From cultivation to cancer: formation of -nitrosamines and other carcinogens in smokeless tobacco and their mutagenic implications.

Tobacco use is a major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality globally. Tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco (ST), generally contain tobacco-specific -nitrosamines (TSNAs), such as '-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-butanone (NNK), which are potent carcinogens that cause mutations in critical genes in human DNA. This review covers the series of biochemical and chemical transformations, related to TSNAs, leading from tobacco cultivation to cancer initiation.

Impact of the WHO FCTC on non-cigarette tobacco products.

Introduction: This paper investigates to what extent Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) parties have successfully implemented regulatory measures against non-cigarette tobacco product (NCTP) use, considers the challenges and peculiarities in applying such regulations and proposes effective means.

Data And Methods: This review was based on many sources mainly: International Legal Consortium, International Tobacco Control, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, FCTC, expert group visits and published literature.

Findings And Conclusion: The FCTC provided a framework that applies to all forms of tobacco and this encouraged some parties to adopt control measures against NCTP and to incorporate them into their national tobacco control plans.

Cervical ganglioneuroma in collision with a metastatic undifferentiated carcinoma.

Cervical ganglioneuromas are extremely rare with approximately six case reports. The current report highlights a unique collision tumor between a cervical ganglioneuroma and a metastatic undifferentiated carcinoma arising from a primary gingival mass. A 53-year-old male presented with a 2 cm left gingival mass that was excised and treated with systemic chemotherapy.

Health effects associated with waterpipe smoking.

Objective: It is widely held that waterpipe smoking (WPS) is not associated with health hazards. However, several studies have documented the uptake of several toxicants and carcinogens during WPS that is strongly associated with harmful health effects. This paper reviews the literature on the health effects of WPS.

ST1926, an orally active synthetic retinoid, induces apoptosis in chronic myeloid leukemia cells and prolongs survival in a murine model.

The tyrosine kinase inhibitor, imatinib, is the first line of treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. Unfortunately, patients develop resistance and relapse due to bcr-abl point mutations and the persistence of leukemia initiating cells (LIC). Retinoids regulate vital biological processes such as cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation, in particular of hematopoietic progenitor cells.

ASPL-TFE3 translocation in vulvovaginal alveolar soft part sarcoma.

Alveolar soft part sarcoma of the vulvovaginal region is limited to only 8 reported vaginal cases and 1 vulvar case in the English literature. The histogenesis of the tumor remains intriguing with postulates favoring a myogenic versus nonmyogenic origin. A reciprocal translocation for ASPL-TFE3 gene fusion, frequently detected in ~90% of cases, combined with TFE3 protein immunoexpression are highly sensitive and specific methods for diagnostic confirmation.

A comparative study of systemic carcinogen exposure in waterpipe smokers, cigarette smokers and non-smokers.

Background: In the past decade, waterpipe smoking-also known as hookah, shisha, narghileh-has increased among youth. The scarcity of rigorous studies linking waterpipe smoking to smoking-related diseases has hindered policy and regulatory efforts to confront the waterpipe epidemic. This study compares systemic carcinogen exposure between independent groups of exclusive waterpipe smokers, cigarette smokers and non-smokers.

Effective targeting of chronic myeloid leukemia initiating activity with the combination of arsenic trioxide and interferon alpha.

Imatinib is the standard of care in chronic meloid leukemia (CML) therapy. However, imatinib is not curative since most patients who discontinue therapy relapse indicating that leukemia initiating cells (LIC) are resistant. Interferon alpha (IFN) induces hematologic and cytogenetic remissions and interestingly, improved outcome was reported with the combination of interferon and imatinib.

Nicotine exposure in daily waterpipe smokers and its relation to puff topography.

Waterpipe tobacco smoking is increasing in popularity worldwide and available evidence point to its addictive and harmful potential. This study is conducted to assess nicotine exposure in daily waterpipe smokers, and its correlation with puff topography parameters. Sixty-one waterpipe tobacco smokers (56 males; mean age±SD, 30.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia associated with myelodysplastic syndrome with ring sideroblasts.

Diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia (MDS/AML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in the same patient is extremely rare. We describe a 69-year-old CLL patient who developed MDS with ring sideroblasts 1 year after diagnosis of CLL and without any previous treatment. Diagnosis was based on flow cytometry, bone marrow aspirate morphology, and iron stain.

Essential thrombocythemia with myelofibrosis transformed into acute myeloid leukemia with der(1;15)(q10;q10): case report and literature review.

