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Introduction: Darier and Ferrant dermatofibrosarcoma is a rare malignant cutaneous mesenchymal tumour, representing less than 0.1% of malignant tumours and less than 5% of soft tissue sarcomas in adults. The aim of this study was to describe the evolutionary profile of cases of dermato fibrosarcoma of Darier et Ferrant reported in the dermato-venereology department of the National Centre for Disease Control (CNAM). Patients and methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the dermatology department of the National Centre for Disease Control Support between 1991 and 2016, a period of 25 years. Was included, all patient with a histologically confirmed dermatofibrosarcoma notified in the registers of the CNAM histology laboratory or in the patient's medical file during the study period. Results: In total we collected 23 cases out of 5520 biopsied patients, i.e. a proportion of 0.41%. Males represented 60.8% with an average age of 40 years. The lesions were simple nodular in 12 of the 23 patients (52.2%), multi-nodular in 7 of the 23 patients (30.4%), nodulo-ulcerous and in patches in 4 of the 23 patients (17.4%). The lesions were located on the trunk in 60.8% of cases (image 1), on the head in 21.7% of cases and on the limbs in 17.5% of cases. The mean size of the lesions was 10×8cm with extremes of 3cm×3cm to 25cm×20cm. Management was exclusively surgical. Conclusion: DFSP is a rare tumour with a slow evolution, characterised by its rare metastasis but above all by its strong tendency to recurrence. The diagnosis is often evoked clinically and confirmed by histological study. The treatment of DFSP is surgical based on a large and deep lesion removal. Clinical monitoring allows early detection of recurrence, which is frequent in this disease.

Introduction: Fetal microchimerism is a frequent phenomenon occurring in all human pregnancies, which allows the transfer of fetal cells of various phenotypes to the mother. Recent data suggest an association between pregnancy, microchimerism, and cancer. A pregnancy history has been identified as a consistent protective factor against breast cancer. Thus, it is conceivable that undefined characteristics of previous pregnancies could explain why some women with positive parity have a reduced risk of breast cancer while others do not. In this context, we undertook this study to evaluate the relationship between fetal microchimerism and female breast cancers through a literature review. Materials and Methods: To meet this objective, namely, to evaluate the relationship between fetal microchimerism and female breast cancer, a literature review was performed using mainly a bibliographic data search engine (Pubmed). Results and Discussion: This study found microchimerism more in healthy women than women with breast cancer, with a statistically significant difference. These results suggest that microchimeric cells may reduce the risk of breast cancer in women. This protective effect may be explained by the differentiation and tissue regeneration properties associated with the immunoregulatory properties of fetal microchimeric stem cells. However, the correlation is not linear. Conclusion: In this study, our results indicate that microchemical cells may help reduce the risk of breast cancer in women. Good knowledge of the mechanisms of these microchemical stem cells could potentially serve as an innovative therapeutic approach for breast cancer patients.

Biobanking has become an indispensable tool for translational research and health innovations. While the field of biobanking has progressed and evolved globally, biobanking in developing Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries such as the Philippines remains underrepresented because of several challenges often encountered in these low- and middle-income countries. Recently, the Philippine government has undertaken enormous efforts to advancing research and development in the country, and one of the current research pursuits is the establishment of biobanks, with the hope of attaining more discoveries and innovations in the future. Given that cancer remains a leading cause of death in the Philippines, the Philippine government supported the establishment of a cancer biobank at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). In this study, we present a specific use case of biobanking activity at the PGH Biobank, to build a cohort of biospecimens from Filipino patients with breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer. This initiative is part of a biomonitoring study (1) to assess environmental exposures and possible risk factors in the Philippine population and (2) to develop a system of culturing human cells from Filipino patients for subsequent in vitro studies. We discuss issues faced and the solutions developed during the implementation of the biobank. Strong research collaboration, a funding source, basic infrastructure, and appropriate technology helped initiate this pilot biobank in the Philippines. Overall, the experiences of establishing the PGH Biobank may help other institutions in low-resource countries to set up cancer biobanks.

Widespread of insecticide resistance amongst the species of the Anopheles gambiae complex continues to threaten vector control in Senegal. In this study, we investigated the presence and evolution of the Ace-1 and Gste2 resistance genes in natural populations of Anopheles gambiae s.l., the main malaria vector in Senegal. Using historical samples collected from ten sentinel health districts, this study focused on three different years (2013, 2017, and 2018) marking the periods of shift between the main public health insecticides families (pyrethroids, carbamates, organophosphates) used in IRS to track back the evolutionary history of the resistance mutations on the Ace-1 and Gste2 loci. The results revealed the presence of four members of the Anopheles gambiae complex, with the predominance of An. arabiensis followed by An. gambiae, An. coluzzii, and An. gambiae–coluzzii hybrids. The Ace-1 mutation was only detected in An. gambiae and An. gambiae–coluzzii hybrids at low frequencies varying between 0.006 and 0.02, while the Gste2 mutation was found in all the species with a frequency ranging between 0.02 and 0.25. The Ace-1 and Gste2 genes were highly diversified with twenty-two and thirty-one different haplotypes, respectively. The neutrality tests on each gene indicated a negative Tajima’s D, suggesting the abundance of rare alleles. The presence and spread of the Ace-1 and Gste2 resistance mutations represent a serious threat to of the effectiveness and the sustainability of IRS-based interventions using carbamates or organophosphates to manage the widespread pyrethroids resistance in Senegal. These data are of the highest importance to support the NMCP for evidence-based vector control interventions selection and targeting.

