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Biomedical subjects

Moncef Mokni

Publications and source records attributed to Moncef Mokni.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Correlation between the DNA global methylation status and progesterone receptor expression in normal endometrium, endometrioid adenocarcinoma and precursors.

Endometrial carcinomas are the most common malignancy of the female genital tract and the third most common cancer in women. Progesterone and oestrogen receptors (PRs, ERs) are the most widely documented prognostic and predictive factors in endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Besides the hormonal pathway involved in the progression of preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions, alterations of the DNA methylation status have been shown to be an early signal of tumorigenesis. In this study, we show that in normal endometrium, during the proliferative phase, DNA methylation and PR expression are high, with a significant decline towards the end of the secretory phase and a gradual increase in non-atypical and atypical endometrial hyperplasia; they reach their highest level in grade I, then decrease significantly in grade-II and grade-III endometrioid adenocarcinomas. During each stage, a significant positive correlation is observed between DNA methylation and PR (P<0.0001). The strong parallelism between DNA methylation and PR expression precludes establishing a precise determination regarding the timing of these events, clearly involved in the genesis of endometrioid adenocarcinoma.

Carcinoma, Endometrioid↗

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1, a novel partner of progesterone receptors in endometrial cancer and its precursors.

Endometrial carcinomas are the most common malignancy of the female genital tract. Although the downregulation of the progesterone receptor (PR) in the progression of endometrioid carcinomas (ECs) has been well documented, the mechanism of PR alteration in endometrioid carcinogenesis is poorly understood. Recently, biochemical studies have shown that the DNA strand break-sensing molecule poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1) was associated with the DNA binding domain of PR. In our present study, we show that in normal endometrial epithelium, the expression level of PARP-1 protein is high in the proliferative phase but markedly decreases during the secretory phase. Interestingly, PARP-1 expression gradually increases in nonatypical and atypical endometrial hyperplasia, reaching its highest level in grade I, and decreases significantly toward grade III ECs. Notably, PARP-1 and PR expressions, in each stage, are positively correlated (p < 0.0001), with the exception of nonendometrioid carcinomas. Thus, these data suggest that PARP-1 is substantially involved in the regulation of progesterone action in the development of ECs.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell↗

The transesophageal echocardiographic diagnosis of left atrial myxoma simulating a left atrial thrombus in the setting of mitral stenosis.

We report the case of a 56-year-old woman with a history of rheumatic heart disease. The clinical, electrocardiographic, and radiologic findings suggested mitral stenosis. Left atrial obstructive myxoma simulating a thrombus was found by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). The diagnosis was established by use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), confirmed after surgery and by anatomical investigation. Cardiac myxoma associated with mitral stenosis may be difficult to diagnose accurately using TTE. The advantage of TEE in this case and in patients with mitral stenosis is emphasized.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

[Primary hepatic vipoma].

Vipoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor most frequently localized in the pancreas. When it is extrapancreatic, it is most often neurogenic. We report a case of primary extrapancreatic vipoma that is non neurogenic localized in the right liver in a patient with severe diarrhea and hypokaliema. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, intraoperative tomography and surgical exploration did not show any other extrahepatic primary lesion. The diagnosis was performed by immunochemistry, tumorous cells were positives with anti-VIP antibody. Forty two months after right hepatectomy, the patient was asymptomatic.

Adult↗

[Perianal ulceration revealing Langerhans cell histiocytosis].

Langerhansian histiocytosis is a rare and heterogenous disease. Skin localisation is common but the lesion usually have typical aspect and topography. Peri anal localisation is rare. We report a case of isolated peri anal ulceration revealing a Langerhansian histiocytosis in a young patient.

Adolescent↗

[Epstein-Barr virus in Hodgkin's disease: the example of central Tunisia].

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus in Hodgkin disease in Tunisia through a series of 77 cases. Association with Epstein-Barr virus was demonstrated by Epstein-Barr encoded early RNA transcripts (EBER) in situ hybridization in 70% of cases and by latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) immunohistochemistry in 58.4% of cases. EBER positive cases were more frequent in extreme age classes (<15 and>54 years) there was no correlation with sex, histologic sub-type and clinical stage. Our findings show a high prevalence for EBV infection in Tunisian Hodgkin's disease particularly among extreme ages.

Adolescent↗