Prevalence and Prognostic Value of HPV among Tunisian Patients with Laryngeal Cancer and Relationship between DNA HPV and p16, IGF-1R, Survivin, p53 Expressions.

Objectives: Tobacco and alcohol are the main etiological factors common to laryngeal cancers. However, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) constitutes an alternative risk factor according to several studies. In Tunisia, despite the annual increasing incidence of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), the prevalence and prognostic significance of HPV have never been explored.

Effect of Hypericum humifusum aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts on biochemical and histological parameters in adult rats.

Hypericum genus is traditionally known for its medicinal use and its therapeutic and antioxidant effects. However, the toxic effect of this plant has not been much explored. Our study aimed at investigating the effect of Hypericum humifusum (Hh) leaf extracts on oxidative stress parameters in male rats.

Comparative study of two complementary proliferation markers in 200 breast carcinomas: Ki67 and mitotic index.

Background: The evaluation of the proliferation in the mammary carcinomas provides useful prognostic and predictive information for subsequent management. The purely morphological evaluation of proliferative activity was represented by the evaluation of mitotic index. New analytical methods were gradually developed and performed.

Chronic consumption of Hypericum humifusum leaf extracts impairs epididymis spermatozoa characters in association with oxidative stress in adult male Wistar rats.

Recently, there has been increasing interest in Hypericum (Hypericaceae) genus. The first part of the present study focused on the phytochemical analysis of the methanolic and aqueous extracts of Hypericum humifusum leaves. The second part of the study investigated the effect of Hypericum humifusum leaf extracts on male reproductive parameters.

Comparative study of two complementary proliferation markers in 200 breast carcinomas: Ki67 and mitotic index.

Background: The evaluation of the proliferation in the mammary carcinomas provides useful prognostic and predictive information for subsequent management. The purely morphological evaluation of proliferative activity was represented by the evaluation of mitotic index. New analytical methods were gradually developed and performed.

Mucinous breast carcinoma a rare entity to be known: clinico-pathological study of 48 cases.

Background: Mucinous carcinoma is a particular type of breast cancer characterized by the presence of extracellular mucin and is linked with a more favorable prognosis than invasive breast carcinoma of no special type. It accounts for 1 to 7% of all breast cancers. We propose in this work to study at first the clinic-pathological characteristics and the evolution of 48 cases of mucinous carcinomas.

Expression profile of biomarkers altered in papillary and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: Contribution of Tunisian patients.

Aims: The objective of this study was to compare the protein expression profile between well-differentiated (papillary) and undifferentiated (anaplastic) thyroid carcinoma in Tunisian patients.

Methods: This first Tunisian retrospective study concerned data of 38 thyroid cancer cases (19 papillary carcinoma PTC and 19 anaplastic carcinoma ATC) collected at Salah Azaiez Institute of Tunisia. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate tumor expression of different molecular markers (p53, Ki67, E-cadherin, cyclin D1, bcl2, S100 and Her-2).

Screening for common mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes: interest in genetic testing of Tunisian families with breast and/or ovarian cancer.

Background: In the Tunisian population, as yet a limited number of BRCA1/2 germline mutations have been reported in hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer. These mutations are located in a few exons of BRCA1/2. The aim of the present study was to search for these mutations in 66 unrelated patients with hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer in order to assess the interest in such a targeted approach for genetic testing in Tunisia.

Grape seed and skin extract alleviates high-fat diet-induced renal lipotoxicity and prevents copper depletion in rat.

Obesity is a public health problem that contributes to morbidity and mortality from diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancers. The purpose of this investigation was to analyse the link between obesity-induced oxidative stress, renal steatosis, and kidney dysfunction, as well as the protective effect of grape seed and skin extract. Rats were fed a standard diet or a high-fat diet for 6 weeks and were either treated or not treated with grape seed and skin extract.

Effects of garlic fractions consumption on male reproductive functions.

