Insulinlike growth factor I receptor and estrogen receptor beta expressions are inversely correlated in colorectal neoplasms and affected by the insulin resistance syndrome

The present study aimed at evaluating the modulation of insulinlike growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) and estrogen receptor beta (ER-beta) expression and their correlation during tumorigenesis of sporadic colorectal cancer, with particular interest in the insulin resistance syndrome. In a series of 100 individuals (54 men and 46 women; mean age, 67.3 +/- 9.4 years) with colorectal neoplasms, classified as early adenomas (n = 25), advanced adenomas (n = 44), and adenocarcinomas (n = 31), IGF-IR and ER-beta expression was quantified in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens, using confocal laser scanning microscopy and a computer-based method for assessment of immunofluorescent staining. All individuals were evaluated for insulin resistance markers (hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, central obesity, and arterial hypertension), and 50 (26 men and 24 women; mean age, 68.2 +/- 9.0 years) were diagnosed with the insulin resistance syndrome. For the sequence of early adenoma-advanced adenoma-adenocarcinoma, a gradual increase in IGF-IR expression and a gradual decrease in ER-beta expression were observed. The partial correlation coefficient between IGF-IR and ER-beta expression, controlled for age, sex, insulin resistance, type of lesion, and location of lesion was 0.295 (P =.004, 2-tailed significance). Analysis of variance demonstrated that the effect of the insulin resistance syndrome on IGF-IR and ER-beta expression was significant (P =.007 and P =.018, respectively). The results suggest the combined effect of IGF-I and estrogens in colorectal cancer, with a distinctive role in individuals with the insulin resistance syndrome. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Chemical pesticides and human health: The urgent need for a new concept in agriculture

The industrialization of the agricultural sector has increased the chemical burden on natural ecosystems. Pesticides are agrochemicals used in agricultural lands, public health programs and urban green areas in order to protect plants and humans from various diseases. However, due to their known ability to cause a large number of negative health and environmental effects, their side effects can be an important environmental health risk factor. The urgent need for a more sustainable and ecological approach has produced many innovative ideas, among them agriculture reforms and food production implementing sustainable practice evolving to food sovereignty. It is more obvious than ever that the society needs the implementation of a new agricultural concept regarding food production which is safer for man and the environment, and to this end, steps such as the declaration of Nyéléni have been taken

Indoor air quality in a bar/restaurant before and after the smoking ban in Athens, Greece

In this study we compared indoor air pollutant concentrations in a bar/restaurant in Greece before and after the enactment of a smoking ban legislation of 2008. This was done to investigate whether the separation of the venue into smoking and non-smoking areas will have an impact on workers and customers from secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure (null hypothesis). The study was completed within an 8-month period beginning in March 2010 and ending on November 2010. We compared the average of the measured PM0.1 concentrations in the smoking zones between the pre-ban and post-ban periods. Overall reduction in the number of particles was 18% between pre-ban and post-ban periods. The mean of the 36 total CO2 measurements for the pre- and the post-ban period was 611 ppm. We calculated the ventilation rates per occupant (Vo in l/s/occ) and found it to be higher in the post-ban period (19.4 l/s/occ), thus complying with the ASHARAE standard for Vo of 15 l/s/occ at maximum occupancy, than in the pre-ban period (10.7 l/s/occ). The mean of the 36 total CO measurements for the pre-ban period was 2 ppm. CO measurements in the post-ban period were less than the detection limit of I ppm. Emissions of nitrogen dioxide and formaldehyde weren’t detected in any of the zones. It was observed there was about 50% distribution of pollutants from the smoking zones to the smoke-free zones. The smoking ban effect on the occupancy levels was initially reduced by 16%, but based on other similar studies this transition period will be followed by an increase in the occupancy. Passive smoking and associated risks were significantly reduced but not totally eliminated, indicating the need for stronger enforcement or complete partition between smoking and non-smoking areas. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Training in environmental health necessitates tacit knowledge

Tacit knowledge in environmental health (EH) responds to the strong need to relate environmental conditions with health effects and implement the ideas produced in the educational framework. Training programs on EH have to educate professionals in dealing with problems where environmental degradation threatens health and to answer the currently increasing volume of question society asks on these issues. Therefore, an EH professional should not only be equipped with theoretical knowledge but also with the “know-how” knowledge (or tacit knowledge) that enables in-depth understanding of the mechanisms that links environment with health and facilitates the prevention of incidents and chronic exposure to pollutants. This was the main driver behind the establishment of the Master’s Degree Program “Environment and Health: Capacity building for decision making” at the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens-Greece (UoA). The program builds on the expertise of academic partners on EH issues. The experience of non-academic professionals is an important part of the program, which is aimed at developing innovative methods of knowledge alliance management, introducing the “tacit knowledge” approach, contributing to understanding and managing health-related environmental problems. In order to evaluate the accomplishment of the program’s objectives, a questionnaire was completed by current MSc holders. The program impact regarding its tacit knowledge content was highly regarded (> 80.0 %) by the alumni. This adds to the evidence-based strength of tacit knowledge, which is increasingly profiled as a mandatory element of EH academic programs. A SWOT analysis discussion puts the assessment of tacit knowledge in a wider context

