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Background/Aims: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is now a major public health problem with heavy morbidity and mortality in rural Africans despite the lingering dietary fiber-rich foodstuffs consumption. Studies have shown that increased intake of dietary fiber which contribute to low fecal pH and also influences the activity of intestinal microbiota, is associated with a lowered risk for CRC. However, whether or not the apparent high dietary fiber consumption by Africans do not longer protects against CRC risk is unknown. This study evaluated dietary fiber intake, fecal fiber components and pH levels in CRC patients. Methods: Thirty-five subjects (CRC=21, control=14), mean age 45 years were recruited for the study. A truncated food frequency questionnaire and modified Goering and Van Soest procedures were used. Results: We found that all subjects consumed variety of dietary fiber-rich foodstuffs. There is slight preponderance in consumption of dietary fiber by the control group than the CRC patients. We also found a significant difference in the mean fecal neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin contents from the CRC patients compared to the controls (P

Background: Schistosomiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases caused by a trematode, Schistosoma spp, and affects many systems in the body including the gastrointestinal tract. Schistosomiasis of the appendix is a well-recognized disease and presents as a chronic granulomatous inflammation. This study aims to document the frequency and pattern of distribution of schistosomal appendicitis in our environment. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective histopathological review of schistosomiasis of the appendix in the Department of Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria - Nigeria, between January 1, 1991 to December 31, 2012. Results: Within the study period, there were 1,464 appendectomy specimens histologically examined in the Pathology Laboratory. Thirty of these, representing 2.1%, were diagnosed as schistosomiasis of the appendix. The male:female ratio was 6.5:1 and peak age incidence was in the 20-29 years age group. Abdominal pains, vomiting and fever were seen in 23 (76.7%) and altered bowel motion in seven (23.3%) patients. Conclusion: This study showed that schistosomiasis of the appendix is not rare and that its presentation is similar to other forms of appendicitis. There is a need to focus on the prevention of schistosomiasis in order to reduce morbidity among these economically viable age groups.

Prostate cancer (CaP) is the most common male gender cancer and present with a 5-year prevalence, incidence and mortality rate in Nigerian Black men. There is disproportionate prevalence and poor understanding of CaP in Black men globally. The Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CaPTC) has documented significant CaP burden among Nigerian black men in Nigeria and in the Diaspora. Notably, African ancestry is one of the most important risk factors of CaP globally. Increased levels of cortisol, a stress-related catabolic hormone is significantly associated to prostate specific antigen and poor prognosis in prostate cancer patients. Cortisol causes degradation of muscle proteins into amino-acids. Amino acids such as leucine, serves as a source of fuel for aggressive prostate cancer cells in a Warburg effect model through the L-amino acid transporters (LATs). The annexins are calcium and phospholipid binding proteins implicated in cancer development and progression. Overexpression of annexin 1 is one of the mechanisms by which cortisol inhibit inflammation. Annexin V has a high affinity to phosphatidylserine and play important role of inhibiting engulfment of apoptotic cells by macrophages to increase the immunogenicity of tumor cells undergoing apoptosis. PD-L1 is an important membrane-bound costimulatory molecule that inhibits immune responses through its receptor, PD-1. Overexpression of PD-L1 results to cancer cells aggressively evading the host immune system. The Duffy Antigen/Receptor for Chemokines (DARC) is a 7-transmembrane protein atypical chemokine receptor expressed on erythrocytes and vascular endothelial cells that binds to and clears angiogenic chemokines. Expression pattern of DARC is associated to cancer growth and metastasis. In this study, we report the expression pattern of tissue Cortisol, Annexin V, PD-L1 and DARC proteins in relationship to Gleason score in Nigerian Black men with Prostate cancer using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. In addition, we assessed salivary cortisol levels by enzyme immunoassay and physical activity by a standardized CaPTC-AC3-MADCaP (C.A.M) CaP measures from 500 subjects recruited by via CaPTC cohort. Results showed significant expression of tissue and salivary cortisol in the CaP patients compared to the normal subjects (p > 0.05). The Tissue cortisol protein expression was higher in CaP cases with Gleason score 8. There was significant overexpression of Annexin protein in virtually the prostate cancer samples studied. We found a negative expression of PD-L1 and DARC proteins in all the CaP tissues studied. Cortisol and Annexin may serve as an important biomarker for prostate cancer diagnosis and prognosis in Nigerian Blacks. Citation Format: Faruk Mohammed, Folakemi T. Odedina, Sani Ibrahim, Abdulmumini Hassan Rafindadi, Ahmed Adamu, Abdullahi Adamu, Ahmad Bello, Surajo Mohammed Aminu, John Idoko, Aishatu Maude Suleiman, Solomon O. Rotimi, Ernie Kaninjing, Getachew A. Dagne, Clayton Yates, Yawale Iliyasu, Nissa Askins, Iya Eze Bassey, Renee Reams, Abdullahi Mohammad, Hussaini Yusuf Maitama, Dauda Maigatari, Mohammed Sani Shehu, Cheh Augustine Awasum, Abdulkadir Lawal Rafinadadi, Danladi Amodu Ameh, Serah Adewunmi, Ruth Agaba, Haruna Mohammad Muktar, Ahmad Mai, Saad Aliyu Ahmed, Ahmad Bello Kumo, Kasimu Umar Adoke, Ahmad Tijjani Lawal, Ahmad Muhammad, Omolora Fatiregun, Sunday Atawodi, Shehu Akuyam, Yusuf Abdulrashid, Mubarak Liman, Aliyu Muhammad, Abidemi Omonisi, Rebecca Gali, Hassan Dogo, Nkegoum Blaise, Anthonia Sowunmi, Titilola Akinremi, Emeka J. Iweala, Jigo Dangude Yaro, Badejo Adebukola Catherine, Akinwumi Oluwole Komolafe. Overexpressions of cortisol, annexin V and Lost in expression of PD-L1 and DARC proteins are associated with aggressive prostate cancer phenotypes in Black men: A CaPTC Cohort Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2638.

