The K469E polymorphism of the ICAM-1 gene is a risk factor for peripheral arterial occlusive disease

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) plays a crucial role in lymphocyte migration and activation, and is considered important in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. K469E is a common polymorphism of the ICAM-1 gene with potential functional significance. The aim of the present case-control study was to evaluate the association between this polymorphism and peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). ICAM-1 gene polymorphism was examined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme analysis in 75 Italian subjects affected by PAOD and 227 controls. The distribution of ICAM-1 genotypes in patients affected by PAOD was 32.1% EE, 50.6% EK, and 17.3% KK. The distribution of ICAM-1 genotypes in control subjects was 17.2% EE, 55.1% EK, and 27.7% KK. The EE genotype was significantly more common in patients than controls (P = 0.006). Logistic regression analysis indicated that the presence of the EE genotype significantly increases the risk of PAOD (odds ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-8.4; P = 0.004). This is the first study documenting a role of the ICAM-1 gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of a cardiovascular disease, such as PAOD. Our data support the hypothesis that inflammatory mechanisms are important in the pathophysiology of vascular diseases with an atherosclerotic basis.Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) plays a crucial role in lymphocyte migration and activation, and is considered important in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. K469E is a common polymorphism of the ICAM-1 gene with potential functional significance. The aim of the present case-control study was to evaluate the association between this polymorphism and peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). ICAM-1 gene polymorphism was examined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme analysis in 75 Italian subjects affected by PAOD and 227 controls. The distribution of ICAM-1 genotypes in patients affected by PAOD was 32.1% EE, 50.6% EK, and 17.3% KK. The distribution of ICAM-1 genotypes in control subjects was 17.2% EE, 55.1% EK, and 27.7% KK. The EE genotype was significantly more common in patients than controls (P = 0.006). Logistic regression analysis indicated that the presence of the EE genotype significantly increases the risk of PAOD (odds ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-8.4; P = 0.004). This is the first study documenting a role of the ICAM-1 gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of a cardiovascular disease, such as PAOD. Our data support the hypothesis that inflammatory mechanisms are important in the pathophysiology of vascular diseases with an atherosclerotic basis

The association of pancreatic cystosis and IPMN in cystic fibrosis: case report and literature review

Pancreatic cystosis is a rare presentation of cystic fibrosis involving pancreatic gland. To date, only very few cases of pancreatic cystosis have been described in literature. Pancreatic cystosis may begin during the second decade of life and is the rarest presentation of cystic fibrosis. This disease is characterized by the presence of multiloculated cysts without ductal system communication of different sizes in all the pancreatic tissue. Herein, we report a case of a young woman affected by cystic fibrosis that was admitted to our Pancreatic Centre to evaluate a picture of diffuse multiloculated pancreatic cysts. After magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) assessment, we perform the diagnosis of the concomitant presence of the rare condition of pancreatic cystosis with Branch Duct-Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm (BD-IPMN). To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a cystic fibrosis patient with the combination of pancreatic cystosis and IPMN