Fibroblast activation protein and its prognostic significance in correlation with vascular endothelial growth factor in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP), a selective protein for tumor stromal fibroblasts, is expressed in >90% of human epithelial carcinomas. A characteristic feature of pancreatic cancer is an extensive fibrotic or desmoplastic reaction surrounding the primary tumor. The present study aimed to evaluate the expression levels of FAP and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and determine their correlation in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and conventional immunohistochemical analysis were used to quantify FAP and VEGF expression levels in formal in-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue biopsies from 46 patients (male, 26; female, 20; mean age, 66 years; age range, 53-80 years) with pancreatic adenocarcinoma stage HA or JIB. The expression levels of FAP in the neoplastic and adjacent normal tissue were significantly higher in stage IIB patients, compared with stage IIA patients. FAP expression was correlated with positive lymph nodes, resulting in poor prognosis for stage JIB patients. The partial correlation coefficient between FAP and VEGF expression levels was 0.39 (P=0.007), and the two factors had an effect on patient survival. Multivariate analysis demonstrated the prognostic superiority of FAP over VEGF, which is considered to be the most consistently reproducible molecular marker with prognostic value in resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Due to the limited beneficial effect of current systemic therapies for pancreatic adenocarcinoma, targeting FAP may be a potential therapeutic strategy and requires further investigation

Children exposure to trace levels of heavy metals at the north zone of Kifissos River

This study evaluates the exposure level of primary school children at three different towns in northern Attica, near the banks of the Kifissos River, defining referential values of toxic heavy metals. Concentrations of five toxic metals (arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead and nickel) were analyzed in water samples from the Kifissos River as well as in the scalp hair of children aged 11 to 12 years old living in the study area. Chronic low-level toxicity of lead and cadmium came into view in recent years as a problem of our civilization. Exposure to concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) poses a potential threat to humans and can cause effects on children’s renal and dopaminergic systems without clear evidence of a threshold, a fact that reinforces the need to control all the potential heavy metal emissions into the environment in order to protect children’s health. The results were analyzed with the IBM SPSS Statistics 20 for Windows. The possible influence of sex and area was examined. Statistical differences were observed by t-test between the log-transformed hair concentrations of lead (p=0.021), arsenic (p=0.016) and nickel (p=0.038) in children’s scalp hair from the municipalities of Kifisia and Kryoneri. ANOVA one-way test confirmed the difference of Pb concentration in hair between girls and boys from the municipality of Kifisia (p=0.038). The t-test confirms the difference of heavy metal concentrations in river samples between the municipalities Kifisia and Philadelphia in comparison with the samples from Kryoneri. The observations suggest that children living at the municipality of Kifisia are exposed to higher concentrations of heavy metals than the others. Despite all the confounding factors, hair can be used as a biomarker in order to determine the exposure to heavy metals, according to standardized protocols. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Enhancer of Zeste Homologue 2 Expression in Breast Carcinoma Smears in Relationship with p53, Ki-67 and Other Prognostic Parameters

Background: The polycomb group protein enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH 2) has been reported as a marker of aggressive breast cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the expression of EZH 2 with p53 and Ki-67 expression and other clinicopathological parameters in primary breast carcinomas in order to determine the role of the above marker as a prognosticator of tumor aggressiveness and patient outcome. Patients and Methods: One hundred primary operable breast cancer patients were investigated in order to identify the expression of EZH 2, Ki-67 and p53 in imprint smears immunocytochemically. The prevalence of expression of these markers was then correlated with clinicopathological parameters. Follow-up was available for all patients. Results: EZH 2 was expressed in 64% of the cases and correlated with higher levels of p53 (relative risk = 3.00, p < 0.0001) and Ki-67 (relative risk = 3.25, p < 0.0001). Malignant cells showed immunoreactivity for all markers in the nucleus. Univariate analysis revealed a strong association between EZH 2 protein expression and tumor grade and size, lymph node metastasis, and HER-2 and estrogen and progesterone receptor status. Multivariable statistical analysis revealed that lymph node metastasis was the main predictor for EZH 2 expression. Decreased patient survival was also significantly associated with EZH 2 expression (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: EZH 2 expression may be a marker of poor prognosis in breast carcinoma patients and has been suggested as a candidate for targeted therapy. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Base