The authors examined the associations between farming and the risk for squamous cell (SCC) or urothelial cell (UC) carcinoma of the urinary bladder among Egyptians. The authors used data from a multicenter case-control study (1,525 male and 315 female cases, and 2,069 male and 547 female age- and residence-matched, population-based controls) to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Men in farming and who never smoked had increased risk for either SCC or UC (AOR [95% CI]: 4.65 [2.59-8.36] and 6.22 [3.82-10.15], respectively). If they ever smoked, their risks were 2.27 (1.75-2.95) and 1.93 (1.58-2.35), respectively. Women in farmer households were at increased risk for SCC (1.40 [0.93-2.09] and UC [1.25 (0.82-1.89]), although not statistically significant. Occupational and environmental exposures to farming increased the risk for bladder cancer among Egyptians.

Although reports suggest that Schistosoma mansoni increases hepatitis C virus (HCV) morbidity and chronicity, its impact on HCV spontaneous resolution is not clear. HCV genotype, viral load, abdominal ultrasonographic findings, and HCV-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMI) were examined among 141 healthcare workers infected with HCV (68 workers with and 73 workers without S. mansoni). HCV genotype 4 was dominate, and viral loads were 2.62 ± 0.69 × 10(6) and 4.24 ± 1.4 × 10(6) IU/mL among patients with and without coinfection, respectively (P = 0.309); 23.5% with and 32.9% without coinfection had spontaneously resolved HCV infection (P = 0.297). Interferon-γ spot-forming cells/10(6) peripheral blood mononuclear cells among responding viremic patients with and without coinfection were 716 ± 194 and 587 ± 162, whereas among aviremic patients, it was 794 ± 272 and 365 ± 36 (P > 0.05), respectively. In conclusion, there was no statistical difference in HCV spontaneous resolution, viral load, liver pathology, or CMI in patients with or without S. mansoni coinfection, suggesting that it did not impact the outcome of HCV infection.

Background: Incidence of breast cancer in patients 40 years old accounts for 20% of the total breast cancer patients in Egypt which is quite higher than the incidence reported worldwide. This study was conducted to evaluate the differences in survival between age groups below and above the age of 40. Method: 170 patients 40 years and 500 patients ≥40 years were evaluated retrospectively to assess the differences in disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) between age groups after adjustment of other risk factors like stage, lymph node status, tumor size, and hormonal positivity. Results: After median follow up of 49 months, there was no significant difference between the 2 age groups with regards to DFS p= 0.6 and OS P=0.7 and there was no significant difference between the 2 groups when we stratified the patients according to stages, hormonal status and number of metastatic lymph nodes. However, we found significant increase in local recurrence after breast conserving surgery in patients 40 years compared to patients ≥40 years. Conclusion: Patients 40 years exhibited more often at advanced stage and large tumors size compared to patients ≥ 40 years; However, there was no significant difference in DFS and OS when we adjusted other risk factors. Furthermore, our analysis revealed that age 40 years can be considered as an adverse prognostic factor for the locoregional failure after breast conserving surgery. Keywords: breast cancer, young age, 40 years old, locoregional failure, DFS.

Cyclin D1 is involved in normal regulation of the cell cycle and in neoplasia. Inhibition of cyclin D1 function markedly attenuates the proliferation of fibroblasts of colon, esophageal, lung, and pancreatic cancer. However, the prognostic value of overexpression of cyclin D1 in multiple myeloma is still a point of debate. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of cyclin D1 gene amplification in multiple myeloma on overall survival and response to therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with multiple myeloma were retrospectively studied. Cyclin D1 gene amplification was studied in bone marrow biopsies of these patients using FISH. An immunohistochemical study of the bone marrow biopsies was done to detect MDR1 protein expression. The correlations between the cyclin D1 gene amplification and overall survival and MDR1 expression were studied and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Cyclin D1 gene amplification was found in 20% of myeloma patients and was associated with higher percentage of plasma cell infiltration of the bone marrow and increased liability for multiple osteolytic lesions. Cyclin D1-positive patients had a significantly lower progression-free and overall survival and higher levels of MDR1 compared with cyclin D1-negative patients. Cyclin D1 levels showed a highly statistically significant positive correlation with MDR1 levels (R, 0.8 and P .0001). CONCLUSION: We suggest that there is an association between cyclin D1 gene amplification and disease severity, unfavorable prognosis, and increased expression of MDR1 in multiple myeloma patients.

