Flavonoid and lignan intake and pancreatic cancer risk in the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition cohort

Despite the potential cancer preventive effects of flavonoids and lignans, their ability to reduce pancreatic cancer risk has not been demonstrated in epidemiological studies. Our aim was to examine the association between dietary intakes of flavonoids and lignans and pancreatic cancer risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. A total of 865 exocrine pancreatic cancer cases occurred after 11.3 years of follow‐up of 477,309 cohort members. Dietary flavonoid and lignan intake was estimated through validated dietary questionnaires and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Phenol Explorer databases. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using age, sex and center‐stratified Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for energy intake, body mass index (BMI), smoking, alcohol and diabetes status. Our results showed that neither overall dietary intake of flavonoids nor of lignans were associated with pancreatic cancer risk (multivariable‐adjusted HR for a doubling of intake = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.95–1.11 and 1.02; 95% CI: 0.89–1.17, respectively). Statistically significant associations were also not observed by flavonoid subclasses. An inverse association between intake of flavanones and pancreatic cancer risk was apparent, without reaching statistical significance, in microscopically confirmed cases (HR for a doubling of intake = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.91–1.00). In conclusion, we did not observe an association between intake of flavonoids, flavonoid subclasses or lignans and pancreatic cancer risk in the EPIC cohort.     

Ethanol-Induced Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase: Role of Dopamine D1 Receptors

Background:  Addictive drugs activate extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) in brain regions critically involved in their affective and motivational properties. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the ethanol-induced activation of ERK in the nucleus accumbens (Acb) and in the extended amygdala [bed nucleus of the stria terminalis lateralis (BSTL) and central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA)] and to highlight the role of dopamine (DA) D₁ receptors in these effects.
Methods:  Ethanol (0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg) was administered by gavage and ERK phosphorylation was determined in the nucleus Acb (shell and core), BSTL, and CeA by immunohistochemistry. The DA D₁ receptor antagonist, SCH 39166 (SCH) (50 μg/kg), was administered 10 minutes before ethanol (1 g/kg).
Results:  Quantitative microscopic examination showed that ethanol, dose-dependently increased phospho-ERK immunoreactivity (optical and neuronal densities) in the shell and core of nucleus Acb, BSTL, and CeA. Pretreatment with SCH fully prevented the increases elicited by ethanol (1 g/kg) in all brain regions studied.
Conclusions:  The results of this study indicate that ethanol, similar to other addictive drugs, activates ERK in nucleus Acb and extended amygdala via a DA D₁ receptor-mediated mechanism. Overall, these results suggest that the D₁ receptors/ERK pathway may play a critical role in the motivational properties of ethanol.     

Atrial flutter termination by overdrive transesophageal pacing and the facilitating effect of oral propafenone

Transesophageal overdrive atrial pacing is effective and safe for atrial flutter termination. The influence of antiarrhythmic drug therapy on this procedure is controversial. In this study, we investigated whether oral propafenone may facilitate this procedure. Thirty patients with type I atrial flutter were randomized into 2 groups in which transesophageal pacing was attempted: group A, without treatment; and group B, after oral administration of propafenone 600 mg. Transesophageal pacing was effective in interrupting atrial flutter in 53% of patients (8 of 15) in group A and in 87% of patients (13 of 15) in group B. A significant lengthening of the flutter cycle was observed with respect to the baseline in patients given propafenone (261 ± 23 vs 217 ± 25, p < 0.01). Sinus rhythm resumed at a shorter paced cycle in group A patients (166 ± 13 vs 187 ± 14 ms, p < 0.01). The transesophageal threshold for stable atrial capture was significantly lower in group A (20.5 ± 0.2 vs 23.3 ± 1.2, p < 0.01). In no patient was the threshold for atrial capture higher than the pain threshold. We did not observe abrupt enhancement of atrioventricular conduction. We conclude that propafenone is effective and safe when used with transesophageal pacing in the termination of atrial flutter. The slowing effect of the drug on intraatrial conduction and the possible stabilizing effect on the reentry circuit appear to be outweighed by the positive effect of propafenone on the excitable gap of the circuit, facilitating its capture and accounting for the beneficial effect of the drug on arrhythmia termination.     

