Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1B1 Is Implicated in DNA Damage Response in Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1B1 (ALDH1B1) has been correlated with colorectal tumorigenesis and is considered a potential biomarker for colon cancer. Its expression has been associated with attenuation of the cell cycle in the G2/M phase and resistance to DNA damaging agents. The present study examines the role of ALDH1B1 in DNA damage response (DDR) in human colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Radiation-induced intracranial meningioma and multiple cavernomas.

Brain irradiation has several well-known long-term side effects, including radiation-induced neoplasms and vasculopathy. In this case report, we describe an extremely rare case of meningioma and 15 cavernomas developing in a 29-year-old man, 19 years after cranial irradiation for posterior cranial fossa medulloblastoma. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a radiation-induced meningioma accompanied by this many radiation-induced cavernous angiomas.

Effect of Atorvastatin versus Simvastatin on Lipid Profile and Plasma Fibrinogen in Patients with Hypercholesterolaemia: A Pilot, Randomised, Double-Blind, Dose-Titrating Study.

Objective: To investigate the effect of atorvastatin vs simvastatin on lipid profile and plasma fibrinogen in patients with hypercholesterolaemia.

Patients: 30 outpatients (25 men), with a median age of 51 years were studied. Eight patients had established coronary artery disease (CAD) and four had diabetes mellitus at baseline.

Effect of aldose reductase inhibition on heart rate variability in patients with severe or moderate diabetic autonomic neuropathy.

Patients with diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN) have an increased cardiovascular mortality rate compared with diabetic patients without DAN. Heart rate variability (HRV) time and frequency domain indices are strong predictors of malignant arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. This prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study analysed the long-term effect of an aldose reductase inhibitor, tolrestat, on HRV time and frequency domain variables in 45 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and DAN.

Protein-losing enteropathy as the principal manifestation of constrictive pericarditis.

Constrictive pericarditis represents a rare cause of protein-losing enteropathy due to intestinal lymphangiectasia. We report the case of a patient with an atypical clinical presentation of constrictive pericarditis and protein-losing enteropathy as its principal manifestation; he was successfully treated with pericardiectomy. We conclude that, constrictive pericarditis should be considered in the presence of protein losing enteropathy and also, protein-losing enteropathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hypoalbuminemia.