Sardinella tawilis, the only known freshwater sardinella in the world, is endemic to Taal Lake, Philippines. Previous studies found the Taiwan sardinella, S. hualiensis, to be morphologically very similar to S. tawilis and identified it as the marine sister species of S. tawilis. In this study, DNA barcoding using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene was carried out to analyze species demarcation in the Sardinella genus, focusing primarily on the relationship between S. tawilis and S. hualiensis. The neighbour-joining (NJ) tree that was constructed using Kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model showed a single clade for the two species with 100% bootstrap support. K2P interspecific genetic divergence ranged from 0% to 0.522%, which is clearly below the suggested 3–3.5% cutoff for species discrimination. Recombination activating gene 1 (RAG1), mitochondrial control region (CR), cytochrome b, 16S rRNA, and S7 markers were used to further validate the results. Sardinella tawilis and S. hualiensis clustered together with a bootstrap support of 99–100% in each of the NJ trees. Low interspecific genetic distances between S. tawilis and S. hualiensis for all the markers except CR could be attributed to incipient allopatric speciation.

Background Long lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) are one of the core components of global malaria prevention and control. The lifespan of LLIN varies widely depending on the population or environment, and randomized studies are required to compare LLIN in households under different field conditions. This study investigated survival of different LLIN brands in Senegal. Methods 10,608 LLINs were distributed in five regions, each stratified by rural and urban setting. As part of the longitudinal follow-up, 2,222 nets were randomly sampled and monitored from 6 to 36 months. Using random effects for households, Bayesian models were used to estimate independent survival by net type (Interceptor®, Life Net®, MAGNet™, Netprotect®, Olyset® Net, PermaNet® 2.0 R, PermaNet® 2.0 C, Yorkool® LN) and by area (rural/urban). In addition to survival, median survival time and attrition of each LLIN brand was determined. Attrition was defined as nets that were missing because they were reported given away, destroyed and thrown away, or repurposed. Results Three net types had a proportion of survival above 80% after 24 months: Interceptor ® 87.8% (95% CI 80-93.4); conical PermaNet ® 2.0 86.9% (95% CI 79.3-92.4) and Life Net ® 85.6% (95% CI 75-93). At 36 months, conical PermaNet ® 2.0 maintained a good survival rate, 79.5% (95% CI 65.9-88.8). The attrition due to redistributed nets showed that the two conical net types (PermaNet ® 2.0 and Interceptor ® ) were more often retained by households and their median retention time was well above three years (median survival time =3.5 years for PermaNet ® 2.0 and median survival time =4 years for Interceptor ® ). Despite this good retention, Interceptor ® had weak physical integrity and its median survival due to wear and tear was below three years (median survival time = 2.4 years). The odds ratio of survival was 2.5 times higher in rural settings than in urban settings (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.7-3.7). Conclusions Differences in survival among LLIN may be driven by brand, shape or environmental setting. In this study in Senegal, conical PermaNet ® 2.0 were retained in households while rectangular PermaNet ® 2.0 had lower retention, suggesting that net shape may play a role in retention and should be further investigated. Distribution of preferred LLIN shape, accompanied by good communication on care and repair, could lead to increased effective lifespan, and allow for longer intervals between universal coverage campaigns.

Several studies have reported exposure of humans to various endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) worldwide. However, there is a lack of data regarding EDC exposures in humans living in Southeast Asian countries, such as the Philippines. Hence, this study measured levels of 41 EDCs in women residing in the Greater Manila Area, home to the second largest city in Southeast Asia. Urine samples from women with versus without breast cancer were analyzed for 11 phthalate metabolites, 8 environmental phenols, and 10 bisphenols, while serum samples were analyzed for 12 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Out of the four groups of EDCs analyzed, PFAS were significantly associated with breast cancer (adjusted OR = 13.63, 95% CI: 3.24–94.88 p-trend = 0.001 for PFDoA; adjusted OR = 9.26, 95% CI 2.54–45.10, p-trend = 0.002 for PFDA; and adjusted OR = 2.66, 95% CI: 0.95–7.66, p-trend = 0.004 for PFHxA). Long-chain PFAS levels were positively correlated with age and were significantly higher in women from Region IV-A, a heavily industrialized region, than from the National Capital Region. Overall, this study showed baseline information regarding the level of EDCs in Filipinas, providing a glimpse of EDC exposure in women living in a megalopolis city in Southeast Asia.

Background: The loss of function in TP53 gene is an early event of carcinogenesis and is now considered as a full etiological factor in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The most common polymorphism in this gene that is associated to OSCC and has been extensively studied as a potential risk factor for the development of malignancies is the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) encoding either proline or arginine at residue 72. Today, despite the multiplicity of publications and approaches used, the contradiction of the results have not remove the ambiguity of the possible impact of this polymorphism in OSCC. So we aimed this meta-analysis to investigate the distribution of TP53 codon 72 genotypes and alleles in patients with OSCC and healthy matched controls, by using an ethnicity subgroups analysis. Method: A literature search was conducted to identify studies concerning TP53 codon 72 polymorphism and OSCC risk. Retrieved publications from 2000 to 2014 were classified by ethnicity, according to the sampling collection continent. Allelic frequencies were estimated by using genotypic data and Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium and distributions were checked with Chi-2 test. Statistical tests for contrast models of association were performed with Proline allele as reference stratum. Results: Arg allele distribution was almost similar in both cases and controls for African and Caucasian populations whereas Arg frequency was significantly greater in cases than in controls for Asians (p=0.011). After stratified statistical analyses, we’ve found again a significant association between Arginine allele and OSCC risk in the Asian subgroup (OR=1.31; 95% CI=1.09-1.58; P=0.004). Conclusion: This current study revealed that allelic distribution of TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism may depend on ethnicity and latitude, and highlighted that Arginine carrier in Asian populations may be considered to be predisposed to OSCC.