Bilateral naevus of Ota: a rare manifestation in a Caucasian

The naevus of Ota (naevus fusculocoeruleus ophthalmomaxillaris) was first described by the Japanese dermatologist M. T. Ota in 1939. It has a reported incidence of 0.2% to 1% in the Japanese population. It usually occurs in the skin innervated by the first or second branch of the trigeminal nerve. The naevus comprises dermal melanocytes and is congenital or acquired during adolescence. Commonly associated lesions include scleral melanocytosis and other ocular manifestations as well as lesions of the tympanic membrane, oral and intranasal mucosa and leptomeninges. Diseases associated with Ota's naevus in rare cases are open-angle glaucomas and melanoma. The naevus of Ota in Europeans is a rare manifestation. We report the very rare case of a bilateral naevus of Ota associated with enoral melanocytosis in a white European person.     

A racial difference in apolipoprotein E allele frequencies between the Japanese and Caucasian populations

We have examined the apo E phenotype frequencies in the Japanese population (n = 576, 16-78 years of age). Apo E phenotypes were determined by the rapid flat gel isoelectric focusing method that we previously reported. The apo E phenotype frequencies in the Japanese were 0.3% for E2/2, 6.1% for E3/2, 71.9% for E3/3, 0.7% for E4/2, 19.3% for E4/3 and 1.7% for E4/4. The apo E allele frequencies were 0.037, 0.846 and 0.117 for the epsilon 2, epsilon 3 and epsilon 4 alleles, respectively. These frequencies were compared with those in the Caucasian populations (n = 3033) reported by Sing & Davignon (1985). There was a significant difference in the apo E phenotype frequencies between the Japanese and Caucasian populations. In addition, a significantly lower frequency of the epsilon 2 and epsilon 4 alleles and a significantly higher frequency of the epsilon 3 allele were found in the Japanese than those reported for the Caucasian populations. It is concluded that there is a racial difference in the apo E allele frequencies between the Japanese and Caucasian populations.     

The association between periodontitis and interleukin-6 genetic polymorphism -174 G/C: A meta-analysis

BackgroundTo evaluate the association between periodontitis and interleukin-6 (IL6) -174 G/C polymorphism by data synthesis and subgroup analysis.MethodsEighteen case-control studies from 16 articles with 1616 cases and 1511 controls were included in this meta-analysis by searching the public databases including PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases by Jun 2018. Data syntheses were performed using Stata 9.0.ResultsThere were inverse associations of IL6 -174 G/C polymorphism with both general periodontitis and overall periodontitis. In CC vs. GG inheritance model, whose effect was the most profound, the genetic polymorphism reduced the risks of general and overall periodontitis by 60% (95% CI = 0.25-0.65, P < 0.01) and 31% (95% CI = 0.38-0.97, P = 0.04) respectively. In addition, the G/C variation was likely to be protective against moderate (allele C vs. allele G: OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.43-0.87, P = 0.01; CC + GC vs. GG: OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.37-0.89, P = 0.01) and severe periodontitis (allele C vs. allele G: OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.41-0.84, P < 0.01; CC vs. GG: OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.13-0.82, P = 0.02) exclusively in Brazilian people. No reliable evidence was found regarding chronic periodontitis.ConclusionThis meta-analysis suggests that IL6 -174 G/C polymorphism may be negatively associated with risk of periodontitis.     

Racial disparity in orbital morphology and spatial relations in unoperated Crouzon patients

The altered orbital morphology of patients with Crouzon syndrome could have an impact on the planning of treatment in diverse populations, in spite of the confounding influences of different cranial suture synostosis. This study attempted to explore the differences in orbital characteristics between Asian, Caucasian patients with Crouzon syndrome, associated pansynostosis. Eighty-six preoperative computed tomograms (CT) were included (Asian Crouzon syndrome: n=10; Asian controls: n=24; Caucasian Crouzon syndrome: n=19; Caucasian controls: n=33) and measured using Mimics software (Materialise). Unique cephalometric measurements related to orbital morphology and position were designed. Crouzon syndrome and race both have interactive effects on protrusion of the globe (p=0.009) and medial horizontal angle (p=0.012) in the assessment of orbital morphology. They also interact in the width of the ethmoid sinus (p=0.009) and influence bilateral orbital relations. The anteroposterior orbital roof in Caucasian patients with Crouzon syndrome was shortened by 4.09 mm (p=0.002) compared with Caucasian controls. However, in Asian patients this dimension developed normally. The anteroposterior orbital floor was significantly reduced to a similar extent in both Asian and Caucasian Crouzon patients (both p<0.001). The visual axes in Caucasian patients with Crouzon showed more inferior rotation, by 4.38° (p=0.031) than they did in Caucasian controls, but did not achieve a statistically significant difference in other comparisons. The effect of Crouzon syndrome on orbital malformation and placement is influenced by race, especially structures related to the ethmoid sinus. Asian patients need greater infraorbital advancement for better correction of orbital proptosis and aesthetic benefits, but may require less fronto-orbital advancement than Caucasian patients.     

Bone Mineral Density is a Prognostic Factor for Postmenopausal Caucasian Women with Breast Cancer

Numerous studies have convincingly shown that women with low bone mineral density have lower risk of breast cancer. As many risk factors for breast cancer are also prognostic factors, we hypothesized that women with breast cancer and low bone mineral density will have lower breast cancer recurrence rates than women with normal bone densities. A prospectively collected data base of breast cancer patients was used to identify postmenopausal Caucasian women. Their records were reviewed and 309 patients with complete follow‐up and bone density tests within 1 year of their surgery were identified. The outcome of patients with low bone density (t > ?1.0) was compared to the outcome for patients with normal bone density (t < ?1.1). Among the 193 patients with invasive breast cancers and low bone density, distant disease‐free survival at 5 years was 96% compared to 84% for 114 patients with invasive breast cancers and normal bone density (p = 0.0239). Local disease‐free survival was 94% for low bone density patients compared to 86% for patients with normal bone densities (p = 0.0794). Bone mineral density is a significant prognostic factor for postmenopausal Caucasian women with breast cancer. Low bone mineral density is associated with a lower local and distant rate of recurrence.