Malignant transformation of multiple dermal cylindromas.

Cylindromas are benign tumours arising as small, solitary, slow-growing nodules on the head and neck. Multiple cylindromas may form a 'turban tumour' in the autosomal dominant Brooke-Spiegler syndrome. We report two unusual cases of multiple cylindromas with transformation into cylindrocarcinomas. The first patient, a 63-year-old white woman, developed a cylindrocarcinoma on pre-existing multiple cylindromas on her right shoulder. Eight months after resection she developed a lymph node metastasis in the right axilla. The second patient, a 68-year-old white woman, presented with multiple cylindromas of the scalp. One of these transformed into a cylindrocarcinoma, infiltrating the dura mater, with local recurrence 2 years after incomplete resection and postoperative radiation.

Inverse correlation between alcohol consumption and lymphocyte levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in humans.

In a cross-sectional study of 115 premenopausal non-smoking women, we examined the relationship between lymphocyte levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) and habitual alcohol consumption. The study was conducted in four different regions of Europe, including Potsdam (Germany), Turin (Italy), Malmö (Sweden) and Granada (Spain). Mean 8-oxodGuo levels differed significantly across study centres (P = 0.001), with the highest levels in Granada [2.17 8-oxodGuox10(-6) 2'-deoxyguanosine (95% confidence interval 1.27-4.40)] and lowest levels in Turin [1.19 (0.36-4.29)]. Mean levels of total alcohol intake and of types of alcoholic beverages consumed (wine, fortified wines, beer and cider) also differed across the study centres (P < 0.05), with the highest total alcohol consumption in Turin, and the lowest intake in GRANADA: When combining all the data, but adjusting for study centre, individual 8-oxodGuo level correlated inversely with alcohol intake. This inverse association remained unaltered after further adjustment for Quetelet Index, fruit and vegetable consumption, and plasma carotenoid levels. Furthermore, the inverse association was also observed for each of the study centres separately, and for different beverage types, with the exception of Granada, where the majority of women were non-drinkers and where alcohol intakes were also very low for the consumers. Finally, on a group level, mean levels of 8-oxodGuo and alcohol intake were also inversely associated between the four study centres. The finding of a relationship between alcohol consumption and 8-oxodGuo in lymphocytes was unexpected and not based on a prior hypothesis. This finding consequently requires confirmation from a randomized intervention study.

Interaction of vitamin C with the relation between smoking and obstructive airways disease in EPIC Norfolk. European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition.

Previous studies have reported an association between plasma vitamin C levels and respiratory function, but have not examined the role of vitamin C as an effect modifier of the relation between cigarette smoking and obstructive airways disease (OAD). This question was investigated in a cross-sectional analysis of a population-based study of 3,714 males and 4,256 females aged 45-74 yrs. Undiagnosed OAD was defined as a forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of <80% of the predicted value and FEV1/forced vital capacity of <70% without self-reported OAD. An increase of 20 micromol x L(-1) (or 1 SD) in plasma vitamin C concentration was associated with a 13% reduction in the risk of having OAD (adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval) 0.87 (0.77-0.98)). The OR for current smokers relative to never smokers within the lowest quintile of plasma vitamin C concentration was 5.93 (3.03-11.61). The risk in the upper four quintiles was 2.84 (1.92-4.19). Within the lowest quintile of plasma vitamin C concentration, the risk in former smokers was strongly related to the time since quitting (interaction significant, p=0.001). These findings support a protective role for vitamin C against the risk of obstructive airways disease and support the hypothesis that vitamin C may be an effect modifier for the adverse effects of smoking on the risk of obstructive airways disease.