Analysis of serum metabolic profiles in women with endometrial cancer and controls in a population-based case-control study

Context: Endometrial cancer is associated with metabolic disturbances related to its underlying risk factors, including obesity and diabetes. Identifying metabolite biomarkers associated with endometrial cancer may have value for early detection, risk assessment, and understanding etiology. Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the reliable measurement of metabolites in epidemiological studies with nonstandardized blood collection; confirm previously reported correlations of metabolites with body size; and assess differences in metabolite levels between cases and controls. Design: This was the Polish Endometrial Cancer Study (2001-2003). Setting: This study was a population-based case-control study. Patients: Patients included 250 cases and 250 controls. Intervention: The intervention included the measurement of serum metabolite levels of 15 amino acids, 45 acylcarnitines, and nine fatty acids. Main Outcome Measure: The main outcome measure was endometrial cancer. Results: Body mass index was correlated with levels of valine (r = 0.26, P = 3.4 × 10(-5)), octenoylcarnitine (r = 0.24, P = 1.5 × 10(-4)), palmitic acid (r = 0.26, P = 4.4 × 10(-5)), oleic acid (r = 0.28, P = 9.9 × 10(-6)), and stearic acid (r = 0.26, P = 2.9 × 10(-5)) among controls. Only stearic acid was inversely associated with endometrial cancer case status (quartile 4 vs. quartile 1: odds ratio 0.37, 95% confidence interval 0.20-0.69, P for trend = 1.2 × 10(-4)). Levels of the C5-acylcarnitines, octenoylcarnitine, decatrienoylcarnitine, and linoleic acid were significantly lower in cases than controls (odds ratios ranged from 0.21 to 0.38). Conclusions: These data demonstrate that previously reported variations in metabolomic profiles with body mass index can be replicated in population-based studies with nonfasting blood collection protocols. We also provide preliminary evidence that large differences in metabolite levels exist between cases and controls, independent of body habitus. Our findings warrant assessment of metabolic profiles, including the candidate markers identified herein, in prospectively collected blood samples to define biomarkers and etiological factors related to endometrial cancer.     

Rotational angiography in monitoring of covered CP stent implantation in patient with critical aortic coarctation and patent ductus arteriosus

In presented case rotational angiography with three dimensional reconstruction (3DRA) was used for diagnostic and control angiograms during covered CP stent implantation in patient with critical aortic coarctation and patent ductus arteriosus. Administering less contrast then for standard two perpendicular projections, good quality images were obtained in at least seven projections.     

Right ventricular dysfunction and exercise capacity after inferior (posterior) wall acute myocardial infarction

Tissue Doppler echocardiography is a novel technique that can be used to diagnose right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction. Until recently, there have been no data on the influence of tissue Doppler-derived RV systolic dysfunction on exercise capacity after inferior (posterior) myocardial infarction (MI). We studied 90 consecutive patients (76% men, mean age 61 ± 10 years) with first inferior ST-segment elevation MI and left ventricular ejection fraction ≥45%. RV systolic dysfunction was defined as RV systolic myocardial velocity <11.5 cm/s at the basal segment of the RV free wall assessed by pulse tissue Doppler. Patients were categorized as with or without RV systolic dysfunction (RV systolic myocardial velocity 9.34 ± 1.36 and 13.74 ± 1.58 cm/s, respectively). A cardiopulmonary exercise test was performed before or soon after discharge (day 14 ± 10). Patients with RV systolic dysfunction had lower oxygen consumption assessed as percent predicted oxygen uptake in liters per minute and milliliters per kilogram per minute at their anaerobic threshold (61 ± 11% vs 69 ± 17%, p = 0.007; 53 ± 12% vs 61 ± 19%, p = 0.012, respectively) and at peak exercise (71 ± 12% vs 83 ± 16%, p = 0.0001; 62 ± 14% vs 74 ± 21%, p = 0.002, respectively). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the following independent factors negatively influenced exercise capacity: RV systolic dysfunction, female gender, age, lower body mass index, current smoking, and maximal troponin I concentration. In conclusion, we found decreased exercise capacity in patients with systolic RV dysfunction assessed by pulse tissue Doppler in patients with inferior (posterior) wall acute MI despite preserved left ventricular function.     

