Vol 43 # 3 September 2011 - Kma.org.kw

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Selected Abstracts of Articles Published Elsewhere by Authors in Kuwait September 2011
red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood cell (WBC) count, hemoglobin (Hg), platelets, lymphocytes, and
mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were analyzed by a hematology blood analyzer,
while metabolic parameters such as cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, uric acid, creatinine, and protein
were analyzed by specific analytical kits. Activities of antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD),
glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and total antioxidant activity (TAO) were assessed by specific analytical
kits. Statistical analysis of data was performed using a SPSS data analytical package.
Results: Oral administration of coconut oil for 20 continuous days of pregnancy did not significantly
alter any of the hematologic parameters studied, compared to control group even when the oil was
administered at a relatively massive dose of 4 ml/day. Administration of coconut oil appeared to decrease
WBC, Hg, platelet, and lymphocyte blood concentrations in treated rats, but the difference, however,
was not statistically significant (ANOVA test; p > 0.05). However, platelet concentration was significantly
lower (p < 0.05) in rats receiving 1 ml/day of coconut oil compared to control group rats. Administration
of coconut oil did not alter the concentrations of protein, cholesterol, urea, triglycerides, uric acid, and
creatinine in treated groups of rats significantly (Student’s t-test, p > 0.05) compared to those of control
rats. SOD, GPX, and TAO levels in control and treated groups were not significantly different (ANOVA
test, p > 0.05) than controls.
Conclusions: We conclude that oral administration of coconut oil during pregnancy in rats, even in
massive doses, does not cause any significant alterations in hematologic and metabolic parameters. More
detailed studies, however, are warranted before extrapolating these results to human situations.
Medullary Carcinoma of the Breast: Ten Year Clinical
Experience of the Kuwait Cancer Control Centre
Samir SM, Fayaz MS, Elbasmi A, Motawy MM, Abuzallouf S, George T, Abdelhady M, Bedair A
Radiation Oncology Department, Kuwait Cancer Control Center, Kuwait
Email: suzannemona@yahoo.co.uk
Gulf J Oncolog 2011; 1:45-52
Background: Medullary carcinomas of the breast account for fewer than 7% of all invasive breast cancers.
Some investigators include medullary carcinomas in the favourable histologic subtype, despite its
aggressive histologic appearance. However, others fail to confirm its favourable prognosis.
Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of sixty-one (61) cases of breast cancer cases diagnosed with
Medullary Carcinoma, presenting to the Kuwait Cancer Control Center between 1995 and 2005.
Results: Median survival time was 122 months and the seven-year disease free survival was 82%. Overall
survival rate was not assessed as no cases died during the study period. No cases were metastatic from the
start and only eight cases developed metastases, local recurrence or contralateral breast primary. 68.8% of
the cases were Stage I or IIA (i.e. no lymph node affection).
Conclusion: There is no overt favourable prognosis of medullary carcinoma when compared to invasive
ductal carcinoma. Prognosis is more related to stage than histologic subtyping. The majority of cases were
negative estrogen and progesterone receptor status and node negative.