Non-coding RNAs Enabling Prognostic Stratification and Prediction of Therapeutic Response in Colorectal Cancer Patients.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a heterogeneous disease and current treatment options for patients are associated with a wide range of outcomes and tumor responses. Although the traditional TNM staging system continues to serve as a crucial tool for estimating CRC prognosis and for stratification of treatment choices and long-term survival, it remains limited as it relies on macroscopic features and cases of surgical resection, fails to incorporate new molecular data and information, and cannot perfectly predict the variety of outcomes and responses to treatment associated with tumors of the same stage. Although additional histopathologic features have recently been applied in order to better classify individual tumors, the future might incorporate the use of novel molecular and genetic markers in order to maximize therapeutic outcome and to provide accurate prognosis.

Lipid lowering for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease in older adults.

A perceived lack of evidence for benefit and safety concerns may lead to underprescription of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) in older adults. This article reviews clinical data regarding the effect of lipid-lowering therapies on cardiovascular outcomes in older adults with a focus on secondary prevention and safety considerations in this population. A literature search of the PubMed database (January 1984 to April 2009) was performed using search terms that included: 'aged' (MeSH heading), 'elderly', 'anticholesteremic agents', 'antilipemic agents', 'hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors', 'cardiovascular diseases', 'randomized controlled trial', 'meta-analysis' and 'drug safety'.

The pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease in diabetes mellitus and the future of therapy.

Diabetes mellitus is a complex disease with several metabolic abnormalities leading to varied, interconnected endothelial and vascular dysfunction and resulting in accelerated atherosclerosis. Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of mortality in patients with diabetes. Apart from traditional therapy for control of hyperglycemia and other associated comorbidities, various newer therapies are being investigated to fight atherosclerosis at a molecular level.

Statins provoking MELAS syndrome. A case report.

Background: Statins inhibit the production of 2,3-dimethoxy,5-methyl,6-polyisoprene parabenzoquinone also known as ubiquinone or coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which is required for mitochondrial electron transport. Idiopathic or primary CoQ10 deficiencies have been known to cause mitochondrial encephalomyopathy.

Methods: We present the case of a patient with mitochondrial syndrome, consisting of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), whose symptoms were temporally related to statin therapy.

Accelerated idioventricular rhythm in a healthy teenager post circumcision.

Accelerated idioventricular rhythm (AIVR) is a ventricular arrhythmia, most commonly seen in adults with underlying cardiac disease. Few cases of AIVR have been reported in the adult population in the absence of cardiac pathology. We describe a case of a healthy teenager who developed episodes of AIVR postoperatively.