Primary adrenal insufficiency in a child with a mitochondrial DNA deletion

Mitochondrial disorders can affect any organ system, but certain tissues, such as skeletal muscle, heart, and brain are more susceptible to oxidative phosphorylation defects because of their high energy requirements. Endocrinological manifestations, especially diabetes mellitus, are common but they rarely dominate the clinical picture. We describe a 5-year-old girl who died of primary adrenal insufficiency with a mitochondrial disease. Biochemical studies in muscle showed decreased respiratory chain enzyme activities. We detected a novel 7.0 kb mtDNA deletion in muscle from the proband, but not in her mother's white blood cells. Our findings further enlarge the spectrum of clinical presentation associated with mitochondrial DNA deletions.     

Squamous-cell carcinoma developing within anal lichen planus

AIM: We present a case of squamous-cell carcinoma developing within perianal lichen planus. This is a chronic or recurrent cutaneous and/or mucosal dermatosis affecting less than 1 percent of the population. Neoplastic degeneration of cutaneous lichen planus is rare; only one case of squamous-cell carcinoma developing within perianal lichen planus has been described up until now in the international literature. CASE REPORT: Our case involved a 68-year-old woman with chronic, long-term lichen planus spreading all over the vulva and perianal region and the mucosa of the anal canal, where squamous-cell carcinoma developed within the perianal lichen planus. Treatment consisted of wide, circular excision of the perianal skin and mucosectomy of the anal canal up to as far as 1 cm above the dentate line. Reconstruction was performed by means of two V-Y bilateral subcutaneous flaps. CONCLUSION: Wide excision was performed not only to remove the squamous-cell carcinoma but also the lichen planus to prevent recurrence of metachronous or synchronous squamous-cell carcinoma. Follow-up at one year after surgery showed no local recurrence of either lichen planus or squamous-cell carcinoma, which suggests that surgical removal should be the therapy of choice for long-term, chronic perianal lichen planus that has proved to be resistant to medical therapy.     

Factors affecting long-term changes of liver stiffness in direct-acting anti-hepatitis C virus therapy: A multicentre prospective study

The long-term changes of liver stiffness (LS) in patients who achieve viral clearance after direct-acting anti-HCV therapy remain undefined. We conducted a multicentre prospective study to investigate this aspect. Patients with HCV infection treated with DAAs were enrolled from six Italian centres; they underwent clinical, biochemical, ultrasound and transient elastography evaluations before treatment (T0), 12 weeks (SVR12) and 24 months (T24) after the end of therapy. Among the 516 consecutive patients enrolled, 301 had cirrhosis. LS significantly decreased from T0 to SVR (14.3 vs 11.1 kPa, p = .002), with a progressive reduction until T24 (8.7 kPa, p < .001). However, only patients with steatosis and those who developed HCC did not experience a late improvement in LS. Multivariate analysis of baseline and follow-up variables identified steatosis as the only independent predictor of failure of LS improvement (OR 1.802, p = .013). ROC curve analysis of the association of LS with the risk of developing HCC showed that SVR12 ≥14.0 kPa had the highest accuracy (sensitivity 82%, specificity 99%; AUC: 0.774). Multivariate analysis revealed that LS was the only variable independently associated with an increased risk of developing HCC (OR 6.470, p = .035). Achieving an SVR was associated with a progressive, long-term decline of LS, suggesting a late improvement in liver fibrosis, besides the resolution of inflammation. Fatty liver and the development of HCC interfered with late reduction of LS. Patients with an LS ≥14 kPa at 12 weeks after the end of treatment were at higher risk for developing HCC.