BACKGROUND: Despite 30 years of clinical research, we still do not know the optimal dose of intrathecal morphine (ITM) when used alone. OBJECTIVES: A safety investigation and comparison of the analgesic efficacy of ITM 0.2 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg in patients undergoing major abdominal cancer surgery. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, double-blind trial. SETTING: Academic medical center. METHODS: Ninety patients were randomly assigned to receive morphine intrathecally either 0.2 mg (Group I, ITM 0.2 mg, n = 30), 0.5 mg (Group II, ITM 0.5 mg, n = 30), or 1 mg (Group III, ITM 1 mg, n = 30) dissolved in 5 mL physiological saline before general anesthesia. Assessment parameters included hemodynamics, respiratory rate, peripheral arterial oxygenation, sedation score, pain severity, time of first analgesic request, total analgesic consumption, and side effects in the first 72 hours. RESULTS: The mean time to first request for rescue analgesia was significantly prolonged in Group II (22.13 ± 5.21 hours, P 0.001) and Group III (30.83 ± 4.89 h, P 0.001), compared with Group I (0.50 ± 0.66 hours). The mean tramadol consumption dose was significantly reduced in Group II (383.33 ± 91.28 mg, P 0.001) and Group III (300 ± 69.48 mg, P 0.001) compared with Group I (770 ± 114.92 mg). Patients received 1 mg ITM showed lower VAS scores in the first 48 h postoperative (P 0.04) compared with Group I and Group II. No significant differences were observed in the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure values, respiratory rate, and peripheral arterial oxygen saturation between groups. Lower mean heart rate values were observed in Group III patients at 6 hours (P 0.01) and 12 hours (P 0.03) postoperative compared with Group I and Group II patients. Six patients (20%) in Group II and 8 (26.7%) in Group III exhibited pruritus compared with 2 patients (6.66%) in Group I (P 0.01). No intergroup statistical differences were observed for other studied side effects. LIMITATIONS: This study is limited by its small sample size. CONCLUSION: One mg ITM provided superior analgesia for 48 hours postoperative compared with 0.2 mg and 0.5 mg ITM with a nonsignificant difference in the incidence of side effects. Further studies of larger sample size are recommended to confirm these findings.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of bacterial pneumonia and malnutrition on the frequency of micronuclei (MN) in peripheral blood of pediatric patients through flow cytometric analysis. The study was an analytical case-control study carried out on 35 malnourished children with bacterial pneumonia and 20 well-nourished children with bacterial pneumonia, in addition to 20 healthy children as controls. Complete physical examination including; anthropometric measurement, Chest roentgenograms were done for all cases. Assessment of MN was done by FACSCalibur flow cytometry. The frequency of micronucleated reticulocytes (MN-RETs) was higher both in the malnourished children with pneumonia and well-nourished children with pneumonia than the controls. Within the malnourished children with pneumonia, patients with kwashiorkor had more micronucleated mature erythrocytes (MN-RBCs) and MN-RETs than patients with marasmus. In conclusion: Pneumonia is associated with an increased frequency of MN and this increment is more pronounced in children with severe malnutrition especially kwashiorkor group.

Background: We conducted a retrospective analysis to investigate the clinical outcome of combined modality therapy using multiagent chemotherapy, nephrectomy, and radiotherapy in treatment of children with Wilms' tumor. Methods: This study was conducted on 91 cases of newly diagnosed Wilms' tumor from January 2001 until February 2012. Patients were categorized into two groups according to treatment approach: i) preoperative chemotherapy with delayed surgery (group A; n=66) and ii) immediate surgery (group B; n=25). Results: Preoperative chemotherapy showed a 54.5% partial response rate in group A patients. A final stage distribution indicated that the majority of patients (64%) from both groups were considered to be in the early disease stages (I and II). The median follow up was 49 months (range 3-124). The five-year overall survival rate was 66.5%, whereas the event-free survival rate was 62.5%. In univariate analysis, factors associated with statistically significant reduction in overall (P0.0001) and event-free survival (P=0.0001) rates included advanced disease stages (P0.0001 for both) and blastimal subtype (P=0.0067 for overall survival; P=0.012 for event-free survival). Age of >24 months was associated with a significant reduction in the overall survival rate (P=0.038, HR: 0.438, 95% CI: 0.192-0.953), but was not significant in terms of eventfree survival (P=0.104, HR: 0.539, 95% CI: 0.256-1.136). Age >24 months (P=0.0095), disease stage (P=0.0014), and blastimal subtype (P=0.006) were associated with significant increases in relapse rate. Conclusion: Preoperative chemotherapy resulted in a final stage redistribution that placed the majority of patients in the early stages of the disease. Age at diagnosis, disease stage, and histological subtype significantly affected survival and relapse rates.

