Leptin-Notch signaling axis is involved in pancreatic cancer progression.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) shows a high death rate. PC incidence and prognosis are affected by obesity, a pandemic characterized by high levels of leptin. Notch is upregulated by leptin in breast cancer.

CCR6 expression in colon cancer is associated with advanced disease and supports epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

Background: Adjuvant chemotherapy offered to treat colon cancer is based on the TNM staging system, which often fails due to molecular heterogeneity and undefined molecular mechanisms independent of TNM. Therefore, identification of markers to better predict therapeutic option and outcome is needed. In this study we have characterised the clinical association of CCR6 with colon cancer and defined CCR6-mediated molecular pathway.

Situs inversus.

Situs Inversus is a rare condition with unique clinical and radiographic characteristics. We present a case highlighting important clinical factors associated with Situs Inversus.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer - An Overview.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous disease that based on immunohistochemistry (IHC) is estrogen receptor (ER) negative, progesterone receptor (PR) negative and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative. TNBC is typically observed in young AA women and Hispanic women who carry a mutation in the BRCA1 gene. TNBC is characterized by a distinct molecular profile, aggressive nature and lack of targeted therapies.

Subungual melanoma: diagnosis and management.

Subungual Melanoma accounts for less than three percent of all cutaneous melanomas and has a dismal prognosis. Our case report outlines the current approach for diagnosis and management of this rare form of acral lentiginous melanoma.

Primary Breast Lymphoma: A Rare Clinical Entity.

Localized primary breast lymphoma is very rare. The typical clinical and radiographic presentation of isolated primary breast lymphoma mimics that of breast adenocarcinoma. Histologic diagnosis of primary breast lymphoma relies heavily on Hematoxylin and Eosin pathologic evaluation and immunohistochemical staining.

Soft tissue sarcoma with metastasis to the stomach: a case report.

Soft tissue sarcomas are unusual malignancies comprising 1% of cancer diagnoses in the United States. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma accounts for approximately 5% of sarcomas occurring in adults. The most common site of metastasis is the lung, with other sites being bone, the brain, and the liver.

The association of plasma fatty acids with prostate cancer risk in African Americans and Africans.

Higher risk for prostate cancer (PCa) among African Americans is partly associated with exposure to dietary fatty-acids, the carcinogenic effects of which remain controversial. Odds ratio of PCa risk was determined by unconditional logistic regression comparing highest with lowest quartiles of plasma fatty-acids in a case-control design. Mean age for 173 African Americans and 340 Nigerians was 56.

Sigmoid-urachal-cutaneous fistula in an adult male.

An infected urachal cyst is an uncommon finding in adults. We report the first case of a sigmoid-urachal-cutaneous fistula that resulted from rupture of an infected urachal cyst in an adult male. Definitive management consisted of resection of the urachus with a bladder cuff, along with removal of the affected bowel segments and bowel anastomosis.

Adenomatous hyperplasia of the gallbladder.

Adenomatous hyperplasia of the gallbladder is an uncommon condition, particularly in men. A literature search yields minimal information on this entity, thus suggesting the infrequency of its occurrence. Adenomyomatosis is an entity that closely resembles adenomatous hyperplasia but has hypertrophy of the muscular layer and extensive Rokitansky-Aschoff sinuses.

Laparoscopic revision of the gastrojejunostomy for recurrent bleeding ulcers after past open revision gastric bypass.

Late complications of open gastric bypass can include malnutrition, weight gain, stomal stenosis, and recurrent bleeding ulcers. Herein, we describe the case of a woman who had recurrent bleeding ulcers, after an open revision of a stenotic gastric bypass. She now underwent an uneventful laparoscopic revision of her gastrojejunostomy and was discharged within 72 hours.

Ageism in breast cancer surgical options by medical students.

Introduction: The similar long-term survival of breast conservation and modified radical mastectomy in treating early invasive breast cancer has been well established. Since doctors often find themselves in the position of making operative recommendations, characterization of factors that may influence their recommendations is important. Previous investigations have demonstrated the phenomenon of ageism (i.

Paget's disease of the breast areola mimicking cutaneous melanoma.

Paget's disease of the breast nipple and areola complex represents a cutaneous manifestation of an underlying breast malignancy. The typical skin changes characteristic of breast Paget's disease are usually easily distinguished from those found of malignant melanoma. The rare finding of a pigmented cutaneous breast lesion mimicking melanoma presents a diagnostic dilemma.

