Incidence analyses of bladder cancer in the Nile delta region of Egypt

Bladder cancer is the most common malignancy among Egyptian males and previously has been attributed to Schistosoma infection, a major risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Recently, transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) incidence has been increasing while SCC has declined. To investigate this shift, we analyzed the geographical patterns of all bladder cancers cases recorded in Egypt's Gharbiah Population-Based Cancer Registry from 1999 through 2002. Data on tumor grade, stage, and morphology, as well as smoking, community of residence, age and sex, were collected on 1209 bladder cancer cases. Age-adjusted incidence rates were calculated for males, females, and the total population for the eight administrative Districts and 316 communities in Gharbiah. Incidence Rate Ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed using Poisson Regression. The male age-adjusted incidence rate (IR) in Gharbiah Province was 13.65/100,000 person years (PY). The District of Kotour had the highest age-adjusted IR 28.96/100,000 among males. The District of Kotour also had the highest IRR among all Districts, IRR = 2.15 95% CI (1.72, 2.70). Kotour's capital city had the highest bladder cancer incidence among the 316 communities (IR = 73.11/100,000 PY). Future studies on sources and types of environmental pollution and exposures in relation to the spatial patterns of bladder cancer, particularly in Kotour District, may improve our understating of risk factors for bladder cancer in the region.     

The adenosine transporter,ENT1, in cardiomyocytes is sensitive to inhibition by ethanol in a kinase-dependent manner: implications for ethanol-dependent cardioprotection and nucleoside analog drug cytotoxicity

The adenosine transporter 1 (ENT1) transports nucleosides, such as adenosine, and cytotoxic nucleoside analog drugs. ENT1 is well established to play a role in adenosinergic signaling in the cardiovascular system by modulating adenosine levels. Moderate ethanol consumption is cardioprotective and underlying mechanisms of action are not clear although adenosinergic signaling has been implicated. Here, we show that ethanol (5–200 mM) significantly reduces ENT1-dependent [³H] 2-chloroadenosine uptake (by up to 27 %) in the cardiomyocyte cell line, HL-1. Inhibition or absence of ENT1 is known to be cardioprotective, suggesting that the interaction of ethanol with ENT1 may promote adenosinergic cardioprotective pathways in the cardiovasculature. Ethanol sensitivity of adenosine uptake is altered by pharmacological activation of PKA and PKC. Primary cardiomyocytes from PKCε-null mice have significantly greater sensitivity to inhibition (by approximately 37 %) of adenosine uptake by ethanol than controls. These data suggest that the presence of ethanol may compromise ENT1-dependent nucleoside analog drug cytotoxicity, and indeed, ethanol (5 mM) reduces the cytotoxic effects of gemcitabine (2 nM), an anti-cancer drug, in the human cancer cell line, HTB2. Thus, the pharmacological inhibition of ENT1 by ethanol may contribute to ethanol-dependent cardioprotection but compromise gemcitabine cytotoxicity.     

Neuroectodermal stem cells: A remyelinating potential in acute compressed spinal cord injury in rat model

The outcomes of compressed spinal cord injury (CSCI) necessitate radical treatment. The therapeutic potential of neuroectodermal stem cells (NESCs) in a rat model of CSCI in acute and subacute stages was assessed. White Wistar rat were divided into control, sham-operated, CSCI untreated model, CSCI grafted with NESCs at 1 day after CSCI, and at 7 days after CSCI. Primary NESC cultures were prepared from brains of embryonic day 10 (E10) mice embryos. NESCs were transplanted at the site of injury using a Hamilton syringe. Locomotor functional assessment, routine histopathology, immunostaining for (GFAP), and ultrastructure techniques for evaluating the CSI were conducted. In CSCI, areas of hemorrhage, cavitation, reactive astrocytosis, upregulated GFAP expression of immunostained areas, degeneration of the axoplasm and demyelination were observed. One day after grafting with NESCs, a decrease in astrocyte reaction and pathological features, quantitative and qualitative enhancement of remyelination and improved locomotor activity were observed. Treatment with NESCs at 7 days after CSCI did not mitigatethe reactive astrocytosis and glial scar formation that hindered the ability of the NESCs to enhance remyelination of axons. In conclusion, the microenvironment and time of NESCs transplantation affect activity of astrocytes and remyelination of axons.     

The attitudes of riparian communities to the presence of water hyacinth in the Wouri River Basin,Douala, Cameroon

Since publication of the first record of Eichhornia crassipes in Cameroon in 1997, the weed has become highly invasive in the Wouri River Basin. Between June and September 2014, a socio-economic survey using participatory and qualitative methods was undertaken in the riparian villages of the Wouri River Basin to assess the perception of respondents to the presence of water hyacinth. The survey revealed that water hyacinth was a significant threat to activities along the river, which included fishing, sand extraction and river transportation. The presence of water hyacinth mats reduced catch rates of several common fish species, river transportation by 75%, and significantly reduced the income for sand extraction. Cameroon employs manual clearing of water hyacinth; however, respondents indicated they would consider other control methods, provided they do not have any negative impacts.     

Diversity,phytochemical and medicinal potential of the genus Ocimum L. (Lamiaceae)

Phytochemistry Reviews - Ocimum, commonly known as Tulsi, is a huge genus within family Lamiaceae, comprising about 64 species of annual to perennial aromatic medicinal herbs with a long history of...     

Phenotyping and validation of molecular markers associated with rust resistance genes in wheat cultivars in Egypt

Molecular Biology Reports - Thirteen Egyptian wheat cultivars were evaluated and characterized for adult plant resistance to yellow, leaf, and stem rusts. SSR markers linked to yellow, leaf and...