Giant placenta chorioangioma with postpartum bleeding and uterine atony

Chorioangioma is the most commonly occurring vascular, non-malignant placental tumor in pregnancy, with a reported incidence of 1% in all examined placentas. Nonetheless, real tumor incidence remains unknown because of small specimen sizes, which contributes to a lack of detection throughout the entire gestational period. Prenatal detection and diagnosis may be possible with ultrasound screening; however, most placental chorioangioma diagnoses are postnatal, based upon histopathological studies. This article report the case of postnatal diagnosis and associated complications in a 35-year-old patient with a 6 cm × 4 cm × 4 cm placental chorioangioma.

Chemo preventive potential of Methanolic extract of bark of Albizia lebbeck (L.) benth on n-methyl-n-nitrosourea induced mammary carcinoma in female sprague dawley rats

Introduction: Use of plants as a source of medicine has been inherited and is an important component of the health care system. Plants are a good source of biologically active compounds known as phytochemicals. The search for anticancer agents from plant sources started in 1950s with the discovery and development of vinca alkaloids, vincristine and vinblastine and the isolation of cytotoxic podophyllotoxin. Many chemotherapeutic agents are avilable their usage is limited due to development of side effects. Recent research demonstrates that plant based phytonutrients are effective in combating the incidence of carcinogenesis. So the purpose of this study is to reveal the relationship between breast cancer and chemopreventive effect of bark of Albizia lebbeck benth to protect against NMU induced mammary cancer in female spraque- dawley rats, and would foster further studies that could ultimately lead to prevention and therapy for breast cancer. Materials and methods: Virgin Female Sprague-Dawley rats were grouped into 5 groups (n=6). Thirty days before the induction of tumor the animals were treated with extracts. At the end of the 30th day tumor was induced by administrating NMU (50 mg/ kg i.p) was induced by single i.p injection, and then the treatment is continued up to a period of 120 days. At the end of the 120th day the animals were sacrificed through cervical decapitation, the mammary tumors were excised out and various parameters were studied such as tumor incidence, tumor burden, tumor volume, tumor weight and tumor latency. Also immunohistochemistry and histopathology were performed. Result: The i.p administration of NMU to the rats showed significant decrease in the body weight compared to normal control rats. After the administration of methanolic extract of Albizia lebbeck benth at different doses showed considerable prevention of weight loss when compared to NMU control rats. Also,in treated groups tumor incidence and tumor burden was decreased and tumor latency got increased. In addition histopathological studies supported significant decrease in formation of infiltrating duct carcinoma in mammory tissue sections. Conclusion: In the present study, methanolic extract of Albizia lebbeck benth showed protective effect against N-methyl-N-nitrosourea induced breast cancer.

Long-term assessment of risk factors for canine tumors registered in Xi’an, China

Tumors are one of the leading causes to death in pet dogs among diseases. The tumor incidence of pet dogs has been increasing, raising widespread concern.The tumor incidence of pet dogs has been increasing, raising widespread concern. In this study, retrospective analysis was performed with 246 tumor cases registered in Xi’an Animal Hospital, Northwest A&F University from 2009 to 2018. Correlations of sex, age and breed with tumor incidences were evaluated. The results showed that reproductive system tumors occupied the highest proportion (39.84%), followed by cutaneous tumors (28.05%), digestive tumors (18.70%) and ocular tumor (4.47%). Among the reproductive system tumors, breast tumors are the most common tumor in female pet dogs, especially for Pekingese (11.43%). Female dogs with high susceptibility to breast tumors were at the ages of 6–18 years old. As far as cutaneous tumors were concerned, the male pet dogs at all ages, particularly Golden Retrievers (17.39%), showed a high incidence. By contrast, male Samoyed aged from 4 to 13 years had the highest incidence (15.22%) of digestive tumors. In addition, pet dogs with ocular tumors mainly happened at the ages of 0–1 years and 6–13 years. Collectively, our findings are significant to develop effective measures of medical surveillance for pet dogs’ health and will provide insights for comparative oncology.

