Valproic acid for the treatment of low-risk myelodisplastic syndromes: a case report and a review of literature

none4openAntonella poloni; Benedetta Costantini; Marianna Mariani; Pietro LeoniPoloni, Antonella; Benedetta, Costantini; Marianna, Mariani; Leoni, Pietr

Ki-67 Labeling Index in Primary Invasive Breast Cancer from Sudanese Patients: A Pilot Study

Ki-67 labeling index has been linked to patient outcome in breast cancer patients. However, very few published reports have examined Ki-67 labeling index in African breast cancer patients. Sixty-two Sudanese breast cancer patients with primary invasive tumors were immunostained for Ki-67, ER, PR, Her-2/neu, CK5/6, and CK17. Ki-67 labeling index ranged from 0% to 50%, with a median of 5% (interquartile range 0–10). Low Ki-67 labeling index (immunostaining < 10%) was detected in 43/62 (69.4%) with a median of 0 (interquartile range 0–5), whereas high Ki-67 labeling index (immunostaining ≥ 10%) was revealed in 19/62 (30.6%) with a median of 20 (interquartile range 12–26). Ki-67 labeling index was significantly associated with tumor grade (P=0.022, Mann-Whitney U Test). There were no significant group differences between Ki-67 labeling index and ER (P=0.43), PR (P=0.7), Her-2/neu (P=0.45), CK5/6 (P=0.29), CK17 (P=0.55), pathologic stage (P=0.4), tumor histology (P=0.99), breast cancer subtypes (P=0.47), tumor size (P=0.16), and age at diagnosis (P=0.6). These results suggested that Ki-67 labeling index correlates with tumor differentiation and not with the tumor size or any other tested marker in Sudanese breast cancers. Thus, Ki-67 labeling index could be considered as a reliable measure of tumor proliferative fraction in Sudan

Circulating SIRT1 inversely correlates with epicardial fat thickness in patients with obesity

Background and aim: Obesity is increasing worldwide and is related to undesirable cardiovascular outcomes. Epicardial fat (EF), the heart visceral fat depot, increases with obesity and correlates with cardiovascular risk. SIRT1, an enzyme regulating metabolic circuits linked with obesity, has a cardioprotective effect and is a predictor of cardiovascular events. We aimed to assess the relationship of EF thickness (EFT) with circulating SIRT1 in patients with obesity. Methods and results: Sixty-two patients affected by obesity and 23 lean controls were studied. Plasma SIRT1 concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). EFT was measured by echocardiography. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, heart rate (HR), blood pressure, and laboratory findings (fasting glucose, insulin, HbA1c, cholesterol, and triglycerides) were assessed. SIRT1 was significantly lower (P = 0.002) and EFT was higher (P < 0.0001) in patients with obesity compared with lean controls. SIRT1 showed a negative correlation with EFT and HR in the obesity group (rho = -0.350, P = 0.005; rho = -0.303, P = 0.008, respectively). After adjustment for obesity-correlated variables, multiple linear regression analysis showed that EFT remained the best correlate of SIRT1 (beta = -0.352, P = 0.016). Conclusions: Circulating SIRT1 correlates with the visceral fat content of the heart. Serum SIRT1 levels might provide additional information for risk assessment of coronary artery disease in patients with obesity. (C) 2016 The Italian Society of Diabetology, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition, and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Epidemiological transition of colorectal cancer in developing countries: Environmental factors, molecular pathways, and opportunities for prevention

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer and cancer-related mortality worldwide. The disease has been traditionally a major health problem in industrial countries, however the CRC rates are increasing in the developing countries that are undergoing economic growth. Several environmental risk factors, mainly changes in diet and life style, have been suggested to underlie the rise of CRC in these populations. Diet and lifestyle impinge on nuclear receptors, on the intestinal microbiota and on crucial molecular pathways that are implicated in intestinal carcinogenesis. In this respect, the epidemiological transition in several regions of the world offers a unique opportunity to better understand CRC carcinogenesis by studying the disease phenotypes and their environmental and molecular associations in different populations. The data from these studies may have important implications for the global prevention and treatment of CRC. © 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved

Ki-67 Labeling Index in Primary Invasive Breast Cancer from Sudanese Patients: A Pilot Study

Ki-67 labeling index has been linked to patient outcome in breast cancer patients. However, very few published reports have examined Ki-67 labeling index in African breast cancer patients. Sixty-two Sudanese breast cancer patients with primary invasive tumors were immunostained for Ki-67, ER, PR, Her-2/neu, CK5/6, and CK17. Ki-67 labeling index ranged from 0% to 50%, with a median of 5% (interquartile range 0–10). Low Ki-67 labeling index (immunostaining < 10%) was detected in 43/62 (69.4%) with a median of 0 (interquartile range 0–5), whereas high Ki-67 labeling index (immunostaining ≥ 10%) was revealed in 19/62 (30.6%) with a median of 20 (interquartile range 12–26). Ki-67 labeling index was significantly associated with tumor grade (P=0.022, Mann-Whitney U Test). There were no significant group differences between Ki-67 labeling index and ER (P=0.43), PR (P=0.7), Her-2/neu (P=0.45), CK5/6 (P=0.29), CK17 (P=0.55), pathologic stage (P=0.4), tumor histology (P=0.99), breast cancer subtypes (P=0.47), tumor size (P=0.16), and age at diagnosis (P=0.6). These results suggested that Ki-67 labeling index correlates with tumor differentiation and not with the tumor size or any other tested marker in Sudanese breast cancers. Thus, Ki-67 labeling index could be considered as a reliable measure of tumor proliferative fraction in Sudan

Mangosteen Extract Shows a Potent Insulin Sensitizing Effect in Obese Female Patients: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.