Studies have shown improved/increased intake of dietary fiber and low fecal pH are associated with a lowered risk for colorectal cancer. This study aimed to compare dietary fiber intake, fecal neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content, acid detergent fiber (ADF), cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and fecal pH level of colorectal cancer patients and matched apparently healthy control group in rural Africans in Zaria, Nigeria. Twenty-one subjects of mean age 44.7 years who are diagnosed with colorectal cancer by histology and 14 apparently healthy matched control groups with mean age 45.2 years were recruited for this study. A predefined semi structured food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to access the dietary fiber intake by the subjects. The fecal NDF content was analyzed by extracting 1 g of fecal sample with a mixture of ethanol/ether and refluxed with decalin and sodium sulphite. The extract was suctioned and washed with acetone to yield the total NDF. The NDF was refluxed with an acid detergent solution and dried overnight to yield the ADF. The differences in the NDF and ADF gave the total hemicelluloses. The differences in the weight of the ADF post-treatment with permanganate solution yielded the total lignin. The differences in weight of the permanganate residue post-treatment with 72% Sulphuric acid gave the cellulose content. A pH meter calibrated with buffers of pH 4 and 7 was used to measure the fecal pH of all the subjects. Results from the FFQ show all subjects consumed variety of dietary fiber food in significant amount. However, there was a significant difference in the fecal NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, lignin and cellulose contents from the colorectal cancer patients when compared with the control group (p Citation Format: Mohammed Faruk, Sani Ibrahim, Ahmed Adamu, Abdulmumini Hassan Rafindadi, Yahaya Ukwenya, Yawale Iliyasu, Abdullahi Adamu, Mohammed Sani Shehu, Danladi Amodu Ameh, Sirajo Mohammed Aminu, Saad Aliyu Ahmed, John Idoko, Atara Ntekim, Aishatu Maude Suleiman, Khalid Zahir Shah, Kasimu Umar Adoke. Dietary-fiber and fecal fiber contents including pH in rural Africans with colorectal cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR International Conference: New Frontiers in Cancer Research; 2017 Jan 18-22; Cape Town, South Africa. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(22 Suppl):Abstract nr A19.