Antitumor Effects of Cadmium Against Diethylnitrosamine-induced Liver Tumors in Mice

Background: Cadmium (Cd) is reported to have antitumor effects against chemical-induced liver tumors. Antitumor effects of Cd are not completely understood, but may be related to metallothionein-deficiency in tumors, which makes tumor vulnerable to necrotic effects of Cd. Methods: Eight-week old male C57BL/6 mice were given injections of diethylnitrosamine (DEN, 90 mg/kg, and 50 mg/kg two weeks later), followed by promotion with CCl4. CdCl2 was administered in the drinking water (500 ppm) from 21-40 weeks after DEN initiation. Body weights were recorded and liver tumor formation was monitored via ultrasound. At the end of experiments, livers were removed, weighed, and the tumor incidence, tumor numbers and tumor size scores were recorded. Liver histology and metallothionein immunostaining were performed. Results: After DEN injection, animal body weight decreased, and slowly recovered afterwards. Cd treatment did not affect animal body weight gain. Ultrasounds detected liver tumors 35 weeks after DEN injection. Animals were necropsied at 40 weeks. Liver/body weight ratios increased in DEN and DEN+Cd groups. Cd treatment decreased tumor incidence (71% vs 17%), tumor numbers (15 vs 2), and tumor scores (22 vs 3). Histopathology showed hepatocyte degeneration in all groups, and immunohistochemistry showed metallothionein-deficiency in liver tumors, while metallothionein stain was intensified in tumor surrounding tissues. RT-qPCR showed increases of alpha-fetoprotein in DEN-treated livers, and increases of metallionein-2 and TNFα in Cd-treated livers. Conclusion: Cd is effective in suppression of DEN-induced liver tumors, and the mechanisms may be related to metallothionein-deficiency in tumors and induction of TNFα to kill tumor cells.

The Influence of High-Fat Diet in Early Life on Intestinal Tumorigenesis in APC1638N Mice

Objectives Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancer worldwide. Evidence from epidemiological studies shows that the incidence rate of CRC among elders with age ≥ 50 years is gradually decreased, whereas the rate continuously rise in adults with age < 50 years. Along with the rise of CRC in young adults, a significantly increasing trend in obesity is also observed in youth. The present study aims to investigate how the early-life nutrition influences the intestinal tumorigenesis later in mouse with an age equivalent to an age < 50 years in human. Methods APC1638N mice (4 weeks of age) were fed a low-fat diet (N = 22; LF: 10% kcal from fat) or a high-fat diet (N = 23; HF: 60% kcal from fat) for 8 weeks, which is equivalent to child/adolescent age in humans. After that, all animals were switched to standard chow diet (LabDiet #5P76) and fed for additional 12 weeks before sacrifice. Tumors were examined and the expression tumorigenic Wnt-signaling downstream genes (Cyclin D1, c-Myc and Axin 2) in the intestine were assessed. Results Our results showed that compared to LF group, the body weight of both male and female mice significantly increased after 8-week HF feeding (P < 0.05). After switching to the standard chow diet for further 12 weeks feeding, the increase of body weight in HF group remained, although the degree of magnitude reduced, and a statistical significance only shown in female mice (P < 0.05). There were a higher tumor incidence (P = 0.051) and tumor multiplicity (P < 0.05) in males than female. No interactions between gender and diet were observed. The HF group had a higher tumor incidence (P = 0.088) and tumor size (P < 0.05) when compared to the LF group. The expression of Wnt-signaling downstream gene, c-Myc, was significantly increased in the HF group at 24-week of age (P < 0.01). Conclusions A short term of high-fat diet in early life tends to promote intestinal tumorigenesis in adults as indicated by a mild increase in tumor incidence and a significant increase in tumor size. Funding Sources This project was supported by the US Department of Agriculture Hatch funding (#1013548).

Comparative Carcinogenic Effects of Folic Acid vs. 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Supplementation on Colon Cancer Progression in a Rodent Model

