Browsing by Author "Zuberi, Zavuga"

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Assessment of the applicability of p16 and top2a biomarkers for cervical cancer diagnosis in northern Tanzania
(NM-AIST, 2021-12) Zuberi, Zavuga
Biomarkers provide valuable information for the early detection of cervical cancer. However, they are seldom utilized for the prognosis of cervical cancer in Tanzania, where visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) or Lugol's iodine (VILI) are being utilized as the standard screening techniques. A retrospective hospital-based cross-sectional study assessing cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (p16) and topoisomerase II-alpha (TOP2A) proteins expression was conducted among women seeking cervical cancer care at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Tanzania between 1 May, 2017 to 10 May, 2018. A total of 149 studied patients (Mean age: 52.1 ± 12.9 years) were enrolled. Of these, 99 (66.4%) of women seeking care in the period under review were diagnosed with cervical cancer lesions. Moreover, only 145 cervical biopsies met the inclusion criteria for p16 and TOP2A immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. Upon IHC staining, 103 (71.0%) and 90 (62.1%) were p16 and TOP2A positive, respectively. Histopathological class and p16/TOP2A expression levels were closely associated (Fisher’s exact test, p<0.001). Moreover, p16/TOP2A expression levels were positively correlated with cancerous cervical lesions (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients = 0.833 and 0.687, p = 0.006 and 0.005, respectively). The age-adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for predicting cervical cancer lesions were independently significant for p16/TOP2A biomarkers in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded cervical tissues [p16: AOR=1.142 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.059–1.232, p<0.001) and TOP2A: AOR=1.046 (95% CI: 1.008–1.085, p=0.015)]. Importantly, the diagnostic performance of p16 was higher than that of TOP2A in the diagnosis of cancerous lesions from non-cancerous cervical lesions (sensitivity: 97.2% versus 77.6%, accuracy: 92.8% versus 87.8%, respectively). Overexpression of TOP2A is linked to the grade of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in our study, however it does not predict cervical cancer prognosis. Similarly, expression of p16 is associated with histological dysplasia grade and malignancy, suggesting its prognostic significance in the management of cervical cancerous lesions. Further bigger studies are needed to validate their applications in the early diagnosis of cervical cancer.
Expression analysis of p16 and TOP2A protein biomarkers in cervical cancer lesions and their correlation with clinico-histopathological characteristics in a referral hospital, Tanzania
(PLOS ONE, 2021-10-27) Zuberi, Zavuga; Mremi, Alex; Chilongola, Jaffu; Semango, George; Sauli, Elingarami
Introduction Biomarkers yield important information for early diagnosis of cervical cancer. However, they are rarely applied for prognosis of cervical cancer in Tanzania, where visual inspection assay with acetic acid or Lugol’s iodine and Pap test are being used as the standard screening/ diagnostic methods. Methods This was a retrospective hospital-based cross-sectional study that was conducted to assess cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (p16) and topoisomerase II-alpha (TOP2A) proteins expression among women seeking cervical cancer care at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Tanzania between May 1, 2017 and May 10, 2018. Immunohistochemistry technique was used to detect the expressions of p16 and TOP2A proteins from the retrieved formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) cervical biopsies. Results A total of 145 patients, with a mean age of 52.1 ± 12.9 years, were included in this study. Upon immunohistochemistry staining, 103 (71.0%) and 90 (62.1%) were p16 and TOP2A positive respectively. There was a strong association between histopathological class and p16/TOP2A expression levels (Fisher’s exact test, p<0.001). Moreover, there was a strong positive correlation between p16/TOP2A and cancerous cervical lesions (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients = 0.833 and 0.687, p = 0.006 and 0.005, respectively). The ageadjusted odds ratio for predicting cervical cancer lesions were independently significant for p16/TOP2A biomarkers in FFPE cervical tissues [p16: OR = 1.142 (95% CI: 1.059–1.232, p<0.001) and TOP2A: OR = 1.046 (95% CI: 1.008–1.085, p = 0.015)]. Importantly, thediagnostic performance of p16 was higher than that of TOP2A in the diagnosis of cancerous lesions from non-cancerous cervical lesions (sensitivity: 97.2% versus 77.6%, accuracy: 92.8% versus 87.8%, respectively). Conclusion Our study has highlighted that over-expression of TOP2A is related to the grade of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia but does not predict prognosis in cervical cancer. Similarly, expression of p16 is related to degree of histological dysplasia and malignancy, suggesting its prognostic and predictive value in the management of cervical cancers. Further bigger studies are needed to validate their applications in the early diagnosis of cervical cancer.
Insulin-delivery methods for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes
(SAGE Publications Ltd., 2020-05-20) Zuberi, Zavuga; Sauli, Elingarami; Cun, Liu; Deng, Jing; Li, Wen-Jun; He, Xu-Liang; Li, Wen
Efforts directed toward restoring normal metabolic levels by mimicking the physiological insulin secretion, thereby ensuring safety, efficacy, minimal invasiveness and conveniences, are of great significance in the management of type 1 diabetes among children and adolescents. Regardless of the various technologies being discovered in addressing invasiveness and enhancing medication adherence in the management of type 1 diabetes, yet limited success had been observed among children and adolescents. The multiple daily subcutaneous insulin injections route using vial and syringe, and occasionally insulin pens, remain the most predictable route for insulin administration among children and adolescents. However, this route has been associated with compromised patient compliance, fear of injections and unacceptability, resulting in poor glycemic control, which promote the demand for alternative routes of insulin administration. Alternative routes for delivering insulin are being investigated in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes; these include the hybrid closed-loop ‘artificial pancreas’ system, oral, inhalation, intranasal routes, and others. This review article explores the current advances in insulin-delivery methods that address the needs of children and adolescents in the treatment of type 1 diabetes.
Linking rhizosphere bacterial diversity and soil fertility in tobacco plants under different soil types and cropping pattern in Tanzania: A pilot study
(Heliyon, 2020-07-08) Lisuma, Jacob; Zuberi, Zavuga; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Mbega, Ernest
Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), one of the major crop plants in Tanzania, cropping affects the level of soil fertility, but the reason has not been known. Plant rhizosphere plays an important role in affecting soil fertility through changing microbial composition. We planned a pilot study to understand the changes in microbial composition and soil nutrients in the rhizosphere soils of tobacco in three agro-ecological zone, namely Sikonge, Tabora and Urambo in Tanzania. This study assessed bacteriota composition using 16S rRNA sequencing and soil fertility in the rhizosphere of tobacco plants. The results showed that bacterial diversity in tobacco rhizosphere soils belonged to Proteobacteria phyla, associated significantly (p < 0.05) with solubilization of insoluble P, K and S. The solubilization of P, K and S in soils facilitates the availability of these nutrients to the tobacco plants (a heavy feeder crop) allows low levels of these nutrients in the soils for the subsequent crop. The Proteobacteria phyla also associated with an increase in soil N content through fixation. Therefore, bacteria diversity in tobacco rhizosphere influence solubilities of macronutrients (P, K, S) and quickly up taken by the tobacco plant and reduces their levels in soils, some bacteria involved in fixing N and increases total N in the soil.