The tumour suppressor gene p53 and the proto-oncogene Bcl-2 encode respectively, for a nuclear phosphoprotein and for a mitochondrial membrane protein involved in multiple cellular functions. Both proteins are linked to programmed cell death pathways and provide prognostic information on breast carcinoma. Our aim is to study the expression of p53 and Bcl-2 oncoproteins in breast carcinoma and correlate with patients’ age, tumour size, disease stage and histological grade. Fifty nine cases of breast carcinomas from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) were studied with the immunohistochemical method. Our results showed 45.8% (27 of 59) and 40.7% (24 of 59) of the breast carcinomas were immunopositive for p53 and Bcl-2 respectively. There was significant correlation between Bcl-2 expression with early tumour stage (p=0.01). No significant relationship was seen with other variables. Results also showed an inverse relationship between p53 and Bcl-2 expression (p=0.001). These findings indicate a down regulation of Bcl-2 by p53 in breast carcinogenesis.
Malaria is a major public health problem in tropical and subtropical areas, caused by five
species of Plasmodium (P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale andP. knowlesi) and is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. We have developed molecular markers for three genes viz, Cytb, dhfr and Msp-1 gene and designed a protocol for rapid molecular diagnostics of the four malaria parasites prevalent in Southeast Asia. The new primers were used on the blood
samples containing Plasmodium parasites by conventional PCR. The result was compared with
the nested PCR of Singh et al. (2004) and the microscopy method. The result shows that the new
set of primers had successfully amplified all four human malaria parasite species. These primers
were 100% sensitive and more specific than microscopy and PCR identification using these
primers was faster than the nested PCR. These alternative primers should provide powerful and
rapid molecular diagnostic method for detecting Plasmodium species as well as providing reliable
data for epidemiology study. These primers have the potential to be combined and used in
multiplex PCR.