Objectives High folic acid (FA) intake may be associated with adverse health outcomes, including colon cancer promotion. 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5MTHF) has been proposed as a safer alternative form of folate supplementation. We compared the effects of FA and 5MTHF supplementation on the progression of aberrant crypt foci (ACF; earliest colon cancer precursor). Methods Male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 120) received a control diet (1mg FA or equimolar 5MTHF) at weaning and ACF were induced by azoxymethane. Six weeks post-induction, rats were randomized to the control or supplemental (10mg FA or equimolar 5MTHF) diets for 18 weeks. Plasma folate concentrations were assessed using microbiological assay and compared. Colorectal tumor incidence, multiplicity and burden (sum of tumor diameters) were determined and compared. Results 5MTHF resulted in higher plasma folate concentration compared to FA (p < 0.05). Tumor incidence (adenoma, p = 0.5; adenocarcinoma, p = 0.60) did not differ between the folate forms. Both FA and 5MTHF supplementation resulted in a higher number of adenocarcinomas compared to respective controls. 5MTHF groups had higher tumor burden compared to the corresponding levels of FA (p < 0.05). Conclusions 5MTHF resulted in higher tumor burden than FA and was at least as effective as FA in increasing the number of adenocarcinomas in predisposed rats harboring ACF. 5MTHF does not confer a safer alternative to FA supplementation with regards to colon cancer promotion and may in fact have a higher colon tumor promoting effect than FA supplementation. Notwithstanding the inherent limitations associated with animal models, our study suggests that future studies are warranted to compare biochemical and biologic effects and safety of FA and 5MTHF supplementation. Funding Sources Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Efficacy of fluvastatin and aspirin for prevention of hormonally insensitive breast cancer

Purpose Primary prevention of hormonally insensitive breast cancers remains an important clinical need and repurposing existing low-toxicity drugs represents a low-cost, efficient strategy for meeting this goal. This study targeted the cholesterol pathway using fluvastatin, a cholesterol-lowering drug, and aspirin, an AMPK activator that acts as a brake in the cholesterol pathway, in a transgenic mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Methods Using SV40C3 TAg mice, the efficacy and mechanism of fluvastatin, aspirin, or both in combination were compared with vehicle alone. Results Sixteen-weeks of fluvastatin treatment resulted in significant delay in onset of tumors (20 weeks vs. 16.8 weeks in vehicle treatment, p = 0.01) and inhibited tumor incidence and tumor multiplicity by 50% relative to the vehicle control. In animals that developed tumors, fluvastatin treatment inhibited tumor weight by 75% relative to vehicle control. Aspirin alone did not significantly affect tumor latency, tumor incidence or tumor burden compared to vehicle control. Fluvastatin and aspirin in combination delayed the onset of tumors but failed to inhibit tumor incidence and tumor multiplicity. The growth-inhibitory effects of fluvastatin were mediated through increased FAS/FASL mediated apoptotic cell death that was characterized by increased cleaved PARP and driven in part by depletion of an isoprenoid, geranyl geranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP). Conclusions In line with NCI’s emphasis to repurpose low-toxicity drugs for prevention of cancer, fluvastatin was effective for prevention of TNBC and warrants further clinical testing. Aspirin did not provide chemopreventive benefit.

Effect of Cold Exposure and Capsaicin on the Expression of Histone Acetylation and Toll-like Receptors in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced Colon Carcinogenesis

Previous studies have indicated that capsaicin-rich diet and cold weather have showed strong association with tumor incidence. Thus, we investigated the effects of capsaicin and cold exposure in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colorectal cancer as well as the mechanisms underlying capsaicin and cold induced CRC. Rats were randomly divided into four groups and received cold still water and capsaicin via intragastric gavage until the end of the experiment. The rat’s body weight, thymus weight, and food intakes were assessed. Global levels of histone H3K9, H3K18, H3K27, H4K16 acetylation and, histone deacetylase (HDACs) in colon mucosa were assessed by western blot. Expression levels of Toll-like receptors 2 (TLR2) and Toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4) were measured by western-blot and reverse-transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). We found that cold and low-does capsaicin increased tumor numbers and multiplicity, although there were no differences in tumor incidence. Additionally, rat exposure of cold water and capsaicin display further higher levels of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9AC), histone H3 lysine 18 (H3K18AC), histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27AC) and HDACs compared with the DMH and normal rats. In contrast, a considerable decrease of histone H4 lysine 16 (H4K16AC) was detected in the colon mucosa. Cold and low-dose capsaicin exposure group were also increased TLR2 and TLR4 proteins levels and mRNA levels. These results suggest that chronic cold exposure and capsaicin at a low-does intervention exacerbate ectopic expression of global histone acetylation and TLR level, which are crucial mechanisms responsible for the progression of colorectal cancer in rat.