Superior mesenteric artery syndrome and aortic aneurysm

The association of superior mesenteric artery syndrome and aortic abdominal aneurysm is a rare event, less than 25 cases were reported. Objective - to describe two cases of the aforementioned association. Cases report -case 1 - a 66 years old white man whose first manifestation of the aneurysm was the duodenal obstruction with a fatal outcome before treatment was possible / A associação da síndrome da artéria mesentérica superior e o aneurisma de aorta abdominal é rara, menos que 25 casos foram descritos. Objetivo - relatar 2 casos de referida associação. Relato dos casos - caso 1 paciente de 66 anos, branco, masculino, cuja primeira manifestação do aneurisma de aorta foi a obstrução duodenal...

Length and somatic mosaicism of CAG and GGN repeats in the androgen receptor gene and the risk of prostate cancer in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia

The most common malignancy in men worldwide is cancer of the prostate and determinants of prostate cancer [PRCa] risk remain largely unidentified. Many candidate genes may be involved in PRCa, such as those that are central to cellular growth and differentiation in the prostate gland. We analysed the polymorphic CAG and GGN repeats sequence in exon 1 of the AR gene to determine if the number of repeats might be an indicator of PRCa risk in patients with BPH. The study evaluated 28 patients who presented with PRCa at least 6 years after the diagnosis of BPH and 56 matched patients with BPH who did not progress to PRCa over a comparable period. This study showed no evidence for association between the size of AR CAG and GGN repeats and the risk of the development of PRCa in patients with BPH. However, BPH patients with AR CAG instability had a 12-fold increased risk in development of PRCa. Conclusions: While independent confirmation is required in further studies, these results provide a potential tool to assist prediction strategies for this important disease

Vitamin D. receptor, HER-2 polymorphisms and risk of prostate cancer in men with benign prostate hyperplasia

Prostate cancer [PRCa] is one of the most common causes of cancer death in men and determinants of PRCa risk remain largely unidentified. Benign prostatic hyperplasia [BPH] is found in the majority of ageing men and has been associated with PRCa. Many candidate genes have been suggested to be involved in PRCa, such as those that are central to cellular growth and differentiation in the prostate gland. The vitamin D receptor [VDR] and HER-2 protooncogene have been shown to be involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation in prostate cells. Genetic variations of these genes could be useful to detect BPH patients that have a higher risk of developing PRCa. This study used a case-control design to assess the predictive value of 3 polymorphisms in VDR [TaqI and FokI] and HER-2 [Val655Ile] to determine the risk of developing PRCa in patients with BPH. Polymorphisms were detected by RFLP analysis. The study evaluated 28 patients who presented with PRCa at least 6 years after the diagnosis of BPH and 56 matched patients with BPH who did not progress to PRCa over a comparable period. The study was carried out in University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom in the year 2002. Among the case group, 89% had a TT TaqI genotype, whereas 57% of control had this genotype [odds ratio [OR] = 5.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.46-18.22]. A similar pattern was seen for the FokI genotype, although this was not statistically significant [OR = 2.33, 95% CI = 0.86-6.29]. The frequency of the HER-2 Ile/Ile genotype was higher in cases [79%] compared to control subjects [66%], although this was not statistically significant [OR = 1.94, 95% CI = 0.67-5.63]. This study shows that the VDR TaqI polymorphism is associated with a group of men with BPH who are at an increase risk of PRCa, providing a potential tool to assist prediction strategies for this important disease