Vitamin D Deficiency at Diagnosis Increases All-Cause and Prostate Cancer-specific Mortality in Jamaican Men.

BACKGROUND: 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and serum calcium have been associated with incident prostate cancer (PCa). However, there is limited data on whether these metabolites predict survival in men of African descent, a population disproportionately affected by PCa. We studied the relationship of 25(OH)D at PCa diagnosis with all-cause and cancer-specific mortality among Jamaican men and examined whether serum calcium modified any associations. METHODS: Serum 25(OH)D from 152 Jamaican men with incident PCa within the Prostate Cancer Risk Evaluation (PROSCARE) study were re-evaluated approximately 11 years after enrollment. 25(OH)D analyses were stratified using the using Holick criteria. PCa-specific and all-cause mortality were examined in Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression models adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), smoking and Gleason score. Restricted cubic splines evaluated nonlinear associations. Serum calcium was assessed as an effect modifier of the association between 25(OH)D and mortality. RESULTS: Of cases with available 25(OH)D, 64 men with PCa survived, 38 deaths were PCa specific and 36 died of other causes. At baseline, 9.9% of cases were vitamin D deficient and 61.2% were vitamin D sufficient. Compared to 25(OH)D sufficient men, those with 25(OH)D <20.0 ng/mL concentrations were associated with higher PCa-specific mortality (adjusted HR, 4.95; 95% CI, 1.68, 14.63, P = .004) and all-cause mortality (adjusted HR, 2.40; 95%CI, 1.33, 4. 32, P = .003). Serum calcium was not associated with survival and did not modify any associations with 25(OH)D. CONCLUSIONS: 25(OH)D deficiency at PCa diagnosis predicted decreased survival for overall and PCa-specific cancer in Caribbean men of African ancestry.

Associations of whole-blood fatty acids and dietary intakes with prostate cancer in Jamaica.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of whole-blood fatty acids and reported intakes of fats with risk of prostate cancer (PCa). DESIGN: Case-control study of 209 men 40-80 years old with newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed prostate cancer and 226 cancer-free men attending the same urology clinics. Whole-blood fatty acid composition (mol%) was measured by gas chromatography and diet assessed by food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: High whole-blood oleic acid composition (tertile 3 vs. tertile 1: OR, 0.37; CI, 0.14-0.0.98) and moderate palmitic acid proportions (tertile 2: OR, 0.29; CI, 0.12-0.70) (tertile 3: OR, 0.53; CI, 0.19-1.54) were inversely related to risk of PCa, whereas men with high linolenic acid proportions were at increased likelihood of PCa (tertile 3 vs. tertile 1: OR, 2.06; 1.29-3.27). Blood myristic, stearic and palmitoleic acids were not associated with PCa. Higher intakes of dietary MUFA were inversely related to prostate cancer (tertile 3 vs. tertile 1: OR, 0.39; CI 0.16-0.92). The principal source of dietary MUFA was avocado intake. Dietary intakes of other fats were not associated with PCa. CONCLUSIONS: Whole-blood and dietary MUFA reduced the risk of prostate cancer. The association may be related to avocado intakes. High blood linolenic acid was directly related to prostate cancer. These associations warrant further investigation.

Disseminated trichosporonosis in a burn patient: meningitis and cerebral abscess due to Trichosporon asahii.

A 44-year-old diabetic female presented to a hospital in Jamaica with thermal burns. Trichosporon asahii was isolated from facial wounds, sputum, and a meningeal swab. Dissemination of the fungus was demonstrated in stained histological sections of the meninges and a brain abscess at autopsy. Pure growth of the fungus from patient samples submitted and an environmental isolate obtained from a wash basin in the hospital supported the diagnosis.

Body size and risk of prostate cancer in Jamaican men.

