vacuolization and mild focal lobular and portal inflammation were predominant hepatic microscopic findings. CONCLUSION: [trans-(±)-1,2-(DACH)2Au]Cl3 Bis(trans-1,2-Diaminocyclohexane) produced no histological damage in renal and hepatic tissues of rats. This very limited sample animal-based study points to the relative safety of this new gold compound. However, there is a need to compare this compound with established drugs in a comparative non-animal based study.

Incorporation of p-53 mutation status and Ki-67 proliferating index in classifying Her2-neu positive gastric adenocarcinoma.

Her2-neu overexpression has a pathogenetic, therapeutic and a controversial prognostic role in gastric cancer. p-53 mutation status and Ki-67 proliferation index are established prognostic markers in many tumors. In this study we evaluated p-53 and Ki-67 in relation to Her2-neu positive and negative gastric adenocarcinoma (GA). This cross-sectional study was carried out at King Fahd Hospital of Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University. Fifty cases of GA were retrieved from pathology archives. Clinico-pathological parameters were evaluated. Immunohistochemical protein analysis for Her2-neu, Ki-67 and p-53 was carried out. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis was done for Her2-neu positive cases showing 2+ immunoexpression. Frequency of Ki-67 and p-53 positivity in Her2-neu positive cases was calculated and compared with those in Her2-neu negative cases. Correlation of clinicopatological parameters with Her2 positive and negative cases, p-53 mutation status and Ki-67 proliferation index was carried out. Her2-neu overexpression was present in 12% (n = 6) cases. A high Ki-67 was seen predominantly in Her2-neu positive cases (83%, n = 5). Her2-neu negative cases (n = 44) showed moderate (31.88%, n = 14) to low (34%, n = 15) Ki-67. Diffuse p-53 positivity was seen predominantly in Her2-neu positive cases (33.33%, n = 2). Focal p-53 was seen mainly in Her2-neu negative cases 56.8% (n = 25). Negative p-53 was seen to be independent of Her2-neu status. Her2-neu positivity is strongly associated with diffuse p-53 mutation status and high Ki-67 proliferation. Her 2-neu negative status is associated with focal p-53 positivity and low to moderate Ki-67 proliferation index. Such stratifications in prognostic markers could not only be predictive in patient's prognostics but could also form a basis of molecular classification of gastric cancer.

Authorship: Few Myths and Misconceptions.

This article seeks to address and dispel some of the popular myths and misconceptions surrounding authorship of a scientific publication as this is often misconstrued by beginners in academia especially those in the developing world. While ethical issues in publishing related to authorship have been increasingly discussed, not much has been written about the myths and misconceptions of who might be an author. Dispelling these myths and misconceptions would go a long way in shaping the thoughts and plans of students, junior faculty and researchers in academia especially in the developing world.

The spectrum of genetic mutations in breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women around the world. About one in 12 women in the West develop breast cancer at some point in life. It is estimated that 5%-10% of all breast cancer cases in women are linked to hereditary susceptibility due to mutations in autosomal dominant genes. The two key players associated with high breast cancer risk are mutations in BRCA 1 and BRCA 2. Another highly important mutation can occur in TP53 resulting in a triple negative breast cancer. However, the great majority of breast cancer cases are not related to a mutated gene of high penetrance, but to genes of low penetrance such as CHEK2, CDH1, NBS1, RAD50, BRIP1 and PALB2, which are frequently mutated in the general population. In this review, we discuss the entire spectrum of mutations which are associated with breast cancer.

Novel KRAS gene mutations in sporadic colorectal cancer.