The mechanism of cancer resistance to chemotherapy regimen remains uncertain. Colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma is one of the distinct histological subtypes of the disease implicated in chemotherapeutic resistance associated with nodal and peritoneal metastases and worse disease-free survival as an index of poor prognosis. One of the important acquired capabilities used by the cancer cells to resist anticancer therapies is evasion of apoptosis possibly via inhibitor of apoptosis proteins for which Livin is one. This protein contains baculoviral IAP repeat domains in addition to a RING finger, a protein-protein motif important for binding and inhibition of active caspases that interfere with intrinsic and/or extrinsic pathway and the ensuing blockade of apoptosis. Thus, understanding the molecular events on how cancer cells of mucinous histology evade apoptotic death may provide a novel paradigm for a molecular targeted therapy in the management of colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma. In this study, the expression pattern and prognostic value of IAP family protein, Livin, in colorectal cancer patients with mucinous histology pre and post-chemotherapy regimen was investigated. Tissue sections from advanced stage colorectal cancer patients who were treated or untreated with neo-adjuvant FOLFOX chemotherapy before curative resection were included in this study. The tissue sections were grouped according to colorectal adenocarcinomas showing mucinous histology and non-mucinous component. Histological study including Haematoxylin and Eosin, and immunohistochemistry for Anti-Livin and DNA mismatched repair proteins were carried out. Immunofluorescence study was performed to clarify the expression pattern of the protein using Anti-Livin antibody. Protein expression quantification study was also used. Results show significant cytoplasmic localisation and expression of Livin protein in the colorectal cancer cells. The Livin protein expression was found to be increased by more than a one-fold post-chemotherapy treatment when compared with pre-chemotherapy treated patients with mucinous histology of colorectal cancer. Younger patients were found to have a greater probability of colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma diagnosis and worse prognosis. Our findings show that Livin-induced inhibition of apoptosis activity can be a target for novel approaches to treatment and prevention of chemotherapy associated drug resistance in mucinous histology colorectal cancer since Livin overexpression has been associated with metastases and worse disease-free survival. More study is needed Citation Format: Mohammed Faruk, Abdulmumini Hassan Rafindadi, Sani Ibrahim, Surajo Mohammed Aminu, Surajo Mohammed Aminu, Ahmed Adamu, Ahmed Adamu, Yawale Iliyasu, Adamu Abdullahi, Mohammed Sani Shehu, Abdullahi Mohammed, John Idoko, Abdullahi Jibril Randawa, Abdullahi Jibril Randawa, Atara Ntekim, Saad Aliyu Ahmed, Aishatu Suleiman Maude, Almustapha Aliyu Liman, Abubakar Sani, Khalid Zahir Shah, Yahaya Ukwenya, Yahaya Ukwenya, Cheh Augustine Awasum, Kasimu Umar Adoke, James Olowu Enemari, James Olowu Enemari, James Olowu Enemari, Andrew Jonathan Nok. Is Livin a protagonist of mucinous adenocarcinoma histology in colorectal cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4918. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4918

Background: Anogenital warts are a common cause of morbidity affecting mainly the productive age group of the economy. Paucity of data in Nigeria necessitated this study. Materials and Methods: The pathology records of anogenital warts diagnosed in the Department of Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2009 were reviewed. Results: A total of 68 warts were diagnosed within the study period with anogenital warts constituting 39.7%. Majority of cases (62%) were in the 20-39 years age group (range: 5–50 years) and vulva was the most common site affected. Conclusion: Genital warts are common in our environment, biopsy of suspicious lesions is recommended for diagnostic yield.Keywords: Anogenital, Nigeria, wart

Every environment is noted for its variability in incidences of various malignancies and subtypes. The objective of this study is to analyze the trend of malignant tumors in a population of rural Africans attending Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Nigeria with particular emphasis on the first ten most frequently diagnosed cancers over a period of 14 consecutive years (2001-2014). Histologically diagnosed cancers in the various cancer registries of the ABUTH Zaria were included in this study. The ten most commonly presenting cancers were extracted and their demographic characteristics and other relevant clinical data documented using a standardized questionnaire. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS software version 20.0. There were 6,553 histologically diagnosed cancers over 14 years in Ahmadu Bello Unibersity Teaching Hospital Zaria with the following in descending order: Cervical cancer 1042 (15.90%), Breast cancer 788 (12.02%), Prostate cancer 496 (7.56%), Colorectal cancer 360 (5.49%), Lymphoma 306 (4.66%), Eye/orbit cancer 170 (2.59%), Bladder cancer 169 (2.45%), Nasopharyngeal cancer 139 (2.12%), Ovarian cancers 94 (1.43%), and Liver cancer 52 (0.79%). Cervical cancer tops the list as the most frequently diagnosed cancer however, this should be noted that it is a cancer exclusive to females so also breast cancers though rarely males may present with breast cancer. Prostate cancer is a male exclusive disease therefore the percentage would have been higher if the diagnosis would have excluded the females. Of the ten most frequently diagnosed cancers, liver cancer is the tenth despite the fact that complications of viral hepatitidis are known to facilitate liver carcinogenesis and the prevalence of hepatitis C and B in the Nigerian population is 5 and 20 respectively. Citation Format: Abdulmumini Hassan Rafindadi, Surajo Mohammed Aminu, Mohammed Faruk, Yawale Iliyasu, Abdullahi Mohammed, Sani Ibrahim, Ahmed Adamu, Mohammed Sani Shehu, Abdullahi Jubril Randawa, Adamu Abdullahi, Saad Aliyu Ahmed, Maitama Yusuf Hussaini, Danladi Amodu Ameh, Ukwenya Yahaya, John Idoko, Oguntayo Olanrewaju Adekunle, Almustapha Aliyu Liman, Abdulkadir Lawal Rafindadi, Aisha Maude Suleiman, Jigo Dangude Yaro, Ahmad Bello, Bello Kumo. First ten malignancies by ranking from a population of rural Africans in Zaria, Nigeria: A fourteen years review and report. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Ninth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2016 Sep 25-28; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017;26(2 Suppl):Abstract nr B71.