We investigated the associations between body size and risk of prostate cancer in a hospital-based case-control study in Jamaica. Height, weight, waist, and hip circumference were measured at enrollment, and data collected on medical and lifestyle factors for newly diagnosed cases (n = 243) and controls (n = 275). Compared with men in the normal range of waist-hip ratio (WHR), men with WHR > or =0.95 were at greater risk of total prostate cancer (OR,1.72; CI, 1.01-3.00) and high-grade cancer (OR, 2.02; CI, 1.03-3.96). With additional control for BMI, the association with WHR remained significant for total prostate cancer (OR, 1.90; CI, 1.01-3.53) and high-grade disease (OR, 2.94; CI, 1.34-6.38). There was no association between waist circumference and cancer without control for BMI but after controlling for BMI, waist circumference >90 cm (OR, 2.45; CI, 1.01-5.94) and >102 cm (OR, 5.57; CI, 1.43-18.63) showed a dose-response relationship with high-grade disease. Height and BMI were not associated with risk of prostate cancer. Abdominal obesity may be associated with risk of high-grade prostate cancer. Risk may be greater in those with higher abdominal obesity relative to overall size. The results further highlight the importance of investigating relationships by characteristics of the tumor.

A 6-year analysis of the clinicopathological profile of patients with prostate cancer at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica.

OBJECTIVE To document the clinicopathological characteristics of prostate cancer in a public hospital-based population in Jamaica, over a 6-year period, and examine any trends in these characteristics over time, as prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer in Jamaican men, but there are few published reports documenting the clinicopathological profile of this disease in the Jamaican population. PATIENTS AND METHODS All patients consecutively diagnosed with prostate cancer by transrectal ultrasonography-guided biopsy at the University Hospital of the West Indies, from January 2000 to December 2005, were identified at time of diagnosis, and relevant clinical and pathological data collected from the accompanying histopathology request forms. RESULTS There were 529 cases of prostate cancer diagnosed over the 6 years. The mean (sd) age was 70.66 (8.74) years, with 137 patients aged 70-74 years. A serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was obtained for 490 (92.6%) patients. Of these, an accurate PSA value was available for 456 (86.2%) patients and a 'minimum level' recorded for the remaining 34, all of whom had a PSA level of >100 ng/mL. Of the patients with available PSA information, only 91 (18.5%) had a level of < or =10.0 ng/mL. By contrast, 155 (31.6%) patients had levels of >100 ng/mL. The median (range, interquartile range) serum PSA level for those patients with accurate values was 30.7 (1-14 260, 11.7-109) ng/mL. Histologically, moderately and poorly differentiated cancers accounted for 198 (37.5%) and 160 (30.2%) cases, respectively. Correlation of the variables under investigation confirmed that there was a statistically significant positive and moderate correlation between serum PSA level and Gleason score (Spearman r 0.49; P < 0.001). Statistical analysis of all other variables, including the number of cases of prostate cancer diagnosed annually, showed no significant differences. CONCLUSION Compared with many countries, including some in the Caribbean, prostate cancer in Jamaican men is diagnosed when they are older and these patients have significantly higher PSA levels at diagnosis, suggesting more advanced disease. Despite increasing public awareness of prostate cancer, it appears that there has been no significant change in the profile of patients with prostate cancer, at the time of diagnosis, over the last 6 years, findings consistent with the absence of an organized screening programme for prostate cancer in Jamaica.

Primary tumors of the heart: experience at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

BACKGROUND: An analysis of primary cardiac tumors in the English-speaking Caribbean has never been previously conducted. This paper is an attempt to fill this void. METHODS: A retrospective review of autopsy and surgical pathology records of the Department of Pathology at the University Hospital of the West Indies was carried out in search of all primary cardiac tumors. RESULTS: Altogether, 15 patients with primary cardiac tumors were identified. Twelve patients had myxomas, 2 of which were newborn infants. There were 2 cases of fibroma and 1 of rhabdomyoma, also in children. No malignant tumors were identified. Of the 10 adult patients all of whom had myxoma, there were 5 men and 5 women whose ages ranged from 33 to 83 years with a mean of 52 years. Echocardiography was used in making the diagnosis of cardiac tumor in all but one of these cases. All adult patients were symptomatic, with shortness of breath, often accompanied by congestive cardiac failure, being the most common symptom. One patient presented with embolic phenomena. CONCLUSION: This analysis of the clinicopathologic features of primary cardiac neoplasms represents the first of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean. While the total number of cases was small, there appears to be a disproportionate number of pediatric tumors representing a third of the total. Furthermore, the distribution of tumor types within the pediatric population was dissimilar to that usually seen with only one rhabdomyoma.

