NAMPT (nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase)

Review on NAMPT (nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase), with data on DNA, on the protein encoded, and where the gene is implicated

Adiponectin and cancer

Deep insight on adiponectin and cancer

Absence of hotspot mutations in exons 9 and 20 of the PIK3CA gene in human oral squamous cell carcinoma in the Greek population

Objective: Phosphatidylinositol-3 kinases (PI3K) are a group of heterodimeric lipid kinases that regulate many cellular processes. Recent studies have reported high frequencies of somatic hotspot mutations in the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase catalytic α (PIK3CA) gene, which encodes for one of these kinases, in several human solid tumors, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of hotspot mutations in exons 9 and 20 of the PIK3CA gene in OSCC in the Greek population. Study design: Eighty-six formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded primary tumor specimens were analyzed by direct genomic DNA sequencing. Chi-square was used for statistical analysis. Results: No hotspot mutations were detected in any of the samples. Two intronic polymorphisms IVS8 and IVS9 were detected, mainly in patients with cancer of the buccal mucosa and lower gingival and alveolus respectively. Conclusions: PIK3CA hotspot mutations are unlikely to play a major role in the pathogenesis of OSCC in the Greek population. © 2010 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved

Newborn with a solitary hairless skin defect on the scalp vertex

Aplasia cutis congenita is a rare congenital disorder usually presenting as an isolated lesion on the scalp that may be associated with genetic syndromes and congenital anomalies. Therefore, it is important to be aware of this syndrome. © 2019 The Authors. Clinical Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Minocycline susceptibility breakpoints for Acinetobacter baumannii: Do we need to re-evaluate them?

Minocycline is an old broad-spectrum tetracycline indicated for the treatment of various infections, including those due to minocycline-susceptible Acinetobacter spp. Susceptibility data worldwide are showing increasing rates of resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii to almost all antimicrobial classes, whereas minocycline seems to remain relatively potent against this significant pathogen. Since no new effective drugs have been released against MDR A. baumannii, minocycline is an attractive choice. Tracing back minocycline CLSI susceptibility breakpoints, it is evident that they have been based on old pharmacokinetic approaches. In an attempt to integrate the scarce new pharmacodynamic data, a Monte Carlo simulation was performed. It seems that the currently used breakpoints are, 8-fold elevated according to the approved dosage regimen, giving erroneously higher rates of minocycline susceptibility of A. baumannii. Therefore, current minocycline breakpoints merit re-evaluation in order to deliver reliable susceptibility profiles for selecting the appropriate therapy. © The Author(s) 2018