Association of mutation and expression of the brother of the regulator of imprinted sites (BORIS) gene with breast cancer progression

INTRODUCTION

The BORIS, 11 zinc-finger transcription factors, is a member of the cancer-testis antigen (CTA) family. It is mapped to chromosome number 20q13.2 and this region is genetically linked to the early onset of breast cancer. The current study analyzed the correlation between BORIS mutations and the expression of the protein in breast cancer cases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A population-based study including a total of 155 breast cancer tissue samples and an equal number of normal adjacent tissues from Indian female breast cancer patients was carried out. Mutations of the BORIS gene were detected by polymerase chain reaction-single standard confirmation polymorphisms (PCR-SSCP) and automated DNA sequencing and by immunohistochemistry for BORIS protein expression were performed. The observed findings were correlated with several clinicopathological parameters to find out the clinical relevance of associations.

RESULTS

Of all the cases 16.12% (25/155) showed mutations in the BORIS gene. The observed mutations present on codon 329 are missense, leading to Val> Ile (G>A) change on exon 5 of the BORIS gene. A significant association was observed between mutations of the BORIS gene and some clinicopathological features like nodal status (p = 0.013), estrogen receptor (ER) expression (p = 0.008), progesterone receptor (PR) expression (p = 0.039), clinical stage (p = 0.010) and menopausal status (p = 0.023). The protein expression analysis showed 20.64% (32/155) samples showing low or no expression (+), 34.19% (53/155) with moderate expression (++), and 45.17% (70/155) showing high expression (+++) of BORIS protein. A significant association was observed between the expression of BORIS protein and clinicopathological features like clinical stage (p = 0.013), nodal status (p = 0.049), ER expression (p = 0.039), and PR expression (p = 0.027). When mutation and protein expression were correlated in combination with clinicopathological parameters a significant association was observed in the category of high (+++) level of BORIS protein expression (p = 0.017).

CONCLUSION

The BORIS mutations and high protein expression occur frequently in carcinoma of the breast suggesting their association with the onset and progression of breast carcinoma. Further, the BORIS has the potential to be used as a biomarker.

Association of Superoxide Dismutase Level in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Several biomarkers involved in oxidative stress may influence polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) has been commonly identified as dismutase enzyme catalyzes the conversion of superoxide to hydrogen peroxide and elemental oxygen, and could serve as an important biomarker in this direction. The objective of the present study to determine the precise role of SOD levels in women with PCOS using a meta-analysis approach. The electronic databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Sciences, Clinical trial.gov, Cochrane Database of Systematic Review were searched for obtaining relevant studies on the association of SOD level in women with PCOS. Pooled standardized mean difference with 95% CI was computed using the DerSimonian and Liard method. A total of 267 articles were screened, out of which 12 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria of the present meta-analysis involving 558 cases and 529 controls. Analysis including overall studies observed a higher SOD level (statistically non-significant) in women with PCOS compared to controls (SMD 0.35, 95% Cl -0.91 to 1.62, P = 0.58), however, statistically significant higher SOD levels were noted in studies using serum as a source of sample (SMD 1.53, 95% CI 0.25 to 2.81, P = 0.019). In conclusion, women with PCOS exhibited increased SOD levels compared to controls suggesting that the byproduct of oxidative damage is expected to be increased in women with PCOS.

Utility of Certain π-Acceptors for the Spectrophotometric Determination of Hydralazine Hydrochloride

The interaction of hydralazine hydrochloride with picric acid (I), 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) (II), 2,4-dinitrobenzoic acid (III), bromanil (IV) and chloranil (V) was found to be useful for its spectrophotometric determination. The determination was carried out at 520, 510, 550, 540 and 535 nm for the reaction with (I), (II), (III), (IV) and (V), respectively. The effect of several variables on the colouring process was studied. The proposed methods have been applied successfully for the determination of hydralazine hydrochloride in pure samples and in pharmaceutical preparations with good accuracy and precision. The results were compared to those obtained by the official and pharmacopoeia1 methods. The linear ranges for obedience of Beer's law are up to 118, 54,639, 27.5 and 78.6 mg/l, Ringbom ranges are 13-100, 7.6-44.7, 77.4-445.0, 5.8-25.8 and 22.5-63.1 μg/ml, Detection limits are 4.8, 2.2, 18.4, 1.2 and 5.9 mg/l, and RSD 0.042, 0.037, 0.043, 0.013 and 0.073 for reactions of hydralazine hydrochloride with I, II, III, IV and V, respectively.

An evaluation of cefaclor in Pakistani children with pharyngotonsillitis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy, safety of cefaclor for the treatment of pharyngotonsillitis in Pakistani children.

METHOD

Pakistani children between the ages of two to twelve years and diagnosed with pharyngotonsillitis were eligible to participate in the study. Cefaclor was administered three times daily for a total dose of 20-40 mg/kg/day, depending on the severity of the infection, for 7 days. Patients were evaluated on the basis of symptomatic response and antibiotic susceptibility pattern as a result of bacteriological examination.

RESULTS

Based on observed pre-therapy signs/symptoms of infection with pharyngotonsillitis, 99% of patients (95% CI=94.9% to 100.0%) were reported as having a symptomatic response of Cure or Improvement by end of study. Group A b-haemolytic Streptococci was the most prevalent pathogen isolated pre-therapy (occurring in 45% of patients). Of all patients for whom this pathogen was isolated, 64% had complete eradication by end of therapy, while there was persistence or superinfection in 36% of patients. Only 9 occurrences of non-serious adverse events were observed among 7 of the 107 patients, including diarrhea (5), nausea (1), vomiting (1), rash (1) and stomatitis (1).

CONCLUSION

Based on the high symptomatic response rate of 99% and the positive safety data, cefaclor was found to be effective and safe in treating Pakistani children with pharyngotonsillitis.

A mild form of mucolipidosis type III in four Baluch siblings

Four Baluch siblings with mucolipidosis type III (pseudo-Hurler polydystrophy) are described. The patients had features commonly found in mucolipidosis III, including claw hands, joint stiffness, aortic valve involvement and radiological dysostosis multiplex. However, intelligence was normal, there were no eye abnormalities on slit-lamp examination and skin elasticity was normal. Many lysosomal enzymes were elevated in serum and diminished in cultured fibroblasts, although the findings for beta-galactosidase were atypical. Assays for the two enzymes involved in formation of the phosphomannose recognition marker revealed normal activity of the phosphotransferase with alpha-methylmannoside as an acceptor, and normal activity of the phosphodiester glycosidase. Metabolic labelling of fibroblasts with 32P followed by immunoprecipitation of cathepsin D, electrophoresis and fluorography showed that this enzyme was not labelled in the patients' cells, although some label was detected in the secreted precursor polypeptide. The data are consistent with the assumption that activity of the phosphotransferase is low towards lysosomal enzymes as substrates, and that the patients belong to complementation group C.