Quantitative dermatoglyphic study of the finger ridge count in breast carcinoma patients from Northeastеrn Bulgaria

The present study aimed to assess the relationship between the results from a quantitative dermatoglyphic analysis of the finger ridge count and the predisposition for developing breast cancer.The fingerprints of 82 breast carcinoma female patients diagnosed by histological and mammographic investigations were obtained and compared to 60 female controls from Northeastеrn Bulgaria. The fingerprints were obtained by classical ink method. The finger ridge count was determined by the method of Cummins and Midlo.The total finger ridge count (TFRC) showed statistically significant difference between the patients and the controls on the first and second finger of the right hand and on the second and third finger of the left hand. Due to statistically significant differences of TFRC on some of the fingers, we discovered differences in the descending formulas in the two observed groups. Descending formulas on the fingers of the breast carcinoma patients compared with the controls on the left hand were respectively 2>4>1>5>3 vs 2>1>4>5>3, and on the right hand 1>2>4>3>5 vs 4>1>3>2>5, respectively. Statistical significance was examined by SPSS 18.0 software.Our data indicated that a dermatoglyphic analysis could be utilized as a fast inexpensive supportive screening tool for the early diagnostics of breast cancer

Renoprotective effects of 3 HMG reductase blockers in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing revascularization through percutaneous coronary intervention

This literature review presents current data on statins as anti-inflammatory agents in atherogenesis. Analyzed the results of several randomized clinical trial

Prevalence, Genetic Homogeneity, and Antibiotic Resistance of Pathogenic <i>Yersinia enterocolitica</i> Strains Isolated from Slaughtered Pigs in Bulgaria

Yersiniosis is the third most commonly reported foodborne zoonosis in the European Union. Here, we evaluated the prevalence of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica among healthy pigs (as a major reservoir) in a slaughterhouse in Bulgaria. A total of 790 tonsils and feces from 601 pigs were examined. Isolation and pathogenicity characterization was carried out by the ISO 10273:2003 protocol and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), detecting the 16S rRNA gene, attachment and invasion locus (ail), Yersinia heat-stable enterotoxin (ystA), and Yersinia adhesion (yadA) genes. Genetic diversity was assessed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and antimicrobial resistance by the standard disk diffusion method. Of all the pigs tested, 6.7% were positive for Y. enterocolitica. All isolates belonged to Y. enterocolitica bioserotype 4/O:3. ail, and ystA genes were detected in all positive strains (n = 43), while the plasmid Yersinia virulence plasmid (pYV) was detected in 41. High homogeneity was observed among the strains, with all strains susceptible to ceftriaxone, amikacin and ciprofloxacin, and resistant to ampicillin. In conclusion, a low prevalence of Y. enterocolitica 4/O:3 was found in healthy pigs slaughtered in Bulgaria, not underestimating possible contamination of pork as a potential risk to consumer health