There is a widely acknowledged association between insulin resistance and obesity/type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and insulin sensitizing treatments have proved effective in preventing diabetes and inducing weight loss. Obesity and T2DM are also associated with increased inflammation. Mangosteen is a tropical tree, whose fruits—known for their antioxidant properties—have been recently suggested having a possible further role in the treatment of obesity and T2DM. The objective of this pilot study has been to evaluate safety and efficacy of treatment with mangosteen extract on insulin resistance, weight management, and inflammatory status in obese female patients with insulin resistance. Twenty-two patients were randomized 1:1 to behavioral therapy alone or behavioral therapy and mangosteen and 20 completed the 26-week study. The mangosteen group reported a significant improvement in insulin sensitivity (homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance, HOMA-IR −53.22% vs. −15.23%, p = 0.004), and no side effect attributable to treatment was reported. Given the positive preliminary results we report and the excellent safety profile, we suggest a possible supplementary role of mangosteen extracts in the treatment of obesity, insulin resistance, and inflammation

Overweight and obese patients with nickel allergy have a worse metabolic profile compared to weight matched non-allergic individuals

A lack of balance between energy intake and expenditure due to overeating or reduced physical activity does not seem to explain entirely the obesity epidemic we are facing, and further factors are therefore being evaluated. Nickel (Ni) is a ubiquitous heavy metal implied in several health conditions. Regarding this, the European Food Safety Authority has recently released an alert on the possible deleterious effects of dietary Ni on human health given the current levels of Ni dietary intake in some countries. Pre-clinical studies have also suggested its role as an endocrine disruptor and have linked its exposure to energy metabolism and glucose homeostasis dysregulation. Ni allergy is common in the general population, but preliminary data suggest it being even more widespread among overweight patients. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study has been to evaluate the presence of Ni allergy and its association with the metabolic and endocrine profile in overweight and obese individuals. METHODS: We have evaluated 1128 consecutive overweight and obese outpatients. 784 were suspected of being allergic to Ni and 666 were assessed for it. Presence of Ni allergy and correlation with body mass index (BMI), body composition, metabolic parameters and hormonal levels were evaluated. RESULTS: We report that Ni allergy is more frequent in presence of weight excess and is associated with worse metabolic parameters and impaired Growth Hormone secretion. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm that Ni allergy is more common in obese patients, and we report for the first time its association with worse metabolic parameters and impaired function of the GH-IGF1 axis in human subjects

Epidemiology, Pathology, Management and Open Challenges of Breast Cancer in Central Sudan: A Prototypical Limited Resource African Setting

Little is known about breast cancer in Sudan. According to the recent data published by the Khartoum Cancer Registry, breast cancer was the most common cancer among Sudanese women. Generally, breast cancer in native African women is characterized by young age at onset, occurrence in multiparous premenopausal patients, advanced stage at diagnosis, large tumor size, high‐grade and triple‐negative phenotype, with correspondingly poor prognosis. In Sudan, it was reported that about 70% of the women diagnosed with breast cancer were younger than 50 years old. We present here data from local and international publications as well as primary information from the National Cancer Institute in Wad Medani (one of the only two cancer hospitals of the country, both located in Central Sudan in Khartoum and Wad Medani). We provide an up‐to‐date situation analysis of breast cancer in Central Sudan as an example for an African reality and the various open challenges of breast cancer in a limited resource setting. A better understanding of breast cancer in black African women is of global relevance, as there is an alarming increase in breast cancer among young black women worldwide, and these patients have the lowest survival rates

Analysis of extended genomic rearrangements in oncological research.

Screening for genomic rearrangements is a fundamental task in the genetic diagnosis of many inherited disorders including cancer-predisposing syndromes. Several methods were developed for analysis of structural genomic abnormalities, some are targeted to the analysis of one or few specific loci, others are designed to scan the whole genome. Locus-specific methods are used when the candidate loci responsible for the specific pathological condition are known. Whole-genome methods are used to discover loci bearing structural abnormalities when the disease-associated locus is unknown. Three main approaches have been employed for the analysis of locus-specific structural changes. The first two are based on probe hybridization and include cytogenetics and DNA blotting. The third approach is based on PCR amplification and includes microsatellite or single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping, relative allele quantitation, real-time quantitative PCR, long PCR and multiplex PCR-based methods such as multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification and the recently developed nonfluorescent multiplex PCR coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Whole-genome methods include cytogenetic methods, array-comparative genomic hybridization, SNP array and other sequence-based methods. The goal of the present review is to provide an overview of the main features and advantages and limitations of methods for the screening of structural genomic abnormalities relevant to oncological research