Association between T2DM and the lowering of testosterone levels among Kashmiri males

ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this study is to study association between testosterone and diabetes in Kashmiri males. Subjects and methods: A total of 300 males with Type 2 diabetes visited an outpatient and inpatient clinic at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital, Srinagar, J&K India. The blood sugar and HbA1c, which are the markers of diabetes, and sérum testosterone levels were measured. The blood samples from both the cases and controls were collected. Results: Out of 300 subjects, 42% had a testosterone deficiency. A relationship between type 2 diabetic males and healthy males was observed, and testosterone levels were determined to be significantly lower among diabetic males (p < 0.001) when compared to healthy males. Then, we compared diabetic markers among testosterone deficient and normal testosterone level groups; the mean fasting plasma glucose (p = 0.0019) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c; p = 0.0449) levels were significantly higher in the testosterone deficient group than in the control group. To elucidate the relationship between the serum total testosterone level and fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c values, Pearson's correlation test was performed. Fasting plasma glucose levels (r = −0.252, p = 0.001) and HbA1c values (r = −0.697, p = 0.001) showed a significant negative correlation with serum testosterone levels among diabetic males. Conclusions: This study shows that diabetes causes low testosterone levels among males, and lower testosterone levels can act as a marker for diabetes. Thus, with timely intervention, mortality and co-morbidity associated with diabetes can be prevented.

Mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor gene in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients in Kashmir: a high incidence area of India

Activating mutations in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor [EGFR] are common in lung adenocarcinoma of never smokers but are rare in other types of cancer. Here we have analysed mutations in exons 19 to 21 of EGFR and in exons 19 and 20 of the EGFR homolog HER2 in 54 cases of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas [ESCC] from patients recruited in Kashmir, India, a region of high incidence for this cancer. We report the detection of 3 mutations [6%] in the ATP- binding regulatory loops of the tyrosine kinase domain of EGFR [deletion 746-750, p753L, G719D]. No mutation was found in HER2. This is the first report of activating EGFR mutations in ESCC, of the same type as those detected in lung adenocarcinoma of never-smokers. This suggests that a small portion of ESCC patients in this high incidence area may benefit from treatment with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors

association of beta-catenin gene mutations and human papillomavirus in carcinoma of esophagus in a high-risk population of India

Esophageai cancer [EC] is the sixth leading cause of death from cancer. In high-risk regions, squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of EC, and its etiology remains poorly understood. It shows uneven geographical distribution in its occurrence, reflecting the influence of local environmental conditions, lifestyle and genetic predisposition in the development of the cancer. Kashmir, in the north of India, has been described as a high-risk area for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma [ESCC]. In the present investigation an attempt was made to study the role of p-catenin mutations and human papillomavirus in 62 ESCC patients from Kashmir. The hot spot mutation region of p-catenin exon 3 was evaluated in matched tumor and normal tissues using a combination of PCR-SSCP and direct sequencing. We used two different sets of consensus primers viz., GP5+ and GP6+; PGMY09 and PGMY11 in conjunction with reverse line blot assay to screen for human papillomavirus [HPV]. None of the tumors showed the presence of commonly reported mutations in p-catenin. In view of the fact that HPV has been linked to pathogenesis of EC, we screened all the tumor and control specimens for the presence of HPV and we didn't detect HPV in any of the matched tumor and control specimens in contrast to the positive controls we used. In conclusion our results suggest that squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus in Kashmir may arise independent of oncogenic p-catenin mutations and HPV is unlikely to be an etiologic factor for ESCC in this region

Association of Beta-catenin gene mutations and human papillomavirus in Carcinoma of Esophagus in a high-risk population of India

Background: Esophageal cancer [EC] is the sixth leading cause of death from cancer. In high-risk regions, squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of EC, and its etiology remains poorly understood. It shows uneven geographical distribution in its occurrence, reflecting the influence of local environmental conditions, lifestyle and genetic predisposition in the development of the cancer. Kashmir, in the north of India, has been described as a high-risk area for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma [ESCC]. In the present investigation an attempt was made to study the role of -catenin mutations and human papillomavirus in 62 ESCC patients from Kashmir

Methods: The hot spot mutation region of -catenin exon 3 was evaluated in matched tumor and normal tissues using a combination of PCR-SSCP and direct sequencing. We used two different sets of consensus primers viz., GP5+ and GP6+; PGMY09 and PGMY11 in conjunction with reverse line blot assay to screen for human papillomavirus[HPV]

Results: None of the tumors showed the presence of commonly reported mutations in -catenin. In view of the fact that HPV has been linked to pathogenesis of EC, we screened all the tumor and control specimens for the presence of HPV and we didn't detect HPV in any of the matched tumor and control specimens in contrast to the positive controls we used

Conclusion: In conclusion our results suggest that squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus in Kashmir may arise independent of oncogenic Beta-catenin mutations and HPV is unlikely to be an etiologic factor for ESCC in this region

Frequency and pattern of hodgkin's disease in northern Pakistan

During the thirteen and a half years period 3,355 lymph node biopsies were examined. A diagnosis of malignant wits made in 428 patients of which 136 [31.99%] were found to have Hodgkin's disease which included 100 males and 36 Females. The majority of patients were under thirty years of age with no evidence of bimodality. The histological type was mixed cellularity [GG.95%]