Translocations involving chromosomes 1 and 15 are uncommon in hematologic malignancies. So far, only 42 cases have been reported with t(1;15) as a reciprocal or complex chromosomal abnormalities. We herein report the first case in the literature, to our knowledge, of a 44-year-old female with essential thrombocythemia and severe myelofibrosis who developed acute myeloid leukemia (AML-M4) with der(1;15)(q10;q10) after 13 years of treatment.

Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor genotypes in Behçet's disease patients: any role for the 3DP1*001/002 pseudogene?

Aims: Genotypic profiles of the natural killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) have been reported to vary among different ethnic groups and variable clinical entities. This study represents the second report on its distribution among patients with Behçet's disease (BD). We studied 43 unrelated Lebanese Behçet's patients, had their DNA typed using sequence-specific primer technique for the presence of 16 KIR genes and pseudogenes loci, and compared them to the general Lebanese population.

Distribution of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genotypes in patients with familial Mediterranean fever.

Genotypic profiles of the natural killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) have been reported to vary among different ethnic groups and variable clinical entities. This study represents the first report on its distribution among patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). We studied 56 unrelated Lebanese FMF patients, had their DNA typed using sequence-specific primer (SSP) technique for the presence of 16 KIR gene and pseudogene loci, and compared them to the general Lebanese population.

Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) gene 4G/5G alleles frequency distribution in the Lebanese population.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is an inhibitor of fibrinolysis. Increased plasma PAI-1 levels play an essential role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular risk and other diseases associated with thrombosis. The 4G/5G polymorphism of the PAI-1 promoter region has been extensively studied in different populations.

MEFV gene mutations spectrum among Lebanese patients referred for Familial Mediterranean Fever work-up: experience of a major tertiary care center.

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive inflammatory disorder predominantly affecting people living in or originating from areas around the Mediterranean Sea, mainly Jews, Armenians, Turks, and Arabs. It is characterized by recurrent attacks of inflammation of serosal membranes and fever resulting in acute abdominal, chest, or joint pain. Over 50 MEditerranean FeVer (MEFV) mutations and polymorphisms have been identified in FMF patients.

Factor XIII gene V34L mutation in the Lebanese population: another unique feature in this community?

We studied the distribution of the Factor XIII gene V34L polymorphism in a sample of healthy Lebanese individuals to assess its prevalence and compare it with other populations. Factor XIII genotypes were determined using the Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) StripAssay (ViennaLab, Austria), which is based on a Polymerase Chain Reaction-Reverse hybridization technique. DNA from 205 unrelated healthy donors from our HLA database was used.

Frequency distribution of the G/A alleles of the beta-fibrinogen gene in the Lebanese population.

Fibrinogen is a plasma protein that has been reported to be associated with an increased risk of atherothrombotic diseases and venous thrombosis. The most common polymorphism that has been studied so far in different populations is the G-455-->A polymorphism in the promoter region of the beta-fibrinogen gene. We studied 160 healthy unrelated Lebanese individuals for the prevalence of -455G/G, -455G/A and -455A/A genotypes of the beta-fibrinogen gene and the frequency of G and A alleles using a reverse hybridization PCR assay.

ApoB-100 R3500Q mutation in the Lebanese population: prevalence and historical review of the literature.

An interesting mutation affecting the Apo-B gene, R3500Q, is known to display variable geographical distribution in the world and is mostly implicated in the pathogenesis of Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH). The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of this mutation in the Lebanese population and compare it to the available international literature. DNA from 160 unrelated healthy donors from our HLA-bank was used and the ApoB genotype was determined using the CardioVascular Disease (CVD) StripAssay (this assay is based on a Polymerase Chain Reaction-Reverse Hybridization technique).

Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism and allele frequencies in the Lebanese population: prevalence and review of the literature.

We studied the distribution of the D/D, I/D, and I/I genotypes of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in a sample of healthy Lebanese individuals to assess their prevalence and compare them with other populations. ACE genotypes were determined using the Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) StripAssay, which is based on a Polymerase Chain Reaction-Reverse hybridization technique. DNA from 133 unrelated healthy donors from our HLA-bank was used.

Prevalence of factor V R2 (H1299R) polymorphism in the Lebanese population.

Aims: A recently identified polymorphism in factor V gene (His1299Arg; also named HR2) has been reported to be a possible risk factor for the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE), with a high prevalence of 9.5-15.2% in patients of different ethnic groups in different parts of the world.

Apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism and allele frequencies in the Lebanese population.

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotypes were studied in order to determine the prevalence in the Lebanese population and compare it with other populations. DNA from 160 unrelated healthy donors from our HLA-bank was used. ApoE genotype was determined using the CardioVascular Disease (CVD) StripAssay (this assay is based on a Polymerase Chain Reaction-Reverse Hybridization technique).