ALK, ROS1 and EGFR status of lung cancers in the Aegean Region of Turkey

Background/Aims: As targeted therapies are promising in the treatment of lung cancer (LC), it is important to identify the genetic variations in tumors. The present research aimed to determine the regional prevalence of alterations in ALK, ROS1, and EGFR genes. Materials and Methods: ALK rearrangement in 1152, ROS1 rearrangement in 390, and EGFR mutations in 1054 cases with LC were evaluated. Results: Alteration rates of ALK, ROS1, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) genes were 3.5%, 0.4%, and 11.2% in the samples, respectively. ALK rearrangements were mainly detected in young patients (P < 0.01) and in females (P < 0.01). Females were also more often inflicted by EGFR variations, especially from the exon 19 deletion. Exon 21 L858R mutations were more frequently found in men. However, any statistical significance between EGFR alterations and gender or age was not discovered. Conclusion: In this study, molecular changes were less frequent than expected. We thought that this low rate confirmed the aphorism of “smokes like a Turk, ” which could be because almost all patients were active or passive smokers.

Evaluation of human epididymal secretory protein 4 expression according to the molecular subtypes (luminal A, luminal B, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive, triple-negative) of breast cancer

Background/Aims: Human epididymal secretory protein 4 (HE4) is originally described as an epididymis-specific protein but more recently suggested to be a putative serum tumor marker for some tumors, including breast carcinomas. In this study, we aimed to investigate the interactions between HE4 expression and molecular subtypes of breast carcinomas. Methods: HE4 expressions were studied in 242 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast carcinoma specimens and their association with different pathological and clinical parameters was evaluated. Results: Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for HE4 was negative in 3 (1.2%) cases, weakly positive (1+) in 7 (2.9%) cases, moderately positive (2+) in 58 (24.0%) cases, and strongly positive (3+) in 174 (71.9%) cases. A correlation between IHC HE4 staining grade and molecular groups was detected (P = 0.005). Furthermore, it was found that HE4 expression was strongly associated with histological tumor grade, c-erbB2 expression, and positive fluorescence in situ hybridization test results that detect human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)/neu amplification (P = 0.022, P = 0.014, and P = 0.011). Conclusion: This study showed that HE4 expression is associated with HER2/neu amplification in breast cancers. These results may be commented as HE4 expression rises in patients with HER2/neu amplification. As is known, HER2/neu amplification is a poor diagnostic factor in breast cancer and HE4 expression is possibly associated with poor prognosis.

Efeitos da sibutramina no tratamento da obesidade em pacientes com hipertensão arterial / Effects of sibutramine on the treatment of obesity in patients with arterial hypertension

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of weight reduction with 10mg of sibutramine or placebo on blood pressure during 24 hours (ambulatory blood pressure monitoring), on left ventricular mass, and on antihypertensive therapy in 86 obese and hypertensive patients for 6 months. METHODS: The patients underwent echocardiography, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and measurement of the levels of hepatic enzymes prior to and after treatment with sibutramine or placebo. RESULTS: The group using sibutramine had a greater weight loss than that using placebo (6.7 percent versus 2.5 percent; p<0.001), an increase in heart rate (78.3±7.3 to 82±7.9 bpm; p=0.02), and a reduction in the left ventricular mass/height index (105±29.3 versus 96.6±28.58 g/m; p=0.002). Both groups showed similar increases in the levels of alkaline phosphatase and comparable adjustments in antihypertensive therapy; blood pressure, however, did not change. CONCLUSION: The use of sibutramine caused weight loss and a reduction in left ventricular mass in obese and hypertensive patients with no interference with blood pressure or with antihypertensive therapy

Cerebral cysticercosis in Campina Grande, Paraíba - Northern Brazil: computerized tomography diagnosis importance

Neurocysticercosis is the infection of the central nervous system by the larval form of Taenia Solium, the Cysticercus cellulosae. We studied 4011 computerized tomographies perfomed in TomoHPI Radioimaging Service, Hospital Pedro I, Campina Grande PB, Northern Brazil, since its installation on August 1993 to July 1995. 41 patients were diagnosed as having Cysticercus cerebral infestation, corresponding to an incidence of 1.02 per cent. No cases were related in Campina Grande PB during 1991 according to hospitalizations under prospective payment rates. After this radioimaging service installation, we observed 1.86 cases per month. We conclude that Campina Grande has to be included as an endemic area of neurocysticercosis, needing health service measures to cease the cycle Taenia-Cysticercus, the only way to get rid of such a serious problem.