GLI-1 polymorphisms of Hedgehog pathway as novel risk and prognostic biomarkers in melanoma patients.

In adult organisms, deregulation of the sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway is significantly correlated with different malignancies. Currently, data associating genetic polymorphisms in the SHH pathway with melanoma are scarce and largely unknown. The objective of our study was to elucidate an association between gene polymorphisms in the SHH pathway and prognosis of melanoma skin cancer patients. The current study investigated the association of PTCH1 (rs357564), SMO (rs2228617) and GLI1 (rs2228224, rs2228226), polymorphisms with melanoma predisposition and prognosis. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms were assessed by TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assays. The study involved 93 melanoma patients and 97 individuals in the control group. Melanoma patients with the variant mutant genotype GG of GLI1 rs2228226 polymorphism had poorer overall survival and recurrence-free survival (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.037, respectively). The multivariate analysis revealed that disease progression [hazard ratio (HR) = 14.434, P = 0.0001] and the GLI1 rs2228226 polymorphism (HR = 4.161, P = 0.006) persisted as independent prognostic factors. Mutated allele carriers (combined heterozygous and mutated genotypes) for GLI1 rs2228224 G and GLI1 rs2228226 G allele significantly increased melanoma risk [odds ratio (OR) = 2.261, P = 0.007; OR = 2.176, P = 0.010]. Our study demonstrated that genetic variants in GLI1, downstream member of the HH signaling pathway, are the risk factors for melanoma susceptibility and it can be a novel marker for melanoma prognosis. As a crucial SHH signaling member, GLI1 can also be regarded as a novel drug target for anti-cancer treatment in melanoma.

Integrative approach to diagnosis of genital human papillomaviruses (HPV) infection of female.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus from the papillomavirus family that is capable of infecting humans. Some types of HPVs cause warts, while others can lead to cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, oropharynx and anus. High-risk human papillomavirus (hr HPV) has been detected in almost all cervical squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. All patients examined by colposcopy. Cervical swab is routinely done and patients are screened with both HPV DNA by Real Time Polimerase Chain Reaction (RT PCR) testing and Pap testing. Pictures obtained by colposcopy were examined by indirect Bi-Digital O-Ring Test (BDORT) by using reference control substance (RCS): HPV 16, HPV 18, and Integrin α5 ß1. BDORT was developed by Prof. Omura Y. of New York and received U.S. patent in 1993. For detection of HPV DNA we used RT PCR and standard Qiagen method which detect 18 types (16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 68, 6, 11, 42, 43, 44) of HPV from smear. From 63 patients where is BDORT indicated presence of HPV, in 49 patients (77.8%) RT PCR confirmed presence of HPV. From 63 patients in 54 patients (85.7%), we detected, by colposcopic exam, some kind of lesions associated with HPV infection. Results obtained by RT PCR: one type (1/18) of DNA HPV in 25 patients (51.02%), 2 types (2/18) in 15 patients (30.61%) and 3 types (3/18) in 9 patients (18.37%). Although BDORT results usually have higher sensitivity and detection rate is much higher, it can be used together with RT PCR in detection of HPV and cervical lesions associated with HPV infection.

Magnetic resonance imaging features of multiple duodenal lipomas: a rare cause of intestinal obstruction.

A 65-year-old man was evaluated because of vomiting and epigastric pain. The patient underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound examination and was found to have multiple polypoid lesions in the D1 and D2 portions of the duodenum, causing almost complete obstruction of the duodenal lumen. The lesions were hyperintense on T1-weighted and intermediately intense on T2-weighted images, with a drop in signal on T1- and T2-weighted fat-suppressed images, consistent with a diagnosis of duodenal lipomas. Pathohistological examination confirmed the diagnosis of duodenal lipomas.