Many researchers have focused on the preventive and curative effects of garlic (Allium sativum), particularly on cardiovascular diseases and cancer. However, its impacts on the male reproductive system have not been clearly defined. In this study, the effect of chronic consumption of two garlic fractions was tested: one soluble in water (aqueous solution obtained by grinding and centrifugation) and the other one precipitated by ethanol (alcoholic precipitate obtained by precipitation of the aqueous solution), on different variables of male rats' reproductive functions.

Descriptive analysis of molecular subtypes in Tunisian breast cancer.

Aim: The objective is to report the correlation between pathology and molecular subtype classifications of breast cancer in Tunisian women.

Methods: This retrospective study concerned data of 966 breast cancer cases collected from 2007 to 2009 at Salah Azaiz Institute of Tunis. These cases were classified by an immunohistochemistry test for estrogen and progesterone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status in the four molecular subtypes, namely luminal A, luminal B, HER2+ and triple negative.

Complementary determination of Epstein-Barr virus DNA load and serum markers for nasopharyngeal carcinoma screening and early detection in individuals at risk in Tunisia.

Because nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has a close association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), measuring serum EBV DNA and anti-EBV serum marker concentrations could be a feasible method for NPC diagnosis, monitoring and probably screening especially in a community at risk. The aim of this study was to determine the EBV pattern in sporadic NPC and in high risk NPC Tunisian families in order to evaluate their risk factors and help for NPC screening. The rates of anti-EBV antibodies and EBV DNA were determined in the serum of 47 healthy members randomly selected from 23 NPC multiplex families with two or more affected members, 93 healthy Tunisian community controls chosen with the same age, sex and geographic origin as unaffected individuals and 66 EBV positive sporadic NPC patients whose serum was available before and after treatment.

[Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the larynx: a case report].

Background: Inflammatory myofibroblatic tumor is a recently caracterized solid mesenchymal tumor. They are frequently localised in the lung. However, the head and neck forms are uncommon.

Protective effects of crude garlic by reducing iron-mediated oxidative stress, proliferation and autophagy in rats.

The impact of garlic, known for its antioxidant activities, on iron metabolism has been poorly investigated. The aim of this work was to study the effect of crude garlic pre-treatment on iron-mediated lipid peroxidation, proliferation and autophagy for 5 weeks. Rats were fed distilled water or garlic solution (1 g/kg body weight) by gavage for the first 3 weeks as pre-treatment and received a basal diet supplemented or not with ferrous sulfate (650 mg Fe/kg diet) for the last 2 weeks of treatment.

Head and neck liposarcomas: a 32 years experience.

Objective: The aim of this review is to study natural history, presentation, treatment and prognosis of head and neck liposarcomas.

Methods: We carry a retrospective study about 15 patients diagnosed and treated in our department between 1969 and 2001. Therapeutic modalities included surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

46 XY pure gonadal dysgenesis with gonadoblastoma and dysgerminoma.

Background: Swyer syndrome is a distinct type of pure gonadal dysgenesis characterized by a 46 XY karyotype in female phenotypic patients. It shows an abnormality in testicular differentiation. It is usually revealed by primary amenorrhea.

Prognostic evaluation of p53, heat shock protein 70, Ki67, and CD34 expression in cancer of the tongue in Tunisia.

Objectives: Oral tongue cancer remains an aggressive tumour in Tunisia, and patients often present with locally advanced disease, leading to high mortality. The molecular pathway of its tumorigenesis is not yet understood. This study aimed to assess the biologic significance of p53, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), Ki67, and CD34 and their influence on survival in patients with tongue cancer.

Breast cancer in Tunisia in 2004: a comparative clinical and epidemiological study.

The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological, clinical and anatomopathological aspects of breast cancer in Tunisia. We censored and analyzed all cases of breast cancer newly diagnosed in Tunisia during the year 2004. During that year, 1437 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed and 35 cases of non invasive breast cancer.