Poor knowledge of basic cancer facts of physicians-in-training.

Purpose: Since many physicians-in-training will play an important role in cancer screening, their understanding of cancer screening and basic cancer facts is paramount. This investigation was undertaken to determine their baseline knowledge in basic cancer facts.

Method: A questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of basic cancer facts of medical students, medical residents and surgical residents.

Multivariate analysis of factors associated with smoking cessation in women.

Background: Appropriate smoking cessation techniques, including counseling patients to stop smoking, could prevent multiple health-related problems. Identification of relevant factors in patients that smoke may be beneficial in targeting smoking cessation efforts. This investigation explores various factors associated with smoking cessation, specifically in women.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and breast cancer: genetic link or coincidental association?

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a low-grade cutaneous neoplasm originating from the dermis with a high propensity for local recurrence. These malignancies are classified as soft tissue sarcoma although regional or distance metastatic spread is rare. Germ-line mutations of p53 have been described with a rare autosomal dominant syndrome in patients with soft tissue sarcoma and breast adenocarcinoma (Li Fraumeni's syndrome).

Nodular melanoma of the face: a rare finding in African Americans.

The incidence of melanoma has dramatically increased during the past several decades in the United States. Although the majority of cutaneous melanomas occur in Caucasians, African Americans are also susceptible to this malignancy. Cutaneous melanomas in African Americans typically occur on palms of the hands or soles of the feet.

Physicians-in-training recommendations for prophylactic bilateral mastectomies.

The decision to recommend bilateral prophylactic mastectomy (PBM), one treatment modality used to reduce the development of breast carcinoma, may be influenced by physician bias. This investigation tested the hypothesis that there are physician-in-training biases in recommendations of PBM. All second-year medical students, general surgical residents, and internal medicine residents at our institution participated in a survey in which they were asked at what percent risk of developing breast carcinoma the physicians-in-training would recommend PBM for 1) their patients, 2) themselves, and 3) their significant others, as applicable.

Effect of a short structured session on medical student breast cancer screening knowledge.

Formalized instruction in breast cancer screening during medical school may help improve early breast cancer detection and survival. Physicians-in-training must be proficient in skills relating to breast cancer screening. This study investigates the baseline breast cancer screening knowledge of medical students, the benefit of a structured lecture session, and its effect on improving medical students' knowledge of cancer screening.

Human immunodeficiency syndrome and hepatitis B and C infections among homeless adolescents.

The lifestyle of homeless adolescents places them at high risk for contracting a variety of serious illnesses. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the predictors of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis infections among homeless youth. Anonymous and confidential interviewer-administered psychosocial surveys were conducted with 150 homeless youth (ages 14 to 23 years; 70% male).

Synchronous occurrence of glioblastoma multiforme and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Synchronous malignancies are rare occurrences for which there may be a genetic link between two cancers or which may be simply coincidental. Although glioblastoma multiforme and esophageal adenocarcinoma have few clinical similarities there are no known biochemical or genetic links between the two malignancies. This case discussion details the synchronous occurrences of these two lesions and highlights possible clinical, biochemical, and genetic commonalities.

Education of medical students in clinical breast examination during surgical clerkship.

Background: Medical student training in clinical breast examination is deficient at most medical schools. The use of silicone breast models may allow the education of abnormal and normal findings. This study examines the efficacy of silicone breast models to educate medical students in clinical breast examinations during their third-year surgical rotation.

Insulin-like growth factor-I receptor activation blocks doxorubicin cytotoxicity in sarcoma cells.

More than 80% of patients with extremity sarcoma ultimately develop metastases to pulmonary sites. Doxorubicin alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents may result in partial or complete tumor response for sarcoma pulmonary metastases. Regardless of the response, there has been no proven survival benefit from cytotoxic chemotherapy in the treatment of localized or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma.

Self-reported differences in daily raw vegetable intake by ethnicity in a breast screening program.

Purpose: While the literature has no conclusive causal relationship between nutrition and breast cancer, diet is believed to play a role in the development of breast cancer. This investigation focuses on differences of dietary practice between Caucasians and African Americans in a cohort of women presenting for breast cancer screening.

Methods: Over a one-year period, 675 women presenting to the Breast Health Center at Tulane University Medical Center for an initial visit were given a self-reported health behavior questionnaire.