METHODS: In this case-control study, HSC were isolated from umbilical cord blood (UCB) procured at delivery from 63 mothers with GDM and 67 healthy mothers. Total nucleated cells (TNC) and CD34+ cells were quantified using BD FACSCalibur flow cytometer. The quantity and quality of stem cells were determined.
RESULTS: The GDM group had lower total cord blood volume and lower number of nucleated HSC compared with healthy mothers. Regarding stem cell quantity parameters, they had significantly lower UCB volume (P=0.041), TNC count (P=0.022), total viable NC count (P=0.014), and CD34+ percentage (P=0.014). Regarding the quality of stem cells, they had significantly lower viable TNC percentage (P=0.015). The predictors for total TNC count were longer labor duration (adjusted B coefficient [p]: 0.031 [0.046]), greater estimated blood loss (0.089 [0.005]), female neonates (12.322 [0.049]), and higher placenta weight (0.080 [0.033]). The predictors of total viable NC count were greater estimated blood loss (0.092 [0.003]), female neonates (13.16 [0.035]), and greater placenta weight (0.083 [0.026]).
CONCLUSION: The GDM group had much lower quantity and quality of UCB stem cells. Our results should be taken into consideration when drawing cord blood for unrelated stem cell banking in an obstetric unit to ensure the obtaining of optimal cord blood samples and to avoid unnecessary expenses.
METHODS: We obtained 80 CRC histopathological specimens sent to the Pathology Laboratory of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia from 2015 to 2019. Data on demographic factors, body mass index (BMI), and clinicopathological characteristics were also collected. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues were stained by using an optimized immunohistochemical protocol.
RESULTS: Patients were mostly older than 50 years, male, Malay, and overweight or obese. A high apoB expression was observed in 87.5% CRC samples (70/80), while a high 4HNE expression was observed in only 17.5% (14/80) of CRCs. The expression of apoB was significantly associated with the sigmoid and rectosigmoid tumor sites (p =0.001) and tumor size 3-5 cm (p =0.005). 4HNE expression was significantly associated with tumor size 3-5 cm (p =0.045). Other variables were not significantly associated with the expression of either marker.
CONCLUSION: ApoB and 4HNE proteins may play a role in promoting CRC carcinogenesis.
METHODS: The study enrolled 54 patients with primary brain tumors. DNA extracted from paired tissue and blood samples was subjected to Sanger sequencing to identify alterations in the entire mtDNA. The associations between clinicopathological characteristics and mutations were evaluated. Cox-regression multivariate analysis was conducted to identify factors significantly associated with survival, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the survival of patients with and without mutations.
RESULTS: Overall, 29.6% of the patients harbored 19 somatic mutations distributed across 15 loci within the mtDNA. Notably, 36.8% of these mutations were not previously documented in MITOMAP. One newly identified mutation caused a frameshift in the ATPase6 gene, resulting in a premature stop codon. Three mutations were classified as deleterious in the MitImpact2 database. Overall, 1097 mtDNA polymorphisms were identified across 331 different locations. Patients with mutations exhibited significantly shorter survival than patients without mutations.
CONCLUSIONS: mtDNA mutations negatively affected the survival outcomes of Malaysian patients with primary brain tumors. However, studies with larger samples are needed to confirm the association between mutation burden and survival rates.