Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. The presence of pathogenicity islands (PAI) genes contributes to the pathogenesis of many gastrointestinal disorders. Cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA) and vacuolating cytotoxin gene (vacA) are the most known virulence genes in H. pylori. So, our aim was to study H. pylori virulence genes’ role in gastric disorders pathogenesis. Our study included 150 adult patients who suffered dyspeptic symptoms and were referred to the GIT endoscopy unit. Gastric biopsies were attained for rapid urease test (RUT) and histopathological examination, and multiplex PCR technique for detection of virulence genes was performed. It was found that 100 specimens were (RUT) positive, of which sixty samples (60%) were PCR positive for H. pylori ureC gene. The vacA and cagA genes were identified in 61.6% and 53% of H. pylori strains, respectively. Only 5 cases were vacA-positive and cagA-negative. The most virulent vacA s1 allele existed in 56.6% of cases. Out of the 60 H. pylori strains, 66% had at least one virulence gene and 34% did not show any virulence gene. H. pylori infection showed significant increase with age. H. pylori are prevalent amid dyspeptic patients in our region. The main genotype combinations were vacA+/cagA+ of s1m1 genotype and they were frequently associated with peptic ulcer diseases, gastritis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background: Endometrial carcinoma is the most common gynecological malignancy in developed countries. About 80% of endometrial carcinomas are preceded by atypical endometrial hyperplasia. PTEN is a tumor suppressor gene involved in many vital intracellular biological processes. PTEN is altered in more than 45% of endometrial carcinomas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value immunohistochemical expression of PTEN in normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic endometrial tissues. Methods: Ninety-two endometrial samples were enrolled in this study. They were classified into normal (n=6), hyperplastic (n=54) and neoplastic (n=32) endometrial tissues. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were prepared from each specimen. Tissue sections were immunohistochemically stained by anti-PTEN antibodies. Results: In our study; PTEN was strongly expressed in all normal and hyperplastic endometrial tissues without atypia. Staining intensity was decreased in atypical endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma (p<0.0001). we also detected an inverse relationship between PTEN expression on one side and tumor grade (p=0.006), stage (p< 0.0001) and myometrial invasion (p=0.001) on the other side. Conclusions: Our study proved that immunohistochemical expression of PTEN is down-regulated in atypical hyperplastic and neoplastic endometrial tissues. Evaluation of PTEN expression can be useful as a screening method to detect the potentially precancerous hyperplastic lesions.

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E valuating the safe consumption of food additives is commonly accepted after testing their toxicities through animal studies as there is scarce data from human studies. The main aim of animal studies is to evaluate the additives' potential risks for human toxicity and to establish the conditions for safe use (Lin et al., 1992).Monosodium glutamate is a crystalline powder that is composed mainly of glutamic acid and to some extent of sodium, and water. Glutamate is a non-essential amino research Article Abstract | Monosodium glutamate (MSG) and Aspartame (ASP) are the most commonly used food additives. Despite their wide-spread, their safety was examined and fears of toxic effects were recently expressed. So, this study aimed to assess the separate and commingle effects of monosodium glutamate and aspartame on some reproduction function of adult female albino rats. A total of Thirty-two female rats were divided randomly into 4 equal groups (8 rats/ group). Group I: Control rats were fed on a standard diet. Group II:(MSG) each rat received MSG (400mg/Kg. body weight). Group III: (ASP) each rat administrated ASP (40 mg/Kg. body weight). Group IV: (MSG + ASP) each rat received MSG and ASP at the same previous dosage regimen for the same duration. All the treatment was orally gavaged daily for 30 days. Either MSG or ASP individually or mixed had significant deleterious effects on the ovarian functions of the rats in the order MSG then ASP. Aspartame alone was unable to alter the estrogen level or VASA gene expression and caused no considerable histopathological changes of the ovaries, while the combination of (MS-G+ASP) decreased significantly the levels of estrogen and gene expression and produced destructive histopathological changes in the pituitary and ovarian tissues leading to reproductive dysfunction. This could be explained by MSG and ASP-induced pronounced ovarian redox imbalance evidenced via generating lipid peroxidation with diminishing reduced glutathione. More researches are mandatory to assess the adjuvant impact of monosodium glutamate and aspartame on female reproductive function and antioxidant defense systems.

E valuating the safe consumption of food additives is commonly accepted after testing their toxicities through animal studies as there is scarce data from human studies. The main aim of animal studies is to evaluate the additives' potential risks for human toxicity and to establish the conditions for safe use (Lin et al., 1992).Monosodium glutamate is a crystalline powder that is composed mainly of glutamic acid and to some extent of sodium, and water. Glutamate is a non-essential amino research Article Abstract | Monosodium glutamate (MSG) and Aspartame (ASP) are the most commonly used food additives. Despite their wide-spread, their safety was examined and fears of toxic effects were recently expressed. So, this study aimed to assess the separate and commingle effects of monosodium glutamate and aspartame on some reproduction function of adult female albino rats. A total of Thirty-two female rats were divided randomly into 4 equal groups (8 rats/ group). Group I: Control rats were fed on a standard diet. Group II:(MSG) each rat received MSG (400mg/Kg. body weight). Group III: (ASP) each rat administrated ASP (40 mg/Kg. body weight). Group IV: (MSG + ASP) each rat received MSG and ASP at the same previous dosage regimen for the same duration. All the treatment was orally gavaged daily for 30 days. Either MSG or ASP individually or mixed had significant deleterious effects on the ovarian functions of the rats in the order MSG then ASP. Aspartame alone was unable to alter the estrogen level or VASA gene expression and caused no considerable histopathological changes of the ovaries, while the combination of (MS-G+ASP) decreased significantly the levels of estrogen and gene expression and produced destructive histopathological changes in the pituitary and ovarian tissues leading to reproductive dysfunction. This could be explained by MSG and ASP-induced pronounced ovarian redox imbalance evidenced via generating lipid peroxidation with diminishing reduced glutathione. More researches are mandatory to assess the adjuvant impact of monosodium glutamate and aspartame on female reproductive function and antioxidant defense systems.