Wondwossen Ergete

Biological and Clinicopathological Characteristics of Breast Cancer at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most heterogeneous types of cancer and is characterized by several molecular subtypes. Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 137 confirmed BC cases at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) in Ethiopia from December 2015 to November 2016 to assess the biological and clinicopathological characteristics of BC in Ethiopian women patients. Socio-demographic characteristics of the study subjects was obtained with pretested structured interview and clinical data was collected from the Hospital records. Surgical specimens were analysed histopathologically with hematoxyline and eosin staining, and Immunohistochemistry analysis was conducted with specific antibodies to ER, PR and HER2. The mean and median age of the study participants were 47 and 46.7, respectively. More than 50% of the patients were categorized in the age group of 15-40. Sixty percent were in the age group of 41-100. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma was the most common type of BC (70%) in this study, followed by lobular carcinoma (8.5%). Almost all of the BC cases under study were at advanced stage of the disease: 48.5% were with stage III and 51% were grade II tumors. Half of the study participants belonged to T2 tumor size (2-5 cm) and 52.3% of the patients had axillary lymph node metastases. Sixty five percent were ER+, 58% were PR+ and 28% were HER2+. Luminal A was the most common tumor subtype (54%), followed by luminal B (22%) and TNBC (18%). Based on crude analysis, patients with family history of BC had a lesser likelihood of being ER+ as compared to those patients with no family history of BC [COR=0.10 (95% CI: 0.028, 0.34)]. None of the other risk factors were correlated with the prevalence of ER+ results. In conclusion, the age distribution of BC cases in this study suggests the need to create awareness and improvement of advanced diagnostic services and make available screening programs for younger people. In a resource poor setting like Ethiopia, the use of anti-estrogens (like tamoxifen) in treatment of BC cases with undetermined receptor status could be helpful as most BC cases are ER+ and hormonal therapy is relatively easily available.

Assessment of Hematological, Biochemical and Histopathological Effects ofAcute and Sub-chronic Administration of the Aqueous Leaves Extract of Thymusschimperi in Rats

Background: Thymus species are widely used herbal medicinal plants for various ailments throughout the developing world Thymus schimperi. T. schimperi is one of the species that is used as spices and traditional medicine for various ailments in Ethiopia. Objective: This study was designed to assess the acute and subchronic toxic effects of the aqueous leaves extract of T. schimperi on blood parameters, histopathology and biochemicals of liver and kidney of rats. Methods: The aqueous leaves extract of T. schimperi was tested for toxicity study. Wistar rats were randomly divided into control and treatment groups. The doses for acute toxicity study were single doses of 300, 2000, 5000 and 10,000 mg/kg body weight of animal. Whereas, subchronic toxicity study daily administration of doses of 200 and 600 mg/kg of the aqueous extract were used for 90 consecutive days. Biomarkers and hematological parameters, microscopic examination of liver and kidney tissue and body weight of rats were evaluated following the test period besides recording the signs of toxicity. Results: Acute toxicity study did not reveal any signs of toxicity; hence the LD50 was higher than 10,000 mg/kg. There was no significant change (p>0.05) in general body weight and most of evaluated hematological and biochemical parameters after 90 days of sub-chronic treatment. The kidneys and liver of treatment group appear normal in their texture, shape, size or color compared to the control in gross and histopathological examination. However, the light microscopic examination reveals that there was localized mononuclear lymphocytic infiltration and mild blood congestion within the hepatic portal and central veins in liver at higher dose (600 mg/kg). Conclusion: The findings revealed that the aqueous leaves extract of T. schimperi relatively nontoxic in rats.

Histopathological and Biochemical Assessment of Chronic OralAdministration of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Thymus Serrulatus in Mice

Background: Medicinal plants are the source of treatment for many diseases throughout the developing world. The provision of safe herbal therapies could, thus, become a critical tool to increase access to health care in minimizing the undesirable effects. Thymus serrulatus is among commonly used herbal remedy in Ethiopia in addition to its use for spicing a food and as infusion in tea. This study was designed to investigate toxic effects of the aqueous leaf extract of Thymus serrulatus in mice. Methods: In this study, the mice were randomly divided into control and treatment groups that received distilled water and oral administration of single dose of 300, 2000, 5000 and 10,000 mg/kg (n=5) extract for acute toxicity, respectively and followed for 14 days. The chronic toxicity was evaluated through daily oral administration of extracts at doses of 200 and 600 mg/kg for 90 days in mice (n=6). On the 91st day, blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical analysis. Liver and kidney were harvested for histopathological examination by tissue section preparation and microscopic examination. Results: The acute toxicity study found no signs of toxicity; hence LD50 was greater than 10,000 mg/kg. After 90 days of extract administration, there was no significant change in body weight, and most of the evaluated hematological and biochemical parameters. There was a significant decrease in count of basophils in male mice treated at dose 600 mg/kg. In addition, creatinine level of female mice at both doses was also significantly reduced. No death was recorded, and body weight change remained normal compared to the control. In gross observations, the kidneys and liver appear normal compared to the control. Histopathological examination of liver and kidney were essentially normal. Conclusions: Thymus serrulatus is relatively safe. However, mild mononuclear leukocytic infiltration was observed in mice treated at higher doses.