Both serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and calcium levels may increase the risk of incident prostate cancer in Caribbean men of African ancestry.

Circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations have been associated with both higher and lower risk of prostate cancer (PCa), whereas elevated levels of circulating calcium has been related to higher risks. However, there are few studies that account for effects of both calcium and 25(OH)D concentrations on incident PCa in a black population. We examined these relationships in a case-control study of men 40-80 years old with newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed PCa in Jamaica, a tropical country. Mean serum calcium concentrations was higher among cases (2.32 ± 0.19 mmol/L) than controls, (2.27 ± 0.30 mmol/L) (P = 0.023) however, there were no differences in 25(OH)D by cancer status (cases, 33.67 ± 12.71 ng/mL; controls (32.25 ± 12.59 ng/mL). Serum calcium was not correlated with 25(OH)D (partial correlation: r, 0.06; P = 0.287). Multivariable-adjusted models showed a positive linear relationship between PCa and serum calcium (OR, 1.12; CI, 1.00-1.25 per 0.1 nmol/L). Serum 25(OH)D concentration also showed a positive association with PCa (OR, 1.23; CI, 1.01-1.49 per 10 ng/mL). The odds of PCa in men with serum 25(OH)D tertile 2 was OR, 2.18; CI, 1.04-4.43 and OR, 2.47 CI, 1.20-4.90 for tertile 3 (P(trend) = 0.013). Dietary intakes of calcium showed no relationship with PCa. Despite the strong relationship between serum calcium and vitamin D the mechanism by which each affects prostate cancer risk in men of African ancestry needs additional investigation.

Leiomyosarcoma of the uterus with a florid intravascular component ("intravenous leiomyosarcomatosis").

A leiomyosarcoma of the uterus in a 54-year-old woman exhibited striking involvement of large vessels of the myometrium and broad ligament on both gross and microscopic examination. The pattern of vascular involvement resembled that seen in intravenous leiomyomatosis. Imaging studies showed recurrent tumor within the inferior vena cava 3 months after hysterectomy. To our knowledge, this is the first reported such case in the literature, for which we propose the designation intravenous leiomyosarcomatosis of the uterus.

Use of the Gleason system in international comparisons of prostatic adenocarcinomas in blacks.

BACKGROUND: Comparisons of prostate cancer in blacks living in different countries can shed light on factors responsible for high rates of the disease among blacks in America. Since the prognostic value of the Gleason grading system is well established, we assessed agreement between pathologists in countries where black populations of the African Diaspora reside. METHODS: Three genitourinary pathologists at hospitals in Nigeria, Jamaica, and the US independently assessed sextant biopsies from 12 patients. Gleason sum and percentage involvement were recorded, and a percent-weighted average calculated. Agreement under different groupings was evaluated using the kappa statistic generalized to three raters. RESULTS: Agreement was significant for individual sums (kappa = 0.3317, P = 0.0173), sums grouped as well (2-4), moderately (5-6), and poorly differentiated (7-10) (kappa = 0.2437, P < 0.0001) and other groupings. Agreement between at least two raters was 91.7-100%; complete agreement was 41.7-66.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The Gleason system is feasible and practical for international studies of prostate cancer among blacks from contrasting environments.

The pathology of thyroid neoplasms at the University Hospital of the West Indies: a 10-year analysis

Thyroid neoplasms were diagnosed in 93 patients (79 women and 14 men) between January 1986 and December 1995. 52 tumors were benign and 41 were malignant. An unusual finding was that there were 16 cases each of follicular and papillary carcinomas: that is, more patients with follicular carcinomas than expected. The significance is discussed.