Background: We conducted a retrospective analysis to investigate the clinical outcome of combined modality therapy using multiagent chemotherapy, nephrectomy, and radiotherapy in treatment of children with Wilms' tumor. Methods: This study was conducted on 91 cases of newly diagnosed Wilms' tumor from January 2001 until February 2012. Patients were categorized into two groups according to treatment approach: i) preoperative chemotherapy with delayed surgery (group A; n=66) and ii) immediate surgery (group B; n=25). Results: Preoperative chemotherapy showed a 54.5% partial response rate in group A patients. A final stage distribution indicated that the majority of patients (64%) from both groups were considered to be in the early disease stages (I and II). The median follow up was 49 months (range 3-124). The five-year overall survival rate was 66.5%, whereas the event-free survival rate was 62.5%. In univariate analysis, factors associated with statistically significant reduction in overall (P0.0001) and event-free survival (P=0.0001) rates included advanced disease stages (P0.0001 for both) and blastimal subtype (P=0.0067 for overall survival; P=0.012 for event-free survival). Age of >24 months was associated with a significant reduction in the overall survival rate (P=0.038, HR: 0.438, 95% CI: 0.192-0.953), but was not significant in terms of eventfree survival (P=0.104, HR: 0.539, 95% CI: 0.256-1.136). Age >24 months (P=0.0095), disease stage (P=0.0014), and blastimal subtype (P=0.006) were associated with significant increases in relapse rate. Conclusion: Preoperative chemotherapy resulted in a final stage redistribution that placed the majority of patients in the early stages of the disease. Age at diagnosis, disease stage, and histological subtype significantly affected survival and relapse rates.

Background: We conducted a retrospective analysis to investigate the clinical outcome of combined modality therapy using multiagent chemotherapy, nephrectomy, and radiotherapy in treatment of children with Wilms' tumor. Methods: This study was conducted on 91 cases of newly diagnosed Wilms' tumor from January 2001 until February 2012. Patients were categorized into two groups according to treatment approach: i) preoperative chemotherapy with delayed surgery (group A; n=66) and ii) immediate surgery (group B; n=25). Results: Preoperative chemotherapy showed a 54.5% partial response rate in group A patients. A final stage distribution indicated that the majority of patients (64%) from both groups were considered to be in the early disease stages (I and II). The median follow up was 49 months (range 3-124). The five-year overall survival rate was 66.5%, whereas the event-free survival rate was 62.5%. In univariate analysis, factors associated with statistically significant reduction in overall (P0.0001) and event-free survival (P=0.0001) rates included advanced disease stages (P0.0001 for both) and blastimal subtype (P=0.0067 for overall survival; P=0.012 for event-free survival). Age of >24 months was associated with a significant reduction in the overall survival rate (P=0.038, HR: 0.438, 95% CI: 0.192-0.953), but was not significant in terms of eventfree survival (P=0.104, HR: 0.539, 95% CI: 0.256-1.136). Age >24 months (P=0.0095), disease stage (P=0.0014), and blastimal subtype (P=0.006) were associated with significant increases in relapse rate. Conclusion: Preoperative chemotherapy resulted in a final stage redistribution that placed the majority of patients in the early stages of the disease. Age at diagnosis, disease stage, and histological subtype significantly affected survival and relapse rates.

Sacrococcygeal tumors (SCT) are relatively uncommon tumors affecting neonates, infants and children. The aim of this article is to clarify any special characterizations in natural history, clinical presentation and outcome of such tumors treated at South Egypt Cancer Institute, the only research center located in South Egypt. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of children with SCT treated at the Pediatric Oncology department South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University between 2004 and 2010. RESULTS: Nineteen children were included in the study. Age ranged between 10 days and 5 years. All but three had sacral mass at presentation. AFP levels ranged between normal age-related levels and 217,200 ng/ml. Initial resection was possible in 11, while eight patients with clinical suggestion of advanced malignant disease were inoperable. They received initial chemotherapy followed by delayed surgery. Yolk sac tumor (YST) was reported in 52.9% of patients. Recurrence was reported in 5 patients (3 mature teratomas and 2 YST). Five-year OS and RFS rates of patients who had malignant disease were 81.8% and 77.8% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Older age and delay in presentation that resulted in predominance of extensive disease and malignant transformation at presentation were the main challenges we faced in managing patients with SCT in our locality.