Peritoneal Inclusion Cyst in a Young Patient With a Long History of Abdominal Surgeries: A Case Report.

Peritoneal inclusion cysts (PICs) are reactive, fluid-filled lesions of the peritoneal lining, usually affecting women of reproductive age and with previous abdominal surgeries. Paraovarian cysts, hydrosalpinx, and low-grade cystic mesothelioma are usually considered in the differential diagnosis of PICs. In this case report, we present an 18-year-old female with a known case of bladder exstrophy and chronic urinary incontinence and a previous history of surgical bladder repair. She presented to the emergency department (ED) with urinary incontinence and lower abdominal pain. A computed tomography was ordered for her to rule out hydronephrosis, and incidentally, ovarian cysts were discovered that were then bilaterally excised via laparotomy. Our case report emphasizes the significance of considering such a diagnosis when coming across patients whose risk factors and symptoms match the diagnosis.

Genome-Wide Analysis Unveils DNA Helicase RECQ1 as a Regulator of Estrogen Response Pathway in Breast Cancer Cells.

Susceptibility to breast cancer is significantly increased in individuals with germ line mutations in RECQ1 (also known as RECQL or RECQL1), a gene encoding a DNA helicase essential for genome maintenance. We previously reported that RECQ1 expression predicts clinical outcomes for sporadic breast cancer patients stratified by estrogen receptor (ER) status. Here, we utilized an unbiased integrative genomics approach to delineate a cross talk between RECQ1 and ERα, a known master regulatory transcription factor in breast cancer. We found that expression of ESR1, the gene encoding ERα, is directly activated by RECQ1. More than 35% of RECQ1 binding sites were cobound by ERα genome-wide. Mechanistically, RECQ1 cooperates with FOXA1, the pioneer transcription factor for ERα, to enhance chromatin accessibility at the ESR1 regulatory regions in a helicase activity-dependent manner. In clinical ERα-positive breast cancers treated with endocrine therapy, high RECQ1 and high FOXA1 coexpressing tumors were associated with better survival. Collectively, these results identify RECQ1 as a novel cofactor for ERα and uncover a previously unknown mechanism by which RECQ1 regulates disease-driving gene expression in ER-positive breast cancer cells.

Stress Marks on the Genome: Use or Lose?

Oxidative stress and the resulting damage to DNA are inevitable consequence of endogenous physiological processes further amplified by cellular responses to environmental exposures. If left unrepaired, oxidative DNA lesions can block essential processes such as transcription and replication or can induce mutations. Emerging data also indicate that oxidative base modifications such as 8-oxoG in gene promoters may serve as epigenetic marks, and/or provide a platform for coordination of the initial steps of DNA repair and the assembly of the transcriptional machinery to launch adequate gene expression alterations. Here, we briefly review the current understanding of oxidative lesions in genome stability maintenance and regulation of basal and inducible transcription.

Prevalence of harassment and discrimination among residents in three training hospitals in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Multiple surveys of medical residents have shown a high incidence of harassment and discrimination in academic health centers. Harassment has a negative effects on residents' health and on their ability to function. No previous study has documented the prevalence of harassment and discrimination among residents in Saudi Arabia. We aimed in this study to assess the prevalence of harassment and discrimination among residents at a tertiary care academic hospitals in Saudi Arabia. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional survey conducted at National Guard Hospitals in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al-Ahsa'a from 27 July to 20 August 2010. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The survey included questions on the prevalence of harassment of different types, inlcuding verbal, academic, physical and sexual harassment, as well as discrimination on the basis of gender, region of origin or physical appearance. RESULTS: Of 380 residents, 213 (56%) returned a completed questionnaire (123 male, 57.8%). At least one of type of harassment and discrimination was reported by 83.6% of respondents. The most frequently reported forms were verbal harassment and gender discrimination (61.5% and 58.3%, respectively). Sexual harassment was commonly reported (19.3%) and was experienced significantly more often by female residents than by male residents (P=.0061). CONCLUSION: Harassment and discrimination of Saudi residents is common with more than three-quarters reporting having had such an experience. Identification of the risk factors is a necessary first step in clarifying this issue and could be used when planning strategies for prevention.

Haematological manifestations of arthrogryposis-renal dysfunction-cholestasis (ARC) syndrome: a case report.

Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, renal dysfunction, and cholestasis (ARC) syndrome is a rare, fatal, multisystem disorder. Bleeding problems, which occur spontaneously and post organ biopsies, have been reported in these patients. We report the case of an infant who had life-threatening spontaneous nasal bleeding. A detailed assessment of her platelet function and morphology is presented.