INTRODUCTION: In this article, we report 7 novel KRAS gene mutations discovered while retrospectively studying the prevalence and pattern of KRAS mutations in cancerous tissue obtained from 56 Saudi sporadic colorectal cancer patients from the Eastern Province. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cancerous and noncancerous colorectal tissues. Successful and specific PCR products were then bi-directionally sequenced to detect exon 4 mutations while Mutector II Detection Kits were used for identifying mutations in codons 12, 13 and 61. The functional impact of the novel mutations was assessed using bioinformatics tools and molecular modeling. RESULTS: KRAS gene mutations were detected in the cancer tissue of 24 cases (42.85%). Of these, 11 had exon 4 mutations (19.64%). They harbored 8 different mutations all of which except two altered the KRAS protein amino acid sequence and all except one were novel as revealed by COSMIC database. The detected novel mutations were found to be somatic. One mutation is predicted to be benign. The remaining mutations are predicted to cause substantial changes in the protein structure. Of these, the Q150X nonsense mutation is the second truncating mutation to be reported in colorectal cancer in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: Our discovery of novel exon 4 KRAS mutations that are, so far, unique to Saudi colorectal cancer patients may be attributed to environmental factors and/or racial/ethnic variations due to genetic differences. Alternatively, it may be related to paucity of clinical studies on mutations other than those in codons 12, 13, 61 and 146. Further KRAS testing on a large number of patients of various ethnicities, particularly beyond the most common hotspot alleles in exons 2 and 3 is needed to assess the prevalence and explore the exact prognostic and predictive significance of the discovered novel mutations as well as their possible role in colorectal carcinogenesis.

Histological changes in kidney and liver of rats due to gold (III) compound [Au(en)Cl(2)]Cl.

INTRODUCTION: Development of novel metallodrugs with enhanced anti-proliferative potential and reduced toxicity has become the prime focus of the evolving medicinal chemistry. In this regards, gold (III) complexes with various ligands are being extensively investigated. In the current study renal and hepatic toxicity of a newly developed gold (III) compound [Au(en)Cl(2)]Cl was assessed by histopathological evaluation of liver and kidney specimens of rats exposed to the compound. METHODS: Male rats (n = 42) weighing 200-250 gram were injected single, varying doses of gold (III) compound [(dichlorido(ethylenediamine)aurate((III)]chloride [Au(en)Cl(2)]Cl in the acute toxicity component of the study. In the sub-acute toxicity part, a dose of 32.2 mg/kg (equivalent to 1/10 of LD50) was administered intraperitoneally for 14 consecutive days before sacrificing the animals. After autopsy, the renal and hepatic tissues were preserved in buffered formalin. Processing of the samples was followed by histopathological evaluation. The results were compared with the normal controls (n = 11). RESULTS: A dose of 32.2 mg/kg (1/10 of LD(50)) revealed no renal tubular necrosis. The predominant histopathological finding was mild pyelitis, a prominence of eosinophils and mild congestion. The hepatic lesions comprised varying extents of ballooning degeneration with accompanying congestion and focal portal inflammation. CONCLUSION: Gold (III) compound [Au(en)Cl(2)]Cl causes minimal histological changes in kidney and liver of rats, reflecting its relative safety as compared to other clinically established antineoplastic drugs.

Very low prevalence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein expression and gene amplification in Saudi breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancers which demonstrate EGFR protein expression, gene amplification and/or gene mutations may benefit therapeutically from tyrosine kinase inhibitors. In Western studies, EGFR protein expression has been demonstrated in 7-36% of breast cancer patients, while gene amplification has been found in around 6% of cases and mutations were either absent or extremely rare. Studies addressing EGFR protein expression and gene amplification in Saudi breast cancer patients are extremely scanty and the results reported have been mostly non-conclusive. Herein we report the prevalence of EGFR protein expression and gene amplification in a cohort of Saudi breast cancer patients. FINDINGS: We noticed a remarkably low incidence of EGFR protein expression (1.3%) while analyzing the spectrum of molecular subtypes of breast cancer in a Saudi population by immunohistochemistry. Also, EGFR gene amplification could not be demonstrated in any of 231 cases studied using silver enhanced in situ hybridization. CONCLUSIONS: The extremely low incidence of EGFR protein expression and gene amplification in Saudi breast cancer patients as compared to Western populations is most probably ethnically related as supported by our previous finding in the same cohort of a spectrum of molecular breast cancer types that is unique to the Saudi population and in stark contrast with Western and other regionally based studies. Further support to this view is provided by earlier studies from Saudi Arabia that have similarly shown variability in molecular breast cancer subtype distribution between Saudi and Caucasian populations as well as a predominance of the high-grade pathway in breast cancer development in Middle East women. More studies on EGFR in breast cancer are needed from different regions of Saudi Arabia before our assumption can be confirmed, however.

Preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab use as an adjuvant to diabetic vitrectomy: histopathologic findings and clinical implications.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of intervals between preoperative intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (IVB) and surgery on the components of removed diabetic fibrovascular proliferative membranes. DESIGN: Interventional, consecutive, prospective, comparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 52 eyes of 49 patients with active diabetic fibrovascular proliferation with complications necessitating vitrectomy. METHODS: Participant eyes that had IVB were divided into 8 groups in which vitreoretinal surgery was performed at days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, and 30 postinjection. A group of eyes with the same diagnosis and surgical intervention without IVB injection was used for comparison. In all eyes, proliferative membrane specimens obtained during vitrectomy were sent for histopathologic examination using hematoxylin-eosin stain, immunohistochemistry (CD34 and smooth muscle actin), and Masson's trichrome stain. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparative analysis of different components of the fibrovascular proliferation (CD34, smooth muscle actin, and collagen) among the study groups. RESULTS: Pan-endothelial marker CD34 expression levels starting from day 5 postinjection were significantly less than in the control group (P < 0.001), with minimum expression (1+) in all specimens removed at or after day 30 postinjection. Positive staining for smooth muscle actin was barely detected in the control eyes at day 1, and consistently intense at day 15 and beyond (P < 0.001). The expression level of trichrome staining was significantly high at day 10, compared with control eyes (P < 0.001), and continued to increase at subsequent surgical time points. CONCLUSIONS: A profibrotic switch was observed in diabetic fibrovascular proliferation after IVB, and our results suggest that at approximately 10 days post-IVB the vascular component of proliferation is markedly reduced, whereas the contractile components (smooth muscle actin and collagen) are not yet abundant.

Biological impact of vascular endothelial growth factor on vessel density and survival in multiple myeloma and plasmacytoma.

We compared the differences in a number of angiogenesis-related immunohistochemical parameters, including microvascular density (MVD) and tumor cell activity, between multiple myeloma (MM) and solitary plasmacytoma (SP). Tissue sections from tumors of MM and SP were immunohistochemically stained and analyzed using ImageJ image analysis software for the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptors (Flt-1 and Flk-1), inducible nitric oxide (iNOS), and anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) protein. Tumor tissues were cytologically graded as high-, intermediate-, or low-grade. Two pathologists determined the MVD of each section independently by recording the average number of CD34+ blood vessels in 500 unit fields. The arithmetic means for MVD were statistically analyzed using the Student's t-test and the significance level was calculated at P-value <0.001. The results indicate a direct correlation between upregulation of iNOS/VEGF in high-grade tumors. For MM, an increase in MVD is also correlated with a high-grade. Tumor survival signaling by Bcl-2 in both SP and MM emphasizes the fact that VEGF has a bimodal role that is mainly angiogenic in MM and tumorigenic, promoting tumor cell survival in SP.

Protein expression profile and prevalence pattern of the molecular classes of breast cancer--a Saudi population based study.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is not a single entity but a diverse group of entities. Advances in gene expression profiling and immunohistochemistry as its surrogate marker have led to the unmasking of new breast cancer molecular subtypes, resulting in the emergence of more elaborate classification systems that are therapeutically and prognostically more predictive. Molecular class distribution across various ethnic groups may also reveal variations that can lead to different clinical outcomes in different populations. METHODS: We aimed to analyze the spectrum of molecular subtypes present in the Saudi population. ER, PR, HER2, EGFR and CK5/6 were used as surrogate markers for gene expression profiling to classify 231 breast cancer specimens. Correlation of each molecular class with Ki-67 proliferation index, p53 mutation status, histologic type and grade of the tumor was also carried out. RESULTS: Out of 231 cases 9 (3.9%) were classified as luminal A (strong ER +ve, PR +ve or -ve), 37 (16%) as luminal B (weak to moderate ER +ve, and/or PR +ve), 40 (17.3%) as HER2+ (strong or moderately positive HER 2 with confirmation by silver enhanced in-situ hybridization) and 23 (10%) as basal (CK5/6 or EGFR +ve). Co-positivity of different markers in varied patterns was seen in 23 (10%) of cases which were grouped into a hybrid category comprising luminal B-HER2, HER2-basal and luminal-basal hybrids. Ninety nine (42.8%) of the tumors were negative for all five immunohistochemical markers and were labelled as unclassified (penta negative). A high Ki-67 proliferation index was seen in basal (p=0.007) followed by HER2+ class. Overexpression of p53 was predominantly seen in HER2+(p=0.001) followed by the basal group of tumors. A strong correlation was noted between invasive lobular carcinoma and hormone receptor expression with 8 out of 9 lobular carcinoma cases (88.9%) classifiable as luminal cancers. Otherwise, there was no association between the molecular class and the histologic type or grade of the tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Subtyping by use of this immunohistochemical panel revealed a prevalence pattern that is unique to our population; luminal tumors comprised only 19.9%, and the unclassified group (penta negative) 42.8%, a distribution which is distinctive to our population and in contrast with all Western studies. The presence of a predominant unclassified group also suggests that the currently used molecular analytic spectrum may not completely encompass all molecular classes and there is a need to further refine and develop the existing classification systems.

