A2 allele polymorphism of the CYP17 gene and prostate cancer risk in an iranian population.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that alterations of steroid hormone metabolism, particularly involving testosterone, affect the risk of prostate cancer. Therefore, genetic variation in genes of enzymes which are involved could be of importance. The gene most interest is CYP17, whose enzyme product has an essential role in testosterone hormone synthesis. Some studies have indicated that the A2 allele polymorphism of CYP17 associated with increased risk of prostate cancer that could be affected by ethnicity. Therefore, the aim of this study was determination of presence or absence of the A2 allele in patients with prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied the association of A2 allele and prostate cancer among 74 patients with prostate cancer and 128 healthy men which were referred to hospitals of SBMU. RESULTS: This study revealed a significant association between prostate cancer risk and the A2 allele in an Iranian population so that A1A2 and A2A2 genotypes were more common in cases than controls with P-values of 0.029 and 0.010, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Results of our study support a possible role of the A2 allele in sporadic prostate cancer development in Iran, in line with findings elsewhere.

Prophylaxis of childhood migraine: topiramate versus propranolol.

OBJECTIVE: Headache is a common disabling neurological disorder and migraine comprises more than half the causes of recurrent headaches in children. Despite extended prevalence of this type of headache there is lack of evidence about best drug treatment for migraine. So we aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of these drugs on childhood migraine. MATERIALS & METHODS: In the current study, a randomized clinical trial consisting of 78 patients according to 2004 International Headache Association criteria were randomly assigned to two groups that matched by age and sex. One of these two groups was treated with Topiramate, while the other was given Propranolol. After one and four months, the efficiency of these treatments was measured in terms of frequency, severity and duration of migraine attacks. RESULTS: Results obtained from the data collected showed that of these 78 studied patients, 38 patients received Topiramate treatment (group A) and the rest (40 patients; group B) was treated with Propranolol. The average age of group A was 8.5± 2.9 years and that of group B was 8.3 ± 2.8 years. No significant difference was observed between these two groups in terms of reduction in frequency, severity and duration of migraine attacks. CONCLUSION: Results showed that both treatments had the same efficiency in healing migraine headaches and there was no significant difference between their treating results. However, further studies are needed to examine medical effects of these two medicines.