Co-existing leiomyoma and benign cystic teratoma of the ovary

A case of benign cystic teratoma and a leiomyoma in the same ovary is described. The leiomyoma was confirmed by immunohistochemical methods. The occurrence of leimyoma and a teratoma within the same ovary is very rare.

Primary leiomyosarcoma of bone

Primary leiomyosarcoma of bone is rare. We present the clinicopathological features of a case, the first documented from the Caribbean, seen recently at our institution.

Occipital osteodiastasis in Jamaica

The Jamaican Perinatal Morbidity and Mortality Survey (1986 - 1987) revealed nine cases of a previously unreported form of birth-related injury in the English-speaking Caribbean - occipital osteodiastasis. Aspects of the clinical and pathological features of this form of occipital bone injury are presented and discussed. Our findings suggest that this lesion might occur more often than is currently accepted.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: a 10 year clinicopathological review of an uncommon tumour

A review of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans diagnosed at the University hospital of the West Indies over a 10-year period revealed 23 cases. The mean age of the patients was 36.3 years. There were 13 females and 10 males. The trunk was the most common site. The clinical diagnosis was commonly missed. The results of this study are compared with those from other countries

Complete non-puerperial uterine inversion as a result of a uterine sarcoma

Complete non-puerperial uterine inversion is rare and when present is usually associated with a prolapsed submucous fibroid. The inversion in this case was associated with a uterine sarcoma in an 88 year old diabetic patient, gravida 13, who presented with a four month history of intermittent vaginal bleeding. She was successfully managed with a total abdominal hysterectomy and some of the difficulties with diagnosis and management are highlighted.

Amnion rupture sequence in Jamaica: a report of 2 cases from the Jamaican perinatal morbidity and mortality survey

Two cases of amnion rupture sequence resulting in grossly malformed stillborn infants are described. One baby had marked craniofacial defects while another had a combination of craniofacial, abdominal wall and limb abnormalities. These are the first such cases to be reported in the English-speaking Caribbean, and aspects of the aetiology, pathogenesis, clinical and pathological features are discussed.

Incidence of anencephaly in Jamaica

Information was collected on 2,197 stillbirths and neonatal deaths on the island of Jamaica during a 12 month period September 1986 to August 1987 as part of the population based nationwide Jamaican Perinatal Morbidity and Mortality Survey. There were 14 cases of anencephalus giving an incidence of 0.26 per 1000 total births. There was no detectable association with social class, maternal age or parity. The rate in Jamaica is considerably lower than found in any other population study.

A cluster of central nervous system defects in Jamaica

Information was collected on all stillbirths and neonatal deaths on the island of Jamaica during the 12 month period September 1986 to August 1987. There were 33 such deaths with anencephaly, spina bifida and hydrocephalus out of an estimated population of 54,400 total births. There was a statistically significant cluster in respect to time of conception in one small rural area of the island. There were no obvious differences between parents involved in the cluster and the rest of the population, but particular Jamaican fruit and vegetables have been shown to be teratogenic in animals. It is postulated that the cluster may have been associated with an unripe crop.

Perinatal mortality in Jamaica 1986-1987

A large population-based study of all stillbirths and neonatal deaths occuring on the island of Jamaica during a 12 month period is described. During this time, 2069 perinatal deaths were identified from an estimated population of 54,400 total births giving a perinatal death rate of 38.0 per 1000 total births. The death rate was 5 times higher among twins than singletons. An attempt was made to obtain detailed postmortem examination of as many deaths as possible. In the event, 51 por ciento of perinatal deaths received such a postmortem examination, for the most part by 3 specially trained pathologists working in the capital. Postmortem rate was affected by sex, multiplicity of the infant, month of death and area of delivery. Deaths were classified using Wigglesworth scheme. The distribution categories was similar in the months when the postmortem rate was 70 por ciento to the rest of the time period when the post-mortem rate was only 40 por ciento . The Wigglesworth classification of deaths identified those associated with intrapartum asphyxia as the most important group, accounting for over 40 por ciento of deaths. This simple classification is important as it focusses attention on details of labour and delivery that may require change and is useful in planning future delivery of obstetric and neonatal care.