Distribution of molecular breast cancer subtypes in middle eastern-saudi arabian women: a pilot study.

Increasing evidence suggests the possibility of relevant molecular differences between cancers from different ethnic groups. This study uses gene expression profiling by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to identify "intrinsic" subtypes in a Saudi population of breast cancers and compares the distribution of subtypes to the more commonly profiled Caucasian population. In addition, the immunohistochemical profile of breast cancers was correlated to the gene expression analysis. Discrepancy rate of 39% in subtype prediction between gene expression and immunohistochemical profile of the tumors was noticed. Most of this variation was in the luminal subtype. Frequency of HER2+ subtype in the Saudi cases was high (28%) by both the immunohistochemistry (IHC) and the qRT-PCR classification. Triple-negative tumors comprised 39% while only 11% showed a basal-like profile. Analysis of larger cohort of patients is needed to determine the molecular taxonomy of breast cancer in the Saudi population and the benefits from the diagnostic classification developed in the West.

Saudi women in academic medicine. Are they succeeding?

OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this study is to assess the achievements and barriers to advancement for Saudi women in a medical academic setup. METHODS: We studied the career progression of female medical graduates, who were appointed an academic position in King Faisal University, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) between 1982 and 2003 and compared it to the male counterpart. The information was collected from the Dean's ship of admission and registration, employees and faculty affairs administration office, self completed and telephone surveys. RESULTS: The percentage of medical graduates who were appointed on an academic post in the University was 4.4% for females and 4% for males. The females specialized in various fields and progressed equitably with the males in their postgraduate studies. Academic promotion to higher ranks was slower for females in comparison to males. This was related to various reasons related to family responsibilities, social strains, lack of family friendly policies in the institutions, lack of mentoring relationship, and bias against females. CONCLUSION: Saudi women in academic medicine have succeeded at the junior level. They specialized in various fields and excelled. Their further academic progression needs the support of senior academic staff, the chairs and the institution administration.

Application of information and communication technologies in medical education.

The recognition that information and communication technologies should play an increasingly important role in medical education is a key to educating physicians in the 21(st) century. Computer use in medical education includes, Internet hypermedia/multimedia technologies, medical informatics, distance learning and telemedicine. Adaptation to the use of these technologies should ideally start from the elementary school level. Medical schools must introduce medical informatics courses very early in the medical curriculum. Teachers will need regular CME courses to prepare and update themselves with the changing circumstances. Our infrastructure must be prepared for the new developments with computer labs, basic skill labs, close circuit television facilities, virtual class rooms, smart class rooms, simulated teaching facilities, and distance teaching by tele-techniques. Our existing manpower including, doctors, nurses, technicians, librarians, and administration personal require hands-on training, while new recruitment will have to emphasize compulsory knowledge of and familiarity with information technology. This paper highlights these subjects in detail as a means to prepare us to meet the challenges of the 21(st) century.

Thyroid tuberculosis mimicking carcinoma: report of two cases.

Among 527 patients with thyroid disease who underwent surgery at our hospital during a 20-year period, 2 (0.4%) had tuberculous thyroiditis mimicking carcinoma. The first patient was a 44-year-old man with a solitary thyroid nodule and the second was a 24-year old man with a thyroid abscess. The unexpected diagnosis was made postoperatively and was based on histological findings in both patients. No primary focus was found elsewhere in either patient, and both responded to antituberculous chemotherapy. Although the diagnosis is usually based on examination of resected specimens, recent reports indicate that find-needle aspiration cytology is a cost-effective technique of diagnosing thyroid tuberculosis. A review of 35 cases reported in the English literature is also discussed.