Evaluation of immunohistochemical expression of p53, p21, p27, cyclin D1, and Ki67 in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

J Oral Pathol Med (2012) 41 : 40–46 Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the immunohistochemical expression of p53, p21, p27, cyclin D1, and Ki67 can predict therapy response and survival in patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated with preoperative chemoradiation. Methods: Biomarker expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded pretreatment biopsies of 111 homogenously treated patients. We assessed the association between clinicopathological variables including response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy as well as the survival of the patients and the expression of the biomarkers as both dichotomized (positive vs. negative) and continuous variables. Results: Biomarker overexpression on the basis of pre‐selected cutoff points was seen in 66 of 111 (59%) cases for p53, in 77 (69%) for p21, in 48 (43%) for p27, in 81 (73%) for cyclin D1, and in 54 (49%) cases for Ki67, respectively. None of the examined biomarkers was able to predict response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or was associated with survival outcome. Post‐treatment pathologic TNM stage (P < 0.001), pathologic response (P < 0.001), and perineural invasion (P < 0.001) were the only factors having a significant effect on recurrence‐free survival. Post‐treatment pathologic N stage (P = 0.005), post‐treatment pathologic TNM stage (P < 0.001), pathologic response (P < 0.001), and perineural invasion (P = 0.001) had a significant impact on overall survival. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the biomarkers p53, p21, p27, cyclin D1, and Ki67 have no impact on treatment response and survival in patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer treated with preoperative chemoradiation.     

Sonozaki syndrome: case report and review of literature

Sonozaki syndrome—pustulotic arthro-osteitis (PAO) is a relatively rare, chronic illness. This disease belongs to the group of psoriatic arthritis (psoriasis arthropatica, artropatia psoriatica) which in turn belongs to the group of seronegative arthritis. Sonozaki syndrome includes palmoplantar pustulosis, PPP as well as arthro-osteitis. Clinically, symmetrically localised pustulae are observed on feet and hands. Effected joints are painful, swollen with a visible inflammation. Here, we describe a case of a woman aged 55 with a diagnosis of Sonozaki syndrome and hyperthyroidism. At the moment of admission multiple changes in the form of pustulae were observed on hands and soles, filled with pus and blood of the erythemal basis. Oral and genital mucosa were free from changes. The oedema within clavicle and sternum joints was without features of the severe inflammation and tactical tenderness. In additional tests, increased BSR 36/62 was found. Bone scintigraphy—focuses of increased accumulation of MDP-Tc-99 m were found in the sternal projection of the clavicle ends at both sides, and the left-side change is bigger and more strongly saturated and can probably progress to the sternum’s manubrium. As a result of the used treatment during hospitalisation, (cyclosporine 3 mg/kg and steroid external therapy upon the skin changes) the improvement of the local changes was observed as well as no progression in the joints’ changes. At the moment, the patient is treated in the dermatological and rheumatological out-clinic. Early and correct diagnostics allows for efficient treatment of Sonozaki syndrome and decreases the risk of potential complications, such as the described systemic amyloidosis.     

Treatment of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and ST-elevation myocardial infarction in patients with chronic kidney disease

Renal dysfunction is frequent in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with very poor prognosis and is an independent predictor of early and late mortality and major bleeding in patients with NSTE-ACS. Patients with NSTE-ACS and CKD are still rarely treated according to guidelines. Medical registers reveal that patients with CKD are usually treated with too high doses of antithrombotics, especially anticoagulants and inhibitors of platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptors, and therefore they are more prone to bleeding. Drugs which are excreted mainly or exclusively by the kidney should be administered in a reduced dose or discontinued in patients with CKD. These drugs include enoxaparin, fondaparinux, bivalirudin, and small molecule inhibitors of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors. In long-term treatment of patients after myocardial infarction, anti-platelet therapy, lipid-lowering therapy and β-blockers are used. Chronic kidney disease patients before qualification for coronary interventions should be carefully selected in order to avoid their use in the group of patients who could not benefit from such procedures. This paper presents schemes of non-ST and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treatment in CKD patients in accordance with the current recommendations of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).