Dietary fiber (DF), the fermentation substrates for colonic bacteria, has acquired a crucial status in protection against colorectal cancer. DF consists of mucilage, beta-glucans and pectin (soluble fiber) and cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin (insoluble fiber) which, are cross-linked with proteins and phenolic compounds. DF improves optimal health through fecal quality, quantity and decreased carcinogenic colonic bacterial metabolites. One of the physico-chemical properties of DF attributed to these important health functions is the natural presence of salicylic acid (SA), an active component of Aspirin in our foodstuffs. However, the presence of SA has been recently reported to be gradually diminishing from our foodstuffs as a result of manmade activity. A large number of studies support the effectiveness of Aspirin in inhibition of colorectal cancer cells growth in-vitro and in-vivo. DF is not currently fortified with Aspirin, nor have the effects of Aspirin fortification on physico-chemical properties of DF been thoroughly studied. Of note, gastrointestinal bleeding is one of the effects associated with high dose aspirin use. This research aims to assess the efficacy of fortification of DF-rich foodstuffs with Aspirin in-vivo using the N-methyl-N-nitrosourea carcinogen-induced model of colorectal cancer in rats, with emphasis on the mechanism of biologic action. A total of 30 male Albino rats whose weight falls between 110-150g were used. They were grouped into 6 sets of 5 rats each and a soluble and insoluble DF feeding intervention was systematically employed in various combinations with Aspirin (1600mg/kg diet) and without Aspirin fortification for 80 days. NMU was administered at a dose of 2 mg/kg intra rectally every other day for 60 days until the development of colorectal cancer which, was confirmed by barium enema and histological analysis. Hemogram and other pertinent investigations were done ultimately including histological assessment of tumors. The tumors were processed for histological analysis and immunohistochemistry using Anti-p53 and Anti-Bcl-2 antibodies. Findings show no histologically detectable colorectal tumor in the group of rats fed with Aspirin-fortified mixture of soluble and insoluble DF foodstuffs. There was a considerable tumor regression in the group fed with Aspirin-fortified soluble/insoluble DF when compared to non-fortified group. The results show up-regulation of p53 and down-regulation of Bcl-2 proteins in Aspirin-fortified DF fed rats when compared with non-fortified group (p Note: This abstract was not presented at the conference. Citation Format: Mohammed Faruk, Abdulmumini Hassan Rafindadi, Sani Ibrahim, Surajo Mohammed Aminu, Ahmed Adamu, Yawale Iliyasu, John Idoko, Mohammed Sani Shehu, Adamu Abdullahi, Abdullahi Jubril Randawa, Atara Ntekim, Saad Aliyu Ahmed, Cheh Augustine Awasum, Kasimu Adoke, Andrew Jonathan Nok. Fortification of dietary fiber-rich foodstuffs with Aspirin and its effect on colorectal carcinogenesis in rats. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Colorectal Cancer: From Initiation to Outcomes; 2016 Sep 17-20; Tampa, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(3 Suppl):Abstract nr A27.

Background: Teratomas generally arise in the gonads, although several cases are reported in the extra gonadal sites. This study described the histopathological features of cases seen in a tertiary institution in Nigeria. Materials and Methods : This is a retrospective study of surgical biopsy specimens seen over 10-year period; data were analyzed with respect to age, sex, site, and histopathological characteristics and grading. The H and E, stained slides were retrieved in each case and reviewed microscopically by the authors. Results : Teratomas were observed in two adult and 37 infants and children. The age range was 5 days-38 years. Site of origin was Sacrococcygeal in 43.6%, retroperitoneal in10.3%, cervical in 12.8% and 20.5% in others. Mature teratomas account for 82.0% while 18.0% were immature teratoma. Three of the immature teratoma were grade III while the remaining four where grade II. There were more benign than malignant teratomas. Conclusion : Extragonadal teratomas are common in our environment with benign preponderance.